Strategy Implementation Practices and Change Implementation in Selected Public Universities in Kenya

Abstract

Successful change implementation is important to any organization either public or private. Change is inevitable and organizations in the modern world are operating under ever-changing demands. It is important for the organization to implement change initiatives successfully and effectively to achieve organizational goals. Inability to implement changes in public universities has not only resulted in inefficiency and ineffectiveness in service delivery but also contributed to lecturers and students strikes. The study sought to investigate strategic implementation practices and change implementation in public universities in Kenya. The research objectives that guided that study were to determine the effects of strategic leadership, organizational culture and employee empowerment on change implementation in public universities in Kenya. The study was anchored on Kurt Lewis theory and McKinsey 7S Model. The study employed a descriptive research design to investigate the problem under investigation. The target population comprised of 309 employees of 5 selected universities. The sample size of the population constituted of 174 respondents selected from teaching and non-teaching staff of 5 universities selected in the study. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires with open and closed-ended questions. Quantitative data was analyzed using ANOVA and regression analysis. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis method where key themes were analyzed and deductive conclusions were made based on the theories adopted. Correlation and regression analysis method were conducted to determine the statistical relationship between the variables of the study. The descriptive analysis involved the use of mean scores, standard deviation, and percentages as well as presented in form of tables and charts. The study concludes that for effective competitiveness, public universities should strive to embrace strategic implementation practices such as employee empowerment, strategic leadership, and organizational culture. The study recommends that public universities should seek to sponsor teaching and non-teaching staff, delegate responsibility, appoint employees on administrative posts based on implementation experience and encourage teamwork and communication by reorganizing the structures thus enhanced efficiency and effectiveness.