Leadership and Management Practices Predicting Lecturers’ Performance in Colleges of Nursing in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Lecturers’ job performance in colleges of nursing is critical for producing competent healthcare professionals. However, concerns persist regarding the influence of leadership and administrative practices on performance in the Niger Delta region.

Objective: This study, guided by Hugo Münsterberg’s theory of industrial efficiency and Henri Fayol’s administrative management theory, examined how digital leadership and staff welfare strategies predict lecturers’ performance.

Methods: A descriptive research design was adopted. A self-developed closed-ended questionnaire titled “Leadership and Management Strategies and Lecturers’ Job Performance Questionnaire (LMSLJPQ)” was developed by the researchers and was used for data collection in the study. The population comprised 698 lecturers across 16 colleges of nursing in the Niger Delta region. Using stratified random sampling, a sample of 558 respondents was selected. Simple linear regression and multiple hierarchical linear regression were used for data analysis.

Results: Digital leadership significantly predicted lecturers’ job performance, accounting for 60.2% of the variance. Staff welfare strategy was an even stronger predictor, explaining 74.2% of the total variance in lecturers’ job performance.

Conclusion: Leadership and administrative practices are significant predictors of lecturers’ performance in colleges of nursing in the Niger Delta. Strengthening digital leadership and staff welfare strategies is likely to enhance lecturer outcomes.

Recommendation: The Provosts in Colleges of Nursing in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria should develop modern communication practices, such as the application of information and communication technologies, to facilitate information flow in the school system. This will help them to create a work-oriented school atmosphere that can arouse the disposition of lecturers for improved job performance in the system.