Effect of Motivation on Employee Performance

The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of motivation on employees’ performance. A descriptive cross sectional survey was carried out by administering a questionnaire to teaching and non-teaching staff at Haven of Peace Academy (HOPAC). Both motivation and employee performance were captured using attitudinal scales with Likert type of rating. Scores were used to measure the extent to which employees are motivated and their performance. Comparison was carried out of both motivation and performance across gender, department and job tenure groups. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the effect of employee motivation on their performance. Teaching staff were found to be intrinsically more motivated than their non-teaching counter parts. No significant differences in intrinsic motivation across gender, and length of service categories. Insignificant differences were found in extrinsic motivation and employee performance across gender, teaching department and length of service categories. Finally, employee performance was found to be significantly positively affected by both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation where the effect of intrinsic motivation was more pronounced than that of extrinsic motivation. It is therefore recommended that HOPAC should balance practices which enhance intrinsic motivation between teaching and non-teaching staff. It is also recommended that HOPAC should engage in activities which boost motivation, but more specifically intrinsic motivation if it wants to maximize employees’ performance. Key words: Motivation, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, employees’ performance, job performance, teachers, non teaching staff