Implementation of Downsizing Strategy at Bridge International Academies in Kenya

Abstract

The major determinant of an organization's success today in this changing turbulent environment depends on the successful implementation of its strategies. Strategy implementation addresses the issue of how to put formulated strategy into effect within the constrain of time, an organizations financial and human resources and its capabilities. . This requires the organizations to deal with resources required, systems, organizational structures and changes. All organizations are environment dependent. They depend on the environment for their inputs and outputs. Every firm should therefore have a competitive strategy which relates it to its environment and enables it to maintain a fit between itself and its environment. The way a strategy is implemented depends on the set up framework, rules, guidelines and procedures to be adopted in meeting its goals and objectives. This research was thus aimed at investigating how downsizing strategy was implemented at BlA and the challenges encountered in the implementation. The study adopted a case study research design as it sort to gain an in depth understanding of the entire implementation process. Six senior and mid level managers were interviewed using an interview guide. Data collected was analyzed through contextual analysis in order to arrive at various conclusions. The study concluded that downsizing was implemented through work force reduction process and organization redesign process. It also concluded that the whole process took a top bottom process of implementation. The study also concluded that the major challenges encountered in the implementation of downsizing strategy were; diverse culture, communication and leadership, and limited organizational resources. The study recommended the use of best practices of organizational leadership, use of change agents in order to reduce the resistance, good planning well before implementation of the strategy and adoption of other cost saving strategies other than downsizing.