THE INFLUENCE OF RELATIONAL EMPLOYEE EMPOWERMENT ON JOB PERFORMANCE IN NATIONAL POLYTECHNICS IN KENYA

CATHERINE KAGUCIA, DR. CLIVE M. MUKANZI (Ph.D), PROF. JOHN M. KIHORO (Ph.D)

Abstract


Organisations have realized the importance of employee empowerment and enshrined the concept in their policies. Although this has been done, organisations practice a few elements of empowerment while neglecting some. This study investigated the influence of relational employee empowerment on job performance in National Polytechnics in Kenya. The independent variable was considered as relational employee empowerment while job performance was considered as the dependent variable. Job characteristics were the moderating variable. The study employed descriptive survey research design. Respondents were selected using disproportionate stratified sampling. The sample consisted of 337 respondents out of the 2993 staff in the National Polytechnics in Kenya. Data was collected using questionnaires. Validity was established by conducting a pilot study. Cronbach’s alpha score was computed to establish reliability, realizing a score of 0.801. Regression analysis was used. The response rate was 89.6%. The study established that relational employee empowerment significantly influences job performance and that job characteristics significantly affect the relationship between relational empowerment and job performance. Data presentation was done using tables and figures. The study was considered beneficial to the staff, National Polytechnics managements and the government for policy making. It is also expected to contribute to knowledge and as literature for further research.

Key words:  employee empowerment, relational empowerment, job characteristics, job performance

CITATION: Kagucia, C. N., Mukanzi, C. M., & Kihoro, J. M. (2020). The influence of relational employee empowerment on job performance in national polytechnics in Kenya. The Strategic Journal of Business & Change Management, 7(1), 205 – 222.


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.61426/sjbcm.v7i1.1520

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