| dc.description.abstract | The main objective of this study was to determine the strategic management practices adopted by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Westlands Division, Nairobi. The study also sought to establish the strategic management challenges such enterprises face in their operations. The research employed a descriptive survey design to obtain a sample of SMEs from the listing of the sampling frame containing 84 SMEs in Westlands Division.
A sample of seventy four SMEs was identified and selected for this study. Out of this, fifty (50) enterprises responded, representing a response rate of 67.6%. Respondents were either owners or managers who had the responsibility of shaping the strategic direction of the enterprise. A structured questionnaire was designed and used to capture data to address the objectives of this study. Both qualitative and quantitative primary data were collected. The questionnaire instrument was divided into three sections. Section one focused on the demographic profile of the respondents, Section two dealt with data on strategic management practices, while Section three addressed itself to the strategic management challenges that SMEs face.
The data collected was checked for consistency and then analysed to amve at vanous conclusions. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, and mean scores were used to analyze and describe the data. The standard deviation measure of dispersion was used to show the spread of the data where appropriate. Bar graphs, pie charts, and tables were used to present the data.
The study found that surveyed SMEs have adopted strategic management practices in order to facilitate efficient management and achieve better performance. SMEs reported that they adopted major strategic management practices proposed in strategic management theory and also reported in the literature review from stli1tes··conducted in other industries. The study found that SMEs have benefited from instituting strategic managemeirt})f3Ctices as such practices have helped these organizations better respond to the turbulent environment resulting in organizational survival and profitability.
This researcher proposes that future studies explore the relationship between education levels of managers and the extent to which they employ strategic management practices. Further research may also be done to establish the relationship between ownership of business enterprises, that is, whether local or foreign, and how such ownership is related to employment of strategic management practices. | en_US |
