Organization Resource Factors and Sustainable Competitive Advantage in Institutions of Higher Learning A Case of United States International University

A Project Report by Rose Odack, Submitted to the Chandaria School of Business in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Business Administration (MBA)The general objective of the study was to investigate how organization resource can create and sustain a competitive advantage. The objectives of the study include: to establish the role of Organizational Resources (Human Resources) in Sustainability of Competitive Advantage in USIU, to establish the role of Organizational Resources (Financial Resources) in Sustainability of Competitive Advantage in USIU and finally to establish the role of Organizational Resources (Brand & Heritage) in Sustainability of Competitive Advantage in USIU. The study targeted a population of USIU students who were registered within the time which the study was being conducted. The design used for this study was mainly descriptive in nature and was considered to be the best design for this study because it mainly focuses on describing a phenomenon under study. The data collection was done using questionnaires which were considered as the most appropriate tools for collection of primary data. The analysis of the primary data was carried out using SPSS software which generated descriptive statistics such as tables as well as regression analysis. Data presentation was in form of tables and figures only. The study revealed that majority of the respondents agree that employees in USIU show readiness to solve clients problems, creation of time for consultation, job enthusiasm, Positive work attitude, workshops and training for employees, employees are sponsored to attend conferences, availability of a strong mentorship program. The study further revealed that majority of the respondents agreed that financial resources at USIU are key in the development of human capital resources, financial resources at USIU are key for sustainable competitive advantage of organizations, USIU financial managers employ the resulting knowledge in a proactive way to build competitive advantage, competitive advantage at USIU is gained from an initial endowment of financial resources, USIU financial managers ensures that the firm is adequately capitalised, USIU employs high level of debt because of the reluctance to relinquish control by the firm owner. Finally the study revealed that majority percent of the respondents agreed that the USIU brand continues to stand up as among many competitors, USIU brand plays a crucial role in sustaining competitive advantage, consumer brand knowledge determines how well a consumer thinks about a brand, USIU brand influences consumer’s behavior, USIU‟s heritage and their path to their current position influences sustainable competitive advantage, USIU brand leads to enhanced customer attraction and retention, USIU brand speeds up customer decision making. In conclusion, the study revealed that the three organizational resource factors adopted to enhance organizational sustainable competitive advantage include human resources, financial resources as well as the brand and heritage of USIU. In light of these organizational resource factors, it is clear that all the three organizational resources contribute positively towards sustainable competitive advantage in organizations. The study therefore recommends that USIU as an institution of higher learning needs to capitalize on the workforce it has so as to be able to enhance its competitiveness among all other universities in Kenya. Additionally USIU needs to ensure that it leverages on its financial resources so as to be able to effectively facilitate its internal organization processes in a bid to gain sustained competitive advantage. Finally the study recommends that there is need to carefully manage brand and heritage in order to maintain a sustainable competitive advantage. Additionally there is need for the transfer of technology as a significant source of sustainable competitive advantage especially for firm