Strategy implementation challenges of firms in the packaging industry in Nairobi.

Abstract

This is a management research study, with special focus on strategy implementation challenges and strategies used in dealing with challenges encountered during strategy implementation, by packaging firms in Nairobi. Strategy implementation remains very critical yet the most difficult phase in strategic management process, even a good strategy would still fail if the implementation is not thoroughly planned and executed well. The objectives of this study were twofold; first, was to determine challenges encountered by packaging firms in Nairobi and second was to establish how packaging firms in Nairobi were coping with challenges encountered during strategy implementation. The study was based on census survey where all packaging firms in Nairobi were surveyed. According to the Ministry of Trade and Industry Directory, there were 30 packaging firms based in Nairobi, all of them were surveyed out of which 26 firms responded representing 86%. The study relied heavily on primary data which was collected using questionnaire method, email, drop-and-pick methods were used to distribute and collect the questionnaires. Brief follow up interviews were conducted in cases more information and/or clarifications were sought. Being s descriptive study, mean scores standard deviations, percentages and frequencies were used to measure and compare the research findings. Just like in the literature review of this study, the research findings clearly show that strategy implementation challenges affected all industries be it profitable or non profitable. According to the findings of this study, packaging firms in Nairobi face strategy implementation challenges which were mainly of internal in nature. From this study, it is clear that packaging firms in Nairobi perceive poor leadership style, wrong strategic choice, poor management of resources and global trends in the industry as the major challenges with significant effect during strategy implementation. Since these major challenges are mainly of internal nature, it implies that the packaging firms in Nairobi have control over them and can manage them well with proper strategies put in place. On the impact, the study shows that poor leadership style, wrong strategic choice and poor management of resources pose the greatest impact.