Assessment Of The Effects Of Team Cohesion On Task Performance

ABSTRACT

Team cohesion is the total field of forces causing members to remain in a group. It is the dynamic

process which is reflected in the tendency for a group to stick together and remain united in pursuit

of its goals and objectives. The purpose of this study is to find out effects of team cohesion on task

performing among the workforce of the Faith Based Health Institutions in Western Province. The

objectives of the study were to; determine the effect of team cohesion on task performance; examine

the role of contextual factors on team cohesion; find out the role of contextual factors on the link

between team cohesion and task performance and investigate the effect of contextual factors on task

performance. A conceptual model was adopted for this study which showed the inter-relationship

between the variables under study, that is, team cohesion, task performance and contextual factors.

The data sources used in this study were obtained from Faith Based Health Institutions in Western

Province. The questionnaires and interview schedules were used to collect data from these

institutions. The study used a sample size of 6 (30%) of hospitals and 132 (30%) of the workforce

within the sampled area. Multiple data analysis methods were used including descriptive statistics

like mean, standard deviation, range, variance and median; inferential statistics like the correlation

coefficients to establish the strength of the relationships between the main variable under study. The

validity and reliability of research instruments was determined through a pilot study of the three

hospitals outside the area of study. The independent variable in the study were team cohesion while

the dependent variables was task performance while intervening variables (contextual factors) were

remuneration/rewards, educational level, working experience, training status, terms of service ,

communication styles and leadership styles. The study established the relationship between team

cohesion and task performance which was found to be marginally positively significant. The

findings of this study will be useful to human resource managers of the Faith Based Health

Institutions to adopt management styles which are appropriate and also beef up the training

programmes which cater for the needs of the human resource The human resource manager must

therefore be equipped, educated and encouraged to use affordably and culturally appropriate

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practices in addressing problems that lead to low productivity as a result of low levels of team

cohesion. These findings will be beneficial not only to Faith Based Health Institutions in Western

Kenya but also to other areas in the Ministry of Public Service and Education.