Strategy implementation practices and performance of pharmaceutical firms in Kenya.

ABSTRACT 

Strategic management process is an important framework that supports all sizes of enterprises with opportunities to operate in a competitive environment which has a direct impact on organization performance. The implementation of formulated strategies impacts on the organization performance. Foregoing researches in Kenya have not looked at the effects of strategy implementation practices on performance of pharmaceutical firms hence a contextual gap. The study general objective was to establish the effects of strategy implementation practices on the performance of pharmaceutical firms in Kenya. The theories upon which the study is anchored are; Balance Scorecard, Resource based view, McKinsey 7S and the Organizational culture Model. The study was carried out at 25 randomly selected pharmaceutical firms within Nairobi Metropolitan and immediate environs. The selection was based on similarities of the firm’s activities and their location in a common area, thereby providing a basis for comparing the aspects of strategy implementation practices and performance. The target population was 80 which included; Human resource managers, Finance managers, Marketing managers, Regulatory managers and Operation managers in the 40 pharmaceutical firms. A random sampling design of 50% was used to achieve the desired sample size. A cross–sectional survey which provides a real time snapshot using pre–tested questionnaires was used to collect data from respondents. The reliability and validity of the questionnaire was ascertained by a pilot test. Descriptive analysis statistics were presented in frequency tables, pie-charts and histograms. Non-parametric tests checked for associations, whereas the regression modellings assessed for overall organization performance with all predictor variables. The strategy implementation practices; Leadership styles, Employees development, Communication were significantly (p ≤0.05) associated with performance with exception of organizational culture (p =0.199).However the final regression model was significant indicating a combined effect of the predictor variables on the performance of pharmaceutical firms in Kenya. The research recommends a multidimensional strategy implementation practices to promote better performance and longitudinal studies to trend the organization performance following the implemented practices.