Employee Participation in Strategic Planning: A Practical Experience of Technical Education and Training Institutions in Tanzania

This study assessed employee involvement in strategic planning (SP) in public technical education and training institutions (TVETIs). It addressed who initiates the SP process in TVETIs. Primary data were collected through key informant interviews and questionnaires from four planning directors and 277 experienced employees. The directors were sampled using purposive sampling, while the employees were sampled using convenience and stratified sampling techniques. The data collected from in depth interview were analysed using content analysis, whereas data collected via questionnaire were analysed using descriptive statistics. It was found that management initiated the SP process. It was found that planning officers, management, and the council are heavily involved, while employees have minimal participation in the SP formulation. The methods used in SP formulation predominantly reach management and others but only reach employees to a very limited extent. Consequently, the level of awareness regarding all aspects of SP inquired about was low. It was concluded that employees' participation in the SP process within TVETIs is significantly limited. Therefore, this study advises the management of the surveyed institutions and the education sector to actively involve employees in SP formulation to foster a sense of ownership and motivation for successful SP implementation.