A perception-based view of employees and strategic plan implementation in public technical and vocational education training institutions in Kenya

Abstract

Despite the existence of strategic plans in public Technical and Vocational Education training institutions in Kenya, there seems to be a problem in the implementation process. This study therefore sought to investigate the influence of employees’ perception on strategic plan implementation in public Technical and Vocational Education training institutions (TVET) within Rift valley region, Kenya. The study was guided by the following hypothesis: Ho: There is no statistically significant difference between employee’s perception and strategy implementation in public TVET within Rift valley region, Kenya. Change Management theory supported the specific objectives of the study. The study adopted descriptive survey research design using both qualitative and quantitative approach. The target population was 1255 employees in selected public TVET institutions; while a sample size of two hundred ninety four (294) respondents was drawn using purposive and stratified random sampling. Primary data were collected using questionnaires and interviews and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that employees perception based on their level of management and implementation of strategic plan were strongly positively related and significant. It accounted for 94.5% of the total variations in strategic plan implementation. The findings are expected to be of value to the management and decision makers to form a basis for improving implementation of strategic plans in higher education. The study revealed that there was a diversity in opinion between the top management and lower management on strategic plan implementation and thus calls for special attention to all employees so as to ensure successful implementation.