Influence of Corporate Leadership on Implementation of Strategic Plans within the County Governments in Western Kenya
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to establish influence of corporate leadership on implementation of strategic plans within the county governments of Kenya. The study was based on the sequential thinking, adaptive and holistic theories. It employed descriptive survey research design which targeted 10 county governments, six in former Nyanza province and four in former Western Province. Proportional stratified random sampling technique was used in 10 counties where 240 study subjects was selected by simple random sampling. Further, the study incorporated merits of secondary data and then collect data using semi-structured questionnaires and interview for top managers. To test reliability and validity of the study, the pre-test item analysis was conducted at two different points in the study. The inter-item consistency or lack of it was tested using Cronbach's alpha. The quantitative data was then analyzed using descriptive statistics in form of mean, frequencies and standard deviation with the help of ANOVA, Regression and Correlation while qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis. Data was presented in tables, charts and graphs. The results showed that corporate leadership style was a good predictors of implementation of strategic plans. The study rejected the null hypothesis and adopted the alternative hypothesis that corporate leadership style is statistically and significant related to implementation of strategic plans in county governments of Western Kenya. The study concluded on the alignment of leadership to the strategic objectives is critical in successful implementation of strategic plans. Strategic direction and stewardship needs to be guided an organization's strategic-change champion through strategic management processes and shared values of the organization. Strategic direction and stewardship needs to be guided an organization's strategic-change champion through strategic management processes and shared values of the organization. These management need to carry out a culture assessments that will reveal what strategic culture characteristics exist and they can promote the strengths they find to motivate personnel and identify possibilities for immediate successes in their cultural reshaping endeavors. The study recommended for the management of the county governments that are interested in changing the way the organization focus on the value-based forces underlying the organization's behaviors. The study also recommends that organizational structure of the county governments should be aligned to the strategy being implemented.
Keywords: Corporate Leadership, Strategic Plans, County Governments & Kenya.
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