Effects of Decentralization and Workplace Motivation on Organizational Performance in Donga Local Government Council, Taraba State

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The phenomenon of achieving positive organizational performance has preoccupied management research for decades. These efforts have always faced challenges bringing about dismal organizational performance especially in most LGAs across Nigeria. This conceptualized a model to address this concern based on decentralization, workplace motivation and organizational performance, which differ in intervention from prior studies. Four hypotheses were created around these variables to be tested. The study surveyed a sample of 327 staff of Donga LGA, using cross-sectional design, and multiple regressions model to analyze the data with the aid of SPSS software. The results of the analysis revealed that decentralization was positively related with organizational performance and workplace motivation. On the other hand, workplace motivation was positively related with organizational performance, and also partially mediated the relationship between decentralization and organizational performance. The study recommended that authorities of Donga LGA need to improve upon the level at which decentralization and motivation are practiced, and also determine revenue sharing formula based on the needs of individual department, while each department should be allowed to decide on how to use their budgetary allocations. Again, workplace motivation should form a pivotal basis in designing decentralization structure of the local governments to be able to sustain its mediating influence in the linkage between decentralization and organizational performance. It was concluded that decentralization and workplace motivation are crucial elements to improve the organizational performance, but they are poorly practiced in Donga local government council.