Inventory management practices and performance of electoral systems in Kenya

Abstract

Effective inventory management plays a pivotal role in the overall performance and functionality of systems across various sectors. In the context of electoral systems, where precision, efficiency, and transparency are paramount, the management of inventory, including the planning, tracking, and control of resources, is of utmost importance. Therefore, the study sought to determine the role of inventory management practices on the performance of electoral systems in Kenya. The research design that was used in this study was a longitudinal research design. The population for this study consisted of 373 Commission Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CS/CEO), Deputy Commission Secretary (DCS), Directors, Managers, County Election Managers, and Constituency Election Coordinators within 290 constituencies of Kenya's August 2017 election. A total of 373 respondents were used as the sample size for the study. Data was used as primary and secondary. While self-administered questionnaire and interview guide were used to collect primary data, the study reviewed the previous evaluation reports to seek the secondary data on General election performance. The data was collected and then analyzed by both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Being that the study dealt with the relationship study, the study therefore used a regression model as a tool of analysis and the results that were generated were presented in the form of tables. The results of this study benefited policy makers, managers, administrators, citizens all whole, researchers, consultants, scholars, and trainers involved in Election Administration. This study tested the null hypotheses that inventory management practices had no significant role in the performance of electoral systems in Kenya. Pragmatism paradigm approach and mixed method research were adopted in this study. The questionnaire tested both validity and reliability. Quantitative and qualitative techniques were used to analyze the collected data with the assistance of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 25. Multiple regression and correlation analysis were carried out. The regression analysis results demonstrated a strong and significant role of inventory management practices on the performance of electoral systems. The R-squared values indicated that approximately 79% of the variation in electoral system performance was explained by inventory management practices. The adjusted R-squared value of 0.788 accounted for the number of predictors in the model. In conclusion, the study reveals that efficient inventory management practices significantly influence the performance of electoral systems in Kenya, emphasizing the need for standardized handling, storage, and transportation processes, the adoption of technology-driven monitoring systems, centralized inventory management, just-in-time approaches, regular cycle counting, and continuous improvement efforts. However, there remains unexplained variance in performance, warranting further investigation to identify additional influential factors. Additionally, future research should extend its focus to other countries in the East African region to comprehensively assess inventory management practices and their impact on electoral system performance