Change management practices influencing performance at Kenya Bureau of Standards
Abstract
The world around us is constantly moving forward and getting new dimensions.
Introducing change is necessary, although not solely enough, for ensuring success in
the future. Change is necessary for an organization to focus on repositioning, renewal,
reorganizing and a systematic development. The objective of the study was to
establish the effects of change management practices on performance of Kenya
bureau of standards. The specific objectives were to establish the practices deployed
in management of change by KEBS and to establish the relationship between change
management practices and performance in KEBS. The study utilized a case study
design which allowed the researcher to collect in-depth information, more depth than
in cross-sectional studies with the intention of understanding situations or
phenomenon. It also helped to reveal the multiplicity of factors, which have interacted
to produce the unique character of the entity that is subject of study. The study
utilized primary data, which will be collected using an interview guide. The data
collected was qualitative and was analyzed using content analysis technique. Content
analysis is the systematic qualitative description of the composition of the objects or
materials of the study. The study found that reasons why the organization needed to
change strategically included competition from other firms, desire for growth, need
for improvement in its production process and also due to government regulations.
The study further established that intensified research on best practices in managing
strategic change at Kenya Bureau of Standards was conducted. The research was
usually conducted by the staff, employee themselves, website review, consultants
among others. The study concluded that communication is paramount when trying to
raise the level of understanding of the strategic change management process.
Communication makes it possible for everybody in the organization including the
management staff, the employees among others to know their role in the strategic
management process. It also concluded that strategic change has influenced the
organization performance in positive ways such that it has made the firm to be more
competitive that before, it has increased the productivity of the firm which has
improved the market share thus increasing the profits. The study recommended that
senior management to clearly communicate the vision, mission and objectives of the
change management effort to help the employees understand how those changes will
affect them personally. Delegation of certain aspects of the change program should
clearly explain limits of the responsibilities.
Publisher
University of Nairobi