Strategic responses of christian community Services organizations (CCS) in kenya to changes in Their environment

Abstract

This research was a census survey, which sought to find out the strategic responses of Christian Community Services (CCS) in Kenya to changes in their environment. The need for this study arose from the fact that Christian Community Services (CCS) plays a critical role in shaping the lives of Kenyan Communities by involvement in community development. The manner in which CCS responds to environmental changes is therefore of great interest to all the stakeholders.Organization's success or failure is to a large extent dependent on making the right strategic decisions- upon doing the right things rather than doing things right (Howe, 1986) Economic recession, inflation, poverty, political instability, insecurity and uncertainty, mY/AIDS, income inequality between the rich and the poor people. Computerization, the Internet and mobile telephone were identified as the major changes that had taken place in the country during the period. The study revealed that the CCS responded to these challenges by coming with appropriate strategies. Findings also reveal that the most popular strategy used by Christian Community Services in order to effectively respond to environmental changes are cost control, partnership, cooperation and networking. The study also revealed that CCS had responded to these changes through such initiatives such as introduction of income generating .~ activities, organizational restructuring, diversification, Investment in human resource development, formulation and implementation of strategic planning and computerization. To respond more appropriately to environmental changes, the CCS will need to appreciate more on the environmen1: they are operating in and appreciate more on how the environmental changes are affecting them and come up with strategies that will enable them to respond appropriately to those changes.