Influence of career development programmes on employee performance in commercial banks in Kenya
Date
2023
Authors
Shamala, D.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
The commercial banking business environment is replete with turbulence from changing consumer demands, economic and financial fluctuations, and changing technological trends. The navigation of this environment is dependent on the capability of its workforce to match or adapt their skills to these changes and prepare for future demands of the workplace. This study examined the influence of career development programmes on employee performance in Kenya’s commercial banking sector. Skill development practices, mentoring practices, and goal-setting represented the independent variables while employee performance was the dependent variable. Social exchange theory, social learning theory, and goal-setting theories were used as the study’s theoretical framework. A positivist research philosophy was adopted while a descriptive research design was implemented. The 2,498 secretarial and other categories of employees in commercial banks as categorised by the Central Bank of Kenya made for the target population from which a sample size of 344 respondents was calculated. A structured questionnaire developed from an empirical literature review was used to collect data after determining its reliability and validity using Cronbach coefficient alpha following a pilot of the instrument among ten participants. Data were collected from 344 respondents from thirty-nine commercial banks. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyse Likert scale data, frequency distribution was used for analysing demographic data, and multiple regression analysis to determine direction and effect of independent variables on employee performance. Skills development and mentoring had positive and significant effects on employee performance while goal-setting did not. The study recommends continuous employee training to match the future demands of the commercial banking sector due to the changing dynamics of this workplace. This can be done by onboarding new jobs, additional skills for employees in their present job, and providing training for emerging roles for employee jobs. There is further a need for commercial banks to support continuous mentoring programmes to include systematic and formal processes for personal development. Managers and supervisors can attain this to set higher goals for employees. The study suggests further research using qualitative methods to gather information on role of career development on employee performance among commercial banks. Based on the findings, there is a need for further study to examine the role and use of goal-setting as a means to enhance the performance of employees in the commercial banking sector. Third, the current study focused on management training programs that focus on entry-level careers. Further research that focuses on career development programs for a high cadre of staff may reveal other perspectives of career development that were not covered in this research.
Keywords: Career development programmes, skill development practices, mentoring practices, and goal-setting, employee performance.
Description
Full- text thesis
Keywords
Citation
Shamala, D. (2023). Influence of career development programmes on employee performance in commercial banks in Kenya [Strathmore University]. http://hdl.handle.net/11071/13452