Application of strategic issue management by independent oil companies in Kenya

Abstract

Strategic issue management is a managerial function that helps corporations identify, analyze, and respond to social and political concerns that can significantly affect them (Greening and Gray, 1994). Due to the potential of issue management activities to influence organizational outcome variables, the function has received generous attention from strategic management scholars. However, prior scholars have not identified how this process is carried out in independent oil companies in Kenya. The objective of the study was to establish the application of strategic issue management at the independent oil companies in Kenya. The design of this study was descriptive survey. The population of this study was all the independent oil companies in Kenya. In total, there are 20 independent oil companies. All the 20 companies were selected for the study. This being a census, no sampling procedure was required. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires and was analyzed using population parameters. The data was coded and entered into a spreadsheet and analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) and excel packages and presented using frequencies, percentages and mean scores and frequency tables, bar graphs and pie charts. The study found that in the independent oil companies partially practiced strategic issue management although it was found to be very important to the future success of the companies. It was there recommended that strategic issue management should be embraced by these companies as a process in order to achieve their goals and objectives.