STRATEGIES ADOPTED BY KENYAN SUGAR COMPANIES IN RESPONSE TO GLOBALIZATION: A CASE OF MUMIAS SUGAR COMPANY
Abstract
Globalization has become an integral part of our lives a process characterized by interaction and
integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations, a process driven
by international trade and investment and aided by information technology. These processes have
effects on the environment, on culture, on political systems, on economic development and
prosperity, and on human physical well-being in societies around the world. Globalization brings
about turbulence in an organizations environment in that managers operating in such an
environment cannot be able to predict the future. With this in mind, Successful managers, in this
environment, need to understand the similarities and differences across national boundaries, in
order to utilize the opportunities and deal with the potential downfalls. They have to come up
with appropriate strategies that will help them succeed in such an environment. Thus this
research aimed at looking at some of the strategies that organizations in this environment have
put in place so as to ensure their success with a special focus on the sugar industry. The study
gives a detailed theoretical and empirical literature review on globalization factors, the
organizational environment, strategies and their importance, forces driving strategic change and
strategic adoption. The study uses a case study research design. Data was collected using
questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The analyzed data was
then presented using bar graphs, pie charts and tables. The findings of the research show that,
globalization brought about challenges and opportunities and the sugar industry was prepared for
the challenges and opportunities brought about by globalization. Finally the study recommends
that, Further research ought to incorporate operational level employees and customers also,
further studies must be on two or more companies from various industries that are likely to be
affected by globalization e.g. the service industry, agriculture industry and production industry
and finally researchers could use one of the four objectives as a topic of study and expound on it
to give an insight of the chosen objective.