Effect Of Training On Employee Performance In Kenya Power And Lighting Company

Abstract

Improved capabilities, knowledge and skills of the talented workforce are major sources of competitive advantage in a global market. In order to prepare their workers to do their job as desired, organizations provide training to their employees so as to optimize their employee’s potential. Due to fast pace global and technological development the firms are now facing new changes as well as challenges. Technological advancements have molded the need of capabilities and competencies required to perform a particular tasks. Despite the increasing effects on training of organizational employees on their performance, there is still limited literature on human resource development issues in developing countries and increasing concerns from organizational customers towards low quality services especially in the energy sector. Many researchers in Kenya have in the past concentrated on the factors affecting the performance of commercial banks, state corporations or other industries but not utility companies. This study sought to find out the relationship between the training of employees and their performance in Kenya Power and Lighting Company. Specifically the study aimed to ascertain the effect of training needs assessment, training contents and delivery approaches and training evaluation as the independent variables on employee performance which is the dependent variable. The study will adopt a descriptive research design. The target population consisted of 450 staff working at Kenya Power and Lighting Company head office. The study utilized 30% of the target population which was selected using stratified random sampling technique to give a sample size of 135 respondents. The study used a questionnaire as the main data collection instrument and a pilot study was carried out to pretest questionnaires for validity and reliability. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive studies aided by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SSPS). Findings were presented using tables and figures. The study found that all factors of training studied (training needs assessment, training contents and delivery, training evaluation) had a significant effect on employee performance. The study recommended that during training needs assessment, various techniques can be used to assess needs where interviews or surveys of essential people can be employed in the training process and reviewing pertinent regulations to identify needs. On training delivery approaches, the study further recommends that Kenya Power and Lighting Company should give more focus on the delivery approaches not only because the training activities are so expensive but also because the effects of training are very important to organization and to the employee in the same time. The study recommended that Kenya Power and Lighting Company should improve on employee work commitment and also seek to improve on the training evaluation strategies.