Influence of Job Design on Workplace Stress in Public Universities in Kenya: A Case of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Abstract

This study attempted to investigate the influence of job design on workplace stress in public universities in Kenya with focus on Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. The specific objectives are to: establish the influence of role ambiguity on workplace stress in public universities and examine the influence of role conflict towards workplace stress in public universities. The research employed a descriptive survey design. The target population was the 2,442 employees of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology who included both academic and non-academic staff from which a sample size of 100 respondents was drawn. The data was collected by use of a questionnaire. Data was analyzed descriptively by the aid of computer analysis software known as Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The results from the regression analysis revealed that role conflict had a positive significant effect on the workplace stress as an increase in conflicts emanating from different roles led to increase workplace stress. In addition, the factor of role ambiguity also provided a significantly positive effect towards workplace stress. This implied that role ambiguity and role conflict were found to have a significant effect on workplace stress among the higher learning institutions. It therefore recommended that the institutions of higher learning should come up with ways to reduce of manage stress among their employees.