THE ETHICAL EDGE: HOW POLICY INTEGRATION ENHANCES PERFORMANCE IN NAIROBI’S AGRI-TECH SECTOR

This study investigated ethical data management practices supporting the success of platform-based Agri-tech cloud projects in Nairobi, Kenya. Guided by Stakeholder Theory, which addresses conflicting interests among stakeholders such as data managers, IT staff, and end users, the study examined how ethical data management impacts project performance. The specific objectives of this paper were to examine the influence of formal policy documents on project performance, to explore the role of stakeholder feedback mechanisms in enhancing project performance and to evaluate the impact of risk management frameworks on organizational excellence, sustainability and project performance. Using a qualitative case-study approach, the study focused on 150 Agri-tech projects in Nairobi, selecting two purposively as cases. A sample of 60 respondents including data managers, IT specialists, and project managers was drawn from the selected Agri-techs, using saturation. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and observation checklists, with thematic analysis applied to identify ethical data management practices. Findings revealed that integrating ethical data management policies is vital for sustainable development, requiring data managers to uphold data privacy, labor justice, and environmental stewardship. Stakeholder involvement shifted governance from conventional to participatory models, although power imbalances favoring technical staff limited participation by some stakeholders. The operationalization of Stakeholder Theory occurred as ethical practices were embedded into technical workflows. To address power disparities and move from technically efficient to equitable projects, human-in-the-loop validation and transparent tools were necessary. The study concluded that data management practices in platform-based Agri-tech cloud projects must align with the ethical standards of all stakeholders involved to ensure project success and sustainability.