Challenges of strategy implementation within the Kenyan Public Corporations: the case of National Social Security Fund (NSSF)

Abstract

Strategy is the link between the organization and the external environment. The environment presents both opportunities and threats to the organizations operating in it and it is upon every such organization to devise ways to exploit the opportunities and minimize the effects ofthe threats. This call for development of a strategy that helps articulate the objectives the organization hopes to achieve and map out the optimal route to the attainment of the same.

Strategy needs to be implemented successfully in order for the organization to realize the goals it hopes to achieve and for which the strategy was developed. However, implementation of strategy is not without challenge. It remains one of the most difficult areas of management. Considerable thought, energy and resources are given over to devising a strategic plan (Johnson and Scholes 2002).

The objective of the study was to establish the challenges of implementing strategy among the Kenyan Public Corporations using the case of NSSF. It also sought to establish the measures NSSF has put in place to address the identified challenges.

The research was conducted by way of a case study. Face to face interviews were done with ten out of the fourteen Heads of Departments of NSSF using an interview guide. Content analysis technique was then used to analyse the data by giving emphasis to certain concepts that are determined by the frequency of certain words and phrases emanating from the interviews.

The study found out that there are several challenges that mitigate against strategy implementation at NSSF. The most prevalent of them are such as resistance to change, organizational politics, communication barriers and poor control of the implementation process