Strategic Planning Practices and Public Service Delivery: A Case of Alternative Livelihood
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Date
2024-10
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
Strategic planning has been touted as important for public service institutions to align their resources and actions with their goals and objectives to improve their ability to deliver services. This study assessed how strategic planning practices influences public service delivery. Specifically, the research analyzed how strategy formulation affects public service delivery in Samburu County government's alternative livelihood projects; examined how strategy implementation affects public service delivery in Samburu County government’s alternative livelihood projects; and assessed how strategy evaluation affects public service delivery in Samburu County government’s alternative livelihood projects. The study applied the Resource Based View theory which indicates that resources need to be aligned with the strategic choices of organizations if intended results are to be achieved. The study applied a descriptive research design collected data using questionnaires from 166 County government officers, recipients of alternative livelihood projects and technical experts. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found that Samburu County has a strategic plan outlining the vision and mission of the County. The most successful projects in the County were poultry farming projects, crop farming projects, and apiculture in that order. This study found that aquaculture projects have no beneficiaries thus unsuccessful. At formulation stage, there was average involvement of the public. The County is equipped and has capabilities (skills, resources and leadership) to formulate a strategic plan for improving service delivery. Alternative livelihood projects averagely meet the vision, mission and strategic objectives of the County. Another finding is that Samburu County government did not implement the projects in a timely manner; quality of organisation culture and conducive environment were also below average in implementation stage. There is also low approval rating for efficiency levels of the County to utilize resources. At strategy evaluation stage, there are performance management systems used by the County government to evaluate projects. However, there lacks continuous evaluation and the level of monitoring of the internal and external project environments for potential adjustments is in doubt. Further, the quality of M&E is below standard and the County does not conduct outcome evaluation to check the results or even effectiveness of alternative livelihood projects. Lastly, there is a sustainability concern of the projects. This study shows that public service delivery by the County has not fulfilled major requirements that lead to success therefore, contributing to average performance of alternative livelihood projects as a form of public service. This study concluded that there is a general satisfaction with effectiveness of alternative livelihood projects to meet needs of intended beneficiaries. The recommends that there is need for in-depth participation among all stakeholders in strategic planning practices; implementation should factor in proper utilization of resources; human and financial resources should be adequately factored in; there should be continuous and regular project evaluation.
Description
Research Project Submitted to the School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Public Policy and Administration of Kenyatta University, October 2024
Supervisor:
1.Jane G. Njoroge