STAFF MOTIVATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE (A CASE STUDY OF ZENITH BANK PLC, AWKA)

This research identified the relationship of improved staff performance and organizational achievement beyond targets among the employees of Zenith Bank Plc, Awka. Staff motivation (independent variable) leads to “improved” staff performance (dependent variable) with either negative or positive results depending on the staff perception of equity and inequity rewards. The study discovered that integrative management styles and contingent leadership measures are vital for effective functioning of the organization. These were attained using a sample of 45 respondents (25 senior staff and 20 junior staff) of the organization using stratified probability sampling technique. The primary and secondary sources of data used in the study were validated on face and content value and were analyzed using Chi-square tools. The findings of this study revealed that all employees of the Bank are motivated by monetary incentives and that there is a significant relationship between staff motivation and organizational performance. The study therefore, recommends that financial incentives should be sustained, other reward alternatives should be explored as to integrate various interests, regular training of staff should be embarked on, management should be flexible, approachable but focused while driving the staff towards organizational goals and employees should be consulted directly or indirectly or given options to choose for reward.

BY OTAKPOMEHI BENNETH CHUKWUEMEKE, DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, SCHOOL OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES, NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA. IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (MBA)