INFLUENCE OF SCHOOL DECISION MAKING PROCESSES AND LEADERSHIP STYLES ON LECTURERS’ PRODUCTIVITY IN RIVERS STATE COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY, PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA.

Lecturers' productivity in higher education is often characterised by their ability to effectively convert institutional resources into beneficial outcomes in teaching, research, and community service, contributing to institutional and national objectives. However, issues such as heavy workloads, work-related stress, and various structural and systemic challenges often impede this productivity, particularly in developing nations. This study investigated the interplay of effective school decision-making processes and leadership styles as key paradigms for enhancing lecturers' productivity at Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology (RSCHST), Port Harcourt, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted, and the study population consisted of 105 permanent lecturers across the eleven schools of the college. The researcher used a total enumeration approach, including all lecturers in the study. Data were collected through a self-structured questionnaire validated by experts and pilot-tested, yielding a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.86, indicating high reliability. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, and mean scores, were used to analyse the data. Findings indicate that participatory decision-making (78; 74.4%, mean = 4.25, SD = 0.48) and democratic leadership style (75; 71.4%, mean = 4.20, SD = 0.49) positively influence lecturers’ productivity, whereas autocratic decision-making (30; 28.6%, mean = 2.85, SD = 0.54) and centralised decision-making (30; 28.6%, mean = 2.90, SD = 0.55) hinder it. The study concludes that institutional policies fostering inclusive decision-making and adaptive leadership enhance lecturers’ teaching, research, and administrative outputs. Recommendations include training college administrators in effective leadership, involving lecturers in institutional decisions, and regular assessment of decision-making and leadership effectiveness to boost productivity.