MANAGEMENT SOCIABILITY AND EMPLOYEE COMMITMENT IN COMMERCIAL BANKS IN RIVERS STATE

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between management sociability and employee commitment in commercial banks in Rivers State. The objectives of the study were to ascertain how dimensions of management sociability interact with measures of employee commitment in commercial banks in Rivers State. The study adopted a cross sectional survey research design. The target population of the study consisted of three hundred and sixty-eight (368) full time staff at the head office of 23 commercial banks operating in Rivers State. The sample size of the study consisted of 186 respondents. The above sample was obtained using the Krejcie and Morgan Sample Size Determination of 1970. In order to address the differences in the distribution of the population across the firms, Bowley’s 1960 Population Proportionate Allocation Formula was applied. Thus, the study adopted the random sampling techniques. A structured questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection after ascertaining its reliability through the employment of Cronbach Alpha. Mean and Standard Deviation were used for univariate analysis of the study. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and Partial Correlation were used for the bivariate analysis and multivariate analysis of the study, respectively. Findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between management sociability (diplomacy, courtesy and politeness) and employee commitment (affective commitment, normative commitment and continuance commitment) in commercial banks in Rivers State; Also, emotional intelligence significantly moderates the relationship between management sociability and employee commitment in commercial banks in Rivers State. The study also concluded that management sociability correlate with employee commitment, and it is being moderated by the emotional intelligence. The study recommended amongst others that management ofCommercial Banks should encourage open and honest communication with employees while maintaining diplomacy to prevent misunderstandings or conflicts.