By Joseph Orina
The Meru National Polytechnic College organized a training for its managers to build capacity of its staff to make the Regional Flagship TVET Institute a regional flagship centre in Building Construction Technology.
The training focused on the following areas: Job Satisfaction and Motivation, Handling of External and Internal Correspondence, Crisis Management, and Management Ethics. The managers were introduced to crisis Management as a process curated to prevent or lessen the damage a crisis can inflict on the RFTI. They also learnt that an effective crisis management system relies on two key factors: personnel accountability and effective communications. With persistent student unrest, the RFTI was properly taken through a process of handling such a crisis and successfully mitigate its effects on the infrastructure and its corporate image.
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a global crisis which requires a concerted effort to control its devastating effects. The managers were reminded of how the crisis has been handled so far from the National to the institutional level.
On Job satisfaction or employee satisfaction, the managers were taken through job satisfaction as a measure of workers’ contentedness with their job, whether they like the job or individual aspects of jobs, such as nature of work or supervision. It was realized that Job satisfaction is much more than commensurate pay, but it goes far much as the work environment, good managers, and proper training among other factors. Leadership has a significant effect on job satisfaction, motivation, and performance of employees.
On Managerial ethics, the managers were made to understand that when developing managerial ethics policies, compensation and benefits packages, community involvement and social responsibilities should be considered. Established policies and implications for violations enable the managers and leaders of an institution to effectively manage ethical issues. The policies set the minimum standards that should be adhered to by the internal stakeholders and by the community within which the institution is established directly or indirectly.
Ethics policy applies to everybody in the institution regardless of rank or status. Managerial ethics is important because people will follow what leaders do. Unethical Management reduces the pride and morale of internal stakeholders which is detrimental to the effectiveness of achieving set institutions development objectives and overall downfall.
As noted earlier proper communication is important in crisis handling. As part of communication internal and external correspondence must be properly handled. In the training, the managers were taken through the requirements of correspondence. Internal communication refers to information and ideas exchange within the institution itself, while external communication means the exchange of information both within the institution itself and outside the institution. Effective communication within an institution and its internal stakeholders’ employees, management, partners, or volunteers, develops a cohesive culture where everyone is focused on the same goals and has the same objectives.
Within such an environment, stakeholders can work more efficiently together and collaborate more effectively. External Communications connect with the world outside the organization. Repetitive and strategically executed external communications educate, informs, advocate, and persuades key audiences to help achieve the targeted change in mindset and behaviours. This way the institution’s visibility among critical sources of support is clear and propels the institution towards achieving its objectives wholesomely. Mangers were reminded to always follow the communications procedures manual as outlined in the RFTI’s Quality Management System.
On service delivery, the RFTI acquired ICT equipment that will enhance online training since it has made an important part of training amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. The RFTI has been struggling with online teaching using video conferencing facilities since space is shared amongst the trainers. With the provision of noise cancellation headphones, the RFTI is now in a better position to the reduction of interference during online lessons. The trainers can now access the institutional Wi-Fi and facilitate without external noise being sent on the video call.
The Writer is the EASTRIP Project Communications Officer at The Meru National Polytechnic