Balanced score card and competitiveness of firms in the food and animal products export sector in Rwanda

The major purpose of this study was to assess how the use of balanced scored card influences competitiveness of firms in the food and animal product export sector in Rwanda. The specific objectives included; to assess the influence of customer service on competitiveness of firms in the food and animal product export sector in Rwanda, and to determine the effects of finance on competitiveness of firms in the food and animal product export sector in Rwanda. The target population consisted of Rwandan firms in Kigali dealing in exports of food and animal products for regional and international markets with a sample of 97 respondents précised by way of Yamane formula from the target population. Stratified random sampling technique was used to determine the sample. A likert scale questionnaire and interviews were used and collected data was analyzed by way of SPSS version 21 using both descriptive and inferential techniques. The findings reveal that customer service and finance positively, significantly and strongly influence export competitiveness of firms within the food and animal products sector in Rwanda. Specifically, finance was found to have the strongest role in terms of contribution to competitiveness of firms. The study recommends among other things, a further investigation into customer service role fostering export competitiveness of export firms in the food and animal products export sector in Rwanda.