Challenges Of The 2011 – 2014 Strategic Plan Implementation At The Head Office Of The Namibian Police Force

Abstract

A quantitative survey study was conducted in the Namibian Police to investigate the implementation of the 2011 - 2014 strategic plan. The study was motivated by the absence of a new strategic plan. At the end of the strategic plan cycle, no evaluation was conducted and no new strategic plan was crafted. To date, no report has been compiled on the achievement of the strategic plan, neither has a new strategic plan been drawn. The study focused on the effectiveness, the challenges encountered in the implementation, and recommendations to improve on the implementation of the strategic plan. Data was gathered using a structured Likert type questionnaire. A sample of 50 respondents was selected using probability sampling. Questionnaire data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel Statistics Package. Data was displayed on bar graphs as percentage for comparisons. The study found that most of the strategic themes were not implemented. The study further found that the strategic plan was complex to implement due to incompatibility between strategic objectives and current tasks. The strategic plan was indicated to have been overwhelmed by the volatile crime environment and ad-hoc tasks. The study also found that absence of continuous macro and micro environment analysis to adjust the strategic plan to current work demands contributed to implementation failure. Based on the findings, the study recommended a combination of long and short term strategic plan. It also recommended and emphasized the need and importance of continuous environment analysis and monitoring to detect any changes that may necessitate immediate measures to remedy the situations. The implication of the findings, in practice, is that to develop a strategic plan for any organization, there is need to analyze the nature of business, for a befitting strategic plan that is suitable for the environment.