An Investigation of the effectiveness of strategic planning and Implementation of Projects-The Case of Botswana Power Corporation Network Planning Department

Research Proposal Module name:Independent Study Module code:7IM998 Student name: Tiroyamodimo Phuthego Student ID: 100715200 Programme of Study: MSc Strategic Management I plan to work towards the following submission: ☒ Dissertation ☐ Academic paper in a peer-reviewed journal (please note that this route must be discussed and agreed upon with the supervisor). Project title (working title indicates the intended research): An Investigation of the Effectiveness of Strategic Planning and Project Implementation: The Case of Botswana Power Corporation's Network Planning Department What is the aim (or main Research question) of your Study? What do you want to discover by the end of your research that you do not already know? The study examines the effectiveness of strategic planning and project implementation using Botswana Power Corporation as a case study. What are the objectives (or sub-questions) for your Study? (3-5). Briefly explain the research question(s) you seek to answer in the Study. * To evaluate the effectiveness of strategic planning and implementation of Botswana Power Corporation Network Planning Departmental Projects. * To determine challenges regarding planning and implementation within the Botswana Power Corporation Network Planning department. * To propose corrective actions to enhance strategic planning and implementation within the Botswana Power Corporation Network Planning department. How effective is the strategic planning and implementation in the Botswana Power Corporation Network Planning Department? This question will guide the research investigating the effectiveness of strategic planning and implementation in the Botswana Power Network Planning Department. What are the areas of concern regarding planning and implementation within the Botswana Power Corporation Network Planning Department? This question will guide the research in identifying areas of concern about planning and implementation within the Botswana Power Corporation Network Planning Department. What corrective actions can be proposed to enhance the effectiveness of strategic planning and implementation in the Botswana Power Corporation Network Planning department? Finally, this research will provide the proposed corrective action plan to enhance the effectiveness of strategic planning and implementation within the Botswana Power Corporation Network Planning department Weiser et al. (2020, p. 985). Rationale for the Study. Should include the review of literature and previous research, supported by a good range of academic sources, with in-text references and a Reference list at the end of this section). In this section, please clarify the expected implications of the research on the organization/ sector/ academia (knowledge). Problem Statement Project planning and implementation are essential components of any government procurement process, as most developing nations, like Botswana, experience challenges with project planning execution. According to Maruapula (2008, p.9), the Botswana government funds practically all capital projects in the country, therefore taxpayers' financial resources should be broadly utilized for the socioeconomic upliftment of the country's population. As a result, Botswana taxpayers are losing millions of dollars as a result of inadequate community development service delivery Maruapula (2008, p.4). In a nutshell; projects must be properly performed to fulfill their objectives. Hence, the fundamental issue that this research aims to address is the inadequate planning and implementation of projects, utilizing the instance of Botswana Electricity Corporation, the country's sole electricity producer. Thus, using the Botswana Power Corporation Network and the planning department as an example, the researcher will look for the most effective strategies to improve project planning and implementation. Rationale The networking and planning department of Botswana Power Corporation has a mandate to monitor, capacitate, and facilitate the development of village electrification and the distribution of power to residential households in the country. However, poor strategies, planning, and implementation can result in inefficient resource allocation Kandil (2018, p.972). In this context, resource allocation involves identifying needs, establishing a plan, and allocating the necessary human and financial resources. Moreover, resource allocation is pivotal since it ensures adequate skilled personnel are assigned to a task. Resource allocation ensures that the department designates sufficient funds to handle tasks such as the construction of power lines, as noted by Kandil (2018, p.970). Finally, effective resource allocation ensures that the department can tackle emerging challenges and new demands. Thus, it is crucial to understand effective strategies in planning that promote effective resource allocation. Poor strategy planning results in ineffective performance monitoring, resulting in inaccurate performance level results Shimizu (2004, p.50). Finally, poor strategic implementation results can lead to limited stakeholder engagement; thus, it is essential to understand the effectiveness of strategic planning and project implementation. Given the significant role of the mass production of electricity in Botswana, it is crucial to understand the effectiveness of strategic planning and implementation in the Network Planning Department (Suklev and Debarliev, 2015, p.4). Secondly, it is crucial to identify the areas of concern for the Network Planning Department (Oludele, 2021, p. 212). Finally, analyzing the potential corrective actions that will enhance the Network Planning Department's effectiveness is crucial. Current studies that speak to this issue (at least 3 for your rationale) This study will provide insights that benefit the Botswana Power Corporation's Network Planning Department and the entire power industry. Additionally, it will assist the department in identifying areas of strategic planning and implementation to inform the development of corrective action and enhance the effective planning and implementation of projects in the department and the corporation Department (Suklev and Debarliev, 2015, p. 4). Current studies have been conducted that provide insight into the role of strategic planning in ensuring departments like the Network Planning Department excel. These studies indicate that departments' strategic planning should align with the organizational goal. Strategic planning plays an essential role in ensuring the success of an organization. Firstly, Previous research indicated the significance of aligning strategies with the organizational mission, thus enhancing the operational efficiency of companies. The study revealed the importance of aligning the strategy with the organizational mission, such as quality work (Meyfroodt and Desmidt, 2021, p. 822). The research emphasized the essence of clear communication to ensure a swift adoption of the strategic plans. Secondly, research on challenges organizations face when implementing strategies is essential in providing comprehensive information. Thus, organizations can learn to navigate challenges when implementing strategies from such insights. Moreover, an organization can navigate challenges such as financial constraints (Lee et al., 2022, p. 500). When implementing strategies that can lead to an increase in performance, it is crucial for an organization to be well-equipped (Wright, 2020, p. 42). The research emphasized the importance of an organization adopting novelty ideas to overcome hurdles and challenges. Finally, research on the driving forces that ensure the success of implemented strategies included factors like good communication, leadership, and employee satisfaction. Thus, this information is quintessential in understanding the effectiveness of strategic planning and implementation. For strategies to succeed, it is pivotal for an organization to communicate effectively with its employees. Additionally, the leadership should work with the employees to ensure that the strategies have been implemented. Research is vital since the findings obtained from the investigation on Botswana will provide significant insights that can necessitate change as noted by Fatima and Elbanna (2023, p. 110). The industry can be compelled to make reformations, leading to higher performance. Additionally, the findings obtained from the study might lead to implementing new policies that foster growth. The findings might compel policymakers to establish new policies that promote innovation through creating practical strategies. The policies might support strategies by offering incentives to companies with novelty solutions. Moreover, this study, which investigates the effectiveness of strategy planning and implementation, will contribute to new insights. Through the thought-provoking insights, scholars can benefit from this research on Botswana's power corporation network, thus broadening the perspective of strategy implementation. Additionally, the empirical and theoretical framework the study will provide will offer insights into areas with a knowledge gap. The research will offer new opportunities for other researchers to conduct more research since they will have a new perspective on implementing strategies. Review of Literature This study addresses the theoretical and empirical literature review on strategic planning and the challenges of strategic implementation. According to a study conducted (Morris, 2018), strategic management involves formulating mission and objectives, including firm performance, implementing methods to attain them, and monitoring progress to ensure success. Most authors have emphasized that strategic management involves continuously monitoring major external and internal events and trends. For instance, a research study (Kabeyi, 2019) stated that organizations should prioritize strategies that leverage external opportunities, manage external dangers, capitalize on internal strengths, and address internal deficiencies. Strategic planning is formulating business strategies based on organizational missions, thus leading to constant evaluation to ensure success. Hence, it is a fundamental component in ensuring the success of an organization. An organization that successfully implements strategic planning will grow tremendously because of the constant evaluations. Effectiveness of Strategic Planning and Implementation Strategic planning is essential since it provides organizations with data analytic tools to identify threats and opportunities. Moreover, an organization can identify trends that can promote its success. Secondly, strategic planning offers stakeholder communication, which promotes collaboration and teamwork. While this may seem more relevant to Botswana Power Corporation, a monopolized entity, the assumptions of Mendelow (Mendelow Matrix) suggest that entities must always look out for the stakeholders. Thus, according to a research study by Adewale and Esther (2012), strategic planning offers stakeholders a channel for effective decision-making. It integrates their preferences and opinions in solving in...