Assessment of Factors Influencing Strategy Implementation in Kenya Tea Development Agency Limited (KTDA) Managed Factories in Kenya

Abstract

Strategy implementation is the turning of plans and strategies into actions so as to accomplish set goals and objectives. Successful strategy implementation is a key for any organization’s survival. For implementation of strategic plans to be successful the business must be willing to commit enough funds and time. Additionally, organizations must make sure that the people charged with implementation are competent and skilled to support the strategic plan. The objective of this study was to assessing the factors influencing strategy implementation in KTDA managed factories. These factors are resources utilization, training and development, culture, and leadership. The study therefore sought to fill the gap and contribute to the body of knowledge by analyzing the factors influencing strategy implementation in KTDA managed factories. To answer the research questions, descriptive statistics was used where sample of 112 respondents from a target population of 378 managers within KTDA managed factories were given questionnaires. A simple random sampling method was used to identify the respondents who were given the questionnaires. The primary data that had been collected was grouped and analyzed using inferential statistics namely; correlation and regression and descriptive statistics and the results presented in charts, graphs, mean and percentages. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between the dependent and independent variables with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS Version 22.0).The results provided statistical evidence that a positive and significant influence exists between strategy implementation and performance of KTDA managed factories. Specifically, four factors were tested in this study were found to be significant and positively influencing on the performance of KTDA managed factories. The study recommends that KTDA should provide enough financial resources that will allow the execution of a strategy because for a strategy to be successfully executed, enough funds should be available. The managers should also point out the unique resources that are in their factories and make a choice on the areas these resources should be used. On culture the study recommends that strategies that need to be implemented should be consistent with the firm’s culture so as to achieve the expected performance results. On training the study recommends that firms should have a structure which can support the implementation of the firm strategy which means the right employees to implement the strategy should be available; the firm should also reinforce the skills and capabilities in their employees through training and capacity building. On leadership the study recommends that coordination of activities, streamlining of processes, aligning the organizational structure, and keeping employees motivated and committed to strategy implementation are key responsibilities of the leadership. In their quest to implement a strategy successful leaders should make sure that the staff acquires the strategy and directs their effort in ensuring its successful implemented..