The Influence of Strategic Decisions on Performance of Secondary Schools in Nakuru Sub County in Kenya

Abstract

This study examined the influence of strategic decisions on performance of secondary schools in Nakuru Sub County. The study had one objective: To determine the influence of strategic decisions on performance of secondary schools in Nakuru Sub County. The study used research design (descriptive survey) to collect data and descriptive statistics (frequency distribution, cumulative frequencies and standard deviation) to analyze quantitative data. The study found out that the decision making process is used by secondary schools between a moderate and very large extent, that is, evaluates plan before implementation, explores and integrates ideas, commitment and support in strategic decisions, implementations, selects the best alternative, an enabling environment, board of management investigates alternatives in detail and communication of decisions to all, are used by different secondary schools in a large and very large extent. Incorporation of new technologies is used by secondary schools in a moderate extent. The study through regression analysis found that 72.5% of the variations in mean score is explained by the variations in the independent variables (hiring of competent staff, reduction of costs of running the school, improved infrastructural development, improved academic performance, increased number of students, strategic plan implementation and achievement of set targets). Through the analysis of variance, the F calculated at 5% level of significance was 14.153 since F calculated is greater than the F critical (value = 2.17).The F significance value of 0.00 indicated that regression model has probability of 0% of giving wrong prediction. This shows that the overall model was significant hence there is a positive relationship between dependent variable and independent variables. However, there were limitations in the study. For instance, the findings of this study are specific to the secondary schools in Nakuru Sub County. The data was collected by Likert scale questionnaires hence, the results might have biases of the respondents reflected in the results and therefore a possibility that if respondents were different, the results might be different. Some secondary schools were not ready to participate in answering the questionnaires, citing lack of time and others confidentiality of their data. The study recommends that all secondary schools in Kenya should adopt these strategic decisions in order to improve their performance. The study suggests further research to be conducted to find out reasons why some of these secondary schools have not yet implemented strategic decisions. Also a similar study should be conducted in other sectors like the hospitals, manufacturing firms and banking industry.