Effect of Strategic Planning on Performance of Public Hospitals in Kenya: a Case Study of Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to explore the effect of strategic planning on the performance of public hospitals in Kenya with a focus of Mama Lucy Kibaki hospital. The findings from this study may particularly be useful in providing additional knowledge to the hospital and other organizations on strategic planning practices adapted so as to remain competitive. The researcher adopted a case study and thus the data collection instrument used was an interview guide. The researcher interviewed eight (8) top management staff of the hospital. The researcher used content analysis to analyze the data through describing phenomena, classifying it and seeing how the concepts interconnect. The study established that the hospital had a clearly stated and documented Goal and Objective as this were documented in the Nairobi City County Health Sector Strategic and Investment Plan 2013/2014 – 2018/2019 which the hospital was using to guide its operations. The study also established that an environmental analysis was conducted during the formulation of strategic plan; this was done in regards to health service deliver, health Work force and Health Financing. The study concluded that strategic plan implementation at Mama Lucy Kibaki had improved the general Performance of the Hospital especially cost management, customer satisfaction, employee motivation and resource mobilization. The study recommends the establishment of Monitoring and Evaluation unit at the hospital that will have the core function of conducting periodic reviews including impact assessments reports with a view of generating continuous program adjustments necessary to keep the strategy implementation on track.