Management Communication Patterns and Staff Job Performance in Osun State Primary Schools, Nigeria

The study investigated management communication patterns and staff job performance in Osun State primary schools with a view to determining various management communication patterns. It also investigated levels of job performance; and determined the influence of management communication patterns on staff job performance. This study employed the use of descriptive survey research design. The population for the study comprised school managers and the primary schools’ staff members in Osun State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 36 school managers (head teachers) from the three senatorial districts in the State, and the sample consisted of 216 staff members (teaching and non-teaching). Two researchers-constructed instruments tagged: Management Communication Patterns and Staff Job Performance (MCPSJPQ) and Interview Guide (IGMCPSJP) were used to gather data. Data collected were analysed using percentage count and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Findings showed that upward communication pattern was accepted and mostly used in schools. The hypothesis also showed a significant relationship between communication patterns and staff job performance. The study concluded that upward and downward communication patterns greatly influenced staff job performance in Osun State primary schools. It was consequently recommended that school managers/headteachers should carefully choose their communication patterns in order to achieve optimum staff job performance and there should be more encouragement for horizontal/lateral patterns of communication.