Documentation practice: Animpetus to innovation performance in pharmaceutical firms

Abstract

Background:The purpose of this research study was to evaluate the influence ofdocumentation practice on the innovation performance of pharmaceutical firms in Kenya. The specific objective for this study was to assess effect of documentation practice on innovation performance in pharmaceutical firms in Kenya. This research study applied an ex post factor research design in its aim to achieving the study objective. The population of interest for this research included a sample drawn from pharmaceutical firms in the city of Nairobi involved in manufacturing, marketing and distribution of prescription medicines. Materials &Methods: A sample of 163 respondents was thought to suffice for this study. A data collection form or questionnaires were used to collect data from respondents for analysis purposes. Interview schedules and analysis of secondary data were also used. Quantitative data was analyzed by both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. For purposes of inference, regression model was performed on the variables (documentation practices vs. innovation performance in Pharmaceutical firms.) All P-values were to be accompanied by a 95% confidence interval around the calculated odds ratio. Qualitative data was also analyzed. Data was presented in the form of tables, charts, figures and adopted an econometric approach to test the degree of correlation between the variables by employing the multiple regression analysis. Data was coded to facilitate analysis. It was analyzed with the aid SPSS software version 20. Results:Data was categorized and arranged to determine how independent and dependent variables relate. The study findings indicated that that there was a significant relationship between documentation practice and innovation performance of pharmaceutical firms (p=0.000). Conclusion:The study concluded that documentation practice has grown its importance to innovation in firms and that documentation enables firms to manage organizational knowledge. The research showed that there was a significant relationship between documentation practice and innovation performance of pharmaceutical firms (p=0.000).