The Administrative Structure of Agricultural Extension Employees and Its Role in Job Performance in Iraq

Abstract

The administrative framework governing agricultural extension workers in Iraq plays a crucial role in boosting agricultural productivity and ensuring efficient service delivery. The organizational structure of any institution has a profound impact on employee performance and the quality of services offered to stakeholders. This research centered on agricultural extension personnel employed by the Agricultural Extension and Cooperation Department in Baghdad as of September 2024, with a sample size of 91 participants, accounting for 70% of the workforce in this field. A specialized assessment tool was developed to evaluate the alignment between the administrative structure and job performance. The instrument was divided into two main components. The first component evaluated the suitability of the administrative framework for employees, comprising 79 items organized into nine distinct dimensions. This section was scored on a scale ranging from 0 to 237 points. The second component focused on assessing the degree of functional empowerment among employees. To validate the tool's reliability, a pilot survey was conducted with a group of individuals not included in the primary sample. High Cronbach’s alpha results (0.86 and 0.89) indicate that the instrument is dependable for assessing suitability and functional empowerment.

The results revealed that the administrative structure of the Agricultural Extension and Training Department was largely inadequate for the majority of agricultural extension workers. Key issues included deficiencies in performance development, underutilization of human resources, and a predominantly top-down, one-way communication flow within the organization. Additionally, there was limited adoption of technology and weak collaboration with other agricultural entities. The study also found that while the level of functional empowerment among workers was moderate, it was on a declining trend. However, the study identified significant positive relationships between the organization’s tech utilization, efficient communication processes, and partnerships with external entities, all statistically significant (p = 0.05). Only 21% reported high functional empowerment; 31% reported low. In light of these findings, the study proposed several actionable recommendations to address the identified challenges within the administrative framework. These suggestions aim to enhance the performance of agricultural extension workers, foster greater functional empowerment, and ultimately improve service delivery and overall organizational effectiveness.

The results revealed that the administrative structure of the Agricultural Extension and Training Department was largely inadequate for the majority of agricultural extension workers. Key issues included deficiencies in performance development, underutilization of human resources, and a predominantly top-down, one-way communication flow within the organization. Additionally, there was limited adoption of technology and weak collaboration with other agricultural entities. The study also found that while the level of functional empowerment among workers was moderate, it was on a declining trend. Contributing factors included insufficient motivation, restricted delegation of authority, and an unfavorable work environment for most staff members. In light of these findings, the study proposed several actionable recommendations to address the identified challenges within the administrative framework. These suggestions aim to enhance the performance of agricultural extension workers, foster greater functional empowerment, and ultimately improve service delivery and overall organizational effectiveness.