The Importance of Strategic Management Process in the Performance of Management of Tertiary Institutions in Enugu State Nigeria

Abstract

Tertiary institutions in Nigeria in her quest of fulfilling its mandate of developing man mentally, morally and physically and confirment of degrees and certificate to derserving candidates are inundated with a lot of challenges. Some of these challenges included inadequacy of funding, outdated academic equipment, changes in rapid communications technology  etc, all these critically  impinges on institutional development. The principal aim of this study was to examine the importance of strategic management process  in tackling and critically dealing with these obvious myraid of challanges facing Nigerian tertiary institutions.The study equally sought to ascertain the impact of strategic management on the performance of tertiary institutions and also how strategic management could be a critical aid to Institutional administrators in their day to day management of their institutions. The study used a cross sectional survey design. The sample consisted of 295 randomly selected staff of Enugu State University of Science and Technology  (ESUT) and staff of Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu. Data were analysed by the use of percentages and relative importance index (R.I.I). Our findings revealed  among others that strategic management serves as a mechanism for providing direction and cordination of institutional activities towards the accomplishment of the institution goals. Based on our findings, it was recommended that institutions should religiously practice and adopt strategic management in their institutions because, it not only gives direction to the institution, but it exposese the threats and weakness facing the institution, it equally highlights how opportunities can be exploited from the enviroment by the institution in achieving her goals and objectives.

Keywords: strategic management process, performance, tertiary institutions.