Implementation of Expansion Strategy at Makini Schools, Kenya

Abstract

Expansion strategy is an organization’s attempt towards growth relative to its previous performance and size. The dynamic business environment demands continuous adjustments in business planning and activities and as such organizations are devising ways of being relevant and competitive such as resorting to expansion so as to broaden the scope of their operations. This study sought to establish how expansion strategy had been implemented at Makini Schools Kenya. The study objectives were to establish how expansion strategy had been implemented at Makini Schools Kenya, to determine challenges of implementing expansion strategy and to determine measures to deal with the challenges. The study was anchored on Institutional Theory and Theory of the Firm. The research design for the study was a case study. Primary data was collected through personal interviews using an interview guide. The interviewees were drawn from top management and Head Teachers of Makini Schools in Kenya. Content analysis method was adopted during data analysis. The study established that the expansion strategy implementation at Makini School used a top down approach. The expansion strategies adopted by the school was physical branch distribution network within Nairobi and Kisumu, infrastructure development and acquisitions. The study established that Makini Schools faced various challenges in its implementation of expansion strategy that included; Inadequate internal communication, lack of ownership of the expansion strategy implementation process mostly by the junior staffs due to inadequate information on what was expected of them, insufficient allocation of resources more so the human resource, The study identified some measures the school had put in place to mitigate the challenges such as, improved staff involvement, building and nurturing healthy relationships, enhancing communication among staffs and having flexible expansion strategy goals that involves staff participation. The study concludes that Makini Schools exploits its available resources to implement its expansion strategies. The study recommends proper training in order to align culture and structure of the School to the expansion strategy implementation, and for the employees to get more committed and own the process.