Challenges of Implementing Strategic Change at National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation, Kenya

Abstract

Implementation of strategic change has been faced with a lot of challenges which are believed to hinder realization of the desired results. Like any other organization, the implementation of strategic change at NWCPC has not been a bed of roses but full of challenges. It is against this background that the need to conduct this particular study was conducted with objective of establishing the challenges faced by NWCPC in implementing strategic change. The research study was guided by four theories of changing: Lewin Change Model; Action Research; Kotter’s Eight Step Model and Kanter’s “Ten Commandments” of successful change. The study applied a case study research design and used primary data which was collected by way of face to face interview using an interview guide. The researcher interviewed seven members of the management executive committee which comprises of eight members. The collected data was analyzed using content analysis technique. The research study finding established the following to be the challenges faced by NWCPC in implementing the strategic change: Lack of team work, low level of trust, inwardly focused cultures, arrogant attitudes, lack of provision of enough resources, general fear of unknown, workplace politics, paralyzing bureaucracy, lack of training staff on areas of strategic change, lack of communication from the top management to the entire staff and failure to engage a change agent or putting together a team with enough power to lead and implement the strategic change. The study concludes that the findings are in support of the work of Kotter (1996) who argued that needed change can stall because of inwardly focused cultures, paralyzing bureaucracy, parochial politics, a low level of trust, lack of team work arrogant altitudes, a lack of leadership in middle management, and the general fear of unknown. The study recommends that NWCPC management should strive to embrace team work, work on building high level of trust among the staff, develop and implement a strategic change management policy and establish a unit under planning and design department to lead in strategic planning and organization development. This is believed to help mitigate the established challenges faced by NWCPC in the implementation of strategic change.