THE EFFECT OF GOAL SETTING ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE:

Abstract

This study generally looks at the aspect of goal setting in an organization or company. It stands to be the focal point of all high performing organizations. It stems from strategic management, which puts an organization in one direction of action, performance, and output. Hence, the purpose of the study was to examine the effect of Goal setting on employee performance, a case of Clarke International University. The study was based on Goal setting theory which is determined by constructs of Goal Core properties that include (i) Goal specificity, Challenge and Strategies (ii) Moderators which also included Task complexity, Feedback, and Goal commitment, and (iii) Mediators which included Direction, Effort, ad Persistence. Staff at Clarke International University faced challenges like Lack of visibility, lack of direction, High turnover rate, low commitment, which makes employees less productive at work and if not addressed; leads to increased turnover, demotivation, decline in performance which later leads to failure to fulfill the mandate of the plan of the University. The objectives of the study were to (i) assess the effect of Goal core properties on employee performance (ii) Find out the impact of goal moderators on employee performance, and (iii) assessing the relevance of goal mediators on employee performance at the university. The survey data was collected from a sample size of 108 respondents of which 98 returned questionnaires, 52 were top managers and 73 being other staff. The design was longitudinal survey and the data was collected using questionnaires and interview guides. According to the respondents, Goal core properties had a positive significant relationship of 0.64 and standard deviation of 0.00 roughly 64% effect on employee performance, Moderators had a positive significant relationship of 0.0549 and standard deviation of 0.00 roughly 55% effect on employee performance, Mediators had a significant positive relationship of 0.759 and a standard deviation of 0.00 roughly 76% effect on employee performance. Based on the findings of the study, lack of goal setting practices affects employee performance highly at Clarke International University. It is recommended that the organization should carry out strategic planning and management, carry out staff orientation regularly, stakeholder engagement, and setting motivating goals for all staff / employees if at all the university is to achieve its desired competitiveness and success in the market, and in the country at large