Perceptions Of Stakeholders On The Use Of Opras In Higher Learning Institutions-The Case Of Udom

ABSTRACT

The government of the United Republic of Tanzania has been struggling to deliver services of high quantity and quality to her citizens, and to ensure effective mobilization of resources. Basing on this core objective, the government-mandated a tool, called Open Performance and Review Appraisal (OPRAS), for appraising purposes in its institutions. The major purpose of introducing OPRAS was to enable proper and more effective use of human resources among others. Despite of government ordinances that enforced institutionalization and implementation of OPRAS in all public organizations, the use of OPRAS is still a puzzle in many Higher Learning Institutions. This study was therefore conducted to find out what stakeholders hold on the use of this modern and formal appraisal system in Higher Learning Institutions (HLI). The study was done using a holistic descriptive case study design and deployed mixed method approach for triangulation purposes. A target population was academic staff members of the University of Dodoma (UDOM) and the management. A sample size of 55 people was selected from whom data were gathered. The study generally revealed that, more than half of respondents perceive positively the use of OPRAS in HLI. It was also observed that, there were many challenges that might face OPRAS in HLI. Challenges that were given high concern to encounter the system are; ignorance of both supervisors and subordinates, African culture of confidentiality, inefficient physical and financial resources, reluctance of both supervisors and subordinates, low human resources capacity, heavy workload to academic staffs and poor relationship between subordinates and supervisors. The vi study further disclosed that, many respondents acknowledged that OPRAS is much linked with prospects in HLI. In this regard, it was revealed that, OPRAS will prosper in HLI and when institutionalized performance will be increased and quality of services will increase among others. The study recommended that, establishment of independent unit by the government to execute OPRAS is a well directed move. It was also recommended that, the government needs to increase subventions to the public academic institutions to empower them implement, the system effectively. On the side of the university management, the study recommended that, it is high time for them to start implementing OPRAS. Finally, employees were advised to observe professional code of conducts in discharging their duties.