Perception by Managers of the Influence of Workforce Diversity on Strategy Implementation Among Manufacturing Firms Listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange

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.