A study of public institutional framework involved in housing provision
Abstract
The housing process involves complex and
multipurpose procedures of realizing housing, its
environment and all the related facilities. For the /
process to succeed, especially in meeting the basic
objective of providing adequate housing for all,
several factors have to be harnessed and applied in a
manner that will most effectively suit the process.
Among these factors the main ones that have to be
checked upon are the required resources and the
institutions that have to be involved in the
implementation of the process.
Many solutions have been sought in an effort to
reduce problems related to resources so that housing
can be realized effectively. Among these solutions
however, it is noted that management of institutions
in charge of housing process is often a neglected
factor. The fact is that, lack of resources is not
necessarily the sole cause of housing problems;
the administrative capacity of institutional
framework responsible for housing is equally
important. The administrative capacity will greatly
determine how efficiently the available resources are
utilized and consequently how the implementation of
the process is effected.
In Kenya, the agencies that deal with housing and
related subjects are distributed among various
sectoral divisions of national government and are thus
subject to particular sectoral policies. This creates
a good atmosphere for the agencies concerned to
operate independently with a little or no interaction
despite the fact that the multi-sectoral operations are
all supposed to contribute to a common objective of
housing the Kenyan population. Lack of co-ordination
among agencies is therefore taken to be a dogma which
little or nothing can be done to eliminate. Besides,
working performance of the agencies is often
criticized as not efficiently reaching to the housing
objectives. It is however, important that all parties
involved in housing act in a comprehensive and
efficient manner if they are ever to arrive close to
the basic targets of housing for all.
It was against this background, that the study
looked at the public housing institutional framework
in Kenya in light of some of the management theory
principles that offers tools of efficiency and coordination
in operation of institutions.
The principles as highlighted in the study
included, firstly the role of organization structure
in efficiency and co-ordination of institutions. This
is clarified by the very definition of structures,
i.e. the structure of an organization involves the way /
tasks of an organization are divided (differentiated)
and co-ordinated (integrated). It is also concerned
with patterns of authority, communication and
workflow. The organization structure therefore
provides the framework of relationships and avenues of
interactions among the parties of organization in the
course of solving problems. Whether the facility is
adequately used will go a long way in determining the
outcome of operations of organizations. In this study
this role is seen in the light of divisions of tasks
within organizations but also seen in the perspective
of how tasks are- divided and how they need to be
integrated among the many agencies but which
contribute to the overall housing institutional
framework.
Secondly, effective and efficient communication
underlie the success of organizations. The housing
sector exhibits diverse and multiple participants
whose contributions can only be effected through sound
communication between the participants. Failure to
apply the very principles behind effective
communication within operations of respective
organizations and also between agencies will
definitely affect the performance of these
institutions and thereby hamper the achievement of
objectives of the organizations.
Thirdly, information and its management is
considered essential for operations and efficiency of
organizations. The role of information in management
of organizations is indispensable. The effectiveness
of management is in appropriateness of decisions that
are made. Good decisions can be made only with
relevant and adequate information. The characteristics
of the housing sector in terms of what is involved and
who are involved underline the need for information
and its proper management. It is upon a common source
adequate and well managed information that parties
involved in housing delivery processes can efficiently
and co-ordinatively execute.. their respective tasks .
Lastly, the systems theory concepts are
highlighted since they have significant impact on how
organizations are viewed. They provide a basis for
understanding the nature of organizations, their
problems and their opportunities. In the housing
delivery processes, the systems concepts can be used
by viewing the several actors involved as subsystems
. The concepts further offer approaches that
can be used by heads of the various institutions in
managing their respective agencies. On similar lines
the central agency charged with co-ordinating
activities of all other agencies could utilize the
concepts in effecting this essential role.
In the study it was found that the existing
institutional framework lacked adequate compliance
with these fundamental framework of organizational
theory and where these were applied, the
organizational policies and procedures tended to be
too rigid and bureaucratic to suit the expected
efficiency. Also the general attitudes of individuals
involved rendered use of the principles ineffective.
A combination of all these factors largely contributed
to inefficient framework in charge of housing delivery
in Kenya.
A major conclusion was that good management of
each separate agency should be seen in the light of
benefiting the whole housing sector. There is
therefore need that operating organizational
structures, communication and information flow and
management are reviewed with a view to adopting
policies and procedures which will encourage an
integrated approach among all agencies in the housing
sector.
Sponsorhip
The University of NairobiPublisher
Department of Economics