The Relationship between Organizational Culture and Human Resource practices in the Kenyan Manufacturing Industry

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the relationship between Organizational culture and Human resource practices in the Kenyan Manufacturing Industry. Sixty-seven (67) manufacturing companies registered with Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM)were used as the sample. The objective of the study was to find out if differences in Human Resource Practices among organizations are related to the differences in their Organizational Culture. The study was based on primary data, which was collected using a questionnaire.

Data was obtained from 38% of the sixty-seven companies and analysed. The findings of the study reveal a relationship between organizational culture and human resource practices. Some cultures promote high Human resource management qualities while others promote medium or low qualities.

An observation was made that the dominant culture, task culture, promotes teamwork, offers reasonable employment security, encourages sharing of information and is associated with promotion of workers from within.

Limitations of the study include the fact that the study was conducted on only one sector of the Kenyan economy, namely the manufacturing industry.