Management Practices at Selected Christian Radio Production Centres in Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the management practices of some selected Christian radio production centres in Kenya in relation to the V Theory of management. The V Theory defines managing as a bi-relational process in which the intention of the manager is directed to and actualized in the action of the manager. Under the V Theory "management's total concern is how to get that total staff producing creatively while fulfilling themselves as persons and profession- als, and thereby achieving the purposes of the enterprise. Through descriptive survey research method the study was designed to answer some questions on how the selected studios were managed in terms of programme production human resource, financial, technical and audience research manage- ment. The researcher also wanted to describe how the various functions of management are carried out in these organizations. The production centres were purposively selected for ease of comparison. To collect the data for the study, research questionnaires were designed for the employees. Interviews were also conducted with the managers using an interview schedule and with some programme producer. The questionnaires were based on job characteristic inventory, testing job variety, autonomy, identity, and feedback. The findings show that two institutions which were selected for the study namely FEBA and TWR practice a style of management which seems to conform to the V Theory. The study also shows that these institutions are built on strong Christian management principles where commitment and excellence in service are seen from the perspective of Christian calling rather than expectation from the top management. The managers believe that they operate as a family in oneness. By this they mean that the employees care for one another and support one another in achieving their personal and organizational goals. This concept of 'family', on one hand, seems to be a strong argument for domi- nance of Christian perspectives in the management of these institutions. It seems a clear point of departure from the secular broadcast media organizations in Sub- Saharan Africa where the employees do not see their jobs as an integral part of their life.