Mediating Effect of Organizational Commitment on The Relationship Between Human Resources Information System Evaluation and Organizational Performance in Public Tertiary Institutions in North East Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the effect of Human Resource Information System (HRIS) evaluation on organizational performance, with organizational commitment as a mediating variable in selected public tertiary institutions in North-East Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design with a cross-sectional approach. The population comprised 12,043 non-academic staff of four selected federal universities: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, University of Maiduguri, Modibbo Adama University, and Federal University Wukari. Using Yamane’s formula and an additional allowance for possible response errors, 464 questionnaires were distributed, 455 were retrieved, and 450 valid responses were retained for analysis. Data were collected through an adapted structured questionnaire and analysed using SPSS 29 and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The measurement model demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity, while the structural model showed that HRIS evaluation explained 31.34% of the variance in organizational commitment and, together with organizational commitment, explained 65.71% of the variance in organizational performance. The findings indicated that HRIS evaluation significantly affects organizational commitment and organizational performance. Organizational commitment also significantly influences organizational performance and partially mediates the relationship between HRIS evaluation and organizational performance. The study concluded that effective HRIS, particularly reliable, accessible, flexible, secure, and user friendly systems, can improve institutional performance directly and indirectly by strengthening employees’ commitment. It recommended that tertiary institutions align HRIS development with institutional needs, provide adequate management support, and continuously improve system implementation, training, and resource allocation.