Human Resource Development Climate of Selected Commercial Banks in Ethiopia

Abstract

Human resource development climate is a manifestation of overall tone of the organization with respect to employee training, education and development.  The objective of the study is to show the status of human resource development climate of selected commercial banks in Ethiopia.  An analytical survey research approach was employed to assess the HRD climate of the banks.  Employees and managers at head quarters of the selected commercial banks were considered as a sample of the study.  Out of 600 employees at head quarters 150 were made to respond to the questionnaire based on the availability sampling techniques.  The sampling technique was chosen since the employees are homogenous in terms of awareness regarding the issue of the study.  The respondents were requested to fill a questionnaire that was developed by Rao and Abraham (1986).  Accordingly, top management commitments, HRD mechanisms and OCTAPAC culture of the Banks were assessed.  The findings of the study shows that an average management support, an average HRD mechanisms effort and an average OCTAPAC culture are prevailing within the case banks.  Therefore, it can be concluded that the banks are not in a position of exercising conducive HRD climate. In other respect the changes in banking industry is turbulent and which ultimately calls for continuous human resource development. Hence, it was suggested that the managing body of the commercial banks need to support the learning & potential development of employees by introducing changes in HRD policies and practices which ultimately creates conducive HRD climate.