Contextual factors as predictors of involvement in organisational management among police officers in the South-West, Nigeria

Abstract

Doing policing effectively and efficiently requires appreciable display of on the job self-esteem by police officers. Where the work context gives less attention for independent actions allowing for competence, due to structure and job assignment in the police organization, decrease in personal control sets in and lessens the development of self-worth. The situation influences involvement in organizational management of daily policing activities by police officers. The study examined contextual factors – [Job-Related Self-Esteem (JRSE), Perceived Skill Acquisition (PSA) and Perceived Performance (PP)] as predictors of Involvement in Organizational Management (IOM) among police officers in three states in South-west, Nigeria. Maslow’s proposition and behavioural theories of Management serve as the framework. The design is cross-sectional while participants’ selection followed the stratified sampling technique. Ogun, Oyo and Lagos State Police Commands were purposively chosen. 806 policemen (80.0%) and 303 policewomen (20.0%) were randomly selected. Participants included rank and file (730 = 66.1%), inspectorate (253 = 22.8%) and superior police officers (121 = 11.0%). Police IOM (α = .89), Police JRSE (α = .69), Police PSA (α = .91), Police PP (α = .89) scales were used to collect data. Multiple hierarchical regression, t-test and Pearson product moment correlation at p < 0.05 level of significance were used for data analysis. Policemen were aged 36.2+3.4 while policewomen were 33.5+2.7. There were significant joint influence of contextual factors on involvement in organizational management [F_(6,1102) = 72.10, ΔR² = .27] among police officers Likewise, among policemen, (F(_6,799) = 56.39; R2 = .30) and among policewomen (F_(6,293) = 17.2; R² = .26), accounting for 30.0% and 26.0% of their variances on IOM. JRSE (β = .36, t = 9.96), PSA (β = .19, t = 4.93), PP (β = .09, t = 2.41), PGD (β = -.11, t = -1.93) and PGB (β = .23, t = 4.65), had relative influence on IOM of policemen. JRSE (β = .30, t = 5.31), PSA (β = .12, t = 2.01) and PP (β = .21, t = 3.66) and PGD (β = .27, t = 2.72), had relative influence on IOM among policewomen. Involvement in organizational management is vital for efficiency and effectiveness of policing activities when job-related self-esteem, perceived skill acquisition and perceived performance of police officers receive required boost at the work context.

Keywords: Job-related self-esteem, Perceived skill acquisition, Involvement in management, Nigeria Police Force