Strategy Implementation Practices at the Kenya Post Office Savings Bank
Abstract
Strategy implementation is the execution of tactics both internally and externally so that
the organization moves in the desired strategic direction. Kenya Post Office Savings
Bank like many other organizations in the public sector adopted strategic management
in its operations in the year 2005. The research sought to establish the strategy
implementation practices of the organization and the factors that influence strategy
implementation in the organization. To achieve these objectives interviews were
conducted through use of interview guides, with interviewees being from key
departments involved in strategy implementation. The responses were captured and
analyzed through content analysis. The study established that strategy implementation
at Kenya Post Office Savings Bank includes distribution of ample resources to strategy
essential activities, creating and employing strategy supportive policies and programs
for continuous improvement, continuous monitoring and evaluation of strategy and
linking reward structure to achievement of results. The organization also adopts the
push approach of operationalizing strategy of implementing pre-defined strategy with
step by step activities getting closer to the organizational objectives. Institutionalization
is achieved through proper training, creation of awareness and development of
procedures that guide implementation ensuring that new strategy becomes business as
usual. Factors that encourage strategy implementation include good leadership, staff
involvement in strategy formulation, continuous monitoring and evaluation of strategy
implementation. The hindering factors of strategy implementation include lack of
adequate resources, poor communication of strategy, and lack of commitment to
strategy by management, employee attitude, resistance to change, slow decision
making, legal and political constraints and distorted reward structure. It is
recommended that the organization consider all staff involvement in strategy
formulation, clearly communicate strategy to all cadres of staff, strengthen commitment
of management to strategy, review the reward structure and strive towards a change in
the organizational culture. Future research should be done as a survey of different
organizations to enable comparison and target the other stakeholders like the customers.
This study’s findings have put forth recommendations to the management of the
organization, policy makers, and employees. It has also provided supporting evidence
to key theories of strategy implementation thus contributing to the body of knowledge.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Description
Thesis Master of Business Administration