Against the background of frequent organizational changes and restructuring, often basedon impulsive decisions rather than structured feasibility studies or evaluations, this studyexamines the nature and influence of management on the performance of the Ethiopianpublic extension service. Based on a survey of 353 respondents from Oromia region, oneof the nine regions in Ethiopia, representing various agro-ecological zones andmanagerial positions, the study examines the current level of organizational performance,the influence of the 2002 restructuring on organizational performance and the factorsinfluencing the organizational effectiveness. The knowledge of these influences isimportant for improving the current and future design of organizational change anddevelopment practices.
The study was guided by the following research questions: (1) how efficiently is theOromia Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development currently functioning? (2) what isthe current situation of Oromia Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development regardingmanagerial efficiency level and the application of improved management practices? (3)are there any differences between before and after 2002 organizational restructuring interms of improvements in organizational performance? (4) what are the factors thatcurrently influence, (enhance or restrain) the organizational and managerial functioningof OBARD? (5) are there any variations regarding assessed organizational andmanagerial performance between various categories of respondents?
The findings show that the current organizational efficiency is low. The effect of the2002 restructuring on organizational performance was negligible and mixed. Theorganizational performance was influenced by various factors. The most critical factorsfound to influence organizational performance were skilled manpower, availability ofaccommodation/offices, extension teaching aids; farmers willingness, collaborationsbetween institutions, government policy and regulations and political forces. Thesefindings can be useful in assisting managers in their endeavours to correct theweaknesses and to focus on the most critical issues for the improvement oforganizational performance.
Finally, this study raises issues that need policy and managerial interventions and haveimplications for further research.
© 2009, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
Please cite as follows:
Jibba, KB 2009, The nature and influence of management on the performance of the Ethiopian public agricultural extension service, with special reference to Oromia Region, DPhil thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-06042010-015507/ >
D10/372/ag
