Perceived Influence of Strategic Planning and Strategy Implementation on Performance of Environmental Non-governmental Organizations in Kenya

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to determine the influence of strategic planning and strategy implementation on performance of environmental Non-Governmental Organizations in Kenya. Organizations from both the private and public sector are increasingly embracing the practice of strategic planning and implementation in anticipation that this would translate to improved performance. The objective of strategic planning is to align an organization’s activities with its environment, thereby providing for its continuing survival and effectiveness. Strategy implementation has attracted much less attention in strategic and organizational research than strategy formulation or strategic planning. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey as it tries to describe data and characteristics about the population or phenomenon being studied. The target population for this study is 102 environmental and conservation Non-Governmental Organizations in Kenya according to Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Board as at 30th august 2017. The study used a census survey since the targets were all environmental NGOs in Kenya. Both primary and secondary data were collected for the purpose of this study. Primary data were collected using a questionnaire. The data was then analyzed using descriptive statistics. The descriptive statistical tool was used to help the researcher to describe the data with interpretation in percentages, frequencies mean score and standard deviation. The findings were presented using tables and graphs for further analysis and to facilitate comparison. The study established out that Non-Governmental Organizations adopt methods that include business excellence, enhanced operations management, improve corporate image, quality management and performance management to support strategic planning. The study showed that, existing strategic plans embody shared values and norms that help to ensure organizational performance, as major changes are implemented. The study established that strategic planning is paramount to strategy implementation. Key factors of strategic planning lies on organizational design and the process of selecting the right combination of organizational structure, the study therefore recommends that Non-Governmental Organizations in Kenya needs to monitor and oversee its organizational design process to achieve superior performance and overall impact. Organizational planning is the backbone of how the organizational factors operate within and outside the organization. It gives the organization a foundation of how it interacts with itself and with other stakeholders and may lead to the growth or downfall of the organization. The study revealed that Non-Governmental Organizations in Kenya have ignored this crucial factor and thus recommends that the policy makers and managers pay attention to the organizational planning and streamline in to fit the company goals that should be driven towards implementation of strategic plans.