Perception of the influence of incentives on employee job performance in the ministry of education in Kenya

Abstract

Incentives, and their use and misuse, have long been the focus of researchers and practitioners dedicated to maximizing human performance. Research posits that incentives have a major influence on employee job performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the perception of the influence of incentives on employee performance at the Ministry of Education. The study adopted a descriptive research design. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire from 45 respondents drawn from various departments at the Ministry, and then analyzed. Quantitative data collected were analyzed by the use of descriptive statistics using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented through percentages, means, standard deviations and frequencies. Respondents were required to indicate how they perceive the influence of incentives on employee performance at the Ministry of Education by scoring on statements describing such a link that were presented in a 1-5 point likert scale. To determine the perceived link, the study adopted the use of perception indices. The findings of the study showed that the use of incentives is perceived to have improved performance at the Ministry of Education to some level. The study concludes that employees had different views on the influence of incentives on job performance. The study therefore recommends that employees in the various departments should have the same type of incentive system to avoid discrimination at the Ministry of Education.Based on the limitations of the study, suggestions for further research relating to the influence of incentives on job performance have been put forth.