Challenges of strategy implementation in public corporations in Kenya

Abstract

Many organizations face significant difficulties with regards to strategy implementation process as most strategies fail to produce superior performance for the firm due to poor implementation. The purpose of the study was to determine the challenges of strategy implementation in public corporations in Kenya. The objectives of the study were to establish the challenges in strategy implementation in public corporation and the possible solutions to the challenges. The study adopted a descriptive research design in which 189 respondents were sampled using census survey. The study targeted the personnel in charge of planning in the organizations. The data was collected using questionnaires which were self administered. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean score and standard deviation. The study established that inadequate funding and untimely disbursement of resources was a hindrance to the effective implementation of strategies in public corporations. The study also established that staff resistance to change and lack of skills to some extent affected the implementation of strategies by the organizations. However, lack of top management commitment, organizational culture and structure were never in any way a challenge to the implementation of strategies in public corporations in Kenya. The study also established that inadequate staffing was never a challenge to the implementation of the strategies. The study established that according to respondents, the allocation of enough funds and timely distribution of resources would greatly enhance the implementation of strategies in the public corporations. The study also established that most respondents recommended that the managements‟ commitment to the implementation of strategies in the organizations would minimize the strategy implementation challenges experienced by the organizations. The practicing of proper change management in the organizations would minimize staff resistance to change according to respondents. Respondents indicated that sponsoring employees to further their education would improve their skills hence ensuring effective strategy implementation. The study recommended that first, the management of the state corporations should increase the allocation to the projects so as the ensure that adequate resources are allocated to each project. Secondly, the management should ensure that there is timely distribution of resources to various projects for timely implementation of projects in the organization. Third, the management of public corporations should steer clear from politics to avoid political interference in the implementation of strategies in the public corporations. Forth, the organizations should organize for seminars and workshops where the employees skill will be enhanced through training and finally, the study also recommends that the organizations should sponsor its staff to further education.