MEDIATING ROLE OF EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEADERSHIP PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCE OF CHARTERED UNIVERSITIES IN KENYA
Abstract
Purpose of the study: The purpose of the study was to examine the mediating role of employee motivation on the relationship between leadership practices and performance of chartered universities in Kenya.
Problem statement: Universities in Kenya have faced challenges in recent years which include lowering the enrollment rate of college students, low salary, lack of promotion opportunities, unsatisfactory leader behavior, student discipline problems, uncooperative colleagues and unconducive working environment, lack of effective and efficient quality service delivery to clients, inadequate quality manpower, inadequate research, staff turnover, followed by student anxiety and increased faculty strikes. Such challenges have been attributed to weak leadership practices of university leaders who have not made employee motivation their priority and which consequently has led to the underperforming of most of universities for a long time.
Research methodology: The study used quantitative research approach. The sample size was 245 and included 49 chartered universities operating in Kenya. Data was collected from academic registrars, persons in charge of human resources, finance, quality assurance and student chairpersons. A self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Obtained data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Findings: Employee motivation plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between leadership practices and performance of chartered universities in Kenya. The correlation results showed that a positive and significant relationship exists between employee motivation and performance (r=.752; sig=.000). The null hypothesis was rejected. The study established that leadership practices and employee motivation are positively associated with performance of chartered Universities in Kenya.
Conclusion: The study concluded that employee motivation has significant mediating role on the relationship between leadership practices and performance of chartered Universities in Kenya
Recommendations: The study recommends that the university management board should pay more attention to both intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors to eliminate employees' dissatisfying factors and improve organizational performance.
Keywords: Leadership practices, employee motivation, performance, Chartered Universities, Kenya
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