Challenges in Strategic Planning in the Dairy Cooperatives in Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

The aim of the research project was to investigate if the dairy cooperative societies in the Kiambu County practice strategic planning and the challenges they faced in strategic planning. The study population consisted of all the dairy cooperative societies which were 17 and primary data was collected by use of self-administered questionnaires. These questionnaires were structured into key themes and content including the cooperative information, strategic planning and challenges in strategic planning. The project findings showed that about 91% of the cooperatives were more than 40 years old and all the respondents had vision, mission statements and strategic plans with most of them having a time horizon of 5 years and were documented. All the respondents indicated that they understood the contents of the strategic plans and majority (64%) always challenged the cooperative strategic direction. The project results also illustrated the major challenges which affected strategic planning. According to the study findings, these include financial constraints, rapidly changing market trends and complexity of the operating environment in that order. Other challenges include infrastructure specifically poor road network, high competition and lack of members' loyalty. Most of the cooperatives used less than 10% of their budget on strategic planning and majority of the respondents agreed that their strategic plans and strategies were flexible and changed frequently