Challenges in Implementing Corporate Strategies at a Private Higher Education Institution in Tanzania
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15774917Keywords:
Strategy implementation, management challenges, institutional performance, staff engagementAbstract
Ineffective strategy implementation is a widespread challenge in educational institutions globally, including higher education institutions in Tanzania, with studies indicating that 70–90% of strategic plans fail due to poor execution. Understanding the specific management challenges that hinder successful implementation is therefore crucial for improving institutional performance. This study investigates these challenges within a private university in Tanzania, where data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies for categorical variables, were applied, and composite variables were created to assess strategy implementation, the effects of the external environment, organizational structure influences, and managerial factors. To examine relationships between independent variables such as experience and strategy implementation, chi-square tests were conducted with a significance threshold of p < .05. The results indicate that 70.1% of respondents were male, and while 94% agreed that teamwork enhances individual performance, only 37% believed the university has sufficient internal mechanisms for professional growth. Furthermore, 78.4% expressed concerns over institutional changes, and only 50% were satisfied with the way strategies were implemented, although 92% acknowledged the existence of a performance management framework and 68% found their supervisors to be supportive. In conclusion, private universities exhibit low female representation, and resistance to change is largely driven by inadequate staff preparation; thus, increasing staff engagement in planning and implementation particularly with a focus on female inclusion is recommended to enhance institutional effectiveness.
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