Challenges facing National Social Security Fund Sacco Kenya in the implementation of strategy

Abstract

Strategy implementation is one of the components of strategic management and refers to a set of decisions and actions that result in the formulation and implementation of long term plans designed to achieve organizational objectives. Organizations face various challenges while implementing strategies and these include: competing activities that distract attention from implementing the decision; changes in responsibilities of key employees not clearly defined; key formulators of the strategic decision not playing an active role in implementation; problems requiring top management involvement not communicated early enough; key implementation tasks and activities not sufficiently defined; information systems used to monitor implementation are inadequate; overall goals not sufficiently understood by employees; uncontrollable factors in the external environment; advocates and supporters of the strategic decision leaving the organization during implementation and implementation taking more time than originally allocated. The main barriers to the implementation of strategies include lack of coordination and support from other levels of management and resistance from lower levels and lack of or poor planning activities.

The purpose of this study was to establish the challenges facing the National Social Security Fund SACCO in the implementation of strategies. Data for this study was obtained from seven senior and middle level managers within the SACCO since because they have taken part in strategy implementation within the SACCO and therefore had adequate and reliable information. The qualitative data obtained from the study was logically arranged into themes and presented in prose.

The findings of the study revealed that the SACCO has not put in place proper management system to ensure the effective implementation of strategies, this has made the strategic goals and objectives of the SACCO appear ambiguous to some of the staff involved in their implementation. Poor management system within the organization has contributed to lack of accountability, efficiency and transparency. The changing environment at within the SACCO as a result strategic plans was also noted as a major challenge that the staff experience as a part of their working life as a result of implementation of strategies.