Challenges in the Implementation of the Business Automation Project At Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) A Case of Kenya Revenue Authority

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the challenges encountered by KRA in implementation of business automation.Methodology: The research design was descriptive in nature and stratified random sampling technique was used to sample forty (40) respondents from a population of one hundred and fifty seven (157) staff working at KRA in the Information Communication and Technology department (ICT). The staff included both management and non-management staff. The study used both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected using self administered questionnaires while secondary data sources comprised of internal memos, strategic plans, project plans and documentation relating to Business Automation activities. The data was then tabulated and weighted to determine key challenges and responses. The study used quantitative and qualitative methods of data analysis. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 program was used for analysis. The results were presented using tables and pie charts. Similarly, qualitative data was summarized and categorized according to common themes and presented in continuous prose form.Results: Results revealed that unsupportive repacking of existing projects to new strategy, inadequate resources to finance, inadequate training on the new enterprise resource planning software system, lack of proper IT infrastructure, lack of enhanced IT security and long periods of planning before the project is executed and lack of adequate project management resources hindered business automation projects in KRA.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: In line with study results, it is recommended that KRA should hire new staff with the requisite skills, improve project management style, incorporate capacity building programmes where employees with limited skills were trained on how to use the system and incorporate the automation strategy into its employees' daily job descriptions so as to curb the organizational related challenges that it faces when implementing business automation.