Effect of remote management Strategy on Organizational performance: A case study of Medecins Sans Frontieres' Tawila project in Sudan

Abstract

As attacks against aid workers continue to rise in some of the world’s most violent environments, international humanitarian agencies are left with only two options, withdraw completely or apply remote management strategy. Many organizations that still want to fulfill their mission opt for remote management strategy. However, reports question the success of the strategy as it has previously encountered mixed results in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia. The correlation between growing adoption of remote programming and increases in attacks against national staff members as stated by the reports, questions the suitability of the strategy and its ability to affect performance positively. It is because of this dilemma that the current study sought to determine the effect of remote management strategy on the performance of Medicins Sans Frontiers' Tawila project in Sudan. The study specifically assessed the effect of security management, skills and competence management, process improvement, leadership management and Human Resource Management on performance of Medicins Sans Frontiers' Tawila project in Sudan. This study employed a descriptive research design. The target study population included all the employees of Medicins Sans Frontiers' Tawila project in Sudan at all managerial levels. The study used a formula to come up with a sample of 96 respondents in the study. Purposive random sampling was then used to select the sample of 96 respondents. The study used quantitative data gathered by use of closed ended questions. Data analysis involved both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study findings indicated that all the independent variables in the study that is remote security management, remote HRM strategy, remote skills and competence management, remote leadership management and remote management process improvement were positively and significantly related to performance of MSF Tawila project in Sudan. Based on the study findings, the study concluded that remote security management, remote HRM strategy, remote skills and competence management, remote leadership management and remote management process improvement are positively and significantly related to performance of MSF Tawila project. The study also concluded that in terms of the effect on performance, remote security management has the largest effect on performance followed in order by remote HRM strategy, remote skills and competence management, remote leadership management and lastly remote management process improvement. The study recommends that the management of MSF Tawila project in Sudan should put in measures to manage and improve the remote security better since it has the largest effect on performance. The study also recommends that the management of MSF Tawila project in Sudan should implement strategies which seek to improve remote skills and competence of the employees for instance by helping the employees to establish and develop their potential. The study also recommends that the management of MSF Tawila project in Sudan should implement strategies geared towards improving the current situation of remote leadership for instance spur inspirational and motivation as a way of promoting staff morale. The study also recommended that the HRM department of MSF Tawila project in Sudan should implement strategies that aim to improve the capacity and welfare of the employees through conducting fair and consistent training and development programmes after identifying the employee needs in the organization among other factors as well implementing strategies which seek to improve the normal process by strengthening the existing organized channel for coordination of work among other strategies.