THE INFLUENCE OF SPECIFIC SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES ON A FIRM’S COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE: A CASE STUDY OF SAFARICOM LIMITED

Dr. Gladys Chepkirui Rotich

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya

Esli Okora Aburi

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya

Allan S. N. Kihara

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya

ABSTRACT

Supplier development is any effort a buying firm expends on a supplier to increase the performance and capabilities to meet the buying firm’s own short-term or long-term supply needs and generate favorable results. This study sought to address the influence of specific supplier development practices on a firm’s competitive advantage, and the analysis of the relationships between supplier development practices and firm’s competitive advantage in the context of Kenya’s telecommunication industry in particular Safaricom Limited. A descriptive design where questionnaires were sent to respondents was adopted. An analysis of the data collected was done to determine the extent to which the specific supplier development practices influence cycle times, cost delivery and quality. The analytical solutions of supplier development practices will help reinforce the theoretical expositions of the influence of specific suppler development practices on the competitive advantage of a buying organization.

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