STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCE OF THREE STAR HOTELS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA
Njoki Ndung’u - Master of Business Administration (Strategic Management), Kenyatta University, Kenya
Dr. Lucy Kavinda - Department of Business Administration, Kenyatta University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
The strategic management plays a key role in tableting and assuring appropriateness of the strategic themes. The research aimed at determining the role of strategic management activities on hotels performance in Nairobi City. In accomplishing the research key objectives are to be valued which include establishing the influence of strategic planning, formulation , implementation and monition and evaluation on the growth of the country’s hotel sector. In enhancing the research’s objectives are the theories such as knowledge based model, organizational theory and resource based approach. The research utilized descriptive research design with key target pollution being 250 employees across the 25 three start hotels in the city county. The research adopted 30% sample selected via stratified random sampling. In collecting the research data , semi-structured questionnaires are to be used among the major respondents who were both from administration, strategy , human resource and finance departments. The research conducted a pilot study to help in validating the research instruments. The research’s quantitative data was gathered v= and analyzed through descriptive statistics by the use of SPSS and be presented via means , frequencies , standard deviation and means. It’s important that the research is to be of great significance to the hotel sector as they will understand the efficiency of strategic management in relation to its performance. The study concluded that strategic management practices employed by three star hotels in Nairobi City County positively and significantly influenced their performance. The study concluded that the hotels significantly embraced strategic planning through their vision, mission, management, communication strategies and use of analytical instruments which enhanced their performance and supporting their goals. The study concluded that the firms embraced strategy formulation to a significant extent through proper selection of strategy approaches based on risks and results expected and also selecting strategies that are in line with organization mission and vision, based on past experiences and research to reduce chances of failure. It was further concluded that the firms embraced strategy implementation by ensuring the strategies have been implemented as planned, within budget, time schedule, engaging management and modern technology. The study concluded that the firms to a significant extent have embraced M&E as a strategic management practice through use of performance-based monitoring program, feedback mechanism and making adjustments based on the feedback. The study recommends that the three star hotels need to improve their strategy formulation strategies with proper planning, involvement of major stakeholders and due diligence before implementation. The study recommends further that the firms need to enhance continuous and consistent monitoring and evaluation to ensure proper strategy implementation. The management need to ensure M&E feedback is integrated into the strategic management process.