Strategy implementation and its challenges at the National Cereals and Produce Board, Kenya.

Abstract

Despite the various studies on the challenges of strategy implementation by State Corporations and how these organizations have responded to the challenges, there has been no focus on State Corporation under the agricultural sector, and more so those performing both social and commercial roles. The research sought to close this gap by focusing on the National Cereals and Produce Board. The study employed a case design and utilized both primary and secondary data. The objectives of the study were to establish strategy implementation, the implementation challenges and how these challenges are addressed by National Cereals and Produce Board. The study established that N.C.P.B has a strategic plan (2009– 2013), but, the findings show that, to date, the overall company performance in strategy implementation is poor. This was attributed to a number of factors including; failure to implement relevant policies, unsupportive organizational structure and culture, resistance to change, inadequate resources and government interference among others. On how the organization addresses the challenges, the study established that apart from borrowing from financial institution, N.C.P.B resorts to asking for more government funding. The organization has also embarked on employee training, developing communication system and is currently considering aligning its organizational structure to the strategy in place. The study recommends that the administrative and legal controls by the central government under the authorities of the various government policies and statutes be in cognizance of the commercial basis of the entity under the N.C.P.B and be given autonomy from the government.