Strategic Management Processes and Competitiveness of Clearing and Forwarding Firms in Kenya: A Case Study of Rioma Freighters Limited.
Loading...
Date
2024
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Daystar University, School of Business and Economics
Abstract
Organizations adopt strategies for different reasons, the major one being for organization sustainability and growth in a competitive environment. The main objective of this study was to analyze the influence of strategic management processes and the competitiveness of clearing and forwarding firms in Kenya. The specific objectives that guided the study were, to establish the strategic management processes, assess the level of competitiveness and evaluate the effect of strategic management processes on competitiveness at Rioma Freighters Ltd. In Kenya, despite the booming clearing and forwarding sector, the firms experience challenges such as changes in trade agreements, low customer satisfaction, and operational inefficiencies, which may be linked to inadequately defined strategic management processes. The study focused on strategic management processes namely, environmental scanning, strategic formulation, implementation, evaluation and control and how they related to competitiveness, which was determined by quality services, operational efficiency and increased adaptability, while the moderating variable was organization policies. The study was anchored on Dynamic capability theory, Contingency theory and Competition-based theory. The study used a descriptive research approach. The target population consisted of 58 employees in managerial positions and the executive assistant staff who are involved in the strategic management process at Rioma Freighters Ltd in Nairobi and Mombasa branches. Due to the nature of the population a census sampling technique was applied. Primary data was collected using online questionnaires on a five-point Likert scale. The validity of the instrument was tested through both content and construct validity, while the Cronbach alpha coefficient was used to define reliability. The data collected was predominantly quantitative. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 27. The study adopted descriptive and inferential statistics design. Descriptive statistics analysis was presented in the form of tables, figures and percentages, while Spearman Rho Correlation Model as the inferential statistics analysis was used to show the relationship among the variables of the study. The moderating variable was anlalyzed using Baron and Kenny model. The study revealed that strategic management processes of environmental scanning, formulation, implementation, evaluation, and control are vital in enhancing competitiveness in the Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) industry by aligning organizational objectives to achieve strategic goals. The processes help firms adapt to changing market conditions and outperform competitors. The study recommends the implementation of investments in technology, training staff on strategic management practices, and review of policies that support strategic management processes in the C&F sector to boost overall efficiency, adaptability to changes, optimize resource allocation and streamline processes.
Description
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION in Strategic Management
Keywords
strategies, organization sustainability and growth, competitive environment
Citation
Owira, C. A. (2024). Strategic Management Processes and Competitiveness of Clearing and Forwarding Firms in Kenya: A Case Study of Rioma Freighters Limited. Daystar University, School of Business and Economics