Influences of Social Media on the Job Performance of Public Sector Employees in Gondar Zuria Woreda, Central Gondar Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

The major purpose of this study was to assess the social media influence on the job performances of public sector employees in Gondar Zuria Woreda. In this study, mixed-method explanatory- sequential designs were employed. The survey questionnaire and in-depth interview were the instruments used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data respectively from public sector employees. By using a stratified random sampling technique, two hundred-forty three employees participated in the survey questionnaire, and through the purposive sampling technique, eight employees participated in the in-depth interview. The data obtained from the questionnaire were coded and inserted into SPSS version 25. The findings of the study revealed that the majority of social media users 73.6% were male employees, 69.2% were the age between 26-30 years of old, and 79.4% of employee's academic statuses were Degree holders. Employees use these tools for various purposes including getting updated information, easily communicate and exchange various ideas with their staff members, to enhance their job performance, and also some times for entertainment purpose. These employees spend an average of 3.2 hours a day on various social media networks. The overall perceived positive influences of social media on employee’s job performances were high 74.1%; on the other hand, ¼ of the respondent’s perceived social media affects their job performances negatively. Thus, the study results showed that there was a strong need to direct priority to the attempt that desires to be completed in increasing the attention of public sectors and its managers on the way to harness the full potential of social media usage of its employees. Finally, the study has implications for social work education, social work practice, and further researches.