A survey on the use of benchmarking as a continuous improvement tool by the ministry of agriculture parastatals in Kenya

Abstract

This was a survey on the adoption and challenges facing the ministry of agriculture parastatals in Kenya in the use of benchmarking as a continuous improvement tool. The collected data was analyzed and interpreted in line with the objectives of the study. Out of the sixty-two (62) respondents to whom the questionnaires were administered, only thirty-five (35) respondents in the parastatals responded. This gave a response rate of 56% percent.

The study established that their was congruence in the parastatals’ products and services with the market requirements and the marketability of products and services was good, but not excellent. It was also found that most parastatals had systems that facilitated the systematic comparison and evaluation of practice, process and performance with any “best practices or smarter” institutions in improvement and self-regulation.

Four types of benchmarking methods emerged as the most commonly used within the ministry of Agriculture parastatals. This were ; internal benchmarking, competitive/performance benchmarking, external benchmarking and strategic benchmarking.

The main challenges that faced the Ministry of Agriculture parastatals in Kenya in the use of benchmarking technique included; analyzing and gaining a deeper understanding of own processes, scarcity of resources, and unavailability of appropriate benchmarking partners and bureaucracy of government in running of parastatals.