Effect Of Training And Development On Employee Performance At Safaricom Company Limited

Abstract

Training and development are important in equipping employees with work-related skills and building their competencies for improved performance. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of training and development on employee performance at Safaricom Company Limited. To achieve this, the study was guided by the following objectives: To establish the effect of training needs assessment on performance of employees at Safaricom Limited; To determine the effect of training methods on performance of employees at Safaricom Limited; To assess the effect of training content on performance of employees at Safaricom Limited; and to establish the effect of development programs on performance of employees at Safaricom Limited. The study anchors on the human capital theory, social learning and goal setting theories. This study used descriptive research design to assess the effectiveness of the training and development on employee performance. The target population is 1892 permanent employees working at their head offices in Westland’s, Nairobi County. A sample of 377 respondents was randomly selected from the target population. This study collected primary data using structured questionnaires which was analyzed using mean, standard deviation, percentages and frequencies. Analyzed data was presented in the form of tables and figures. The collected data was coded into SPSS Version 23.0 for analysis and presentation. The study found out that coefficient of correlation R was 0.887 an indication of strong correlation with the variables. The concludes that training need assessment significantly influenced employee performance, this was associated to the fact that the company had regular skills set evaluation that brought out areas of deficiency that employees were to be trained on. Training methods significantly influenced employee performance since the content of trainings for staff were in line with the training needs established and was according to organizational policies and procedures. Training content significantly influenced employee performance due to organization adopted the content of trainings for staff that was in line with the training needs. The study further established that employee development programs significantly influenced employee performance since there was a well-organized orientation program for all its new staff. The study recommends that there ought to be regular skills set evaluation in the company, regular evaluation of skills ought to bring out areas of deficiency that employees are to be trained on and training for staff ought to be tailored to tasks performed by each staff. Well qualified experts in different fields ought to be engaged in conducting job training. Safaricom company ought to have off the job training. Trainings ought to be kept in line with organizational policies and procedures. The training contents ought to allow provision of feedback for greater learning impact. Employee mentorship programs ought to be embraced by the organization to nature employees’ career growth. Employees ought to be allowed to work in teams on a given project.