INFLUENCE OF INNOVATIVENESS ON PERFOMANCE OF WOMEN OWNED PRIVATE PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN UASIN GISHU COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Women’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a critical role in economic growth of a country. However, they face social and cultural challenges hindering their enterprises from faster growth. Studies have been conducted to investigate the influence of entrepreneurial competence on performance of the SMEs but the effect of innovativeness is unknown. This study therefore sought to examine the influence of innovativeness on performance of women owned private primary schools in Uasin Gishu County. The study was anchored on the Joseph Schumpeter’s innovation theory and guided by conceptual framework. Descriptive research design was used and the target population was 85 women owners of private primary schools in Uasin Gishu County. The sample size was 70 women entrepreneurs and simple random sampling was used to select the respondents. Primary data was collected by using questionnaires and secondary data was obtained from annual reports. Data was analyzed by use of Pearson product-moment correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis with the help of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 24). The study found that innovativeness has significant influence on performance of women owned primary schools in Uasin Gishu County (t=1