Plan International Inc, Kenya, Strategic ResponsesTo Environmental Challenges

Abstract

Firms are environment dependent; and the environment is however not static but highly dynamic and continually presents opportunities and challenges. Plan International over the last few years has experienced a lot of environmental challenges and these changes have had a lot of impact on the organization. The success and indeed survival of any organization depends on how well it relates with challenges and how it positions itself to the external environment and Plan International is by no means an exception.

This research project was a case study to determine whether Plan International Inc, Kenya has responded to these environmental challenges. In order to achieve the objective an interview guide was designed and administered in interviewing key senior position holders in the organization. Plans experience in implementing a CCCD approach, and the experiences of other organizations as they implement their own rights-based approaches, need to incorporate the lessons learned from implementing Plans Corporate Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, changes in the financial systems and reporting policies, changes in donor requirements, globalization of information technology, shift in the demands by the sponsors of the various children, increased competition for funding from other international and local NGOs were identified as the major changes that have affected the organization.

The study established that the organization had responded to these changes through such strategies as, diversification of it's programs strategies and areas of operation, strategic planning, intensive marketing of it's programs, introduction of information technology governance, requiring certain levels of computer proficiency during recruitment, introducing guiding policies on use of computers, creating partnership and networking with other organizations, and introducing operational response measures through introduction of cost cutting measures, change of organizational structure and enhancing a corporate culture of high integrity, commumcation, team work, learning and high performance. The study also established that the organization is in the process of reviewing the strategic plan aimed at

dealing with some of the challenges that have not been addressed and also revealed that it continuously engages in critical analysis of the external environment and designing new strategies to be able to keep focus on children and identifying changes in the environment.

Further research can be undertaken on the following areas; survey on strategic responses by major sponsorship and grants funded International NGO's, opportunities arising from an effective management of environmental challenges and critical factors that influence successful management of environmental challenges.