Assessment of Utilization of Adaptive Management Approaches in Project Management: a Case of Mercy Corps Kenya

Abstract

The goal of adaptive management is to facilitate making effective management decisions through an ongoing learning process in order to assist the development of humanitarian projects in challenging and uncertain contexts. Organizations using this approach must be able to adapt their operations in response to new information, environmental changes, and changing social, economic, and consumer preferences. Utilizing the knowledge gained through teamwork and learning exercises leads to better judgments and change, as necessary. The general objective of this study was to assess the utilization of adaptive management approaches in project management, a case study of the Mercy Corps Kenya. The study used primary data collected from Mercy Corps staff interacting with M&E. Convenience sampling was used. Descriptive approaches were utilized to examine the data that was gathered through the use of self-administered online questionnaires that were sent through email utilizing the Google Forms platform. The STATA statistics data editor was used to alter the data and create graphs for analysis. The study's key findings indicated that 70% of the respondents to collaboration, learning, and adaption with enabling conditions around organizational culture, processes, and resources agreed that Mercy Corps Adaptive Management of results is according to CLA guidelines. Teams that have a high level of trust typically perform well. Teams like these are more likely to engage in risk-taking learning behaviour and, consequently, proactive learning-oriented activity, both of which have a beneficial effect on outcomes. As a critical subject for more research, the study advises organizations to increase the technical evidence foundation surrounding CLA's contribution. In order to address one of the most challenging measurement issues in CLA, future studies should compare sound CLA approaches with counterfactuals using a variety of techniques, such as analyses of the data, theories of change, and contribution analysis.