Factors affecting the effective implementation of strategic plans in Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Uganda

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the factors affecting the effective implementation of strategic plans in Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Uganda. This was driven by the fact that strategic plans implementation have led to the improvement of corporate sustainable advantage which guaranteed successful completion of task and quality service delivery in the public sector and it is widely acceptable by scholars and policy makers. The study was guided by the two specific research objectives which include: - to identify the determinants/factors affecting the effective implementation of strategic plans in Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) in Uganda and to design appropriate strategies/best practices to induce effective implementation of strategic plans in MAAIF. The research design used was cross sectional with both qualitative and quantitative approach, non-experimental, and cross sectional in nature. Units of analysis were individuals from MAAIF. Primary data was collected from 9 senior managers using interview guide as qualitative approach and analyzed explanatory analysis with NVIVO software while Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data from other 60 staff as quantitative approach and analyzed using SPSS version 20 to generate descriptive statistic including mode, mean and standard deviation. Findings from the study indicated that majority of the respondents agreed to communication strategy, leadership style, high involvement of all employees, budgetary allocations, organization structure, commitment by decision makers, technological infrastructure and human resource capabilities were the key determinant of strategic plan implementation. However, strategies were Identification of silent killers of strategic plan, use of corporate strategy, effective communication strategy, effective budgetary allocation, commitment of top and middle management, clear assignment of responsibilities, team work, IT software support, effective management capabilities, coordination across departments and concentration on core functions. The government and managers should allocate adequate resources to ensure successful implementation of strategic plans in order to attain sustainable advantages accommodated in task accomplishment and to foster quality service delivery.