| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of public service agricultural sector employees' perception of the performance appraisal system in Kenya with reference to the employees in Kitui Central and Nzambani Districts. The study mainly aimed at determining the appraisal process and how it is perceived by the employees in a bid to establish if the purpose of the appraisal is achieved.
The following were the objectives of the study: to determine if personal characteristics such as age, rank and highest level of education influence perceptions towards performance appraisal among agricultural employees; to determine if purpose of the appraisal influence agricultural employees' perception towards performance appraisal; to determine the influence of appraisal content on agricultural employees' perception towards performance appraisal; to determine the influence of appraisal justice on agricultural employees' perception towards performance appraisal and to establish the influence of appraisal outcome on agricultural employees' perception towards performance appraisal. An overview of extensive historical research as reviewed literature related to public service agricultural sector employees' perception of the performance appraisal system was presented according to the study objectives.
A survey research design was employed. The target population formed the study participants. The public agricultural employees filled in questionnaires and their supervisors were interviewed by the researcher. A pilot study was conducted to ensure that the data collected were consistent and valid. The questionnaires were personally administered and interviews conducted by the researcher. Quantitative data analysis was done using descriptive statistics where percentages and mean-values of the 5-point scale values were generated. Data were presented using frequency distribution tables, preceded by explanations.
Qualitative data were transcribed, categorized thematically and presented as narrations from the respondents' quotations and verbatim. Participants were given the assurance that their identity remained anonymous. Permission to participate in this study was sought before administering the questionnaire to any selected respondent. A permit was obtained from the National Council for Science and Technology in order to be allowed to collect data. A copy of the permit was submitted to the DC and DAOs Kitui Central and Nzambani Districts, Kenya.
The study findings revealed that the performance appraisal policy as it was practiced in the Kenyan public service agricultural sector exhibited weaknesses, which needed to be urgently addressed if the appraisal system was to be used to improve the quality of public agricultural sector's productivity. The employees' personal characteristics, purpose of the appraisal, appraisal's content, justice, outcome and employees attitude towards the appraisal system were found to be influencing the employees' perception of the performance appraisal scheme.
The researcher concluded that the performance appraisal policy as it was practiced in the Kenyan public service agricultural sector exhibited weaknesses, which needed to be urgently addressed if the appraisal system was to be used to improve the quality of public agricultural sector's productivity. The researcher recommended a well-designed and executed performance appraisal system that could lead to a greater efficiency, effectiveness as well as improving the employees' morale and training of both the supervisory and non-supervisory agricultural employees to conduct the performance appraisal well and receiving end appraisees to get the importance of the appraisal. Further studies were suggested on the employee perception of the performance appraisal in order to help in correcting any anomalies of the appraisal systems. | en_US |
