TITLE:
Effects of Professional Development on Productivity: Evidence from a Research Institution in Ghana
AUTHORS:
Ruby Yeboah, Mary Agyen-Sampong, Justine Muwunya Nyarko, Emefa Awudi Dekpeh
KEYWORDS:
Professional Development, Employee Productivity, Research Institution, Career Advancement
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.12 No.4,
April
26,
2024
ABSTRACT: Employee professional development programs are one of the most important pillars for the survival of any organization as they help improve employees’ skills, knowledge, and experience in terms of productivity. This study was conducted to examine the impact of professional development on employee productivity at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), a research institution in Ghana. The study adopted the survey research design for both academic and non-academic staff. A total of 360 respondents were randomly selected from a population of 530 people. A questionnaire was used as a data collection instrument. Descriptive statistics such as means, standard deviations, frequencies and percentages were used to analyze the data. The study revealed that the majority of respondents have participated in some professional development programs and viewed the professional development programs as an effective tool to address their operational challenges upon joining GAEC. Furthermore, most respondents strongly agreed or agreed that they face the challenge of inadequate technological support to effectively implement the lessons learned from professional development programs. The study identified incentives, performance targets, encouraging employees to conduct research and development in their respective areas, encouraging collaborative research and ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation as the main factors driving productivity. It is recommended that management consider employee needs, provision of logistical support and fairness when selecting personnel for professional development programs. These will help improve the skills and competencies of employees, making them more willing to work harder and provide quality services for the success of the organization.