| dc.description.abstract | This study was focused on examining the perceptions of managers on the relationship between devolution of strategic planning and performance in the soft drinks industry in Kenya. The firm's selected for this study were Nairobi Bottlers Ltd, East African Breweries Ltd and Softa Bottling Company. The research design used in the study is descriptive survey approach, data was collected by use of questionnaire and analysis of the results was both quantitative and qualitative.
The study established that most respondents were of the view that devolving strategic planning gives several benefits to the organization. First and foremost, devolving strategic planning was seen to empower and prepare middle level managers for top level jobs. It was also established that some middle level managers may have more experience in an organization and know more about the company than top level managers and , therefore their contribution in decision making would be of much benefit to the organization. In addition, devolving the strategic plan helps create ownership of the organization goals and enhance performance.
It also emerged that most managers hold the opinion that devolving the strategic plan makes decision making a fairly fast process and reaction to issues rather spontaneous and timely. These perceptions were directly supported by the performance of the organizations that were under study, all reporting successive firm. profitability year after year following adoption of a devolved system of strategic planning.
It is recommended that further research be conducted on the impact of what is being devolved (carrying out of tasks only or both carrying out of tasks and decision making), whether the gains of devolving strategic planning on the performance of the firm is dependent on the size of the firm and whether the duration covered by the strategic plan has a bearing on the perforinance of the organization. | en_US |
