Challenges of Strategy Implementation: a Study of International Non-governmental Organizations in Kenya

Abstract

The success of a strategy is defined as much by the soundness of the strategy itself as by the implementation of the strategy. Even though INGOs benefit from abundant resources and capabilities coming from firm traits and aptitudes, designing the organizational structures and processes that best support the strategies they deploy and using the resources and capabilities that suit the demand of their external opportunities is mandatory in realizing their objectives. This study sought to determine the challenges faced by INGOs in Kenya while cascading their strategies. This study was anchored on open systems theory and resource-based theory. Descriptive research was used to determine the factors affecting strategy implementation in INGOs in Kenya. The population of interest consisted of all Humanitarian international NGOs operating in Kenya under the umbrella of the National Councils of NGOs. This research used primary data, which was collected by the use of a structured questionnaire. Percentages were used to summarize the responses on the general information section of the questionnaire. To find out the key factors that influence the implementation of strategies, factor analysis was conducted to reduce the dimensions and give better suggestions of factors considered when implementing strategies. The study revealed that at international NGO's in Kenya, company upward and downward feedback between the top management and lower-level employees facilitates strategy implementation. In addition, the study established that at international NGOs in Kenya, employees of these organizations are encouraged to practice the core values of the organization, which enable strategy implementation. Further, the study established that at international NGOs in Kenya, the top management of this organization is committed to the strategic direction. The study recommends that the management of NGOs consider putting in place structures that support their strategies. The INGOs develop cultures supportive of implementing a strategy to ensure that all the strategies are properly implemented at all levels. The international NGOs in Kenya need to increase technical capacity to implement the strategy. It should train the employees to boost the human resource capacity in the county in the implementation of the strategy.