Influence of Strategy Formulation on the Relationship Between Quality Management System and Access to Water and Sanitation Services in Kenya

Abstract

Access to water supply and proper sanitation is fundamental to the elimination of poverty and the achievement of Millennium Development Goals. In Kenya, over 3,100 children die annually for using unsafe water and poor sanitation. In the 2015/2016 financial year, access to water in Kenya stood at 54% for urban and 51% for rural areas. Previous studies have revealed the unsuccessful attempts to improve access of water and sanitation services through privatization and structural reforms. The purpose of the study was to establish the influence of strategy formulation on the relationship between quality management system and access to water and sanitation services. Specifically the study sought to determine the influence of the level of adherence to quality management system standards on access to water and sanitation services, to establish the influence of strategy formulation on access to water and sanitation services and to establish the moderating influence of strategy formulation on the relationship between quality management system standards and access to water and sanitation services in Kenya. The study was guided by a conceptual framework anchored on the Theory of Constraints (ToC) and the Resource Based Theory with quality management system standards as the independent variable, strategy formulation as the moderating variable and access to water and sanitation services as the dependent variable. Acorrelational research design was adopted. The target population consisted of the 86 water service providers in Kenya. A census was used where all the water service providers were included in the study. Primary data was obtainedfrom the general manager of the water service providers through the use of questionnaires. Secondary data was obtained from the 2016 /2017 WASREB report.A pilot study using ten managers of randomly selected water service providers was conducted. The instruments were tested for reliability and validity through Cronbach Alpha’s internal consistency index (a=0.773) for reliability and content validity index (CVI=0.833).The study found out that the influence of level of adherence to quality management system standards on access to water and sanitation services was statistically significant recording Adjusted R2 =0.82 (t=15.2, p=0.00). It was established t was established t was established t was established t was established t was established t was established t was established t was established t was established t was established t was established t was established that the influence of strategy formulation on access to water and sanitation services was statistically significant recording Adjusted R2 =0.59 (t=6.6, p=0.00).Lastly the study found out that strategy formulation had a statistically significant moderating effect on the relationship between the level of adherence to quality management system standards and access to water and sanitation services with change in Adjusted R2 =0.04 (t=2.038, p=0.047). The study concluded that quality management system andstrategy formulation influences the level of access to water and sanitation services, and strategy formulation moderates the relationship between quality management system and access to water and sanitation services.The study recommends that the management should enhance the level of adherence to quality management system standards andmake the right choices in strategy formulation. Lastly the management should align their strategy formulation with the quality management system to enhance access to water and sanitation services.The study provides a model for strengthening the relationship.