Perceived Influence of Human Capital Development on Job Performance of Business Educators in Tertiary Institutions in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of human capital development on
job performance of business educators in tertiary institutions in Delta State, Nigerian. A
descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. Three research questions guided
the study and two null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of
significance. The study was conducted in the eight tertiary institutions where business
education is being offered. These comprised of three Universities, two Polytechnics and
three Colleges of Education. The population of the study comprised 175 business
educators. The entire population was used due to its manageable size. The instrument
for data collection was a structured questionnaire with 15 items. The instrument was
structured in line with the research questions, with four-point rating scales of very high
extent (VHE) 4 points, high extent (HE) 3 points, low extent (LE) 2 points and very low
extent (VLE) 1 point. The instrument was validated by three research experts from Delta
State University Abraka. The reliability of the instrument was determined through test retest
method. The instrument was administered to a sample of 20 business educators in
Auchi Polytechnic Edo state who were not part of the sample as the entire population was
used as the sample size. The first and second administrations were conducted within an
interval of two weeks. Data obtained were analyzed using Pearson’s Product Moment
Correlation Coefficient and a reliability coefficient of 0.90 was obtained, hence the
instrument was considered reliable. Data collected were analyzed with mean and
standard deviation while the null hypotheses were tested using independent samples ttest
statistical tool. Findings revealed that training and development to a high extent
influence on job performance of business educators. Based on the findings, the study
recommends that the government should encourage on-the-job training programmes for
business educators so as to enhance their knowledge and skills needed for effective job
performance and that school authorities should adopt mentoring strategies in order to
expose employees to the necessary work ethics and rudiments that could strengthen their
performance and promote mentor/mentee relationship, thereby enhancing mutual
understanding and good work environment for effective performance and optimal
productivity among others.

Key words: Human capital, training and development, on-the-job training, mentorship,
team-building and job Performance.