SOFT SKILLS AS CORRELATES OF ACADEMIC STAFF SERVICE DELIVERY IN SOUTH-WEST FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES OF NIGERIA

Abstract

Soft skills are regarded as interpersonal skills and character traits that complement the service delivery of academic staff in the university. This study examined the relationship between soft skills and academic staff service delivery in selected Federal universities in South-Western Nigeria. Two research objectives guided this study and were transformed into research questions and hypotheses. The theoretical framework adopted in this study was the Lean Management Theory.  This study adopted a correlational survey research design. The population of the study `comprised 2,947 academic staff from two Federal universities in South-West, with a sample size of 352 using Taro Yemane’s sample size calculator. Random sampling technique was used in the selection of participants for the study. The instrument used for data collection was developed by the researchers, validated by experts and found reliable through a pilot testing. Data analysis was carried out using Pearson product moment correlation. The findings of the study revealed a positive and significant relationship between time management skill and academic staff service delivery and between problem-solving skill and academic staff service delivery in South-West Federal universities in Nigeria. The study recommended that academic staff should be trained on the importance of soft skills on service delivery in the university.