Challenges Of Strategy Implementation At Ritho Farmers Cooperative Society

Abstract

The environment in which organizations, whether for profit or non-profit, private or public operate in is dynamic and highly unpredictable. Due to the constant changes, organizations are required to continuously adapt so as to strategically meet the evolving challenges and exploit emerging opportunities to ensure survival and success. Without successful implementation of formulated strategies, the organization will not obtain the intended results. Ritho Farmers Cooperative Society is not an exception to the environmental changes and as a result has formulated its strategic plan 2010/2014. The researcher carried out this management research study with special focus on two objectives; to determine strategy implementation challenges and establish measures taken in dealing with challenges encountered during strategy implementation at Ritho FCS. To achieve the stated objectives a case study research design was used, primary data was collected through an interview guide interviewing 8 top managers of the Society. All of them responded representing 100% response rate. The researcher also used any available information from the secondary sources which included the documented strategic plan 2010/2014, documented society policies and procedures, guidelines, society by-laws and working manuals. Content analysis was used to analyze the data which confirmed the main challenges faced by Ritho FCS in their strategies implementation as poor communication, inadequate financial resources, leadership, organization policies and procedures, governance, unpredictable climatic change, and unsound reward system. Other challenges included government policies and procedure, implementers of strategy leaving the Society before implementation, organization politics and marketing. The second objective of the study was to establish the measures the society is undertaking to mitigate the mentioned challenges. The study revealed these measures as; training and development of staff and management as well as farmers on farm management and good agricultural practices; exchange program visits; succession planning; cost cutting measures and partnering with several stakeholders.