An Investigation Of Strategy Implementation In A Local Authority. Case Study: Local Authority Council

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................ II

LIST OF TABLES .........................................................................................................VII

LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................... VIII

ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................1

CHAPTER 1 .......................................................................................................................4

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY .................................................................................4

1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 4

1.2 Background of the study ......................................................................................... 5

1.3 Survey data from the case study organisation ................................................. 15

1.4 Problem statement ................................................................................................ 19

1.5 Research objectives ............................................................................................... 21

1.6 Research questions ................................................................................................ 21

1.7 Delimitation of the study ...................................................................................... 22

1.8 Thesis outline.......................................................................................................... 23

CHAPTER 2 .....................................................................................................................24

LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ..........................24

2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 24

2.2 What is strategic management? .......................................................................... 24

2.3 What is strategy? .................................................................................................... 25

2.4 Definitions of strategy implementation ............................................................ 25

2.5 Why does strategy implementation become important? ............................... 27

2.6 Which factors inhibit strategy implementation? ............................................. 28

2.7 Which factors contribute to successful strategy implementation? .............. 33

2.8 How does strategy implementation within Local Authorities differ from

profit driven organisations? ............................................................................................ 38

2.9 What models exist for strategy implementation? ........................................... 38

2.10 What performance indicators are used to measure and improve

strategy implementation in Local Authorities? ........................................................... 43

2.11 Conceptual model................................................................................................... 45

2.12 Summary .................................................................................................................. 47

CHAPTER 3 .....................................................................................................................48

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................48

An Investigation of Strategy Implementation in a Namibian Local Authority Council V

3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 48

3.2 Research design ...................................................................................................... 48

3.3 Research strategy ................................................................................................... 50

3.4 Research methodology .......................................................................................... 52

3.4.1 Research approach ................................................................................................ 52

3.4.2 Research instruments ........................................................................................... 53

3.4.3 Population ............................................................................................................... 56

3.4.4 Unit of analysis/sample frame ............................................................................ 58

3.4.5 Sample ..................................................................................................................... 58

3.5 Data collection ........................................................................................................ 60

3.6 Data analysis ........................................................................................................... 61

3.7 Ethical considerations ........................................................................................... 62

CHAPTER 4 .....................................................................................................................65

FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS ...................................................................................65

4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 65

4.2 Questionnaire and semi-structured interview research findings................ 65

4.2.1 Demographic Information (questionnaire) ...................................................... 65

4.3 Demographic information (semi-structured interviews) .............................. 74

4.4 Strategy implementation ...................................................................................... 75

4.5 Summary .................................................................................................................. 95

CHAPTER 5 .....................................................................................................................97

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS .........................................................................................97

5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 97

5.2 Barriers strategy implementation ...................................................................... 97

5.3 Drivers to strategy implementation ................................................................. 100

5.4 Models on strategy implementation which exist ........................................... 102

5.5 Performance indicators ...................................................................................... 103

5.6 Summary ................................................................................................................ 105

CHAPTER 6 ...................................................................................................................106

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................106

6.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 106

6.2 Overview of the study .......................................................................................... 106

6.2.1 Purpose of the study ............................................................................................ 106

6.2.2 Research objectives ............................................................................................. 106

6.2.3 Content of the study ............................................................................................. 107

An Investigation of Strategy Implementation in a Namibian Local Authority Council VI

6.3 Conclusions drawn from the study ................................................................... 108

6.3.1 Conclusions from the literature ........................................................................ 108

6.3.2 Conclusions from the statistical analysis ........................................................ 111

6.4 Recommendations for further research .......................................................... 113

6.5 Summary ................................................................................................................ 114

LIST OF REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 115

ANNEXURE A ...............................................................................................................119

QUESTIONNAIRE ........................................................................................................... 119

ANNEXURE B ...............................................................................................................122

Informed consent for participation in an academic research study .................................... 122

ANNEXURE C ...............................................................................................................136

Semi- structured Interview ................................................................................................. 136

ANNEXURE D ...............................................................................................................140

memorandum ..................................................................................................................... 14