A Qualitative Analysis of Strategic Management and Planning in the Gambian Public Service Organizations

Abstract

The study investigated strategic management and planning practices for public service delivery (PSD) in public service organisations (PSOs) in The Gambia. The study adopted “qualitative research design”, through the conduct of in-depth interviews with senior public servants and beneficiaries of the selected PSOs, with a sample size of 20 using purposive sampling technique. The findings from interviews conducted with senior public servants and beneficiaries of PSOs showed that strategic plans of PSOs were formulated, implemented and evaluated in consultation with both internal and external stakeholders to accommodate divergent views and interests of influential groups and individuals in the study area. Also, the study established that PSOs reviewed and effected slight changes to their strategic plans to keep abreast with the environment during the implementation process. The paper concluded that strategic management has shaped PSD in PSOs; strategic plans implementation impacted on PSD; and that strategic plans implementation helped in achieving the goals and objectives of PSOs in PSD in the study area.