Taking capacity building to the next level

"Success in any organisation or business starts with an individual, and this calls for radical change in attitude from the first day of appointment."

"Attitude is the biggest challenge most employees, and top managers face in performing tasks, right attitude is important, helps one set goal, and drive the organization to success."

These are the words of Martin Mbugua, Founder and Principal consultant, Outlook Solutions Limited before we start an interview on management at his office in Uniafric House along Nairobi’s Koinange Street. 
The company has been in existence for nine years now having been founded in 2006 and incorporated in 2008.  
"I came up with outlook solutions to help address various management gaps in our institutions, as you may be aware, bad leadership is the genesis of a fall of even the most well built organisation," he says.

"Part of our work includes training and capacity building, process re-engineering, strategic management, human resource development, business management and organisation development."

"It is a journey that has seen us organise various capacity building seminars to enable workers from different industries share their experiences," he says.

Through a team of over ten associate consultants, the company has helped transform management in arms of the government and private organizations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Swaziland.  
 
Outlook solutions has clients’ cutting across hospitality, and service industries, Non Governmental Organizations, Fast Moving Consumer Goods, and Professional Bodies. 
 
In Kenya, the company is serving both the ministries of Finance and Planning, the National Irrigation Board, Kenya Roads Board and Institute of Certified Accountants of Kenya 
 
Others include Family Bank, Emirates, Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Products, Jubilee Insurance Companies and the Medical and Dentist Practitioners Board of Kenya among others.

In conjunction with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Outlook Solution organised in 2011 the first East Africa Aviation Law Seminar in Nairobi.

The seminar engaged and educated key stakeholders in the aviation industry on dynamics , emerging legal and regulatory issues and challenges facing the aviation industry in Africa.?

During the meeting, the then Transport minister Amos Kimunya underscored need of capacity building in organisations to help members learn on new trends in the industry to remain competitive. 
 
"Our Country for instance lacks competent personnel to help exploit its potential in the aviation industry," he said 
 
The minister noted that, despite enjoying modest features in terms of strategic position and aviation hub in the region, Kenya is yet to realise impressive results as envisioned in the government long-term development plan "Vision 2030",  
 
He added that Kenya’s high aviation activity and strategic position has made Kenya the aviation hub of the region and "indeed a preferred destination" and transit point for many air travelers. 
 
"As the aviation industry is growing in Kenya and globally there is shortage of skilled and competent personnel at all levels and in all fields of specialisation, there is need for capacity building to improve the situation," he said. 
 
Approach and delivery methodology 
 
In an interview, Martin Mbugua reveals that the Company work closely with its clients to clearly define and identify their needs and design processes that will enable learning, development and practice of skills learnt.  
 
"It is from here that we therefore use experiential methodologies with tools that ensure impaction delivery through influencing participants by effective training, education, management and utilization of human and non human resources effectively." 
 
Our participatory approach ensures relevance and application of knowledge gained. 
 
He says, the company make participants take Work Based Assignments and make follow up to support, reinforce learning and fortify gains made after training. 
 
Education Background

Since its formation, the company has rallied big names such as the Kenya Wine Agencies Limited, Insurance Institute of Kenya, AAR, Health Services among other companies in client portfolio.

"We have also done capacity building in government institutions such as ministry of finance, public finance management reforms secretariat in programs such as team building, personal performance strategy, performance appraisal and contracting, project management, annual work plans among others," he says.

Mbugua attributes his success to experience and constant knowledge upgrade that has seen him register for various courses at local universities. "One has to be abreast with various issues to be agood consultant, it includes attending seminars, reading books and keeping the right company," he says. 
 
Mbugua is an MBA graduate (strategic management from USIU) and holds a Bachelor of Science degree (Statistics) from Kenyatta University and a Postgraduate Diploma (Actuarial Science) from the Nairobi University 
 
Previously, he worked with GSK, a pharmaceutical multinational as the head of supplies and logistics for over eight years where he acquired wide exposure in supply chain management. He also has a wide experience in project management having been involved in various electrification projects in the country through Mc-J International Limited.

Mbugua says the government should come up with better policies to allow local consultancy firms easily offer their services to government ministries. 
 
"Our major challenge is dealing with various government institutions, they would rather opt to outsource staff training and human resource development work to foreign entities," he says. 
 
"Our government should think of local consultants to help build the country and create critical mass needed to develop the industry."