Effect of Occupational Transfers On Employee Engagement in Private Universities in Western Kenya
Effect of Occupational Transfers On Employee Engagement in Private Universities in Western Kenya
Abstract:- According to Makori, M. & Kariuki, N., (2015), effect on employee engagement. The study suggested that
a study was conducted in Presbyterian University of East private universities in western Kenya should communicate
Africa (PUEA) by the HR Office in 2014 and disclosed that to their employees before they are transferred.
about 50% of employees in Kenyan institutions of Higher
Learning merely come to work to do what is needed of Keywords:- Occupational Transfers, Employee Engagement.
them. The study showed that 47% of workers came to
work and ended up using most of their time on social I. INTRODUCTION
websites during work hours. Hence workforce turnover
was registered at 43%. The major cause of these situations Occupational Transfers
is not known. Scholars have given many suggestions that In many businesses, occupational transfers do happen.
some Occupational changes in private universities are Suzuki, a Kobe University organizational behavioral specialist
linked with digitalization, how information is shared, provided evidence for this, he tracked the differences in the
relocation of workers, change in task objectives and dynamics between the ancient and modern Occupations for 20
production costs. Nevertheless, it is not known whether years. He also looked at how the relationships between
these changes have any significant effect on employee Japanese corporations and labor have changed. He concluded
engagement in Kenyan private universities. This study that since the end of World War II, firms in Japan have shifted
therefore was particularly concerned with the Effect of from the concept of lifetime employment, which became
Occupational Transfers on Employee Engagement in deeply ingrained during the postwar economic boom. This has
Private Universities in Western Kenya. The conclusions of resulted in a significant cultural shift in the country's
this study might be very useful to many stakeholders occupational landscape (Katol & Suzuki, 2006).
involved in the management of Private universities in
Kenya. The study was based on the Job Characteristics Workers worry that they may lose their employment or
theory. Correlational research design was used. Target be moved to other positions which might lead to stress at
population was 1440 workers of four selected Private work, including anxiety, tension, and wrath. On the other
Universities. Stratified random sampling techniques were hand, Changing careers can force workers to think in fresh and
employed. The sample of 313 workers from different interesting ways. One advantage of creative thinking within
sections was used. Questionnaires were given to the corporation is the generation of several inventions and
Respondents to complete for the purpose of data collection. concepts that can be utilized to maintain the business dynamic,
Questionnaire were developed using items from literature fascinating, and profitability. (Kotler, 1999). A 2014 Oxford
reviews. SPSS and Excel tools were used during the data Economics Workforce 2020 study found that during periods of
analysis process. Data was presented using charts and significant occupational shifts, business organizations in South
Frequency tables. From the results, conclusions and Africa face challenges in managing talent, developing
recommendations were made. A pilot study was carried leadership, comprehending people, and promoting learning.
out with 10 respondents from Uzima University to assess The Systems Applications and Products (SAP) group
the validity of the research instruments. The 10 commissioned the study, which found that occupational
respondents were not involved in the main study. The transfers were the most popular occupational trend in South
results revealed that occupational transfers had a negative Africa (59%), which was followed by the entry of so-called
effect (β=-.541, p<.05) and accounted for 29.3% variance millennial into the workforce (54%), and the
in employee engagement (R2=.293, p<.05). It was internationalization of the workforce (43%) (Brynjolfsson &
concluded that Occupational Transfers have a significant McAfee, 2014).
Karanja (2015) argue that the digital age has brought workplace, such as workforce reorganization, and employee
both great possibilities and difficulties to a number of Kenyan engagement in higher education. Additionally, the authors
enterprises. Businesses perceive that monitoring operations have not indicated what field of study or applicability of their
has become a challenge because of the swift change in recommendations, nor have they demonstrated how these
occupational fields. She also noted that, at 61%, occupational similar obstacles and intervening strategies may be recognized
transfers have been the most common type of occupational and established independently at either public or private
shift, forcing firms to implement late tactics in order to avoid higher education institutions. Therefore, the goal of the
fierce competition. Karanja came to the conclusion that research was to determine whether occupational transfers have
changes in a worker's occupation might affect every facet of any apparent effect on employee engagement in Kenya's
the business's operations. Most of these adjustments are driven private universities.
by the need to adapt to new possibilities or problems brought
about by the atmosphere of the organization. However, In their study "Effect of Occupational Changes on
Karanja's research on the impact of occupational shifts on Performance in Kenyan Private Universities," Rael, Dinah,
performance was too wide to establish a connection between and Kipkebut (2019) found that universities have implemented
similar changes—for example, occupational transfers and a number of novel tactics to counteract occupational changes,
employee engagement—and other factors. such as occupational transfers, that affect their real efficiency.
The authors, nevertheless, could not understand as to why
Higher Education in Kenya Kenyan colleges have differing ratings, with some being
In Kenya, there are essentially two categories of ranked well and others poorly. Therefore, the main objective
universities: private and public. Public universities are owned of this study was to ascertain if occupational transfers affect
and supported by the state. Private persons or organizations, employee engagement at Kenyan private institutions.
some of which are religious, are in charge of private
universities. Tuition fees and sponsorship provide the lion's Employee Engagement
share of the organization's revenue. Like all other universities, Employee views, optimistic outlook, self-perception, and
private universities in Kenya function in an environment that self-assurance in the company are just a few of the elements
is dynamic and competitive. To sustain efficiency, they have that make up employee engagement. It is also affected by the
to give up a lot of their long-standing customs in favor of company's mission goals, predetermined course, daily
unproven future routes (Okenda, Thuo, & Kithinji, 2017). decisions, and staff appreciation (Saxena, 2012). Employee
Adjustments in private universities are mostly focused on job satisfaction, pride in one's work, attitude toward one's
organizational communication, technological advances, work, and occupational impacts are all components of an
behavioral changes, and strategic planning. The engaged workforce. Workers take joy in their work when they
implementation of novel approaches differs throughout approach it with enthusiasm and accountability. An
universities and could impact real output. The real cause for employee's response to a manager who stands by them and
the disparity in university rankings, where some continue to be defends their actions or productivity is increased satisfaction,
ranked poorly while others are ranked highly, is still a mystery which has a direct and beneficial impact on employee
(Okenda, Thuo, & Kithinji, 2017) engagement (Linz & Huddleston, 2006). Adding to this, Shuck
et al. (2010) contend that employee engagement literature
The employment of new technologies, a change in needs to start paying much more attention to the occupational
advertising approaches, and the hiring of exceptionally context in order to properly comprehend how and why
qualified individuals are the outcomes of Kenya's higher employee engagement is not fulfilled in private colleges.
education transition (Mathooko, 2013). Higher education (HE)
is evolving due to several main issues, according to Boston These writers have attempted to provide evidence to
(2000): rising expenses, a growing focus on college ratings, support their explanation of the poor employee engagement
changing student demographics, and increased parental observed in Kenyan private universities, but they have not
concern about educational quality. To remain competitive in a addressed the root causes of these issues or whether
global marketplace, universities have tried to adopt the occupational transfers in the workplace could be a factor in the
following strategies: superior quality compared to rival low engagement of the workforce. However, the HRO report
institutions, cutting-edge technology, effective communication in the PUEA does not identify or even mention the causative
techniques, and reorganizing their staff in terms of abilities, factors that result in these manifestations of low employee
knowledge, and talent management (Watson, 1996). engagement in higher learning institutions. Instead, it
speculates extensively about the implications of low employee
While Mathooko (2013), Boston (2000), and Watson engagement for organizations and individual workers. This
(1996) made an effort to clarify some of the developments in study aimed to assess the effect of Occupational transfers on
higher education, as well as the variables that led to these employee engagement in Kenya's private universities, in light
changes and subsequent modalities, they were unable to of these observations and gaps.
explain the connections between these changes in the
Statement of the Problem diversity of skills all impact three psychological states.
Private universities in Kenya are currently experiencing Because of this, a range of possible outcomes, including job
substantial employee turnover, subpar work performance, satisfaction, absenteeism, and occupational engagement, is
inadequate service standards, and a dynamic workplace influenced by the three psychological states. (Hackman,
marked by frequent occupational changes. The main obstacles 1975). Three psychological states—meaningfulness of work,
are figuring out what creates these situations and how to draw responsibility, and awareness of outcomes—are linked to high
in and keep talented, committed employees. Several studies occupational motivation according to Hackman and Oldham's
have been conducted to assess the level of staff engagement in job characteristics motivation theory. From an organizational
Kenya's private universities. Most of the researches have perspective, it is anticipated that enhancing the specifics of
repeatedly shown that despite the high standards that different essential job responsibilities will lead to increased
stakeholders have put in place, a common problem is low staff occupational satisfaction and employee engagement
satisfaction. Moreover, there is a lack of proficiency in the (Hackman, 1975).
administration of student relations, public involvement, and
consumer relations within Kenyan private Universities. Three crucial psychological states, according to
However, the causes of these occurrences are unknown, which Hackman (1975), are in charge of many fruitful personal and
is why this study was conducted. On the other hand, studies professional outcomes. They are listed in the following order:
have indicated that transfer activities may be one of the
occupational changes in private higher education institutions; The Subsequent are Crucial Attributes of the Job:
nevertheless, it is unknown if these changes have any effect on The degree to which a job demands an employee to
employee engagement, which is why this study was execute a range of tasks and develop a range of competencies
conducted. is referred to as skill variety. Employees may find greater
purpose in work demanding a broad range of skills and
Objective of the Study abilities than in tasks that are straightforward and routine.
The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effect of
occupational transfers on employee engagement in private Task Identity:
universities in western Kenyan. The degree to which job holders must locate and finish a
task with a defined outcome; when workers are accountable
The study was guided by this hypothesis: for all stages of the process instead of just a few, their work
takes on greater significance for them
H01: There is no significant Effect of Occupational Transfers
on Employee Engagement in private universities in western Task Importance:
Kenya. How much a task impacts other people's lives. There may
be an impact on the immediate organization or the
surroundings. When their profession considerably improves
people's physical or mental health, employees feel that their
work is more meaningful than if it has minimal effect to
anyone else.
Autonomy:
The degree to which an employee has a great deal of
latitude, self-governance, and discretion in choosing how to
set up their work and fulfill their duties. In professions where
employees have a high degree of autonomy, their work
outcomes are decided by their own initiative, efforts, and
decisions rather than by directives from management or a task
Fig 1 Conceptual Framework process manual. Employees feel more responsible for both
professional success and failure when this occurs.
II. THEORITICAL REVIEW
Feedback:
Job Characteristics Theory The degree of comprehension of the result by the staff
Under the work characteristics theory that was created by member. This data regarding how well he or she performs
Hackman and Oldham in 1975, the task itself is considered to their work is precise, comprehensive, and useful. When
be crucial to employee engagement. The job characteristic employees obtain clear, actionable information on their work
model states that intrinsically motivated features are fostered performance, they are better able to comprehend the overall
by the occupational setting, which leads to job satisfaction. effects of their work activities and what precise measures (if
The factors of task identification, autonomy, feedback, and any) they need to take to increase their productivity.
Compared to Herzberg's theory, the job characteristic Harrison (2000) however, found that some firms see
model is backed by more empirical data. Critics point out that transfers as a great way to boost morale and encourage
many studies that employ this model ignore important employee engagement in his paper on the Effect of Transfer
psychological states entirely, focusing only on the direct and Incentive on Employee Performance. The study found that
effects of fundamental job aspects on personal and while moving can occasionally be difficult, it doesn't have to
professional outcomes (Behnson, 2010). This has led to be chaotic; instead, it can result in a motivated, invigorated,
criticism of the approach. This hypothesis will therefore be and reenergized workforce that is ready to contribute to the
relevant to the current study. company's success. According to the report, managers should
consult with staff members ahead of time to find out their
III. EMPIRICAL REVIEW opinions before relocating an office. Their engagement will
rise as a result of this, helping them get ready for a change.
In the contemporary world, the quality of occupational According to the study's findings, employee engagement and
transfers is a constant source of concern for any institution or productivity both decline when transfers are made
organization, especially when it comes to putting transfer rules insufficiently or incorrectly, but the contrary is also right.
into place that guarantee staff members' continued engagement
to meet the objectives. Lee (2011) defines a transfer as a Behnson (2010) divides occupational transfer issues into
lateral shift as the moving of people from one position to two categories: issues that are connected to the workplace and
another without a major alteration in the responsibilities, issues that are not. Transitioning to a new workplace and
duties, skills needed, or pay. accepting additional responsibilities are examples of work-
related concerns; decisions on relocation, social and emotional
According to Black's (2004) study, which examined the strain, and other matters fall under the category of non-work-
relationship between occupational transfers, work motivation, related concerns. The study also notes that poor performance,
and employee performance, an employee may find it resistance, and poor quality of work can arise from
challenging to adjust to a new workplace, role, and supervisor unintentional occupational transfers. The study did not
when they are transferred to a new work office. The study also however demonstrate a relationship between occupational
showed that, even in cases where a transfer is beneficial, an transfers and low employee engagement, hence leading to this
employee may find it challenging to get to know a new study.
supervisor when they are assigned to a different department or
location. The study finds that while some workers find the IV. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
unknown unsettling, others find it thrilling. It may be difficult
for them to adjust and function in the new setting, which The use of questionnaires intended to elicit respondents'
lowers satisfaction. Since it sought to explain the relationship opinions and views on the issues affecting the study helped to
between occupational transfers, work motivation, and ensure that accurate data was collected. (Orwaru, 2014). The
employee performance even in cases where the transfers are study's target population was the staff members of four private
good, this study was necessary. universities in the Western Kenya region. The universities
included: University of Eastern Africa, Baraton in Nandi
County, Kenya Highlands University in Kericho County,
Great Lakes university of Kisumu in Kisumu County and
are diploma holders. Moreover, the findings also indicates Findings on the Effect of Occupational Transfers on
that many of the respondents, 221(73.1%) belong to Employee Engagement
operational level work followed by 48(16.1%) who are The study sought to establish the effect of occupational
supervisors then 30(10%) were HODs. These results showed a transfers on employee engagement in private Universities in
true representation of higher Education workforce where the western Kenya region. Hence, respondents on both variables
majority have PHDs. The study's demographic features were gave data which was collected and later correlated.
crucial because they gave insight into the types of respondents
who took part. For example, the presence of respondents with The study sought views from the respondents
advanced degrees, such a PHD, suggests that the opinions considering different factors related to occupational transfers.
expressed came from people who knew more about The statements were generated on a scale of 1-4, showing the
universities. Experience also demonstrates that the extent to which they agreed with each statement: where: 1=
respondents have knowledge of university affairs, making strongly disagree, 2= disagree, 3= agree and 4= strongly
them qualified to offer trustworthy information. agree. The findings are presented as shown in Table 4.7 that
follows.
Statement 1 2 3 4 M STD
14(4.7) 63(21.1) 157(52.5) 65(21.7) 2.9 .78
Do you agree or disagree that new supervision leads to low employee
engagement in privateuniversities in western Kenya?
Do you agree or disagree that moving employees to new work offices 6(2) 93(31.1) 168(56.2) 32(10.7) 2.8 .66
reduces their engagement in private universities in western Kenya?
5(1.7) 109(36.5) 137(45.8) 48(16.1) 2.8 .73
Do you agree or disagree that shifting employees to new roles decreases
their engagement inprivate universities in western Kenya?
26(8.7) 72(24.1) 147(49.2) 54(18.1) 2.8 .85
Do you agree or disagree that working with new and unfamiliar
workmates reduces employee engagement in private universities in
western Kenya?
Source, (Field Survey, 2022)
Key-1= strongly disagree (SD), 2= disagree (D), 3= agree (A) and 4= strongly agree (SA), M-Mean, STD-Standard deviation
The findings showed that 157(52.5%) of the respondents (M=2.8, SD=.85). Most of workers who participated in the
agree that new work supervision can leads to low employee study showed that new work supervision led to low employee
engagement in private universities in western Kenya, engagement. They also indicated that transferring employees
which also had a highrating (M=2.9, SD=.78). Additionally, to new tasks and working with unfamiliar workmates lowered
relocating employees to new work offices lowers their their engagements.
engagement in private universities in western Kenya as
indicated by majority of the respondents, 168(56.2%) of the Hypothesis Testing for Objective 2: Effect between
respondents who were in agreement, also with a high rating Transfers of Employees and their Morale
(M=2.8, SD=.66). Further analysis showed that shifting Determining the effect of occupational transfers on
employees to new tasks decreases their engagement in private employee engagement was the objective of this study. "There
universities in western Kenya as showed by 137(45.8%) of the is no significant effect between occupational transfers and
respondents and a high mean and low standard deviation employee engagement in private universities in western
(M=2.8, SD=.73). The low means indicate that occupational Kenya," was the null hypothesis of this study. Both basic
transfer practices are exercised to a small magnitude while the linear regression models and Pearson product moment
small standard deviations shows that the respondents’ views correlation were used to test this.
had small variations thus highly agreed. Lastly, the findings as
showed by many of the respondents, 147(49.2%) indicate that Table 3 presents additional data using a simple linear
working with unfamiliar workmates lowers employee regression model to determine whether occupational transfers
engagement in private universities in western Kenya region have an effect on employees' engagement.
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