Information and Communication Technology Talent Management Alignment with Outsourcing: Case of Kenya Power

Abstract

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays a critical role in the survival and growth of business organizations in Kenya. The Government of Kenya, through Kenya Vision 2030 development program has identified Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) as one of the six priority sectors that comprise the Economic Pillar. Increase in ICT investments has seen companies adopt ICT Outsourcing strategy to improve ICT Performance and contain costs. Companies further adopt Talent Management strategy which involves human resource planning to improve business value. The elusive crucial link between ICT Talent Management and ICT Outsourcing has the potential of improving ICT Performance if effectively aligned. This would assist companies survive in the emerging competitive environment occasioned by changes in regulatory framework. The objective of this study was to develop a best practice model for effectively aligning ICT Talent Management with ICT Outsourcing for improved ICT performance. This research was exploratory in nature and adopted a case study approach with Kenya Power as the basis of the study unit. The population of the study consisted of 350 permanent staff in HR (Performance, Recruitment & Benefits), ICT and Customer Services functional areas in Kenya Power. Proportionate stratified sampling was used to select a sample size of 105 respondents which was distributed proportionately across the functional areas. Data was collected using questionnaires that were administered through emails. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data which was then presented using means, standard deviations (SDs), percentages and frequency tables. Factor analysis was further done in order to explore the data for patterns and bring out distinct factors. The research findings helped to develop a best practice model which comprised among other practices; „effective management in justification of, security and sustainability of ICT Outsourced services‟ and „business strategy as the driving force for ICT Outsourcing supported by well managed ICT Talent‟. Adoption of this model will contribute to improved ICT performance and achievement of ITES as envisaged in Kenya‟s Vision 2030 and hence enable businesses through improved quality services.