Thesis:

Influence of strategic management practices on institutional performance in selected national polytechnics in kenya

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of strategic management practices on institutional performance in selected national polytechnics in Kenya. The research objectives included: to determine the influence of situational analysis practices on institutional performance in selected National Polytechnics in Kenya, to find out the influence of stakeholders’ participation practices on institutional performance, to establish the influence of strategic planning practices on institutional performance, to find out the influence of strategic implementation practices on institutional performance and to determine the influence of monitoring and evaluation practices on institutional performance. The research was steered by the Strategic Choice Theory and the Theory of Performance. The research adopted mixed method approach and the concurrent triangulation model with descriptive correlational designs. The study targeted 6 TVET institutions and total target population was 42,284. The target comprised of 6 TVET principals, 6 Regional Directors (TVET/MoE), 735 lecturers, 41,375 students, 120 strategic management committee members (SMCAs) and 42 members of the Governing Council. Using the Central Limit Theorem of Sample Size Determination for simple random sampling and purposive sampling, 810 respondents were selected. The Central Limit Theorem enabled Simple random selection of the lecturers as 252 (42X6) while the students as 384 (64x6). Stratified purposive sampling from each stratum/national polytechnics, were used to ensure diversity in population as it provided greater precision. From each stratum, one Regional Director and one principal were selected using stratified purposive sampling considering national polytechnics which had 50 % and below in students’ performance. Additionally, from each stratum, 20 strategic management committee actors were selected purposively giving a total of 120, and 7 governing council members adding to a total of 42. Questionnaires with 5-point Likert scale were used for lecturers, students and SMC actors. Interview schedules were conducted among the principals, governing council members and TVET/MoE officers. The instruments were piloted in Kabete National Polytechnic where 38 students, 25 lecturers and 12 SCM actors were randomly sampled representing 10% of the total sample. Specialists from the university to inspected tools for face to face and content validity. Test retest technique was utilized with the Cronbach’s Alpha to establish the reliability of tools. Rate of 0.700 was attained and instruments were termed dependable. Simultaneous triangulation was utilized to guarantee credibility. An in-depth interview was done to establish dependability of non-numerical tools. Numerical data was analyzed in descriptive and inferential statistics and presented in tabular form, frequencies, and percentages. Linear regression in inferential statistics was adopted. Non-numerical information was analyzed through thematic scrutiny presented in narrative format and verbatim citations. The findings indicated that there was need to enhance situational analysis, stakeholders’ participation, strategic planning, strategic implementation, monitoring and evaluation if there was going to be better institutional performance. It was recommended that central and county governments involve stakeholders in management of colleges and provide adequate funds and trainers to enable better outcomes