Emotional intelligence and job performance of Kerala Agricultural University scientists

Abstract

The study entitled "Emotional intelligence and job performance of Kerala Agricultural University scientists," was conducted during the year 2020-2021. The objective of the study was to assess the gender differential in emotional intelligence of Kerala Agricultural University scientists and its influence on their job performance. Organizational constraints experienced by scientists were also studied and suggestions for improvement were delineated. The study was conducted in the colleges, research stations, KVKs and other centers under Kerala Agricultural University, representing the three zones of Kerala, viz., the Northern zone, the Central zone, and the Southern zone. A total of 120 scientists, including 40 from colleges, 40 from research stations, and 40 from KVKs and other centers, were selected by adopting stratified proportionate sampling. From each group of 40 scientists, it was ensured that 20 were female and 20 were male respondents. There were two dependent variables and 14 independent variables in this study. Emotional intelligence and job performance were the dependent variables. The scale developed by Goleman (1995) was used to assess emotional intelligence. Job performance was assessed by developing an index for the study, under five dimensions: teaching, research, extension, self development efforts, and administrative and institution building activities. Based on the analysis of the data, it was found that majority of the respondents (66.66%) had a medium level of emotional intelligence. From the MannWhitney U test, it was revealed that there was no significant difference between male and female scientists in their emotional intelligence, but in the case of job performance there was a significant difference between male and female scientists in all dimensions except teaching. From the factor analysis it was observed that out of 5 dimensions self awareness and motivating oneself were the major components that contributed to the emotional intelligence whereas teaching and research were the two major dimensions that contributed towards job performance. On performing principal component analysis – biplot, it was observed that involvement in administrative and institution building activities is comparatively lesser for all other categories of respondents except college teachers whereas the PCA – biplot of emotional intelligence has shown uniformity in 127 distribution of all categories of respondents for all components. The study revealed that the majority of the respondents (85.83%) had a medium level of job performance. Analysis of the profile characteristics of KAU scientists revealed that majority of the respondents (65.9%) were middle aged, had doctoral degrees (73.3%), job experience of less than 10 years (40.83%), nuclear families (75.8%), belonged to urban areas (61.7%) and had adequate promotional opportunities (66.7%). It was also observed that most of the respondents had a medium level of family income (65%), attitude towards profession (68.3%), self-confidence (65%), organisational climate (76.7%), perceived workload (73.33%), leadership quality (85%), organisational commitment (72.5%), and job stress (70%). From the correlation analysis it was revealed that the factors having relationship with emotional intelligence were promotional opportunities, self confidence, organisational climate, leadership quality, organisational commitment, and job stress whereas Job performance was having relationship with age, job experience, attitude towards profession, self-confidence, organisational climate, and organisational commitment. The study also revealed that there was no significant association between emotional intelligence and job performance of KAU scientists. Major constraints perceived by the KAU scientists were lack of practical oriented capacity building programme and its follow up, less promotion / growth opportunities for scientists, lack of teamwork, empathy and mutual understanding among the scientists, lack of adequate infrastructure facility (office/ laboratory facilities/ quarters etc.,), poor library facilities and lack of availability of adequate books in the university library. The constraints experienced by the scientists need to be considered in order to improve the performance of the KAU scientists at their work place. The major suggestions delineated by the respondents for improving the job performance of KAU scientists were improvement of infrastructure facilitates for escalating work efficiency, democratic and transparent decisions by the authorities and impartial actions, more promotion/ growth opportunities for scientists, favourable organizational climate for team building and boosting the morale of the scientists, and clarity of roles for scientists regarding teaching, research, and extension.