ABSTRACT
In the contemporary business environment, organizational success is determined by knowledgeable, skilled as well as experienced human capital. In order to maintain sustainability, organizations must see continuous employee training and development as invaluable. It is important to note however, that the impact of Postgraduate Diploma in M&E training on job performance in Uganda is not known.
The increasing desire of professional perfection aligned to improved job performance prompted a research study to ascertain the influence of the post graduate diploma on the job performance of participants. The study ambition was generated from a foundational discovery that Uganda Management Institute has been conducting the M&E postgraduate diploma course training since 2011 and there has been no study to assess the level of influence of this training on the job performance of the participants.
The objective of this study was to assess the influence of the Postgraduate Diploma in M&E training at Uganda Management Institute on the job performance of the participants or alumni. The Organizational Learning Theory was used to guide this study which suggests that organizational learning natures expansive thinking patterns where collective aspiration is set free, where people continually expand their capacity to create the results, they truly desire, and where people are continually learning how to learn together. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design because it is relatively inexpensive, easy to conduct and takes a shorter period of time compared to the longitudinal study designs. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used because the two types of data help in triangulating the findings. The study recommended that UMI should focus and emphasize M&E training methods to the participants as many of the alumni believe training methods greatly enhanced their performance. This could be in form of engaging participants with challenges that require them to work in groups and discussions. The study showed that M&E training methods are acknowledged as being key in increasing the job performance of the participants. Thus, training methodologies set a substantial role in stirring up and improving on the job performance of participants after completing studies at the institute. The study also recommended that Uganda Management Institute critically explores the area of coursework assessment. Engaging participants with coursework assessments that address research on practical issues stirs up innovation and creativity which enhance performance at work.
Key words: M&E training, training methods, training assessment, training content and job performance.