The impact of social media on the job performance of public sector employees in Gondar City, Ethiopia
Keywords:
social media, employee, job performance, public sector, EthiopiaAbstract
Background: The use of social media in the work place can both lead to time wastage and decreased productivity or can enhance work performance. Using a mixed-method explanatory-sequential design, this research provided an examination of the impact of social media on the job performance of public sector employees in Gondar City, Ethiopia.
Methodology: The quantitative data were gathered through surveys (N = 243) that measured the frequency and duration of social media usage during work hours, and the self-reported influence of social media on the employees’ job performance. Qualitative data were obtained through interviews (N = 8) to gain insights into the employees' perceptions and experiences regarding social media usage at work.
Findings: The study found that employees use social media for various purposes, including information exchange, job performance enhancement, and entertainment. The results showed that most employees perceived social media positively, while a quarter perceived it negatively. Implications: The findings suggest organizations should prioritize leveraging the full potential of social media usage and develop strategies to address concerns, which could include providing training on responsible social media usage, implementing guidelines aligned with organizational goals, and encouraging employees to share their expertise and engage with customers or other stakeholder groups.
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