Work Strategy and Employees Performance Among Academic Staff of FUO: A Comparative Study of Hard Work and Smart Work

This study examines the relationship between work strategies—hard work and smart work—and employee performance among academic staff at the Federal University Otuoke (FUO). The aim is to understand how these strategies affect the efficiency and effectiveness of academics in their roles. Guided by the Job Demand-Resource Model, a mixed-method research design involving 239 quantitative surveys and 20 qualitative interviews was utilized, capturing diverse voices from the academic population. The findings reveal that heavy workloads (28.5%) and insufficient resources (16.3%) are primary challenges faced by staff. While 35.1% of respondents acknowledged the positive impact of hard work, a significant 40.2% disputed its effectiveness, highlighting concern over burnout. Technology utilization emerged as the most prevalent smart work strategy (42.7%), but prioritization received no recognition, suggesting areas for improvement. Interestingly, a balanced approach combining both hard and smart work was preferred by 45.2% of respondents, indicating a growing recognition of integrating effort with efficiency. Overall, the study concludes that a hybrid strategy fosters better job performance, and it recommends that the university enhance resource allocation, offer time management training, and promote collaborative efforts to support faculty in achieving a sustainable balance between hard work and smart work.