FACTORS AFFECTING PRODUCTIVITY OF THE TEACHING STAFF IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN KENYA

Abstract

Previous research to assess factors affecting productivity of teaching staff in public universities in Kenya, have shown mixed results that calls for further studies. Productivity among the teaching staff is noted to be affected by a number of factors that calls for research. This study sought to assess factors affecting productivity of the teaching staff at the public universities in Kenya. Specifically, it examined the effect of leadership, reward system, work life balance and team work on productivity of teaching staff in public universities in Kenya. It was anchored on expectancy theory, theory X and Y. Using descriptive research design and a sample of 362 academic staff out of the total population of 5911. Purposive sampling was used to select the institutions, while simple random sampling method, was used to select the respondents from each university. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and linear regression were employed to assess the relationship between the variables. The results revealed that leadership style (β = .628; t = 10.38, t <0 .05), reward system (β = .202, t = 9.719, p =<0.05), work-life balance (β = 0.577; t = 10.61, p < 0.05), and team-work (β = 0.612; t = 13.723, p < 0.05) were statistically significant contributors to teaching staff productivity in public universities. Hence, there is need to develop policies that enhance participatory leadership, effective reward systems, team-work and sound work-life balance that will ultimately enhance productivity of teaching staff in public universities in Kenya.