The Impact of Innovative Planning on Employee Engagement in Selected Agro-State Owned Enterprises under Turbulent Times in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This study examines the impact of innovative planning as a possible solution to the problem of low employee engagement (EE) in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) within Zimbabwe‘s agricultural sector, particularly in a turbulent business environment. The study selected three SOEs from this sector, which are the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) and the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA). The Social Exchange Theory and the Chaos Theory guide the study and mixed methods of collecting and analysing data were utilised in this research. The research sample comprised 15 executives, selected using purposive sampling technique, as key informants for the qualitative data. The sample size for the survey was 245 employees, obtained after using Yamane‘s formula, resulting in an impressive 86% response rate. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 for Windows was used to analyse the data. The study concludes that innovative planning has a positive impact on employee engagement during times of turbulence. The study recommends using the organisation‘s strategy in goal setting, setting goal deadlines, communicating clear performance objectives, linking up unit and employee goals to organisational objectives, involving employees in setting goals and using job descriptions when setting goals.