Challenges of strategy implementation at Geomax Consulting Engineers (GCE)

Abstract

Strategy implementation involves translating the strategies plans into action. It is about allocating sufficient resources, assigning responsibilities for specific tasks or processes to specific individuals or groups and establishing a chain of command. Without successful implementation a firm will not obtain the intended results. To survive in this turbulent and unpredictable environment, organizations need strong strategy formulation and Implementation. GCE was forced to draft its first documented corporate strategic plan for the three years period in 2007. The Corporate priorities in the GCE corporate plans focused on customer care, improving profitability, regional expansion, better technology, corporate governance, corporate culture and image. This study therefore sought to determine the challenges facing strategy implementation at GCE and the measures taken by GCE to cope with the challenges. The research was conducted using a case study design since the nature of the research was to determine strategy implementation challenges on a specific consulting firm. The study used primary data collected using guided personal interviews. The respondents were the 5 top level managers in the GCE and 7 directors. Content analysis was employed to process data collected. The study found that there were conflicting priorities in the implementation of strategies and the most important strategies were left unimplemented while the least important were implemented. The study found that strategy implementation at the GCE was facing a challenge in its management styles. Political influence was also seen as a challenge in strategy implementation. On the measures taken to counter the challenges the study found that the company had strategic goals and initiatives to improve communication skills within the organization and with clients so as to improve the employees’ productivity and the organization earnings. The company was also set to use company’s newsletter to communicate strategy objectives, teams involved and the role of each and every team member. The newsletter should also communicate projects time frame, total cost of the strategy and goals and objective of the strategy.