The practical reality of goal setting theory: evidence from the performance of nurses in the Sunyani regional hospital of Ghana

Abstract

Several studies on goal setting theory have shown that goals direct and sustain employee effort toward goal-relevant activities and away from goal irrelevant activities. Although the theory is a common research topic in most advanced countries, it is gradually being tested in other cultures such as the Sub-Saharan Africa. The current study, therefore, is an extension of existing research on goal setting theory as it describes the core elements of the theory, and how it relates to the performance of 100 registered nurses in the Sunyani Regional Hospital in Ghana. Consistent with some previous studies, a significantly positive relationship between goal acceptance, goal specificity and employee performance was found. Surprisingly, goal difficulty failed to support this relationship.