Managements’ perception of the influence of institutional culture on the implementation of strategic change at Strathmore University

Abstract

As a result of the rapidly changing technological advancements, increased competition and customer expectations, most institutions of higher education and businesses at large are being forced to evolve with their surrounding environment or risk redundancy. This evolution has demanded that a change of perspective, which is sometimes planned and on other occasions emergent be adopted and embraced by institutions that want to operate successfully. There exist several critical dimensions to be considered when implementing such changes. One such dimension is the prevailing Organizational Culture. This study was conducted as a case study to gain an understanding of Strathmore University’s Managements Perception on the influence of culture on the implementation of strategic change at the university. The researcher constructed questionnaires which were administered to managers and relevant data collected. Findings of the study suggest that the cultural aspect of the organization is critical towards successful change implementation in the university. It was noted that the existing organizational structure and policies were supportive of the intended strategic changes. However there existed gaps in the information relayed and available to lower cadre employees. Informal cultural dimensions were notably given little concern and could thus be hindering the successful implementation and roll out of the strategy as intended. A lack of awareness amongst employees and poor communication channels were seen to be major hindrances to change implementation. To bridge this gap, it was recommended that training for employees be enhanced an that the communication channels within the organization be reviewed to keep everyone abreast of the on goings of the institution.