WORKPLACE CULTURE AND DISASTER RESPONSE EFFECTIVENESS ALONG THE METRE GAUGE RAILWAY LINE SYSTEM, KENYA
Keywords:
Workplace Culture, Disaster Response, Psychological Contract, Railway Safety, Emergency Management Theory, KenyaAbstract
Purpose of the study: This study examined the influence of workplace culture, the psychological contract, and inhibiting factors on disaster response effectiveness along Kenya's Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) line system. It sought to determine how organizational culture, employee commitment, and institutional barriers collectively shape preparedness, coordination, and effective emergency response within railway operations.
Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional survey design using mixed methods. Data were collected from 322 valid respondents selected from 368 railway personnel through stratified random sampling using questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, and observation. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS through descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression, while qualitative data were thematically analyzed.
Findings: The findings established that workplace culture significantly and positively influenced disaster response effectiveness (r = 0.682, β = 0.421, p < 0.001), with teamwork emerging as the strongest organizational strength, while communication systems and leadership support required improvement. The psychological contract also had a significant positive effect (r = 0.615, β = 0.318, p < 0.001), demonstrating that employees' commitment, trust, and perceived organizational support enhanced preparedness and emergency response performance. Conversely, inhibiting factors, including poor communication infrastructure, inadequate emergency equipment, insufficient training, bureaucratic delays, and weak inter-agency coordination, negatively affected disaster response effectiveness (r = -0.598, β = -0.294, p < 0.001). Overall, the regression model explained 54.9% of the variance in disaster response effectiveness (R² = 0.549), confirming the strong combined influence of organizational, psychological, and institutional factors.
Conclusion: The study concludes that effective disaster response along Kenya's Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) line depends on a strong workplace culture, positive psychological contracts, and supportive institutional systems. Strengthening communication, leadership, employee recognition, infrastructure, and inter-agency coordination will enhance organizational resilience and improve timely, coordinated, and effective emergency response to railway disasters.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21839858
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