Effect of employee teamwork practices on organizational Productivity among private universities in Kenya: a case Africa Nazarene University

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish the importance of teamwork practices in organizational productivity. The study was guided by the following specific objectives: To determine the effect of team communication on organizational productivity among private universities in Kenya, to determine the effect of team motivation on organizational productivity among private universities in Kenya and to determine the effect of team leadership on organizational productivity among private universities in Kenya. The research was anchored on Belbin’s Theory of Team Roles and Tuckman’s Teamwork Theory. The study was conducted using descriptive research design. The target population was 173 employees of Africa Nazarene University located in Kajiado County. The sample population was established using stratified random sampling which ensures inclusion of small groups that would be omitted by other sampling methods (Mugenda, 2002). A sample size of 121 respondents was established using Yamane Formula. Data was collected using questionnaires. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze and describe the patterns in the collected data. Linear regression and correlation analysis techniques were used to identify the relationship and influence between team communication, team motivation and team leadership on the organizational productivity. Linear regression model found that a unit increase in team communication contributed to 0.546 linear change in organizational productivity among private universities in Kenya. It further showed that a unit increase in team motivation contributed to 0.497 linear change in organizational productivity among private universities in Kenya. In addition, the study found that a unit increase in team leadership contributed to 0.480 linear change in organizational productivity among private universities in Kenya. This study also recommends that organizations that for a longtime discounted teamwork practices as a major tool for enhancing organizational performance should start valuing and using it as the number one tool. This is because it helps bring benefits such as better organizational performance, higher productivity, competitive advantage and increased product and service quality. The study further recommends that comparative studies can be carried out on the same but with a focus on various views from lower team employees.