CHAPTER FOUR

PRESENTATION DISCUSSION AND INTERPRETATION OF FINDINGS

Presentation of the findings
This chapter presents analysis and findings of the research, from the study
population target of 10 respondents, who were the respondents to the
questionnaire, constituting 80% response rate. The total number of males is
five constituting 62.5% while the females’ number is 3 constituting 37.5%.

Gender
Table 1: Gender of respondents
Frequency Percent
Male 5 62.5
Female 3 37.5
Total 8 100
Source: Research Data

From the findings in the above table there were more males than females as
represented by the figure below.

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Figure 1: Gender of respondents

Gender of respondents

Female
38%

Male
62%

Source: Research Data

Age
Table 2: Age of respondents
Frequency Percent
20-29 4 50
30-39 3 37.5
40-49 1 12.5
Total 8 100
Source: Research Data

From the above table, the researcher study revealed that the majority of the
respondents were 20-29 years old as compared to 30-39 and 40-49 years
old. The figure below was used to present this information.

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Figure 2: Age of respondents

Ageof respondents

40-49
13%

20-29
50%
30-39
37%

Education level
Table 3: Respondents level of education
Frequency Percent
Post graduate 1 12.5
Graduate 4 50
Secondary 3 37.5
Total 8 100
Source: Research Data

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Figure 3: Education level of respondents

Educationlevel of respondents
Post graduate
12%

Secondary
38%

Graduate
50%

Source: Research Data

On the education level of the respondents, the researcher found out that the
majority of respondents were graduate compared to post graduate and
diploma/college certificate.

Period of time working at A-one electronics

Table 4: Period of time working at A-one electronics

Period Frequency
1 month- 1 year 1
1 year- 2 years 1
2years- 3 years 3
Above 3 years 3
Source: Research Data

From the above table, most of the employees have been at A-one electronics
for 3 years and above and also 2year to 3 years. Only a few have worked for
2 years and below.

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Availability of inventory management systems

Table 5: Availability of inventory management systems and guidelines on inventory

management
Frequency Percent
Yes 8 100
Total 8 100
Source: Research Data
According to the above table, the entire respondent said that they have
inventory management systems in their organization and also have written
guidelines on inventory management.

Type of inventory management system

Table 6: Type of inventory management system

Type
1. Classification system
2. Counting system
3. Internal control
systems
4. Accounting systems
Total
Source: Research Data
Frequency Percentage
0 0
2 25
3 37.5
3 37.5
8 100

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Figure 4: Graph of the type of inventory management system

Source: Research Data

Objectives of using inventory management systems

Table 7: Objectives
Frequency Percent
Keep track of available inventory 5 62.5
Increase sales 1 12.5
As an internal control tool 1 12.5
Make a requisition for more 1 12.5
inventory
Total 8 100
Source: Research Data

In the above table, the study sought to investigate the objectives of carrying
out inventory management systems. Majority said to keep track of the
available inventory as compared to increasing sales, as an internal control
tool and making requisition for more inventory.

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Figure 5: Objectives of using inventory management systems

Objectives of usinginventory
managementsystems
70
60
50
40
30
20 Objectivesof using inventory
10 management systems
0
Keep track of Increase Asan Make a
available sales internal requisition
inventory control tool for more
Source: Research Data inventory

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Responsibility of developing inventory management systems

Table 8: Development responsibility

Stores and purchasing
manager
A project team from within
Departmental managers
Employees themselves
Total
Source: Research Data
Frequency Percent
2 25
2 25
4 50
0 0
8 100

In the above table the study sought to investigate from the respondents who
developed inventory management system. The majority of respondents said
that departmental managers are responsible while stores and purchasing
managers and a project team from within each have equal responsibility, as
compared to employees themselves who don`t have any responsibility.

Figure 6: Responsibility of developing inventory management systems

Source: Research Data

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Responsibility of carrying out inventory management systems
Table 9: Responsibility of carrying out
Frequency Percent
Supervisor 5 62.5
Peers 0 0
Group supervisor 2 25
Branch manager 1 12.5
Total 8 100
Source: Research Data
According to the findings in the above table, the majority of the respondent
said that supervisors are responsible for carrying out inventory management
system compared to the others.

How clear and formalized the inventory planning process is

Table 10: Clarity and formalization of inventory planning process
Frequency Percentage
Yes 6 75
No 2 25
Total 8 100
Source: Research Data

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Figure 7: Clarity and formalization of inventory planning process

Howclear and formalized isinventoryplanningprocess

No
25%

Yes
75%

Source: Research Data

From the above table, majority of the respondents say the stock planning
process is clear and formalized compared to whom think that the stock
planning process is unclear and not formalized.

Stock keeping and storage facilities

From the findings the businesses have a store keeper and they do have
inventory storage facilities.

Table 11: Stock keeping and storage facilities

Frequency Percentage
Is there a store keeper 8 50
Does the business have 8 50
storage facilities

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Figure 8: Stock keeping and storage facilities

Stockkeepingandstoragefacilities

Doesthe
businesshave Is there a store
storage keeper
facilities 50%
50%

Source: Research Data

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Transport and payment of inventory
Table 12: Transport and payment of inventory
How is stock transported to business premises? Percentage
By pickups 100%
Payment for transport
When Goods are delivered 100%
Source: Research Data
The data indicated that the firm’s stock is transported by use of pick-ups and
that payment is done when the goods are received.

Inventory storage
Table 13: Inventory storage
frequency percentage
Stored within the shops 2 25
Stored in a warehouse 5 62.5
Stored in owners 1 12.5
residence
Total 8 100
Source: Research Data
From the data collected, most of the branches had a warehouse for storing
stock compared to storing stock within the shop outlets and in the owner`s
residence.

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Figure 9: Inventory storage

Stored in owners Inventorystorage

residence
13%

Stored
within the
shops
25%

Stored in a
warehouse
62%

Source: Research Data

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Challenges experienced in the adoption of inventory management
systems

Table 14: Challenges experienced

Stron
Very Strong gly
Strongl ly Agr Disag Disag
y Agree Agree ee ree ree
Factors
% % % % %
Do the systems you use in
your company conflict with
each other? 0 12.5 37.5 37.5 12.5
Do your suppliers supply
goods on time? 0 25 75 0 0
Do customers shop lift
stock/inventory from the
shelves? 0 25 50 12.5 12.5
Loss of inventory through
theft by employees 0 12.5 25 25 37.5
Does it take time to reconcile
the systems that you use? 50 25 25 0 0
Are there damages of
inventory/stock by
employees and customers? 12.5 25 12.5 62.5 0
Source: Research Data

The above table shows the findings on the challenges experienced in the
adoption of inventory management systems. From the findings, the
researcher found out that in the majority of the organization, the system
used conflict with each other, suppliers supply goods on time, customers do
shoplift stock in the shelves, there is less theft by employees, it takes time to

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reconcile the system and there are minimum damages of inventory by both
employees and customers as shown above.

Improvement of inventory management system

Table 15: Actions to be taken to improve

Very Not
Import Import Import
ant ant ant

Factors % % %
Have strong security controls to avoid shop 75 25 0
lifters and theft by customers and
employees
The managers and team members should 37.5 62.5 0
co-operate
The lead time for stock should be short to 75 25 0
avoid stock out and damages
Dealing with inventory/stock problems 62.5 37.5 0
quickly as they occur
Use of computers at the sales and 62.5 37.5 0
purchasing points and stock taking

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Handling inventory/stock with care by all 75 25 0
concerned
Source: Research Data

The above table shows the action to be taken in order to improve inventory
management systems. From the findings, respondents’ suggestions to
improve the management systems were that majority of the organization
strong security controls to avoid shop lifting and theft by both customers and
employees, it is important for both manager and team member should
corporate, lead time for stock should be short to avoid stock out and
damages, dealing with problems as they occur, use of computers at the sale
and purchasing point and handling inventory with care by all concerned as
shown above.

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Discussion of the findings
From the analysis and data collected the following discussion was made.
Guided by the objectives in the summary, the study shows that the
respondents of the different branches of A-one electronics had some
reasonable awareness of the practice of inventory management.
62.5 percent of the respondents were males and 37.5 percent were females.
Of the total population majority of the respondents were aged between 20
and 29 years. 50 percent of the respondent had a graduate degree as the
rest had post graduate and secondary certificate. The six branches that were
took part in the survey were drawn from different geographical areas. These
were from Nairobi, Athi-River and Machakos.

The study found out that the inventory management practices were
practiced in all the firms surveyed. The reasons for using the inventory
management system were varied but included to keep track of available
inventory, increase sales, internal control tool and making a requisition for
more inventories. The stores and purchasing manager, departmental
managers and project team from within were responsible for development of
inventory management system in the organizations. The supervisor, group
supervisor and branch managers were responsible for carrying out inventory
systems.
In terms of meeting the challenges in adopting an effective inventory
management system, the factor that was most met was dealing with
problems as they arise. The challenge that was most experienced by the
organization in the adoption of inventory management system was
shoplifting of inventory by customers. Most of the branches should use
computer at the point of sale and purchasing as well as handle inventory
with care by all concerned.

The study also revealed that in the majority of the branches, the inventory
planning process was clear and formalized, objectives and tasks were clearly

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stated, inventory problems dealt with as they arise, performance by
employees improved with inventory management, the cash and carry
method of buying led to the improved inventory management, the customer
services improved with adoption of inventory management, both managers
and team leaders provided constructive feedback as required, had improved
security systems, they used bar coding, both customers and employees
handled stock with care.

Interpretation of findings
The researcher found out that majority of the organization systems conflict
with each other, supplier supplied goods on time, there was theft and shop
lifting by customers, it took average time to reconcile the systems, there
were little damages of stock by employees and customers and customers
were satisfied as a result of ordering the right quantity.
The study revealed that in the majority the organization, security should be
strong to avoid shop lifting and theft by customers, both managers and team
member should cooperate, the lead time for stock should be shorter to avoid
stock out and damages.
Stock should be stored within the firm and the firm should adopt just in time
inventory system to avoid high storage costs.
The firm should also deal with inventory problems as they occur, computers
should be used at the point of sales and purchasing and stock should be
handled with care by all concerned. From the research it was also noted that

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managers should ensure that employees are educated and understand the
importance of efficient stock management.

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