Challenges of Strategy Implementation in the National Government Ministries in Kenya

Abstract

A number of organizations undergo challenges in implementing strategies in order to achieve a particular level of performance standards. The challenges have been encountered by many organizations irrespective of their levels of experience in the areas in which they operate. The study aimed at determining the challenges of strategy implementation in National Government Ministries in Kenya. The study is important to policy makers; the results of this study would be beneficial to strategic management body in various ministries in formulating policies that govern strategy implementation in the ministries. To the academicians the study contributes to the body of knowledge which benefits scholars and researchers and simulate further research in this field of strategy implementation. The study was guided by the following theories; Institutional theory, Resource-Based View Theory, Stakeholders Theory and Bourgeois & Brodwin‟s Five Models of Strategy. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey in analyzing challenges of strategy implementation in Government Ministries in Kenya. A survey was deemed to be appropriate for this study because it brought out the unique challenges that impact strategy implementation. This study targeted three senior administrator respondents in every ministry or equivalent for various ministries. The study used census method and focused on all 20 National Government Ministries in Kenya. A census is a form of study that analyzes every unit, all individuals and every aspect of the unit being studied. It is referred to as a complete enumeration, which means a complete count. Primary data was obtained by the use of a structured questionnaire. The respondents were provided with the questionnaires by manual delivery at their respective ministries. The questionnaire was designed in a more uniform manner so that responses could provide answers to similar questions. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive. Descriptive statistics is a technique used in presenting and organizing data these include: tabulation, diagrams, graphs and certain numerical procedures all which aim at summarizing the material in a form which display its distinctive features that aid analysis. The study found that strategy implementation process in national government ministries in Kenya is faced with numerous challenges including, poor organizational structure, in adequate financial time and human resources, bureaucracy in organizational structure and culture. Strategy formulation process forms the direction and foundation for smooth implementation of organizations strategic plan. Strong culture promoted the implementation of strategic plan in movement resource allocation is a central management activity that allows for smooth strategy execution in national government ministries. The study recommends that government ministries should formulate clear strategic plan that provides vision and mission, identifies the ministries external opportunities and threats, determines internal strengths and weaknesses, and establishes long-term objectives to follow. Most of the respondents were very busy due to the fact that they were senior managers in charge of planning of the ministry and therefore were not in a position to provide all the necessary information. The study encountered unwillingness by respondents to reveal information which was considered as confidential. Some respondents who were given questionnaires did not stick to the dates for handing over of questionnaires, which delayed the data collection part of the research. The study proposed that similar study should be carried out on exploring the relationship between organizational policies and strategy implementation process.