Factors Influencing Strategy Implementation in the Bakery Industry in Mombasa County

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors influencing implementation of strategic plans in bakeries in Mombasa County. Specifically, the study sought to examine the influence of managers, top management commitment, organisational communication, and organisational structure on strategy implementation. This was a descriptive study design. The population was 12 bakeries in Mombasa with a total of 48 managers and owners. Stratified sampling was used to select a sample of 40 managers and owners. Primary data was collected using questionnaires. Analysis was aided by SPSS version 22 and descriptive analysis was used to interpret the results. The study found that most bakeries in Mombasa had strategic plans. The study also found that organisational communication within the bakeries had a significant effect on the way strategy was implemented as most of the respondents confirmed. The results also revealed that most of the respondents were in agreement that top management commitment was key to strategy implementation in the bakeries. The results further showed that the structure of the organisation was important for the implementation of strategic plans as agreed by most of the respondents. The study concludes that organisational communication among the various stakeholders in the organisation is key in influencing the success or failure of strategy implementation. The study further concludes that top management commitment is a significant factor that influences the process and outcome of strategy implementation. Lastly, the study concludes that organisational structure is a significant factors that influences strategy implementation in organisations. As was seen in the bakeries in Mombasa, the structure plays a key role as it helps provide for a structural means through which strategy is implemented. The study recommends that for organisations to have a successful implementation of their strategies, firms should ensure that organisational communication process is in place in order to have success at strategy implementation. Secondly, the study recommends that there is need for top management to be committed to the process of strategy implementation if the outcome must be successful. Lastly, the study recommends that organisational structure must be aligned to the strategy in order for the process of strategy implementation to be successful.