An evaluation of strategic responses to gain competitiveness in cement industry: a case of selected cement manufacturing firms in kenya

Abstract

The overall purpose of this study was to evaluate the strategic responses to gain competitiveness in cement manufacturing industry. Methodology: The study employed a descriptive research design. The population for this study was all the employees in all the six firms currently operating in the industry. The target population of the study was all the management staff of the three selected cement manufacturing firms. Questionnaires were used as data collection instruments. Qualitative and quantitative research analysis was used to analysis the data. Results: The study findings indicated that there was high level of competition between the cement manufacturing companies and hence the companies needed to put in place strategies to counter the competition in order to gain competitive advantage amongst the firms. The study results indicated that there were various strategic responses that were adopted by the cement manufacturing companies in order to gain competitiveness. These strategies included innovation, integration, outsourcing and diversification. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study also recommends that the management of the manufacturing firms should carry out a bench-marking activity against the best players in the market as a way of improving their logistics outsourcing practices. This would enable them to achieve undisputed performance of their supply chains