Effect of Job Crafting on Performance of Federal Universities in South East, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of job crafting on performance of federal universities, in South East, Nigeria. However, the specific objectives were to assess how task crafting affects the employability of graduates produced in federal universities; identify the extent of the relationship between relational crafting and employee job satisfaction in federal universities; determine how work creativity relates with research output of academic staff in federal universities; ascertain how cognitive crafting affects graduation rate in federal universities; establish the effect of employee engagement on career development of academic staff of federal universities in South East Nigeria. The study adopted the survey research method, making use of structured questionnaire and oral interview schedule as instruments for data collection. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources. The population of the study was 7,135 that comprised the junior and senior academic staff of the studied federal universities. Sample size of 554 was arrived at with the use of Cochran statistical formula. Data were presented in tables and percentages. Hypotheses were tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and the simple linear regression. It was found that task crafting has positive effect on the employability of graduates produced in federal universities (r = 0.8613; P<0.05); relational crafting positively and significantly relates with employee job satisfaction of Federal Universities (r = 0.7831; P <0.05); there is a positive relationship between work creativity and research output of academic staff of federal universities (r = 0.803; P < 0.05); cognitive crafting positively affect graduation rate in federal universities (r =0.803; P < 0.05); employee engagement has positive effect on career development of academic staff of federal universities (r = 0.978; p ˂ 0.05). It was concluded that job crafting had a significant positive effect on employee performance of federal universities, South East, Nigeria. Therefore, the result of the interactions between task crafting and graduates employability, relational crafting and job satisfaction, work creativity and research output, cognitive crafting and graduation rate as well as work engagement and employee career development is enhanced performance of the federal universities, South East, Nigeria. The study thus recommended that Universities should consolidate task crafting in their administrative process to guarantee graduates’ employability in the face of competitive labor market. Universities should ensure the development of relational crafting through team work to ensure synergy that would affirm employee job satisfaction. Special grant and budgetary allocation should be provided for enhanced creative thought and quality research output. Universities should employ professionals that would enhance cognitive capabilities and students graduation rate. Universities should create programmes and opportunities for career advancements of employees to compete globally.