Exploring the Perceptions of Senior Management on the Relationship Between Employee Performance and Organisational Performance in the Education Sector in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51137/wrp.ijarbm.352Keywords:
Employee Performance, Organisational Performance, Performance Management and Development System (PMDS), Senior Management Service (SMS), Education SectorAbstract
This article examines the perceptions of Senior Management Service (SMS) members regarding the nexus between employee performance and organisational outcomes within the KwaZulu-Natal education sector. Prompted by persistent discrepancies between individual performance ratings and institutional achievements, the study explores how senior leaders interpret and experience the strategic alignment of performance management systems. Adopting a qualitative research design, data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with SMS members across the department. Thematic analysis revealed that, while SMS members generally acknowledge a strong correlation between employee performance and organisational success, systemic challenges, including inconsistent evaluation practices, limited accountability, and insufficient capacity-building undermine the effectiveness of existing performance management frameworks. The findings underscore the necessity for a more integrated, transparent, and strategically aligned approach to managing employee performance in the public sector. Key recommendations include aligning individual goals with departmental objectives, fostering a culture of continuous feedback, and equipping managers with the requisite tools and training to lead performance-driven teams.
References
REFERENCES
Abdul Razak, S. F., Yogarayan, S., Ali Bukar, U., & Sayeed, M. S. (2025). Managing flash flood crises with cultural perspectives: A user-centric feature identification study. PLOS ONE, 20(2), e0318996. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0318996.
Ahmad, M., & Wilkins, S. (2025). Purposive sampling in qualitative research: A framework for the entire journey. Quality & Quantity, 59, 1461–1479. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-024-02022-5.
Armstrong, M. (2022). Armstrong's Handbook of Performance Management: An Evidence-Based Guide to Performance Leadership (7th ed.). Kogan Page Publishers. ISBN: 9781398603028.
Armstrong, M., & Taylor, S. (2014). Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice (13th ed.). Kogan Page.
Barney, J. B. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99–120. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.
Brinkerhoff, R. O. (2006). Increasing impact of training investments: An evaluation strategy for building organizational learning capability. Industrial and Commercial Training, 38(6), 302–307. https://doi.org/10.1108/00197850610685824.
Che, S., Wang, C., Varga, C., Barbut, S., & Susta, L. (2022). Prevalence of breast muscle myopathies (spaghetti meat, woody breast, white striping) and associated risk factors in broiler chickens from Ontario, Canada. PLOS ONE, 17(4), e0267019. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267019
Chuchu, B., & Kyongo, J. (2025). Performance management and artificial intelligence (AI): Enhancing personalized development with continuous feedback and data-driven decisions. School of Business and Economics, Daystar University, Nairobi, Kenya. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15025954.
Cubi-Molla, P., Mott, D., Henderson, N., Zamora, B., Grobler, M., & Garau, M. (2023). Resource allocation in public sector programmes: Does the value of a life differ between governmental departments? Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation, 21, Article 96. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12962-023-00500-5.
Dhrubo, A. M. (2025). Integrating the Resource-Based View with Integral Theory: Toward a holistic typology of organizational resources. Philosophy of Management. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40926-025-00340-8.
Dhrubo, A. F. H., Hasan, S., & Qayum, M. A. (2025). STM32-Based IoT Framework for Real-Time Environmental Monitoring and Wireless Node Synchronization. arXiv preprint arXiv:2506.17295. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2506.17295
Jocelyne, S., & Kariuki, M. (2020). Human capital, employee empowerment and organization performance. International Academic Journal of Human Resource and Business Administration,3(9), 319–332. https://www.iajournals.org/articles/iajhrba_v3_i9_319_332.pdf.
Hill, K., & Plimmer, G. (2024). Employee performance management: The impact of competing goals, red tape, and public service motivation. Public Personnel Management, 53(3), 458–485. https://doi.org/10.1177/00910260241231371.
Huselid, M. A. (1995). The impact of human resource management practices on turnover, productivity, and corporate financial performance. Academy of Management Journal, 38(3), 635–672. https://doi.org/10.2307/256741.
Kaplan, R. S., & Norton, D. P. (1996). The balanced scorecard: Translating strategy into action. Harvard Business School Press.
Kiplimo, J. J. C., & Odiyo, W. (2024). Strategic alignment: HR practices and organizational objectives in modern organizations. Department of Leadership Studies, Pan African Christian University. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10691519.
Knies, E., Boselie, P., Gould-Williams, J., & Vandenabeele, W. (2024). Strategic human resource management and public sector performance: Context matters. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 35(14), 2432–2444. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2017.1407088.
Konstantara, M. K., & Galanakis, M. (2022). Organizational & Industrial Psychology in the 21st Century—Goal-Setting Theory and Performance Management: A Systematic Literature Review. Psychology, 13(5), 790–797. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2022.135052.
Kraus, S., Jones, P., Kailer, N., Weinmann, A., Chaparro-Banegas, N., & Roig-Tierno, N. (2021). Digital transformation: An overview of the current state of the art of research. SAGE Open, 11(3), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211047576
Lalithakumari, S., & Vijayarani, K. (2025). Effectiveness of capacity-building programmes among teacher educators. International Journal of Future Management Research, 7(2), Article 38259. https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i02.38259.
Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Sage Publications.
Mafunisa, M. J. (2013). Roles and responsibilities of SMS members in the public sector. Journal of Public Administration, 48(1), 751–763. https://doi.org/10.10520/ejc-jpada_v48_n1_a2.
Magaldi, D., & Berler, M. (2020). Semi-structured interviews. In V. Zeigler-Hill & T. K. Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of personality and individual differences (pp. 4825–4830). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24612-3_857.
Magida, A. (2024). The Use of Digital Tools and Emerging Technologies in Qualitative Research—A Systematic Review of Literature. In Computer Supported Qualitative Research (pp. 257–269). Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol. 1061. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-65735-1_16
Malhotra, A., Grunstein, R. R., Fietze, I., Weaver, T. E., Redline, S., Azarbarzin, A., Sands, S. A., Schwab, R. J., Dunn, J. P., Chakladar, S., Bunck, M. C., & Bednarik, J. (2024). Tirzepatide for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and obesity. New England Journal of Medicine, 391(13), 1193–1205. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2404881
Martins, N., & Coetzee, M. (2021). Organisational culture, employee satisfaction, perceived leader emotional competency and personality type: An exploratory study in a South African engineering company. Asian Journal of Management, 12(2), 201–204. https://doi.org/10.52711/2321-5763.2021.00030.
Masenya, T. M. (2022). Decolonization of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in South Africa: Impact of Policy and Protocols. International Journal of Knowledge Management, 18(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.4018/IJKM.310005
McLeod, S. (2024a). Audit trail in qualitative research. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/audit-trail-in-qualitative-research.html.
McLeod, S. (2024b). Vygotsky’s theory of cognitive development. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/vygotsky.html.
Meyer, J. P. (2022). Employee commitment and well-being: A critical review, theoretical framework and research agenda. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 77(2), 323–337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2010.04.007
Mishra, P., & Yadav, V. K. (2024). Unleashing potential: Exploring the link between HRM practices, employee performance, and organizational effectiveness. International Journal of Scientific Development and Research (IJSDR), 9(4), Article IJSDR2404041.
Mohammad, A., Islam, R., AlKhalifa, S., & Bai, Y. (2025). Strategic leadership styles and employee engagement in public institutions. Journal of Public Sector Management.
Morgan, H. (2022). Conducting a Qualitative Document Analysis. The Qualitative Report, 27(1), 64–77. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2022.5044
Mustafa-Sadiku, K. (2025). Job satisfaction and motivation in enhancing performance. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications (IJSRP), 15(2). https://doi.org/10.29322/IJSRP.15.02.2025.p15803.
Nduati, M. M., & Wanyoike, R. (2022). Employee performance management practices and organizational effectiveness. International Academic Journal of Human Resource and Business Administration, 3(10), 361–378. https://www.iajournals.org/articles/iajhrba_v3_i10_361_378.pdf
Ngubane, M. (2022). An Investigation into Leadership Development in South African Municipalities. Journal of Public Administration, 4(1), 40–51. https://doi.org/10.22259/2642-8318.0401005
Noe, R. A. (2020). Employee training and development (8th ed.). McGraw-Hill. https://www.scirp.org/reference/referencespapers?referenceid=3989227.
Nowell, L. S., Norris, J. M., White, D. E., & Moules, N. J. (2017). Thematic analysis: Striving to meet the trustworthiness criteria. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917733847
Nwachukwu, C., & Chládková, H. (2021). Employee commitment to strategy implementation and strategic performance: Organisational policy as moderator. International Journal of Business Excellence, 20(3), 398–418. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBEX.2021.100374.
Odongo, I., & Ntara, C. (2024). Role of phenomenology in management research. International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy, 17(4), 427–441. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMCP.2024.10060724.
Pervaiz, S., Li, G., & He, Q. (2021). The mechanism of goal-setting participation’s impact on employees’ proactive behavior: Moderated mediation role of power distance. PLOS ONE, 16(12), e0260625. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0260625
Prajogo, D. I., & Sohal, A. S. (2003). The relationship between TQM practices, quality performance, and innovation performance: An empirical examination. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 20(8), 901–918. https://doi.org/10.1108/02656710310493625.
Rashid, C. A. (2025). Social capital accounting and financial performance improvement: the role of financial information reliability as a mediator. Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research, 16(2), 368–389. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIABR-01-2023-000.
Razak, A., Sutherland, A. E., Pham, Y., Yawno, T., Nitsos, I., Zhou, L., White, T. A., Rock, C., Hunt, R. W., Malhotra, A., Allison, B. J., Miller, S. L., & McDonald, C. A. (2025). Persistent inflammation and white matter damage in the preterm brain: Insights from a novel ovine model of chronic inflammation. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/393999522
Ruslin, R., Mashuri, S., Rasak, M. S. A., Alhabsyi, F., & Syam, H. (2022). Semi-structured interview: A methodological reflection on the development of a qualitative research instrument in educational studies. IOSR Journal of Research & Method in Education, 12(1), 22–29. https://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jrme/papers/Vol-12%20Issue-1/Ser-5/E1201052229.pdf.
Saks, A. M. (2022). Caring human resources management and employee engagement. Human Resource Management Review, 32(3), Article 100835. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2021.100835.
Singhi, N., Mohnert, F., Prystawski, B., & Lieder, F. (2023). Toward a normative theory of (self-)management by goal-setting. arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2302.02633.
Setyawan, A. N., Wibisono, D., & Fatima, I. (2024). Advancing local governance: A systematic review of performance management systems. Cogent Business & Management, 12(1), Article 2442545. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2442545.
Saraswati, P. (2025). AI Nursing Interventions in Stress Management: A Review. Mathews Journal of Nursing, 7(2), 62. https://www.mathewsopenaccess.com/journals/nursingcare/previous-issues/volume-7-issue-2-year-2025
Tarakci, M., Ateş, N. Y., Floyd, S. W., Ahn, Y., & Wooldridge, B. (2018). Performance feedback and middle managers’ divergent strategic behavior: The roles of social comparisons and organizational identification. Strategic Management Journal, 39(4), 1139–1162. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.2745.
Thangal, S. H., Muralisankar, T., Anandhan, K., Gayathri, V., & Yogeshwaran, A. (2024). Seawater carbonate chemistry and survival, feed intake, growth, molting, tissue biochemical constituents, minerals, chitin, and alkaline phosphatase in mud crab Scylla serrata instars. PANGAEA. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.971247
Tshukudu, T. T., & Nel, D. (2020). Strategies for evaluating training and development initiatives in a public sector setting. African Consortium of Public Administration.
Virani, A., & van der Wal, Z. (2023). Enhancing the effectiveness of public sector performance regimes: A proposed causal model for aligning governance design with performance logics. Perspectives on Public Management and Governance, 6(1), 54–65. https://doi.org/10.1093/ppmgov/gvac026.
Vroom, V. H. (1964). Work and motivation. Wiley.
Wa-Mbaleka, S. (2019). Ethics in qualitative research: A practical guide. International Forum, 22(2), 116–132. https://journals.aiias.edu/info/article/download/51/42/76
Wa-Mbaleka, S. (2019). Ethics in Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide. International Forum Journal, 22(2), 116–132. https://journals.aiias.edu/info/article/view/51
Zou, Z., Wei, X., Liao, M., Deng, L., Yao, J., Sun, L., et al. (2024). Effect of polycarbodiimide, epoxy chain extenders and tannic acid on the hydrolysis and UV resistance of polylactic acid. Reactive and Functional Polymers, 199, Article ID: 105894. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2024.105894
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Atolate Zwane, Sabelo Mpungose (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
