Abstract:
Performance contracting is a key tool for providing evidence of the communication
effectiveness of strategies put in place to improve the performance of the public
service sector. The approach has been used around the world to build efficiencies in
the management of the public service, as well as quasi-governmental corporations.
The broad objective of this study was therefore to investigate the factors affecting
communication and performance targets in a selected public book publisher in Kenya;
Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB). The factors investigated included: communication
strategy, government policies, quality management systems, production systems, as
well as information communication technology. The study adopted the descriptive
research design. The target population comprised a total of 286 employees from KLB,
Kenya Institute of Education (KIE) and the Performance Contracting Secretariat. The
study applied a stratified random sampling technique to select a sample size of 143
respondents. Questionnaires were used to collect data, which was analysed using
descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found that the major factors affecting
the capacities of public book publishers in trying to meet their performance targets
included: use of ineffective communication strategies, poor or unimplemented
Government policies, lack of effective quality management systems and poor
production systems. The study recommends that the management of public book
publishers should embrace sound policies and make efforts to achieve effective
communication with the public or customers and stakeholders to increase the level of
customer satisfaction; employ effective corporate governance practices and formulate
and implement proactive corporate plans. Managements of public book publishers
should embrace effective Quality Management Systems to improve the quality rating
of books, comply with ISO standards, continually conduct employee training,
undertake continual improvement of organisational processes and improve leadership.
