THE INFLUENCE OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP ON THE ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED SUPERMARKET CHAINS IN KIAMBU COUNTY, KENYA
THE INFLUENCE OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP ON THE ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED SUPERMARKET CHAINS IN KIAMBU COUNTY, KENYA
Munyi Lydia Mbura - Masters Student, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Dr. Lawrence Odollo - Lecturer, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
ABSTRACT
The business world has experienced tremendous changes in the 21st century which can be attributed to various factors including extreme competition, uncertainty in different markets, and complexity of business operations. Business leaders with the necessary capabilities have therefore become extremely vital for the survival of business entities in the current world. The retail industry in Kenya has experienced tremendous challenges over the past two decades. Despite the leadership challenges facing supermarkets in Kenya, there is no research that has been conducted to determine how the adoption of strategic leadership could positively impact the organizational performance of supermarket chains in Kiambu or Kenya in General. The objective of the study was to determine the influence of strategic leadership on the organizational performance of selected supermarket chains in Kiambu County, Kenya. The study adopted a quantitative research design to explain the relationship between the study variables. A sample of 120 respondents was selected from 40 supermarket chains in Kiambu. The research used questionnaires to collect the required information. Leadership style has a coefficient value of tobt = 3.321>1.96 hence the null hypothesis is rejected and the research hypothesis accepted. Therefore, it was concluded that leadership style had a statistical influence in organizational performance. Leadership culture had a coefficient value of tobt = 2.369>1.96. hence leadership culture had a statistical influence in organizational performance. Development of human capital had a coefficient value of tobt = 0.205<1.96. hence human capital had no statistical influence in organizational performance. Ethical Practices had a coefficient value of tobt = 2.245>1.96. hence ethical practices had a statistical influence in organizational performance. The study found that strategic leadership does influence the organizational performance of supermarket chains in Kiambu County, Kenya. In particular, leadership style, leadership culture, and ethical practices were found to have a significant impact on organizational performance. Development of human capital was not found to have a significant impact on organizational performance. These findings suggest that supermarket chains in Kiambu County, Kenya should focus on developing their leadership style, leadership culture, and ethical practices in order to improve organizational performance.
