Assessment of Institutional Factors Influencing Implementation of Strategic Plan at Vihiga County Government, Kenya

Abstract

In Kenya, strategic planning in various government institutions including those in the county government are formulated in order to address strategic issues that will enable better service delivery. Vihiga County strategic plan is driven by the County's Integrated Development Plan (2013- 2017). Many projects had been set by the county to ensure successful strategic plan implementation however, the projects are yet to be completed. The failure is affiliated to institutional factors such as stakeholders' involvement, financial resources and communication systems according to Vihiga County 2015 Annual Report, hence situated the study of strategic plan implementation and how it relates to stakeholders involvement, financial resources and communication system in Vihiga Count Government. The main objective of this study was to assess institutional factors influencing implementation of strategic plans in Vihiga County Government, Kenya. The Specific objectives were to: determine the relationship between stakeholders' involvement, financial resources and communication systems with strategic plan implementation in Vihiga County Government. The study was based on the resource based view theory using a self-conceptualized framework in correlational research design. The study target a population of 1182 employees out of which a sample size of 290 was determined using Fishers formula and stratified into strata using stratified sampling technique. The study used primary data which was collected using structured questionnaires. The collected data was analyzed using both descriptive and correlation analysis. Ten respondents were used to pretest the instrument. Validity of the instrument was attested by expert and its reliability determined using Cronbach alpha where coefficient of a = 0.917 was obtained against a threshold of a = 0.7. Pearson product moment correlation results established that there was a significant and positive relationship between stakeholders' involvement, financial resources and communication system, and strategic plan implementation with coefficient of (r=0.190, p=O.OOI),(r=0.334, p=O.OOO)and (r=0.349, p ==0.000)respectively, meaning as stake· holders are involved, financial resources availed, and communication system are put in place strategic plan implementation is likely to be enhanced in Vihiga County Government. The study concluded that there is a relationship though not strong between stakeholders' involvement, financial resources and communication system with strategic plan implementation. The study recommends that all stakeholders be involved, adequate funds be allocated, well established and proper communication system in place to enhance strategic plan implementation in Vihiga County Government. The results may be used to inform policy formulation and decisions as well as enrich literature on concepts relating to implementation of strategic planning.