The Role of Office Accommodation in Enhancing Academic Staff Performance in Higher Institutions in Mwanza Region, Tanzania

Abstract

This study examined the role of office accommodation in enhancing academic staff performance in higher learning institutions in Mwanza Region, Tanzania. Specifically, the study assessed how office accommodation conditions, including workspace adequacy, privacy, ventilation, lighting, cleanliness, and overall physical working environment, influence academic staff effectiveness in teaching, research, student consultation, and administrative responsibilities. The study was guided by Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory (1943) and employed a mixed-methods approach using a convergent parallel research design. The target population consisted of 363 participants, including 347 academic staff and 16 Heads of Departments (HoDs) from selected higher learning institutions in Mwanza Region. A sample of 94 respondents was involved, comprising 78 academic staff selected through simple random sampling and 16 HoDs selected purposively. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis through SPSS version 26, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The reliability of the questionnaire was established through the test-retest method, which yielded an overall reliability coefficient of 0.83, indicating acceptable consistency. The findings revealed that conducive office accommodation enhances academic staff concentration, productivity, research engagement, student support services, and effective academic service delivery. The study concludes that office accommodation is a critical institutional support service that shapes academic staff motivation, wellbeing, and professional effectiveness.