Assessment of the Obstacles to the Application of Strategic Management Process in Public Institutions for Sustainable Development in Nigeria

Abstract

Strategic management is concerned with the process of making organizations develop their mission, purpose and define what they should be doing, with which resources and how it can be done most effectively and efficiently. Strategic management goes beyond routine management tasks and consider in a systematic way a long-term organization mission and vision. The spirit of strategic management in many public institutions in Nigeria is hampered by several factors not minding that the bold, creative, thoughtful strategic vision is at the heart of every successful organization. The aim of this paper is therefore to assess the obstacles to the application of strategic management process in public institutions for sustainable development in Nigeria. The paper discusses the strategic management process that could be adopted in public institutions. The skills required for setting and implementing strategies in the use of strategic management in public institutions, and other applicable obstacles to strategic management in public institutions in Nigeria. This is a conceptual paper that relies on extensive review of literature. The paper found that non-availability of skills to set and implement strategy do not significantly hinder the use of strategic management process in public institutions in Nigeria, but rather politico-administrative and cultural contexts of the public institution in question. The paper also established that noninvolvement of workers in strategic formulation; inadequate information systems and bureaucratic principles are among other applicable obstacles to strategic management in public institutions in Nigeria. Some of the recommendations include the need for public institutions in Imo State and Nigeria in general to make it a matter of policy to give strategic management process the topmost priority as it is a critical success factor in modern organizations. This paper concluded that understanding and following the steps of strategic management can help practicing managers to improve performance and leaders to gain sustainable economic development in Nigeria.