Meaningful Work and Organizational Outcomes in Higher Educational Institutions in Rivers State: A Study in Workplace Spirituality

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between meaningful and organizational outcomes in higher educational institutions in Rivers state, Nigeria. Specifically, the study ascertained the relationship between meaningful work and productivity in tertiary institutions in Rivers state. More so, the study examined relationship between meaningful work and innovation in tertiary institutions in Rivers state. The study adopts quasi-experimental design and a cross-sectional survey. The target population of the study comprise 3411 staff in 10 higher educational institutions in Rivers state, Nigeria, including: University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State University, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Madonna University, National Open University of Nigeria, Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic, Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Easter Polytechnic and Federal College of Education. However, out of the total population, 358 subjects were determined using Taro Yamane formula. Data were collected through structured questionnaire, while the reliability of the instrument was ascertained using Cronbach alpha coefficient. Data were analyze using Pearson Product Moment Correlation with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). However, the results of the analysis conducted revealed that there is no significant relationship between meaningful work and research productivity in higher educational institutions in Rivers state; while, in the test for the second hypothesis, it was revealed that there exist significant but very weak positive relationship between meaningful work and innovation in higher educational institutions in Rivers State. Hence, from the findings, the study recommends among others that Higher educational institutions in Rivers state, should give greater degree of autonomy and challenging tasks to employees, in addition, job with purpose, joy, energy aimed at contributing to the society at large, in order to elicit the creative and innovative behaviours and capabilities of their academic staff.