THE ROLE OF OFFICE POLITICS IN SHAPING THE ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN BUEA, CAMEROON

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Politics is an integral aspect of human existence. Politics is perceived by many as an inevitable aspect of society that is not inherently negative (Aransyah & Hetami, 2021). The workplace is frequently a source of controversy when it comes to politics, since individuals typically strive to impose dominance over their colleagues. Reactions to such efforts are not consistently favourable. Occasionally, individuals opt to evade office politics by adopting a neutral stance. Nevertheless, several persons who have firsthand encounters with office politics assert that politics cannot be simply avoided (Postma, 2021). Despite the capacity to severely damage one's professional trajectory, office politics continue to exert significant influence in the workplace. Hence, certain individuals advocate for the strategic use of office politics to benefit oneself (Postma, 2021). The primary argument is that workplace politics can be harmful to employees, but they also have the capacity to advance their personal interests. Although there are individuals who hold the belief that one can leverage office politics for personal gain, the prevailing viewpoint is that workplace politics have a significant impact on employee productivity, job satisfaction, engagement, dedication, and other factors that influence performance levels. 

The socio-economic system of a country is mostly influenced by the effectiveness of its education system, while colleges and universities serve as crucial resources in this regard. The objective of these organisations is to enhance a nation's technological advancements and human resources by providing current technology and skilled workers, hence improving socio-economic capabilities. According to Norric (2018), Cameroon's federal and provincial governments jointly bear the responsibility for education. The education system in Cameroon is overseen by the Ministry of Education and the Higher Education Commission, which govern universities, colleges, and institutions that grant degrees (WorldBank, 2021). In addition, the Government of Cameroon has put forward several initiatives aimed at enhancing the country's technical infrastructure and fostering new industrial connections to ensure economic stability. Throughout this process, academic and university staff members encounter undesirable variables that arise from either the institution's internal or external environment (Khan, Yusoffb, & Azam, 2018). Academic experts concur that these issues have an adverse effect on the emotional and physical well-being of academic workers. As a result, the productivity and work performance of academic staff members decline. 

Furthermore, in order to address the global issues and overcome the significant discrepancies in reaching educational goals, the National Education Policy of Cameroon has identified underperforming teachers as the primary obstacle in this regard. Zhou and George (2021) argue that disgruntled employees contribute to unproductivity rather than adding value to organisations. Therefore, educational scholars are particularly interested in understanding exceptional human abilities (Hennessey & Amabile, 2020). However, there is limited literature that has focused on investigating the impact of environmental factors on faculty creativity (Amabile et al., 2021). Consequently, colleges and universities must be cognisant of the factors that can facilitate faculty members in being innovative, successful, and accomplished for the advancement of their institutions (Cambell & O’ Meara, 2018), as the prosperity of every institution hinges on this (Frohman, 2019).

This study aims to investigate the role of office politics in shaping the organizational culture of educational institutions in Buea, Cameroon.

Statement of the Problem

Office politics is frequently viewed negatively by many, often being labelled as hazardous for both employers and employees. Nevertheless, a consensus among scholars exists that organisational behaviours are inherently political and hence cannot be avoided in reality (Bashir et al., 2019). Organisational leaders must recognise and take responsibility for ensuring that the political environment does not pose a threat to the company and its employees. Employers are apprehensive about the productivity of their personnel. The success of a firm relies heavily on the presence and quality of its human resources. Thus, it is anticipated that companies will take steps to establish a conducive climate that promotes high performance. Engagement and commitment are crucial factors that require careful management in order to guarantee organisational success. There is a limited amount of research available on the connections between office politics, engagement, and commitment. Nevertheless, it is crucial to recognise that certain scholars have attempted to establish connections between office politics and both employee engagement and staff commitment. Landells and Albrecht (2019) investigate engagement as a primary consequence of organisational politics, in addition to stress and job meaningfulness. These experts claim that politics diminish involvement. Adams et al. (2021) have examined the relationship between business politics and organisational commitment and have shown that politics negatively impact job satisfaction and staff commitment. These examples represent a limited selection of scenarios that have been examined in study on the issue. Present endeavours distinguish between involvement and commitment and analyse them separately. There is a requirement to generate current research on the impact of office politics on employee engagement and commitment. Hence,it is in the light of these, the study seeks to investigate the role of office politics in shaping the organizational culture of educational institutions in Buea, Cameroon.

 1.3  Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the role of office politics in shaping the organizational culture of educational institutions in Buea, Cameroon. Specifically, the study will;

Assess the extent to which office politics influences decision-making processes within educational institutions in Buea, Cameroon.

Investigate the extent to which office politics contributes to conflict or cooperation among staff members in educational institutions in Buea.

Examine the level of influence that office politics has on shaping the cultural norms and values within these institutions.

Assess the relationship between office politics and employee morale and job satisfaction in educational institutions in Buea.

1.4  Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

To what extent does office politics influence decision-making processes within educational institutions in Buea, Cameroon?

To what extent does office politics contribute to conflict or cooperation among staff members in educational institutions in Buea?

What is the level of influence that office politics has on shaping the cultural norms and values within these institutions?

What is the relationship between office politics and employee morale and job satisfaction in educational institutions in Buea?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

H0: Office politics does not play a significant role in shaping the organizational culture of educational institutions in Buea, Cameroon.

Ha: Office politics plays a significant role in shaping the organizational culture of educational institutions in Buea, Cameroon.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The study will shed light on how office politics affect organisational culture in Buea, Cameroon's educational institutions.With the study’s results educational institutions will be able to create plans to control and lessen the detrimental effects of office politics on organisational culture by comprehending these processes. This entails establishing more open lines of communication, encouraging teamwork, and putting in place just and uniform rules. Moreover, faculty and staff members will find the study relevant as it will highlight how office politics affects their work environment and organizational culture, provide them with a clearer understanding of the dynamics at play and suggest ways to navigate or address these issues.Policy makers and educational bodies will also use the findings to guide the development of policies and interventions aimed at improving organizational culture in educational institutions. This includes setting standards for fair practices, promoting transparency, and encouraging collaboration among staff.

Nevertheless, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regard to the role of office politics in shaping the organizational culture of educational institutions in Buea, Cameroon.

1.7 Scope of the study   

The scope of this study is boarded on the role of office politics in shaping the organizational culture of educational institutions in Buea, Cameroon. Geographically, the study will be delimited to insurance companies in Cameroon.

1.8 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents. In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed. More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

 1.9 Definition of Terms

Office Politics:The use of power and social networking within an organization to achieve changes that benefit individuals or groups. It involves strategic maneuvering, alliances, and competition among employees for personal or professional gain.

Organizational Culture: The shared values, beliefs, norms, and practices that shape the behavior and attitudes of members within an organization.

Educational Institution: 

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