Effects of Task Identity on Employee Motivation: A Survey of Eldoret Polytechnic, Kenya

Abstract

Motivation is one of the major challenges in human resource management and without a motivated workforce; organizations stand to suffer in terms of production and efficiency The study sought to determine the effect of task identity on employee motivate ion using Hackmans’s job characteristics model and the content theories of motivation.  The context of study is localized, and this forms the research gap.  A study/survey of Eldoret Polytechnic was done.  The objective of the study was determination of relationship between task identity, and employee motivation. Thus the research hypothesis was to determine whether there is significant relationship between task identity and employee level of motivation. The research design used correlational research design which correlated task identity to employee motivation.Methodology of research used was descriptive and inferential statistics. The model for methodology is: Y₀= X₁; where Y is the dependent variable which is employee motivation, and independent variable X₁, to represent task identity, respectively. A sample of 110 employees was obtained from a population of 364 employees. The population was stratified into administrative staff, teaching staff and non-teaching staff. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaire questions.  The data collected was edited, coded, and tabulated.  It was analyzed using SPSS (statistical package for social scientists) version 19, to carry out linear regression analysis. Findings showed a correlation between task identity (r=0.531, p=0.000<0.05; B=0.060); The hypothesis was rejected, and the alternative hypothesis was taken, meaning that task identity has a significant effect on employee motivation. This means that up to 67.9% of employee motivation can be explained by task identity factor. The result of the study is that task identity has a positive effect on employee motivation.. The study recommends that managers of organizations can use these findings to make human resource decisions regarding job analysis and also when formulating Policies on human resource aspects like recruitment, remuneration, and retention policies.

Keywords: Task Identity, Employee Motivation