Abstract
The study investigated the relationship between human resource management practices and employee performance in Delta State Sports Commission. To guide the study, three research questions were raised, one was answered directly and two were hypothesized and tested at 0.05 alpha level.
The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study was 658 sports stakeholders (148 coaches, 468 program athletes, 42 organizing secretaries) of the Edo State Sports Commission. The sample size of the study was 338 stakeholders (21 secretaries, 83 coaches, 234 program athletes) which were selected using the simple random sampling technique. An instrument was used, titled: “Relationship between Human Resources Management Practices and Employee Performance Questionnaire (RBHRMEPQ)”. The instrument was validated by the researcher’s supervisor and two experts in the Department of Human Kinetics and Sports Science. The cronbach alpha statistics was used to establish the reliability of the instrument and the r-value of 0.85 was obtained. Data were analysed using Pearson statistics, mean and standard deviation and ANCOVA.
The findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between HRM practices and employee performance in Delta State Sports Commission; HRM practices affect staff performance to a high extent through provision of conducive environment, welfare packages, training, personal development, promotion and award, and redeployment; there is a significant difference between HRM practices and staff performance based on age. It was concluded that in employing HRM practices, competency should be the watch word, so as to enhance staff performance. It was recommended that capable managers should be on the saddle of any organization, sports commissions inclusive, as the successful implementation or otherwise of HRM practices lies with the requisite/cognate skill they possess; also HRM practices such as welfare packages, training and development, promotion and award, and so on, should be adopted by managers so as to have great impact on their staff performance in the various sports commission/councils.
