African Journal of Emerging Issues

EFFECT OF PERFORMANCE EVALUATION ON EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY: LITERATURE BASED

Laegsgaard Uddin Tong , Taranjit Grossi Kirsten , Shaheen Nufus Bharajdagger — Tue, 23 May 2023 17:27:26 +0000

Purpose of the study: Performance evaluation is a review of an employee's job performance and assigned responsibilities. It typically involves a supervisor looking at an employee's abilities and accomplishments over a set period of time. Performance evaluation facilitate productive work among workers and productivity is essential for guaranteeing that enterprises advance to the next level. The study did a literature review to examine the effect of performance evaluation on employee productivity.

Findings: Performance evaluation plays a crucial role in influencing employee productivity. Firstly, it provides a platform for setting clear goals and expectations. When employees have a well-defined understanding of what is expected of them, they can align their efforts accordingly, resulting in increased productivity. Moreover, performance evaluations facilitate regular feedback and communication between employees and their supervisors. Constructive feedback helps employees identify their strengths and weaknesses, enabling them to make necessary improvements and optimize their performance. Additionally, performance evaluations often involve recognizing and rewarding exceptional performance. This recognition serves as a powerful motivator, fostering a sense of accomplishment and job satisfaction, which in turn drives productivity. By addressing skill gaps and providing relevant training opportunities, organizations can equip employees with the tools and knowledge necessary to excel in their roles, ultimately boosting their productivity.

Conclusions: It was concluded that performance evaluation increase worker productivity in firms. The performance evaluations create a feedback-driven culture that empowers employees to enhance their performance, leading to improved productivity levels. Performance evaluations allow for the identification of training and development needs.

Recommendations: The research recommended that management should embrace effective management techniques that include creating teams, networks of connections and developing and encouraging others. These techniques will help workers learn skills and play a crucial part in raising their level of productivity. Employee performance objectives should be made explicit and performance drivers should be determined.

Keywords: Performance Evaluation, Employees’ Productivity

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES IN SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN GERMANY

Niels Bartsch Karlson, Aumer Dietmar Mazilov , Soren Annen McMullen — Tue, 23 May 2023 17:44:16 +0000

Purpose of the study: The study aimed to examine the role of government policies in supporting entrepreneurship in Germany. Government policies can have a significant impact on the success of entrepreneurship, and it is crucial for policymakers to work closely with the business community to create policies that support innovation and growth.

Findings: findings discovered that government policies have played a significant role in supporting entrepreneurship in Germany. By providing access to funding, creating a favorable regulatory environment, promoting education and training, fostering a supportive ecosystem, and encouraging international trade, the Germany government has helped entrepreneurs turn their ideas into successful ventures, contributing to economic growth and job creation. Entrepreneurship is thriving in Germany, driven by a supportive ecosystem, government policies, a highly educated workforce, a focus on innovation, and a strong market presence.

Conclusion: The study concluded that entrepreneurship is a key driver of economic growth, and governments can play a critical role in supporting it through policies that promote innovation, investment, and growth. Through funding and financial support, a supportive regulatory environment, education and training programs, infrastructure and support services, and promoting international trade, governments can help entrepreneurs overcome barriers to entry and achieve success in the global market.

Recommendations: The study recommended that governments should take an integrated approach to support entrepreneurship that focuses on creating a favorable environment for startups to grow and succeed. By fostering collaboration, providing access to funding, streamlining regulations, promoting education and training, and encouraging international trade, governments can create a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurs to thrive.

Keywords: Government Policies, Entrepreneurship, Germany

AN INVESTIGATION OF ASSESSMENT PRACTICES USED BY CREATIVE ARTS TEACHERS

T AMPOMAH, Ebenezer Kwakwa, Adiyaa Osei — Sat, 27 May 2023 07:06:00 +0000

Purpose of the study: To investigate the assessment practices used by creative arts teachers

Problem: The purpose of the standard based creative arts curriculum in Ghana requires learners to acquire, develop and demonstrate the subject specific practices and the core competencies. This calls for appropriate teacher development to understand the best practices pertaining to arts assessment strategies and assessment needs in order to align teaching, learning and assessment effectively. Hence, the need to investigate teachers’ assessment practices to ascertain whether the purpose of the standard based curriculum for creative arts is on course or not.

Methodology: This study was a quantitative study. It was designed for investigating the assessment practices used by creative arts teachers in Domaa East Municipal, Ghana. Purposive and convenient sampling technique was used to sample 60 teachers teaching creative arts. Teachers assessment practices were measured using questionnaire designed based on the assessments for arts and the recommended creative arts assessment practices stipulated in the the creative arts curriculum by National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA, 2019), which consists of 17 item on scale of a 5-point. The Instrument was piloted with 20 creative arts teachers in the Sekyere South District of Ashanti Region which gave internal consistency reliability of α=0.71. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results: The findings of the study revealed that creative arts teachers are able to assess leaners creative activities and artworks in relation to the curriculum with the exception of having challenges with few creative arts assessment methods.

Recommendations: It is therefore, recommended that training is offered to teachers on creative arts assessment and document analysis and observational study be carried on creative arts teachers’ assessment practices to ascertain challenges encountered by teachers.

Keywords: Assessment practices, Creative arts, Assessment for learning, Assessment as learning, Assessment of learning

ADVERSE EFFECTS OF MODERN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN CHRISTIAN FAMILIES: A CASE OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF NAKURU, KENYA

Lilian Peter Adhiambo , Lucy Kimaro , Mary Getui — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 05:47:40 +0000

Purpose: The evolution of MICT globally has rocked Christian families in various dimensions: socially, morally, psychologically and even emotionally. This study evaluates the adverse effects of Modern Information and Communication Technology (MICT) in Christian families in the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru (CDN), Kenya.

Methodology: Sociological Theory and Communication Theory guided the study. The study employed mixed method research design, which included both qualitative and quantitative research techniques. To obtain the sample size, the study used multi-stage and cluster sampling technique to select four deaneries as a representation of the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru. From a target population of 16,520 registered Christian families, Youths, Parish Priests, Chairpersons and Catechists, a sample size of 391 respondents from the four deaneries was selected who included the Parish Priests, Catechists, Chairpersons of Small Christian Communities (SCC), Parents and Youths.

Results: The study found that the use of MICT has weakened the interpersonal relationships among family members. The study further found that, MICT has contributed to poor parenting or lack of parenting roles. The study also revealed that, MICT has exposed children to pornography, which has attracted them to premarital sex and early marriages. In addition, the study established that, the use of digital technology in communication has introduced families to conflict due to personal interest in watching preferred programme and cyber-crimes.

Conclusion: This study concluded that use of Modern Information and Communication Technology (MICT) has adverse effects on Christian families in the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru, Kenya

Recommendations: The study recommends that, the government of Kenya to come up with attainable and practical guidelines on the type of MICT programs to be airing in TV and the quality of their contents before airing or posting them in the social platforms in order to protect families and other innocent users from detrimental content. The study further recommends that, religious leaders to offer technical and moral guidance on how to engage MICT devices to contain their misuse. The study further recommends families to initiate open sharing, fraternal corrections, unconditional love and uninterrupted family prayers as preventive actions in order to contain the dangers arising from the negative usage of MICT. The study also recommends parental control over usage of MICT devices.

Keywords: Adverse Effects, Modern Information and Communication Technology, Christian Families