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Purpose: To survive, organizations must have a competitive advantage in order to stay ahead of the competition. Market innovation has remained the driving force behind most market expansions and stability in the turbulent nature of global economies. This study sought to establish the influence of market innovation on the competitive advantage of telecommunication companies in Kenya. Design/Method/Approach: Using the philosophy of positivism, the study adopted an explanatory research design in testing the hypothesis. The main data collection instrument was a structured questionnaire using both physical conduct and online interactions to return 247 responses from mid and top level managers in a total of 26 active telecommunications companies in Kenya. The study used both descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS computer application to analyze the data. Findings: From the study findings, it was established that innovative distribution channels significantly influenced the competitive advantage while advertising and promotions did not have a significant influence. This led to the conclusion that market innovation has a significant influence on the competitive advantage of telecommunication companies in Kenya. Practical implications: The study recommends that telecommunication companies need to form collaborations and partnerships for ease of establishing market distribution channels that have indicated to bring influence onto the competitive advantage of the companies. Other recommendations include a wider coverage of the East African market for the telecommunications sector. The study provides insights into new companies with interest in the region. Originality/Value: From the results marketing and promotions are not the only major contributing factor in the competitive advantage but the channels of distribution. Research limitations/Future research: The study faced limitations on having to visit the field during the COVID-19 pandemic period thus encountering the restrictions of entry into premises. All protocols were observed to overcome that obstacle. Some of the telecommunications companies were facing difficulties in operations and hence could not participate. Paper type: empirical

Blends consisting of commercial poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(lactic acid) oligomer (OLA8) as plasticizer and a sulfonic salt of a phthalic ester and poly(D-lactic acid) as nucleating agents were prepared by melt extrusion, following a Mixture Design approach, in order to systematically study mechanical and thermal properties as a function of composition. The full investigation was carried out by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and tensile tests. The crystallization half-time was also studied at 105 °C as a function of the blends composition. A range of compositions in which the plasticizer and the nucleation agent minimized the crystallization half-time in a synergistic way was clearly identified thanks to the application of the Mixture Design approach. The results allowed also the identification of a composition range to maximize the crystallinity developed during the rapid cooling below glass transition temperature in injection moulding, thus allowing an easier processing of PLA based materials. Moreover the mechanical properties were discussed by correlating them to the chemical structural features and thermal behaviour of blends.