Munywoki, Francis Wambua2024-08-012024-08-012024-05https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/28558A Research Project Submitted to the School of Business, Economics and Tourism in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Award of the Degree of Master of Business Administration (Strategic Management Option) of Kenyatta University, May, 2024 Supervisors: Mary NamusongeFollowing poor performance and failure to meet public expectations, the State Department of Sports is under pressure to improve its service delivery and meet its objectives. These failures have created a compelling reason for embracing proper strategic management practices. This study investigated the effect of strategic management practices on the performance of the State Department of Sports in Nairobi City County. The study specifically assessed the effect of strategy formulation on the performance of the State Department of Sports in Nairobi City County; examined the effect of strategy implementation on the State Department of Sports performance in Nairobi City County; determined the effect of strategy evaluation on the State Department of Sports performance in Nairobi City County; and examined the effects of strategy control on the State Department of Sports performance in Nairobi City County. The theories that guided the study are the situational leadership theory, resource-based view, dynamic capability theory, and the balanced scorecard model. This study adopted the use of a descriptive research design to implement the research strategy. The targeted population consisted of 80 State Department of Sports employees. Data was collected from a sample of employees using stratified random sampling. Data in the study was collected using questionnaires. The validity of the questionnaire was tested by the expert opinion method. Reliability was tested using Cronbach's alpha coefficients. A pilot study was conducted using eight seasonal employees from the Department, which aided in testing the feasibility of the questionnaires. Data collected were examined using descriptive and inferential statistics, and presentation was done using frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation. The study findings showed that the State Department of Sports’ performance was significantly affected and determined by strategy formulation, strategy implementation, strategy evaluation, and strategy control, which provides direction for developing plans to achieve objectives. The results analysis also showed that strategy formulation, implementation, strategy evaluation, and control were statistically significant to the State Department of Sports’ performance. The study concludes that strategic management practices are the action plans or strategies that ensure performance targets of organizations are met. Through their effective integration, organizations can thrive as they allow organizations to put forward strategic plans into practice and analyze areas of operational improvement. The study recommends that government organizations should commit to strategic management practices fully when managing and running all their operations. Their successfully integrating would make it easier to develop plans and policies and implement them in order to achieve their goals and objectives.enThesis