Abstract
Abstract:
A repeated measusures study was carried
out to explore the impacts of Up Close and Personal (UCP) management, as practiced
in the financial sector. The study involved 42 supervisees and 12 supervisors
at the Cooperative Bank of Kenya. A pre-test was issued to the respondents
before they received UCP management intervention in a laboratory set up. A post-test
was undertaken to detect the effects of UCP management . The key findings made
were that (a) UCP management benefits are dependent of the gender of
management. (b) UCP management has a positive effect on employee commitment and
performance. (c) Statistical analysis based on Spearman's rank, confirmed that
there is a positive relationship between commitment and performance, such that
when one rises so does the other. (d) Supervisees found it uncomfortable when
male supervisors perfomed UCP management, an indicator of the stereotypical
notion that men are less emotionally intelligent than women. (e) The study
showed that women enjoy less confidence from fellow women in regards to their
leadership abilities, which needs to be further exploited.
Key words: UCP Management, leadership practice, gender, employee
commitment, employee performance