Strategic Management Practices and Governance in Local Governments: An Empirical Study of Mufindi District Council, Tanzania

Abstract

This study examines the effectiveness of strategic
management practices (SMPs) in local governments,
using Mufindi District Council in Tanzania as a case
study. The study also investigates the adoption and
implementation of SMPs in the council, and their impact
on governance and service delivery. A mixed-methods
approach was used, combining both qualitative and
quantitative data collection and analysis methods. The
findings revealed that the council has adopted various
SMPs, including situation analysis, strategic
formulation, strategic implementation, and strategic
evaluation. However, the study also identifies several
challenges that hinder the effective implementation of
SMPs, including inadequate human resources, limited
financial resources, and poor coordination and
communication. The study concludes that SMPs have a
positive impact on governance and service delivery in
the council, but their effectiveness is compromised by
various internal and external factors. The study
recommends that the council should prioritize capacity
building, resource mobilization, and stakeholder
engagement to enhance the effectiveness of SMPs. The
findings of this study contribute to the existing literature
on SMPs in local governments and provide insights for
policymakers and practitioners seeking to improve
governance and service delivery in local governments.