Strategic Responses to Climate Change by Safaricom Plc

Abstract

Response strategies to climate change are critical to any organization that is looking to survive in the current climate change environment. Effects of climate change are severely impacting the low- and middle-income nations. These impacts include hotter than usual temperatures, increased drought, severe storms, warming and rising of oceans, loss of biodiversity, lack of enough food, health risks, poverty and displacement. All these impacts affect organizations directly or indirectly by reducing access to raw materials, skilled human capital and market for its goods and services. Safaricom PLC, like many other organisations in the telecommunication industry, is being ravaged by the effects of climate change. The study aimed to look at the strategic responses to climate change by Safaricom PLC. To obtain in-depth information on these responses a case study research methodology was adopted. Face-to-face interviews were carried out with 5 senior managers with in-depth knowledge in the topic of study. This information was analyzed using content analysis method that looked at similar terms and concepts that emerged during the interviews. The findings from the study included various strategic responses in business process operations and the products and services that Safaricom PLC offers its customers. All the respondents acknowledge the negative effects of climate change in their area of specialization. They also acknowledged the organization’s involvement in a strategic management process in coming up with response strategies. These responses include climate resilient infrastructure, strategic location and ownership, sustainable financing, frequent reporting and product or services strategic responses. The respondents believed that there was still more the organisation could do in order to respond effectively to effects of climate change. The case study, however, only concentrated on Safaricom PLC, there is room for further research on other telecommunication companies and other organisations outside the sector