Strategic Management Practices and Survival Rates Of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Start-Ups In Taita Taveta County, Kenya

This study investigated the influence of strategic management practices on the survival rates of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) start-ups in Taita Taveta County, Kenya. The study focused on five key strategic management practices: strategic planning quality, leadership effectiveness, strategic innovation, strategic market orientation, and access to financing. Specifically, it examined how these practices impacted SME survival indicators such as business longevity, financial stability, and market presence. A descriptive research design was adopted, and data were collected using structured questionnaires distributed to SME owners and managers within the county. The sample included both established and relatively new SMEs operating across various sectors. The findings revealed that strategic planning quality, characterized by goal setting, resource allocation, and risk assessment, significantly influenced SME sustainability. Leadership effectiveness, particularly in decision-making and adaptability, was found to enhance organizational resilience. Strategic innovation through product and process improvements, as well as technology adoption, also contributed positively to SME growth. Strategic market orientation, emphasizing customer focus, market responsiveness, and competitor analysis, improved market positioning and survival. Furthermore, access to financing, including credit availability and cost of funding, emerged as a critical determinant of SME longevity. The study concluded that the adoption of comprehensive strategic management practices significantly enhanced the survival and competitiveness of SME start-ups. The findings underscored the need for SME stakeholders to prioritize strategic approaches in operations to address challenges and ensure long-term success. Recommendations were provided to policy-makers and practitioners to support SME development through targeted interventions.