Competitive Strategies Employed By The Riara Group Of Schools To Gain A Sustainable Competitive Advantage

Abstract

The crafting of strategy represents a managerial commitment to pursue a particular set of actions in growing the business, attracting and pleasing customers, competing successfully, conducting operations, and improving the company’s financial and market performance (Thompson, Strickland and Gamble, 2008). In Kenya, many companies operate in a highly competitive environment. The Private Schools industry is a very competitive environment. Players here have had to put in place competitive strategies to help them achieve a competitive advantage. Riara Group of Schools has adopted competitive strategies which have seen it grow. It boasts of two kindergartens, two primary schools, one high school and a university. This study sought to establish competitive strategies adopted by the Riara Group of Schools to gain a sustainable competitive advantage and challenges that Riara Group of Schools faced while implementing these competitive strategies. The study utilised the case study approach. The data collected was analysed based on the content analysis technique. Findings from this study showed that Riara Group of Schools employed Porter’s generic strategies and select grand strategies to gain a sustainable competitive advantage. The study also established that the Riara Group of Schools faced various challenges when applying competitive strategies. The study concluded that Riara Group of Schools applied competitive strategies in their day to day management and operations. The study recommended that managers of private schools should also apply competitive strategies and should be aware of challenges that come when applying competitive strategies to gain a sustainable competitive advantage