Effective Management Practices of Government Owned Tertiary Hospitals: A Way out for Employee Development in Enugu State

Abstract

The study examined effective management practices of government owned tertiary hospitals with regards to employee development. Low patronage and unprofessionalism of staff of government owned tertiary hospitals in Enugu state is tending towards an alarming rate. In every organizational set up, efficiency and productivity are of utmost importance, and it is common knowledge amongst managements of such organizations that these can only be attained through the employees. The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which staff training influences quality of output of employee, assess the extent to which conflict resolution affects punctuality at work of employee and ascertain the extent manpower planning influences employee turnover of government owned tertiary hospitals. Descriptive survey research design was adopted. A sample of 328 respondents were drawn from junior and management staff of selected government owned tertiary hospitals in Enugu State. A 4-likert scaled questionnaire with 18 items was used for data collection. Mean and t-test were used for analysing responses to the research questions and testing the hypotheses. Findings revealed, among others that staff training positively and significantly influenced quality of output of employee of tertiary hospitals t(4)= 2.506, p< .05], conflict management positively and significantly affected punctuality at work of employee of tertiary hospitals t(4)= 2. 324, p< .05] and manpower planning influenced employee turnover of government owned tertiary hospitals t(4)= 2.401, p< .05]. It was concluded that management practices significantly and positively affected employee development of government owned tertiary hospitals in Enugu state. It was recommended, among others that as part of efficient management practice, already budgeted funds for career training and development in government owned tertiary hospitals should be enhanced through training, conflict resolution and manpower planning.