Goal-Setting and Task Performance among Nigerian Managers in a Cross-Cultural Context

This study assessed goal-setting and task performance among Nigerian managers. Data were collected from 521 subjects including 176 Yoruba, 147 Igbo and 198 Hausa/Fulani managerial employees in Lagos, Nigeria. The relevant scales of the 57-item questionnaire designed by Mendonca and Kanungo (1994) were used to obtain measures of the dependent variables. Mean scores in goal setting and performance-intrinsic reward contingency were highest among the Yoruba managers followed by Hausa/Fulani and Igbo managers respectively. Mean score in task significance was highest among the Igbo managers followed by Yoruba and Hausa/Fulani managers respectively. Mean score in performance-extrinsic reward contingency was highest among the Hausa/Fulani managers followed by Yoruba and Igbo managers respectively. One-way ANOVA showed cultural differences in performance-intrinsic reward contingency (p< .05) and task significance (p< .01) but not in goal-setting and performance-extrinsic reward contingency respectively. The results were discussed in terms of the influence of culture on human resources management practices and that managers who value performance-intrinsic reward allocation should engage in goal-setting more than the others.