The influence of management levels on employee empowerment and job satisfaction

Abstract

When employees are empowered, well informed and free to conduct their duties in a manner that is less encumbered, they are in position to accomplish their duties more effectively and efficiently. If they are able to understand their vision, mission and goals, are trained and given decision-making authority they are more likely to demonstrate accountability, initiative and responsibility. Employee empowerment leads to increased individual motivation at work place thus better results for the services they are offering. Few studies have examined the influence of management levels on empowerment and job satisfaction. The main objective of this study was to establish the influence of management levels on empowerment and job satisfaction at the Kisumu Polytechnic in Kisumu County. The study was a case study design. Data was obtained by means of administering questionnaires to 50 respondents at the institution. The respondents were selected randomly and data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and findings presented in the form of tables. The respondents were in agreement that the concept of empowerment indeed existed in the organization and also revealed that the concept resulted in delegation of authority, information sharing, accountability and other conditions for ensuring empowerment in the organization. Respondents expressed that these conditions indeed contributed to employee motivation, enhanced employee performance, productivity and organization effectiveness. The study found that majority of respondents was satisfied with their jobs and were empowered. The study recommends that organizations maintain various management levels and encourage managers in these positions to involve their employees in tasks that will make them derive job satisfaction, enhance employee retention, reduce turnover and drive the organization to achieving its objectives. Recommendations from the research are of relevance to institutions of higher learning to develop and enforce structures and conditions that will enhance the effectiveness of empowerment programmes that will deliver the full benefits to the organization.