The Role of Human Resource Management Practices on Employee Commitment: A Case Study of International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

A Project Report Submitted to the Chandaria School of Business in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Science in Organization Development (MOD)The purpose of the study was to assess the role of human resource management practices on employee commitment at ILRI. The study was guided by the following research questions: To what extent does training and development practices affect employee commitment at ILRI? To what extent do employee performance evaluation practices affect employee commitment at ILRI? To what extent do employee compensation strategies affect employee commitment at ILRI? The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population was a total of 420 employees working at ILRI Nairobi. The study applied stratified random sampling technique to select a sample size of 42 respondents. The study adopted questionnaire method to collect data. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer software was used for data analysis. The data was cleaned, coded, categorized per each of the research variables and then analyzed using frequencies and percentages and regression analysis to establish the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. The findings were presented using figures and tables. The study found that there was a significant relationship between training and development and employee commitment. Most respondents were in agreement that training and development enhanced employee performance. Many of the respondents agreed that participation in training increased their level of commitment towards the organization. The study also found that respondents were neutral towards the management support on training and development as a measure of employee commitment. The study found a significant relationship between performance evaluation and employee commitment. Majority of the respondents found that performance evaluation enhances productivity of employees which in turn raises their level of commitment to the organization. It was found that respondents strongly agreed on the need of having a performance management system. However few respondents were neutral when responding to performance management and its sustainability of good performance. The study revealed that there was a significant relationship between employee compensation and employee commitment. Majority of the respondents strongly agreed that, competitive remuneration enhances employee commitment. Most respondents strongly agreed that annual company performance bonus had an effect on employee commitment. Few employees were neutral, when they responded to, incentives and good wages enhanced employee commitment. However majority of the respondents strongly agreed that symbolic gifts (caps’ badges, t-shirts) enhanced employee commitment. The study concludes that training and development, performance management and competitive remuneration are significant factors and have positive effect in increased employee commitment. Initiatives taken under each of the factors such as; the opportunity to participate in training programs, having and effective performance management system and offering incentives and good wages and benefits administration respectively all had a positive outlook on employee commitment. The study recommends that organizations should drive learning through career, peer counselor seminars that enrich employees’, encourage growth and career development of employees by coaching, and by helping employees to achieve their personal goals. The study further recommends an improvement on employees working environment by providing a safe and healthy working environment with modern office facilities and equipment, this will increase the level of employee motivation. On competitive remuneration the study recommends an implementation of employee reward and recognition programs that will seek to award employee efforts raise motivation level and increase commitment