Employee empowerment strategies used by Africa Nazarene University, Kenya

Abstract

Employees of an organization are a very important resource without which an organization’s goals can never be realized. Competitive success has become increasingly dependent on human resources and in particular intellectual resources that people bring to their work. Employees have the most direct influence on customers perception of services, service quality and feeling of satisfaction. Organizations are recognizing that they can compete more effectively by distinguishing themselves with respect to service quality and improved customer satisfaction. Employee empowerment is increasing capacity of employees by providing workers with skills and authority to make decisions without necessarily referring issues to supervisors or managers which leads to quicker response to customers’ needs. The empowered employees also feel better about their jobs and have increased trust in the organizations concerned thus they are able to work efficiently, effectively and independently. Strategies of employee empowerment are approaches or tools used by management to enable employees perform efficiently and independently. Strategies of employee empowerment are human resource strategies that reflect philosophy of senior management in regard to treatment of human resource and address various activities related to their management. The objective of the study was to determine the strategies of employee empowerment that are used by Africa Nazarene University, Kenya. Literature reviewed explained prerequisites in regard to strategies of employee empowerment which helped in understanding better how employee empowerment strategies applied in organizations can help them become more competitive and also give customers satisfaction in form of goods and services. The study was a case study focused on employee empowerment strategies used by Africa Nazarene University, Kenya. The research tool used was the interview guide. The interviewees were heads of department responsible for formulation and implementation of policies of the university. The data collected was analyzed using content analysis. Findings of the study showed that Africa Nazarene University uses various employee empowerment strategies to enable its employees to work efficiently and effectively and independently but to some extent i.e. not fully. The university has not opened up completely the areas in which the employees need full empowerment. For example all aspects of decision making, pay to employees and provision of latest technology. Recommendations of the study include the need for the university to open up completely the areas in which employees need full empowerment and also there is need for the university to continue reviewing the strategies used in line with the changes of the knowledge industry in which it is operating.