The Effect of management by Walking Around on improving employees’ performance

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the impact of Management by Walking Around (MBWA) on improving employees’ performance within organizations. MBWA is a proactive management approach based on direct and informal interaction between managers and employees in the working environment. Through this interaction, managers could enhance effective communication, identify operational challenges in real-time, provide immediate feedback, and reinforce the job motivation and commitment. The study addressed the theoretical foundations of MBWA, highlighting its role in creating a positive dynamic working environment, a matter that promotes productivity and innovation. It also examined the effect of MBWA in enhancing transparency and strengthening relationships between management and employees, which could positively influence employee engagement. The study relied on empirical analysis of employee perceptions regarding the impact of MBWA on their performance, based on key performance indicators such as efficiency, task completion speed, job satisfaction, and the level of interaction within the workplace.The researcher adopted a descriptive-exploratory analytical approach to establish logical links between the study variables. Descriptive and statistical methods were used to analyze the practical aspect of the research. A survey was conducted using a questionnaire consisting of 27 items, administered to a purposive sample of 50 participants selected from senior and middle management with relevant expertise. The study employed a five-point Likert scale to measure responses and analyze the findings.The results indicated that organizations implementing MBWA experience significant improvements in employees’ performance. The primary benefits of this approach included reinforcing teamwork, reducing operational errors, enhancing responsiveness to challenges, and increasing levels of enthusiasm and organizational commitment. Furthermore, the study revealed that employees working under managers who adopt MBWA reported higher job satisfaction and a strong sense of belonging to the organization.The study recommended that organizations should adopt MBWA as a core management strategy to promote open communication, continuous improvement, and employee-empowerment. This could be done via encouraging leaders to maintain an active presence in the workplace, organizations could achieve sustainable growth, improve operational efficiency, and maintain a motivated, high-performing workforce.