Employee Development Programmes and Employee Performance: The Case of Masaka Municipality

The purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of employee development programmes on employee. The study objectives were to determine the extent to which on the job training programmes influence employee performance, establish the extent to which off job training programmes influence employee performance and to identify the challenges facing employee development programmes in Masaka Municipality. The study was conducted in Masaka municipality from the municipality headquarters and the employees from three divisions of the municipality who were 79 in number. The data was collected using the research questionnaire based on an analytical research design based on quantitative research approach. The study findings reveal that on the job training had an influence on employee performance but the influence was considerably low. The off job training was low, though had an influence on employee performance. Masaka municipality had financial challenges, motivation and low capacity hindrances to employee development The study concludes that there is need for enhancement of on the job training to enhance employee performance. The studies on the second objective conclude that off job training influence employee performance to a small extent. Off job training provide knowledge to employees on handling sophisticated challenges in work, off job training provide knowledge to employees on handling, off job training provide an utmost atmosphere for creativity in employees. The study on the third objective concludes that several challenges are facing employee development programmes. The study conclude that employee development is highly constrained through limited funds for development of employees hinder development, the low level of capacity development hinder employee development, low level of motivation. The management of the organizations needs to uplift their monitoring operations for purposes of attaining customer values for the organization. Off job training was found to be poor, the organization (municipality management) need to establish parameters that can facilitate the training for the employees off the job through acquisition of professional training. The study recommends that there is need for allocation of funds by the municipality management for employee development, the human resource department of the municipality need to develop a scale of work with a clear plan for employee developments.