THE MODERATING EFFECT OF INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMPLOYEE EMPOWERMENT AND PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN KENYA
Abstract
The research aimed at assessing the moderating effect of institutional factors on the relationship between employee empowerment and performance of Public Universities in Kenya. A review of extant conceptual and empirical literature was done and hypotheses formulated. A positivist paradigm using descriptive research design was used. The population comprised the staff of Chartered Public Universities in Kenya 2013. Proportionate random stratified sampling and multi stage sampling was used. A sample size of 1,011 staff was selected from employees of Chartered Public Universities in Kenya. The literature review revealed that a number of studies have been conducted on the predictors and antecedents of employee empowerment and performance. However, these studies did not examine the moderating effect of institutional factors. A structured questionnaire with Likert-type interval scale anchored on a five-point scale was used to collect primary data. Descriptive statistics were computed for organizational data and the main characteristics of the study variable. Data was presented in tables, charts and figures. Hypotheses were tested using Pearson’s product moment, simple linear regression, stepwise and multiple regression and change statistics for data analysis and tests. The results revealed that employee empowerment and institutional factors have a positive relationship with the performance. The strength of the relationship between employee empowerment and organizational performance was found to be moderated by institutional factors. The study highlights an increased understanding that the institutional factors moderate the relationship between employee empowerment and organizational performance. Universities should strengthen their empowerment programs and support staff in pursuit of their development, at the same the institutional factors plays a key role in performance of staff.
Keywords: Employee Empowerment, Institutional factors, and Organization Performance
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Ahadi, S. (2011). Mediating Role of Psychological Empowerment In The Relationships Between Structural Empowerment And Organizational Culture And Workplace Outcomes Among Academics In Malaysian Research Universities. PhD Unpublished Thesis, University Putra Malaysia
Avolio, B.J., Zhu, W., Koh, W., & Bhatia, P. (2004). Transformational Leadership and Organizational Commitment: Mediating Role of Psychological Empowerment and Moderating role of Structural Distance. Journal of Organisational Behaviour, 25(8): 951–968.
Awan, H.M., Bukhari, & K.S., Talia, S. (2011). Influence of Leadership Empowerment Behaviour on Organizational Performance. Management Research Review
Awino Z. B. & Gituro W. (2011). An Empirical Investigation of Supply Chain Management Best Practices in Large Private Manufacturing Firms in Kenya. Prime Journals Business Administration and Management (BAM). 1 (2): 26-31.
Barney, J. (1991). Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage Journal of Management 17: 99-120
Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). Moderator - Mediator Variables Distinction in Social Psychological Research: Conceptual, Strategic and Statistical Considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6):1173 - 82.
Bass,B. M. 1985.Leadership and performance beyond expectations. New York: Free Press
Bass, B. M. (1990). From transaction to transformational leadership: Learning to share the vision. Organizational Dynamics 3
Boonyarit, I. Chomphupart, S., & Nattawut, A. (2010). Leadership, Empowerment & Attitude Outcomes. The Journal of Behavioural Science. 5(1):1-14.
Bowen, D. E. & Lawler, E. E. 1995. “Empowering Service Employees.” Sloan Management Review, 36:73-84.
Burns, T. & Stalker, G. M. (1961). The Management of Innovation. Tavistock, London
Chen, C.K., & Chen, Y.C., (2008). The Impact of Work Redesign and Psychological Empowerment on Organizational Commitment in a Changing Environment: an example of from Taiwan’s State-owned Enterprises. International Public Management Association for Human Resources, (37): 279-302
Chen, K.P. (2011). A Study on the Impact of Empowerment on Employee Performance in the Automotive Industry in Malayasia. Open University of Malaysia
Claydon, T. & Doyle, M. (1996). Trusting me, rusting you? The Ethics of Employee Empowerment. Personnel Review, 25 (6): 13-25
Commission of University Education (CUE) (former Commission for Higher Education (CHE), (2012)
Conger, J. A. & Kanungo, R. N. 1988. The Empowerment Process: Integrating Theory and Practice. Academy of Management Review. 12, 471-482.
Cooper, R. D. & Schindler, S. P. (2006). Business Research Methods. 9th Edition. cGraw-Hill Publishing Co. New Delhi-India.
Cronbach, L. (1951). Coefficient Alpha and the Internal Structure of Tests. Psychometrika, 16:3
Daft, R. l. (2007). Understanding the Theory and Design of Organizations. Thompson South Western: West Publishing Company
DiMaggio P., & Powell, W. (1983). ‘The Iron Cage’ Institution Isomorphism and Collective Rationality in Organizational Fields. American Sociological Review, 48:147-60
Dimba E. & K’Obonyo P. (2007). Influence of Culture on Strategic Human Resource
Management (SHRM) Practices in Multinational companies (MNC) in Kenya: A Critical Literature Review. www.strathmore.edu August, 14th 2012
Dhladhla, T.J. (2011). The Influence of Leader Behaviour, Psychological Empowerment, Job Satisfaction, and Organizational Commitment on Turnover Intention. MA University of Stellenbosch
Dumdum, U. R., Lowe, K. B., & Avolio, B. J. (2002). A meta-analysis of transformational and transactional leadership correlates of effectiveness and satisfaction: An update and extension. In B. J. Avolio & F. J. Yammarino (Eds.). Transformational and charismatic leadership: The road ahead (pp. 36-66). Oxford: Elsevier Science
Fernandez S. & Moldogaziev T. (2011).Using Employee Empowerment to Encourage Innovative Behaviour in the Public Sector. School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University.
Fox J. (1998). Employee Empowerment: Apprentice Model. Barney School of Business University of Hartford.
Fowler, F. J. Jr. (1984). Survey research methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Galbraith, J. R. (2002). Designing Organizations: An Executive Guide to Strategy, Structure, and Process. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, (10).
Glaser, S.R., Zamanou, S., & Hacker, K. (1987). Measuring and interpreting organizational culture. Management Communication Quarterly, 1, 173-198.
GoK, (2005). Ministry Human Resources Development Strategy. Government Printers: Nairobi.
Gore, A. (1996). The Best Kept Secrets In Government- Digest Version. National Performance Review, September 1996. Public Administration Review, (30)
Hair, J.F. Jr.Anderson, R.E., Tatham, R.L., & Black, W.C. (1998). Multivariate Data Analysis, (5th Edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall
Hamidifar, F. (2009). A Study of the Relationship between Leadership Styles and Employee Job Satisfaction at Islamic Azad University branches in Tehran, Iran. Journal of Management 4(2)
Hill, F., & Huq, R. (2004). Employee Empowerment: Conceptualizations, Aims and Outcomes Total Quality Management, 15, (8), 1025–1041
Hofstede, G, (1991). Cultures and Organizations. London: McGraw-Hill.
Huselid, M. (1995). The Impact of HRM Practices on Turnover, Productivity and Corporate Financial Performance, Academy of Management Journal, 38(3):635-672
Greenwood R. & Suddaby. R. (2006). Institutional Entrepreneurship In Mature Fields: The Big Five Accounting Firms. Academy of Management Journal, 49(1): 27–48.
Johnson, G., & Scholes, K. (1984) Exploring Corporate strategy. Prentice Hall International
Kandie, Y.P. (2009). The influence of organizational strategy and institutional factors on performance of small, medium enterprises (SME) in Kenya. PhD Thesis, University of Nairobi
Kanooni, A. (2005). The Employee Empowerment in Information Technology Department. Capella University
Kanter, R. M. (1993). Men and Women of the Corporation. (2nd Ed.). New York: Basic Books.
Kanter, R. M. (1983). The Change Masters. New York: Simon & Schuster
Kanter, R. M. (1977). Men and Women of the Corporation. New York: Basic Books.
Lorsch, Jay W., & Stephen A. Allen.1973) Managing Diversity and Interdependence. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press
Lowe K.B., Kroeck, K.G., Sivasubramaniam, N. (1996) Effectiveness Correlates of Transformation and Transactional Leadership: A Meta-Analytic Review of The MLQ Literature” Leadership Quarterly, 7 (3)
Menon, S.T. (2001). Employee Empowerment an Integrative Psychological Approach. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 50(1): 153-80
Ming J.S. (2010). A Model of Higher Education Institutions Choice in Malaysia – A Conceptual Approach. International Conference on Business and Economics Research
Mintzberg, H. (1998). Integrated Performance Management Framework: A guide to strategic implementation. Sage Miles, R.E. & Snow, C.C. (1984). Designing Strategic Human Resources Systems. Organizational Dynamics, 31(1):36-52
Meyer, J. W., & Rowan, B. (1991). Institutionalized organizations: Formal structure as myth and ceremony. In W. W. Powell and P. J. DiMaggio (Eds.). The New Institutionalism in Organizational Analysis (41-62). Chicago: University of Chicago Press
Monari F. (2013). The Influence of Time Management Tendencies and Organizational Factors on The Relationship Between Employee Attributes And Organizational Performance Of Universities In Kenya. Unpublished. PhD Thesis. University of Nairobi
Ngambi, H. C. (2010). The Relationship between Leadership and Employee Morale in Higher Education. African Journal of Business Management 5(3): 762-776.
Oliver, C. (1997). Sustainable Competitive Advantage: Combining Institutional and Resource-based Views. Strategic Management Journal, 18: 697-713.
Quinn, R. E., & Spreitzer, G. M. (1997). The Road to Empowerment: Seven Questions every Leader should consider. Organizational Dynamics, 26(2): 37-49
Randolph, W.A. (2000) – Re-thinking Empowerment it is hard to achieve? Organization Dynamics, 29 (2): 94-107
Ritzen, J. (2011) Strategy, Structure and Organization: Mission Differentiation. 2nd International Conference and Exhibition in Higher Education. Riyadh
Robbins, S., & Stephen P. (1990) Organization Theory: Structure, Design and Applications. New Jersey: Prentice Hall International Editions
Saif, N.I., & Saleh, A.S. (2013) Psychological Empowerment and Job Satisfaction in Jordan Hospitals. International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 50.
Scott, W. R. (1995 & 2004). Institutions and Organizations. Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage
Schein, E. (1992). Organizational Culture and Leadership: A Dynamic View. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. p. 9.
Sekeran, U. (1992). Research Methods for Business: A Skill building Approach. NY: John Wiley
Shin, J. C. (2010) Impacts of performance-based accountability on institutional performance in the U.S. Higher Education 60:47–68 DOI 10.1007/s10734-009-9285
Spreitzer, G., & Doneson, D. (2005). Musings on the Past and Future of Employee Empowerment. Handbook of Organizational Development. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Spreitzer, G.M. (2007). Taking Stock: A Review of more thanTwenty Years of Research on Empowerment at Work. Centre for Effective Organizations.
Spreitzer, G. M. (1995). Social Structure Characteristics of Psychological Empowerment. Academy of management Journal, 39: 483-504
Spreitzer, G. & Quinn, R. (2005). Entering the Fundamental State of Leadership: A Framework for the Positive Transformation of Self and Others. University of Michigan
Suchman, M. C. (1995). Localism and Globalism in Institutional Analysis: The Emergence of Contractual Norms in Venture Finance. In The Institutional Construction of Organizations: International and Longitudinal Studies, 39- 63, W. Richard Scott, & Søren Christensen, ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Suddaby, R. (2010). Construct clarity in theories of management and organization. Academy of Management Review, 35: 346-357.
Thomas, K.W., & Velthouse, B.A. (1990). Cognitive Elements of Empowerment: An Interpretive Model of Intrinsic Task Motivation. Academy of Management Review, 15(4): 666-681
Wasyonju , M.G., Kindiki, J.N., & Kali J. (2012). Impact of Brain Drain on the quality of Education in Moi University, Kenya. Journal of Emerging Trends in educational Research and Policy Studies. (3),241-246
Wernerfelt. B. (1984). A Resource-Based View of the Firm. Strategic Management Journal. (5):171-180.
Wilkison, A. (1998). Empowerment: Theory and Practice. Personnel Review. 27(1): 40-56
Wong, Kee-Luen., Choon. Y., & Lau T. (2011). Psychological Empowerment and Organizational Commitment in the Malaysian Private Higher Education Institutions: A Review and Research Agenda. Academic Research International 1: 3.
Yazdani, B. & Yaghoubi, N.M. & Giri, E.S., (2011) Factors affecting the Empowerment of Employees. European Journal of Social Sciences, 20 (2): 267-274.
Yang, S. & Choi, S. O. (2009). Employee Empowerment and Team Performance: Autonomy, Responsibility, Information, and Creativity Team Performance Management, 15 (5/6): 289-301.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.61426/sjbcm.v3i4.308
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
PAST ISSUES:
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.