INTERNAL STRATEGIC FACTORS MANAGEMENT AS PREDICTORS OF OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES IN NORTHEAST, NIGERIA

Abstract

Operational efficiency in universities in Northeast Nigeria seems to be declining thereby raising concerns that this may negatively affect the performance of these universities. This study examined internal strategic factors management as predictors of operational efficiency in federal universities in Northeast, Nigeria. The study adopted a predictive correlational research design. Five research objectives were realised through four research questions, while one composite hypothesis was formulated and tested at a 0.05 level of significance. The population for this study was 20, 949 personnel, comprising 6,715 academic staff and 14,234 senior administrative non-academic staff across federal universities in Northeast Nigeria. The sample for this study was a total of 762 personnel, comprising 378 academic staff and 389 senior administrative non-academic staff. The instruments, titled the Internal Factors Management Questionnaire (IFMQ) and the Operational Efficiency Questionnaire (OEQ), were subjected to face and content validation and were pilot-tested using the Cronbach’s alpha statistic, which yielded reliability coefficients above 0.84 and 0.72 for the two instruments, indicating that they were reliable. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions, while multiple regression analysis was used to test the hypothesis at a 0.05 level of significance. The study found that internal factors comprising strength, weakness, opportunity and threat significantly predicted operational efficiency in federal universities in Northeast, Nigeria (F(4, 382) = 27.534, p < 0.05). The study recommended, among others, that university administrators should encourage political participation, vibrant economic policies, and social engagement and technological pursuit to maximise opportunities and minimise threat towards higher operational efficiency.