Competitive strategies adopted by adept systems limited in Kenya

Abstract

In any business operations, Competitive strategy is key for survival and growth. A business that is able to build and sustain its competitive advantage is a business that has mastered crafting of a strategy that is competitive based on internal as well as external dynamics. In Kenya, the management Consulting services had had an exponential growth consequently increased competition necessitating the adoption of carefully crafted strategy. This study sought to investigate the competitive strategies that Adept systems has used to gain competitive advantage in Kenya and sought to achieve two objectives. These were to determine the competitive strategies used by Adept Systems Limited and how these competitive strategies have enhanced the performance of the organization. The study used a case study research design so as to enable an in-depth look at the organization under study. An interview guide was used as the primary source of data collection and was filled during interviews with the directors and senior managers of Adept Systems and was also complimented by secondary data from newspapers, review of internal documents as well as the internet and content analysis was used to analyze the data. The key findings were that Adept Systems has adopted various competitive strategies including strategic alliances, project turnaround time, quality of service, and people development. It was established that these strategies, though not necessarily unique to Adept Systems, have given it competitive advantage as evidenced by its continued operations over the last over twenty years as it’s winning of large tenders against other market players. The study recommends that Adept Systems formalizes its strategy into a formal strategic document to enhance its clarity and help create unity in direction. The organization should also create a clear vision and mission statement. The study also recommends that managers of managing consulting firms adopt strategies that are critical in enhancing competitiveness in the management consulting services industry including client satisfaction and competitive pricing.