A Dissertation Submitted to in a Partial Fulfillment for the Requirement of the
Award of Master of Science in Accounting and Finance (MSc-A&F) of Mzumbe
University, Dar es Salaam Campus College
This study assessed the impact of inadequacy of succession planning in engineering
companies in Tanzania: A Case of Don Consult Limited and Netwas (T) Limited,
both based in Dar es Salaam. Quant-Qual approaches were employed using a sample
of twenty six respondents from the two companies. The main research instruments
used were questionnaire and interview. Data collected were analyzed using simple
descriptive statistical methods such as frequencies, percentages and cross tabulations.
The major focus was to examine the succession planning in engineering companies
with specific reference to the target companies. The study also reviewed and
analyzed company policies and institutional frameworks currently in place to
determine the extent to which they facilitate the implementation of succession
planning, identify gaps, overlaps and inconsistencies in the policy and institutional
frameworks that have an influence on succession planning. It also assessed attitude
of the employers and employees towards the effectiveness of the succession planning
in engineering companies.
Results indicate that oral interview was the major element used by some of the
companies in selecting candidate for succession planning followed by written
examination and employee’s history. According to the survey, it is important to have
succession procedures in the companies.
On the conclusion, it is proved that the target companies do not have succession
planning policy, the fact which is common in many of like-minded companies in the
country. As pointed out in the recommendations, it is important for the companies to
have succession plans as a sustainability strategy of the respective company.