Response Strategies Adopted by Oil Libya (Kenya) Limited to Changes Affecting the Oil Industry

Abstract

The environment in which organizations operate is dynamic and changes from time to time. Organizations are open systems and thus cannot operate without interactions with the environment. Organizations are linked to the environment by strategy. They have to adopt strategies that match the environment in order to be successful. Response strategies are important to companies since they operate in an environment that is constantly changing. When companies do not consider their response strategies or rather do not match the environment they operate in, they are likely to fail and become less competitive in the market. Companies are required to scan the environment and develop matching strategies to remain competitive in the market.

The study done was about response strategies adopted by Oilibya (Kenya) limited to changes affecting the environment. The objectives of the study were to establish the response strategies adopted by Oilibya and to establish the challenges encountered while implementing the response strategies. Oilibya (Kenya) company operates in a competitive environment and to remain successful it has to develop response strategies that match the environment.

The research design was a case study. This design aids the researcher in getting wholistic view of an event or situation, a view that includes the context as well as the details. The unit of study was Oilibya (Kenya) limited. Primary data was collected through interviews by the help of an interview guide which enhances in-depth data collection. The data collected was analyzed by use of content analysis. From the research findings it was clear that Oilibya develops new response strategies from time to time to match the external and internal environment.

The response strategies are required to be simple, clear and easy to implement. Oilibya faces major challenges while implementing the response strategies which at times make the organization not to achieve their goal and objectives. The researcher encountered some limitations during data collection. The respondents targeted were the departmental heads and the company's Managing Director.

The Managing Director was not available for the interview but the researcher was able to cover up his absence by getting comprehensive information from the departmental heads. The study wishes to recommend further research on the critical success factors for the implementation of response strategies. This is mainly because successful implementation .of strategies is a major challenge to organizations.