Effects of organisational communication on administrative performance of staff in a multi campus university

Abstract

The study examined the effects of organizational communication on administrative performance of staff in a multi campus University in Ghana, guided with the application of the System theory and a developed conceptual framework. The mixed research design was used and a multistage sampling technique was applied with 428 staff selected. Questionnaires were administered to 400 staff out of which 309 (77.3%) questionnaires were returned. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as percentages, means, factor analysis, cluster analysis, chi-square, t-test, correlation and F-test were used to analyse the data with the help of SPSS software version 18.0 and Microsoft Excel. The results revealed that staff generally perceived the communication system in the University to be good with a grand mean value of 3.86 which is equivalent to “Agree” on the response scale. The two step cluster analysis revealed four groups of employee cohesion patterns, and the factor analysis also revealed four independent communication constructs vis a vis group cohesion. The rotated factors showed four major constraints: Human, Communication Systems, Administrative and Structural. The researcher concludes that significant differences do not exist in the patterns of communication among campuses of the University. This means that a congenial managerial communication system is likely to improve the organisational environment. It is recommended among others that standardisation and decentralisation in administration and management should be encouraged and various campuses given some independence to enhance performance. Feedback, acknowledging good performance, periodic progressive conversations to enhance policy direction in communication, there is the need to upgrade the knowledge and skills of staff through appropriate training.