Influence of Organizational Design on Realization of Superordinate Goals in Selected Non-Governmental Organizations, Naivasha Sub-County, Kenya.

Abstract

In non-governmental organizations (NGOs), organizational design has to be aligned with the strategic priorities of the organization focusing on the implementation of programmes and strategic plans to help attain superordinate goals. The purpose of this study was to assess the organizational design and realization of superordinate goals in selected Non-Governmental Organizations in Naivasha sub-county, Kenya. Four specific objectives guided the study to; determine the influence of work specialization on the realization of superordinate goals; assess the influence of departmentalization on the realization of superordinate goals; examine the influence of chain of command on the realization of superordinate goals; and determine the influence of span of control on the realization of superordinate goals in selected NGOs in Naivasha Sub-county, Kenya. The study was underpinned by the systems-thinking model and McKinsey’s 7s model theories. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design and the target population consisted of 120 managers and the board of directors from eight selected NGOs consisting of top-level, middle-level and lower levels of management of NGOs in Naivasha sub-county, Kenya. Krejcie and Morgan's formula was used to determine a sample size of 92 respondents who were selected using a stratified sampling technique while simple sampling was used to allow everyone to participate. The research instrument was a self-administered questionnaire consisting of closed and open-ended questions to collect the primary data and other six parts focusing on the characteristics of the respondents and variables. Reliability and validity testing of the Instrument was confirmed before actual data collection through a pilot study. The thematic analysis method was used for qualitative data analysis which was presented using narratives. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequencies and per centages. Inferential statistical analysis involved Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analysis to establish the relationship between organizational design and the realization of superordinate goals. Data were presented using tables. Research ethics were upheld when carrying out the study. The findings of the study indicated that the response rate was 85.9% which was enough to generalize the findings. The study concluded that there is a statistically significant relationship between work specialization and realization of superordinate goals with a Pearson correlation value of 0.656 and a p-value of 0.000. Also, departmentalization had a statistically significant influence on the realization of superordinate goals in selected NGOs in the Naivasha sub-county, Kenya (p<0.05). Work specialization, among the four independent variables of this study, had the strongest influence on the realization of superordinate goals in selected NGOs in the Naivasha sub-county, Kenya. The study also concluded that the chain of command had a statistically significant relationship with the realization of superordinate goals (p<0.05 )but had no statistically significant influence on the realization of superordinate goals (p>0.005). The span of control had no statistically significant relationship or influence on the realization of superordinate goals in selected NGOs in Naivasha Sub-County Kenya (p>0.05). The study concluded that organizational design influences the realization of superordinate goals with a regression F-value of 17.615 at a significant level of p<0.005. Based on the findings of the study, this study recommends that a similar study be conducted to get the perspectives of employees and beneficiaries from NGOs on organizational design and realization of superordinate goals. The findings of this study will help NGOs to understand the cruciality of organizational design elements in the realization of superordinate goals.