PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to establish the relevant competencies possessed by engineering lecturers and the relationship between those competencies and the exhibited organisational citizenship behaviours (OCB).Design/methodology/approachThe study was carried out in two phases. Phase one was qualitative using a competency interview guide that was administered to ten engineering lecturers, selected using a purposive sampling design. From this interview, seven key result areas, competencies and critical outputs were obtained. Phase two was quantitative following the development of a questionnaire from the established competencies, key result areas and critical outputs. The questionnaire was administered to 110 engineering lecturers.FindingsThe study revealed that those lecturers who have the relevant competencies do exhibit discretionary behaviours at work. The model could be useful in deriving employee competencies and critical outputs.Research limitations/implicationsA cross‐sectional study using a small sample in a single institution could not warrant generalisability of the findings.Practical implicationsCompetency‐based recruitment and selection has the potential to improve the ways in which universities could manage engineering lecturers.Originality/valueThe paper presents a new approach to competency profiling, the need for competent engineering lecturers.

Purpose -The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the need for Kyambogo to pay special attention to students' vocational choices, university based training and employability. Design/methodology/approach -The sample of 46 final year students, 90 graduates and 50 supervisors using cross sectional survey design was used to collect data. Findings -The paper reveals that factors such as government policies and regulations, people we interact and relate with for instance, parents, teachers, peers and other factors like our aspirations, interests, subjects studied at school have a significant bearing on our vocational choices. Practical training, curriculum followed in teaching and industrial training are relevant for electrical graduates in their preparation for employment challenges. Practical implications -This paper calls for involvement of stakeholders in design, implementation and evaluation of the university curriculum. That there should be vigorous and rigorous regular evaluation of training of electrical engineers to meet the ever-changing needs of employers. Originality/value -This paper presents a new approach to critical thinking young adulthood vocational choices, university based-training and employability of electrical engineering graduates.

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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to establish the relationship between performance management practices, employee attitudes and managed performance.Design/methodology/approachUsing a disproportionate stratified purposive approach, a sample of 900 employees was drawn from four public universities in Uganda.FindingsThe paper reveals that performance management practices and employee attitudes are crucial for achievement of managed performance in public universities.Research limitations/implicationsThis was a cross‐sectional study that inherently has common method biases. Such biases could be minimised with replication of the study using a longitudinal study approach that would also unearth all salient issues that could have remained untouched.Practical implicationsThe paper emphasises the need for public universities to institutionalise result‐oriented relationships and adapt in the external hyper changing environment.Originality/valueThe paper calls for a new approach to managing employees in public universities with increasing demand for university education and stakeholder interests in delivery of cost‐effective quality services.

PurposeThis paper offers a theoretical explanation to a positive story of a micro enterprise found in Uganda, an African developing country that has successfully managed workplace relationships, its survival and good performance. Specifically, the paper examines multiple theories to explain the practice in this enterprise.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses storytelling, a form of narrative inquiry embedded in qualitative methodology. Based on in-depth interviews with the owner-manager and employees, a story was developed detailing their practical experience while focusing on the context, actions, results and lessons.FindingsFindings reveal that micro enterprises that allow free generation of ideas across all levels with optimistic people who reciprocate and work together, create a friendly work atmosphere with support for one another, amicably resolve conflicts and build trust. More so, several theories that include: Social Exchange Theory, Relational Cohesion Theory, Complex Adaptive Systems Theory and Cultural Historical Activity Theory, explain the manifestations of relational people management in micro enterprises.Originality/valueThis paper is unique in its use of a positive story showing a practical experience of how workplace relationships are managed in a micro enterprise found in Uganda, an African developing country. In addition, a multi-theoretical perspective is used to explain the manifestations in the story which may be novel in the study context. Thus, a conceptual model is proposed depicting generalized reciprocity, positive emotions, generative leadership and relational agency as antecedents of relational people management with relational agency again mediating the other relationships.