Strategic Management Practices by Kenya Bureau of Standards

Abstract

Strategic management encompasses the development and management of strategic agenda of a company. It is the set of decisions and actions that result in the formulation and implementation of plans designed to achieve a company’s objectives (Pearce & Robinson 2007). Just like private enterprises, public sector organizations also engage in strategic management as reflected in a variety of policy making and administrative activities (Wechsler & Backoff 1986). Although a number of studies have been done on strategic management practices by public sector organizations in Kenya, none has focused on how changes in management and public sector reforms and modernization programmes have influenced the strategic management practices by such organization, the case being Kenya Bureau of Standards. There was need therefore for a study to be carried out focusing on establishing the strategic management practices by Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS). From the findings, it can be concluded that KEBS has adopted a planning mode of strategy formulation and has documented its vision and mission statements. It can also be concluded that KEBS’s strategic stance and actions are greatly influenced by the regulatory frameworks and policies put in place by the government. The regulatory instruments such as performance contracting which the Kenya government introduced were found to be instrumental in strategy evaluation at KEBS. However, KEBS should consider using other tools such as balance scorecard for effective implementation and evaluation of its strategic plan. Further research is recommended on how strategic management practices adopted by KEBS have contributed to performance and customer satisfaction