Impact of Employee Participation in Decision-Making on the Performance of Public Higher Learning Institutions in Tanzania

Background: Employee participation in decision-making is crucial for the sustainability of any enterprise. When employees are excluded from this process, they often feel marginalised, demotivated, and disconnected, leading to a lack of ownership. Objective: This study assessed employee participation in decision-making and its impact on organisational performance within public higher learning intuitions in Tanzania Method: A cross-sectional survey design was employed, targeting 312 employees selected using stratified sampling using questionnaires and interviews, and analysed using descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression, and content analysis. Results: Findings indicate that while decision-making variables had elevated levels of participation, others had moderate involvement. All variables showed statistically significant contributions to organizational performance. Challenges to participation, such as limited information, time constraints, lack of trust, poor communication, hierarchical structures, and fear of reprisal, were moderately present. Conclusion: Employees’ participation in decision-making has a significant impact on organisational performance. It is essential to recognise that involving workers in decision-making processes fosters motivation and strengthens their commitment to achieving organisational goals. Unique Contribution: The study provides contextualised and localised view of employee’s participation in decision making in academic settings. Hopefully, this fresh perspective will benefit educational organisations and other policymakers. Key Recommendation: Organisations should develop tools, to promote employee participation in decision making.