Performance management strategies on employee performance at African Medical and Research Foundation in Kenya

Abstract

The study's objective was to examine the impact of performance management strategies on employee performance at AMREF Kenya. The study followed a descriptive research design to determine the important features or characteristics of the population being researched. The target population of the study consisted of 300 employees working at AMREF Kenya. The population comprised of 193 male and 107 female spread across 16 departments within the organization. A stratified random sampling technique, which is a probability sampling technique, was used to select 100 employees from the total population. The technique ensured that all departments had a chance of being selected. Structured questionnaires comprising close-ended questions were used to collect primary data due to their effectiveness of capturing respondent information in a structured manner. Data collected was analyzed using analytical tools such as Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 24 which are: descriptive and inferential statistics, correlation, frequency tests, and regression methods. The research results were presented in the form of pie charts, graphs, tables and figures for easier interpretation. The study found a statistically significant coefficient of 0.236 (p= 0.015) for goal setting, indicating that effective goal-setting practices can lead to improved performance outcomes. Timely feedback emerged as a crucial factor influencing employee performance at AMREF, with a correlation coefficient of 0.358 (p< 0.01) indicating a strong relationship. Additionally, a correlation coefficient of 0.312 (p< 0.01) indicates a positive association between reward strategies and employee performance, highlighting the importance of recognizing and incentivizing employee efforts. The study concluded that effective goal setting is significantly linked to enhanced employee performance at AMREF. Further, the study concluded that AMREF should focus on cultivating a feedback culture that emphasizes constructive and actionable insights, ensuring employees feel adequately supported in their performance efforts. To enhance employee performance, the study concluded that AMREF should evaluate and refine its reward system, ensuring they are clearly communicated, fairly applied, and aligned with employee expectations. The study recommends that AMREF adopts the SMART criteria for setting organizational goals to enhance clarity and alignment with its objectives. The study also recommends improving the effectiveness of performance evaluations by enhancing transparency in the evaluation process. This can be achieved by clearly communicating criteria and outcomes to employees.