Innovative Work Behaviour of Secretaries in Tertiary Institutions: Implications for Administrative Efficiency

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between secretaries’ innovative work behaviour (IWB) and administrative efficiency in tertiary institutions in Delta State, Nigeria. The objectives were to assess the levels of idea generation, idea promotion, and idea implementation among secretaries and to determine the predictive effect of these dimensions on administrative efficiency, measured through timeliness, accuracy, and coordination of tasks. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were collected from 285 secretaries using a structured questionnaire. Reliability of the instrument was confirmed with Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.87 for IWB and 0.89 for administrative efficiency. Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) summarized the data, while multiple regression analysis examined the relationships among variables. Results revealed that secretaries demonstrated moderately high engagement in all IWB dimensions, with idea implementation being the strongest predictor of administrative efficiency (β = 0.30, p < 0.001). Idea generation (β = 0.28, p < 0.01) and idea promotion (β = 0.22, p < 0.01) also significantly influenced efficiency. The study concludes that secretaries’ innovative behaviours play a critical role in enhancing administrative performance. It recommends that tertiary institutions create supportive mechanisms, including training programs and formal channels for idea generation, promotion, and implementation, to optimize administrative outcomes. These findings contribute to the understanding of innovation-driven efficiency in administrative contexts and offer practical insights for higher education management in emerging economies.