Factors Influencing Change Management Practices in the Kenya National Audit Office (KENAO)

Abstract

The general objective of the study was to investigate the factors influencing change management practices 111 Kenya National Audit office. The specific objectives were to establish the influence of communication, employees' attitude towards change, organizational culture, system compatibility and change agents on change management practices in Kenya National Audit Office. This research was conducted through an explaratory case study design. The interview guide in this study the researcher interviewed top. middle and lower level management staff working at Kenao in Nairobi. A total or 6 respondents was interviewed who included 2 Deputy Auditor General's. 2 Directors or Audit and one middle level managers and one functional staff. This study utilized an interview guide to collect primary quantitative data which was analyzed by descriptive analysis. SPSS and Microsoft excel were used to generate quantitative reports through tabulations, percentages. and measures of central tendency. Tables were used to present responses and facilitate comparison. from the findings, communication influences change management to a moderate extent, while employee adaptability, organization culture, system compatibility and change agents influence change management practices in the bank to great extent. It was also found that there was a positive correlation between change management practices and the five independent variables, while at 5% level of significance and 95% level of confidence, change agents, employees' attitude towards change, system compatibility, organization culture and communication are significant factors in influencing change management where employees' attitude towards change is the most significant factor in influencing change management in the institution. The study concludes that communication influences change management to a moderate extent, whereas employee adaptability, organization culture (such as personality). system compatibility (for instance compatibility of the different systems, roadblocks to collaboration between departments among others) and change agents influence change

management practices to a great extent. From the regression analysis. the study concludes that employees' attitude towards change contributes more to the change management at Kenya National Audit Office followed by influence by change agents. The study recommends that for effective implementation of change management practices in the institutions, proper communication networks must be enhanced. It recommends further that employee adaptability should be tackled by enlightening them in advance through seminars, workshops and offering training programs to influence change management in the institution. The study recommends that the institutions implementing change management should enhance organizational culture to influence success in the change management practices. It recommends that the institution should install systems (for instance technological) that are compatible with the change management practices. The study finally recommends that change agents responsible of leading the change management practices should strive to encourage others for excellence through employees' own behaviour and full recognition of high standards of behaviour.