Organizational Characteristics and Communication Effectiveness of Solar Companies in Kenya

Abstract

The solar energy sector has been performing poorly in recent years. This poor performance has been attributed to factors such as making poor decisions, implementing inadequate strategies, and ineffective communication. Managers can perform their duties and responsibilities through effective communication. Communication is also used by managers as a foundation for planning. After receiving important information, managers have the responsibility to communicate the plans to implement the information. Organization characteristics were sought in the study and how they influence communication. A descriptive research design was adopted for this study through which information from demographic groups was gathered. A descriptive research design helped generate emphasis on determining the extent to which variables co-vary (the level of frequency with which variables can be expressed). This study used a total of 1224 employees working as middlelevel managers and operational managers of Solar Companies in Kenya as the target study. The study used the Cochran formula to arrive at a sample of 293 respondents. The study used questionnaires to collect primary data. The questionnaires were administered to the respondents using a ‘drop and pick’ method at an agreed time with the researcher as well as electronically. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) analysis methods namely, descriptive analysis and inferential analysis. Under descriptive statistics, frequencies and percentages were utilized to summarize variables and find patterns. Inferential statistics on logistic binary regression analysis shown the strength and direction of parameters. Graphs, tables, and pie charts were used for data presentation followed by a prose interpretation of findings. The findings of the study indicated a Wald statistic = 5.008, pvalue associated with it is 0.025 which is less than 0.05, and odds ratio =2.914 associated with it are for organization structure (1). The Wald statistic values of organization culture (1), (2) (3) were (0.037, 2.409 and 0.013) respectively which is associated with pvalues= (0.847, 0.121 and 0.910) which are all greater than 0.05 respectively, and associated with odd ratio =1.156, odds ratio =.352, odd ratio =1.085 respectively are for organization culture. On communication channel (1) the results showed Wald =16.642 which is associated with a pvalue of 0.001 which is less than 0.05 and odds ratio = 6.626. Finally, Communication Frequency reported a Wald statistic value of 14.283 which is associated with a p-value of 0.001 which is less than 0.05, and odds ratio =1.337. The study concluded that organization structure, communication channels, and communication frequency significantly influence the odds of communication effectiveness among solar companies in Kenya, whereas organization culture does not influence the odds of communication effectiveness of solar companies in Kenya. The study recommended for the improvement of organization structure practices including more involvement of employees in the decision-making process, more delegation duties among staff’, increased supervision of junior staff through induction and mentorship, and creating a more flexible working environment to promote creativity among employees to enhance communication effectiveness in solar companies. The study recommended an increase in the use of two-way communication in organizations by giving more feedback at the workplace among employees and the use of social media to communicate among employees at all levels.