dc.description.abstract | The development and implementation of strategies by an organization to chart the future
path is an important step taken by managers in the achievement of a firm’s
competitiveness in a competitive environment. However, many firms develop excellent
strategies to counter and adapt to the environmental challenges but suffer a weakness in
the implementation of the same strategies. The policies formulated to manage diversity
aim to implement initiatives, activities, and practices that recognize, promote, or
encourage the differences between groups or people. These elements are seen as positive
values that warrant development to achieve social integration, which can also boost the
productivity of the company and support the democratization of access to opportunities.
The objective of the study was to determine the managers perceptions of the influence of
workforce diversity on strategy implementation among manufacturing firms listed at
Nairobi securities exchange. The study adopted cross sectional survey design. The study
used primary data which were collected through self-administered semi-structured
questionnaires. The data was presented using mean scores, standard deviations,
percentages and frequency distribution tables. The results were presented in tables and
pie chart.
The study found out that workforce diversity leads to improved decision making,
enhanced implementation of customer related strategies, results in the achievement of
strategic targets, enhanced creativity and innovation, increased capacity to complete
projects and increased efficiency of workgroups in achieving organizations strategic
objectives. The implementation of the strategies was supported by the initiatives which
were taken into consideration by the companies and these initiatives included diversity
management that helps create a work environment in which all employees can achieve
their personal goals in line with the overall business objectives, has policies formulated to
manage diversity and to implement initiatives, activities, and practices that recognize,
promote, or encourage the differences between groups or people, values the differences
that stimulate better relationships between employees and encourage the acceptance and understanding of diversity, the companies have made diversity management a structured
process to obtain competitive advantages through a diverse group of employees. | en_US |