The purpose of this study was to establish the effects of workplace safety and health practices on the employees’ commitment and performance in Steel manufacturing companies in Rwanda. The target population of this study was 533 people, which comprised of Managers, Supervisors and employees. A simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 229 respondents from the target population. The data was collected using questionnaires, interview guide and personal observation. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software, version 21.0, was used to process data while descriptive statistics such as the means, modes, standard deviation, variances and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The findings of the study indicate that most workers are aware of the dangers of occupational health and safety in the workplace. Also the study found that although employees are aware of the occupational health and safety concerns they neglect to put on the Personal Protective Equipments saying that it is too hot. The study concludes that occupational health and safety significantly affects employee commitment and performance. This study recommends that management should insure the workers and provide them with personal protective equipments to minimize workplace injuries and accident. The study also recommends that management provide regular education and training on occupational health and safety concerns to prevent workplace injuries, hence, promote productivity.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of strategic positioning on organizational performance of Independent Power Producers in Rwanda with a case study of selected IPPs. Moreover this study sought to determine the effects of differentiation strategy, costing and promotion strategy, perceived quality of service as well as pricing strategy on the performance of selected IPPs in Rwanda.  The related literature review was discussed on the theoretical review on positioning theory, Industrial organizational theory, resource based theory and stakeholder theory; empirical review on done on differentiation positioning, costing and promotion, costing and promotion, perceived quality of service and pricing strategy. It highlighted conceptual framework of strategic positioning on organizational performance. This study implemented a descriptive research design and data was analyzed using inferential and descriptive statics technique. Primary data was collected using questionnaires from target population thirty respondents who were Board members, executive directors, senior management staff and project managers. A sample of 30 was determined using Yamane’s formula where purposive sampling approach was used for the Board members, Executive directors, senior management staff and Project managers. A questionnaire was utilized to collect the vital data from the respondents; the questionnaires were physically administered to the board of members, Executive directors, senior management staff, and project managers. Data collected was analyzed through SPSS version 21. Data analyzed was reported using frequencies presented in tables, percentages, pie-charts and standard deviation. This study established that differentiation strategy, costing and promotion, perceived quality as well as pricing strategy had positive impact on the organizational performance of Independent Power Producers in Rwanda. It further recommended future researchers to take on more studies in the management aspect of such entities.

Risk management practices are currently a subject of interest and a novel impression beneath research and application by diverse organizations. Nevertheless, there seems much to be debated on this subject in terms of a general strategic risk management practices statement. There is uncertainty like, when there should be a declaration for each principal risk category the organization experiences or should exist a general risk management practices for the organization. A risk management practice is about achieving corporate goals. For many financial institutions (FIs), dual goals exist such as the social and economic perspectives. This study sought to analyze the effect of strategic risk management practices on corporate investment of selected financial institutions in Rwanda. The study aimed at establishing the effect of operational risk management practices, market risk management practices, compliance risk management practices and governance risk management practices on corporate investment in selected commercial banks in Rwanda. The study adopted descriptive research design. The study targeted 95 managers from finance, internal audit, risk compliance and operations departments. The sample size was 77 respondents. The research was conducted using primary and secondary data, which includes survey forms (questionnaires), interviews as well as reports of the targeted institutions. Information for the research were gathered utilizing organized surveys forms that were distributed to the targeted respondents. Narrative information obtained from interviews and open-ended questions in the questionnaire were analyzed using qualitative approaches. Validity and reliability of the instruments were tested using the Cronbach Alpha test retest methods. With the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science version 21.0, both descriptive statistics such as the means, modes, standard deviation, variances and inferential statistics were analyzed. The research revealed that management of operational risk has a constructive effect financial outcomes performance of financial institutions in Rwanda. The study found that there is a correlation between both operational risk management and market risk management and performance of the financial institutions. The research findings revealed that operational risk management (r=0.096, p<0.01), market risk management (r=0.506, p<0.01) and compliance risk (r=0.612, p<0.01) on corporate investments.

This study attempted to determine the factors militating against effective social services administration and its unfolding empirical manifestations on the well-being of the rural dwellers in Gwagwalada Area Council in Abuja, Nigeria as well as its attendant effects on rural development. Based on the data generated from 200 respondents (rural residents and staff of the area council) using questionnaire, interview and personal observation, it was discovered that lack of involvement of the rural dwellers in decisions regarding the design and implementation of the social service programmes by the Council is one of the key factors. The paper recommends accordingly among others, that effective social services administration should reflect the wishes and aspirations of beneficiaries.

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