In a move to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in its operations, members of the Productivity Mainstreaming Committee were trained in productivity mainstreaming from Monday to Thursday 2024. The training was in line with the Performance Contracting Guidelines for the financial year 2023/2024, where productivity has been included as a new indicator.
The training was facilitated by the National Productivity and Competitiveness Centre (NPCC), which falls under the State Department for Labour and Skills Development, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.
The decision to implement this indicator stems from the realisation that Government institutions were excelling in performance but failing to exhibit productivity. The Performance Contract had become a ritualistic checklist, where organisations scored high without necessarily translating that success into increased efficiency and reduced costs.
The training aimed to establish a culture of productivity within the workforce by helping create, implement, and adopt interventions that will enable the University to measure, manage, and improve productivity.
Through the training, the attendees were able to develop productivity metrics derived from the University’s strategic plan, as guided by the NPCC team. The metrics identified spoke to the unique goals and challenges faced by the University. They were also trained how to weight the metrics in a scientific way to avoid bias.
During the training, the Secretary of NPCC, Dr. Nahashon Moitaleel, underscored the importance of culture change as a key driver of productivity. He emphasised that the initiative encourages a zero-tolerance approach to waste without compromising quality while fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Acknowledging the significance of the initiative, The Director of Human Resource Management, Mr. Kihoro Magu, expressed gratitude to NPCC for the enlightening experience and their promise of continued guidance over the next 90 days.
Dr. Hesbon Nyagowa, the Acting University Registrar and Chief Administrative Officer, closed the training session and thanked the NPCC team for guiding TU-K towards productivity and cost-effectiveness. He emphasised that the initiative would not only make the institution more efficient and competitive but would also mark a transformative journey where services would be delivered in the most effective and efficient way.
