Dynamic Capability Practice and Competitiveness of Private Universities in Kenya

Abstract

The ranking of universities in the world for the last three years has revealed that in Kenya, public universities take up the top five positions in the country. Again, in the past four years, the number of students who qualify for university education has been observed to be less than 20% of the total candidates, the majority of whom are placed in public universities. This implies that private universities have to refocus their people-centric strategies to remain competitive. However, it remains unclear whether such strategies are enhancing the competitiveness of private universities in the Kenyan education sector. The study sought to examine the influence of dynamic capability practice on competitiveness among private universities in Kenya. The research instrument's validity and reliability were evaluated using the results of the pilot study. Cronbach Alpha test confirmed reliability, whereas expert opinion confirmed validity. Pearson's correlation was used in inferential data analysis to determine the relationship between independent and dependent variables. According to Pearson's correlation research, there is a significant correlation (r=.640, p=.000) between the practice of dynamic capability and the competitiveness of private universities in Kenya. The impact of dynamic capability practice on the competitiveness of private universities in Kenya was statistically significant (ẞ=.640, p=.000<.05). The study came to the conclusion that dynamic capability skills had a beneficial influence on the competitiveness of a private institution in Kenya. In order to maintain their competitiveness in the educational market, the study advises private universities in Kenya to increase their investments in the dynamic capabilities of their staff. The study serves as a theoretical framework for future studies done by scholars and researchers in the area, contributes towards enhancing the competitiveness of private universities and informs policy decisions for improved management practices in private universities.