Influence of Human Resource Management Professionals Act (2012) Enforcement on Performance of the Human Resource Function at Ministry of Health, Kenya

Abstract

Human Resources Management Professionals Act (2012) was enacted in January 2013 which was expected to govern practice by HRM professionals. Performance of the human resource function and the organization as a whole is expected to have improved with the implementation of the HRMP Act. The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of Human Resource Management Professionals Act (2012) enforcement on performance of the Human Resource Function at the Ministry of Health. The study was anchored on two theories i.e. the Kantian Theory and Resource based theory. Kantian theory explained that what is righteous for one is righteous for every person that‟s why there is need to embrace rules and regulations at the work place. The Resource Based Theory refers about organizations having strategic resources for which one correctly utilized would realize sustainable competitive advantages to rivals. The research study adopted descriptive research design. Data was collected using structured questionnaires. The target population constituted 136 employees working at Ministry of Health Headquarters in Nairobi; Human Resource department. Out of 136 employees 102 employees responded to the questionnaires. From the responses 6 questionnaires were not used in analysis because they had not been filled properly. Thus, analysis of the questionnaires was done using 96 questionnaires from 96 respondents who appropriately responded to the questions that were asked. The collected data was analyzed using frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations by use simple linear regression with help of SPSS software. The results were presented using tables. The coefficient of regression showed a good strength of the relationships between independent variable and the dependent variable. The coefficient of determination showed the predictive power of the model and in this case 64.4% of variations in performance of the HR function was explained by the independent variables. The results of the study showed that enforcement of HRMP Act, (2012) affects performance of the HR function in the ministry of health. Therefore the study will be important to the management at the ministry of health to embrace the HRMP Act, (2012) and formulate policies that shall simplify the content of the HRMP Act and enable them put into practice the provisions of the Act for the benefit of the ministry.