TITLE:
The Relevance of Communication as a Promoter for Employee Performance in the Selected KwaZulu-Natal Municipalities
AUTHORS:
Sijuwade Adedayo Ogunsola, Bongani Innocent Dlamini, Nobubele Potwana, Ntombizandile Victoria Sineke, Robert Walter Dumisani Zondo, Adewale Titus Elewode, Oluwafemi Adedeji Ogunsola
KEYWORDS:
Communication, Employee Performance, Manager, Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.11 No.7,
July
29,
2024
ABSTRACT: People are bound together through communication, regardless of their backgrounds. Communication is the ability to transfer knowledge from one individual to another. Underestimating the feelings and intentions that underlie the information is a necessary part of good communication. The ideal way to get the most out of employees is therefore something that managers in leadership roles must comprehend. After that, communication systems management should be examined to make sure it is operating efficiently. The study set out to determine whether extensive communication could boost productivity in a municipality. It also sought to determine whether regular feedback, open channels of communication, valuing employee opinions, and idea sharing among municipal employees all contributed to improved performance. The study used both quantitative and qualitative methodologies in a mixed-method research strategy to achieve its stated aims. Data were acquired from the uBuhlebezwe Municipality, where a sample size of 80 respondents was produced by applying a simple random sampling procedure. Ten workers were selected by convenience sampling for the qualitative study through a focus group held at the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality. The outcomes of both methods indicate that the best strategy to improve operational excellence in the selected Municipalities is through communication. Nevertheless, this depends a lot on the efficiency and accessibility of the channels for communication. The principal suggestions for department heads and municipal managers are to value all employee ideas, regardless of their standing within the company, and to use good communication as a strategic weapon. In a municipal context, managers ought to include staff members in decision-making as well, particularly when creating policies. Additionally, it is critical that municipal workers have access to enough resources to carry out their daily responsibilities because insufficient resources result in subpar work and a lack of communication. However, when ideas are not visibly dispersed, the objective for which communication is set is useless. Providing frequent and transparent feedback to staff members on their areas of wins and weaknesses can boost the operational output and enhance their performance.