Workplace learning, mentoring and employee performance. A case study of Makerere University support staff

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between workplace learning, mentoring and employee performance. The objective of the study was; to assess the relationship between workplace learning and employee performance, to assess the relationship between workplace learning and mentoring and to assess the relationship between mentoring and employee performance. The study adopted a correlational survey as its research design where quantitative method was used to gather information for proper analysis and making appropriate inferences, generalizations and conclusions to the population where a sample size of 100 both male and female was used. The research study employed a simple random sampling technique to select the respondents. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents and the analysis was done using SPSS version 21. Pearson correlation was used to examine the relationship between the study variables and it was found that workplace learning and employee performance are significantly related (p< 0.000, r= 0.386**), workplace learning and mentoring are significantly related (p<0.000, r= 0.454 **) and employee performance and mentoring are significantly related (p<.000, r= 0.386**). In conclusion the study found workplace learning plays a pivotal role in determining employees mentoring ability and employee performance. The researcher recommended The management of Makerere University should adopt a full-fledged formal mentoring program with the necessary structures, guidelines, and incentives. There is no doubt that formal mentoring has a lot of challenges, but in the long run, the benefits far outweigh the costs.