Effects of Downsizing on Organizational Performance: A Case of the Kenyan Civil Service
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Date
2007
Authors
Omolo, Grace Aoko
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Downsizing has been widely used by many organizations as an effective method of
reducing employment cost and improving efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery.
The Civil Service in Kenya is no exception. This study, therefore, attempts to assess the
effects of downsizing on organizational performance of the Civil Service in Kenya.
Between 1963 and 1991, the Kenya Civil Service expanded both in functions and staff
strength. This rapid civil service growth, which reduced the civil servants' population's ratio
from 1: 133 in 1963 to 1:85 in 1992 coupled with low economic growth and high population
growth rate has had a negative impact on service delivery and overall government ability in
provision of improved standards of living to its citizens. This became a concern to the
government and led to the launching of the Civil Service Reform Programme (CSRP) phase 1
in August 1993. The focus of this programme was cost containment through staff downsizing
measure as one of the strategies for improving efficiency and productivity in the Civil
Service. In 1998, the phase II of the programme was launched. The overall goal of the phase
11of the CSRP was. to improve the performance of the civil service through downsizing. By
the year 2000, quite a number of the civil servants had left the civil service through CRSP.
,., The general objective of this study was to assess the effects of downsizing on Civil
Service performance. The specific objectives of the study were fivefold. These were ((a) to
find out the extent to which downsizing has affected efficiency and effectiveness in the civil
service; (b) to assess the degree of performance in the service; (c) to find out the extent to
which working conditions in the Civil Service have improved; (d) to find out the problems
caused by downsizing in the Civil Service; and (e) to find out the benefits of downsizing to
the Civil Service...
Description
A Research Project Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the award
of Master of Business Administration, Kenyatta University, 2007