Integration of corporate governance in strategic management at the ethics and anti-corruption commission

Abstract

Corporate governance issues are of great concern in the world today because of its influences on the effectiveness and relevance of an organization’s strategy. Organizations are more than ever, under increased pressure to be proactive in reforming various aspects of corporate governance to protect stakeholders’ interests. A weak corporate governance results in weak organizational strategy, which seriously compromises the strategic positioning and success of an organization. The objective of this study was to determine the integration of corporate governance practices in strategic management at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. The research design adopted by the study was a case study. The study used primary as well as secondary data. The primary data were collected using an interview guide where as the secondary data were obtained from the Commission’s manuals. The data was analyzed qualitatively using content analysis. The study found out that the commission practised corporate governance as evidenced by presence of a robust corporate governance instruments such as code of conduct, audit committee and a functional board/commissioners. Corporate governance has been incorporated in commission’s strategic management as indicated in the commission’s current strategic plan. From the findings, it was concluded that the major challenge faced in implementing corporate governance at Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission was mainly due to external political constraints and lack of internal stakeholder participation during strategy formulation. vi Arising from the findings, it was recommended that the Government of Kenya addresses political constraints affecting the Commission, and the Commission in turn encourages stakeholder participation in strategy formulation.