An investigation of employee relations management and its effects on employee performance at the Namibian Correctional Service
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Date
2021
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
This research investigates the effects of Employee Relations Management (ERM) on
employees' performance at the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS). The study was
conducted at the Correctional Facility for the district of Windhoek, known as Windhoek
Correctional Facility (WCF). The main ERM components observed in this study include
Human Resources Practices, Communication, Trust, Shared Goals and Values. In terms
of these practices, the study examined the importance of these ERM components at the
Namibian Correctional Service, its challenges and the influence of employee
empowerment through ERM organisational performance at the Namibian Correctional
Service. A quantitative exploratory, descriptive research allowed the researcher to
determine facts, do statistical analysis and present findings on employee relationship
management. The data collection instrument used was a questionnaire and 187 of the
instruments were distributed to the employees (males, females) at the Windhoek
Correctional Facility. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the physical distribution of the
questionnaires was disapproved by the NCS to avoid the risks of contracting and
spreading of the virus amongst the employees. As a result, the questionnaires were
administered online to reach the selected respondents. Based on the outcomes from the
questionnaire, it was found that eighty-eight (88) questionnaires were valid for analysis.
The results of the study show that ERM components have a positive effect on
employees' performance, even though the ERM components were regarded as not very
important by the NCS. Thus, with regards to the ERM, there is still a need within NCS
to build and enhance relationships as well as reinforce the commitment to improve
employees' performance. In terms of importance, the study discovered from the survey
that communication was regarded as less important followed by Trust and then HR
practices. This was also detected as the order of the challenges impacting the
implementation of ERM at the NCS. Thus, the study recommends that the NCS should
provide open and transparent communication which will lead to motivated employees
and good performance. The organisation should improve communication with the
employees through exchanging ideas, feelings and opinions with management. Further
studies should link ERM to employee motivation
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Administration (Management Strategy)
Keywords
Employee Relations Management (ERM), Namibian Correctional Service (NCS), Employees' performance, Windhoek, University of Namibia, Namibia