JCARM Journal of Contemporary Academic Research and Methodologies JCARM 3139-7247 Ivory and Finch Publishers 10.5281/zenodo.21300423 JCARM_JUN_26_080 Original Research Article Industrial Relations Management Practices and Academic Staff Performance in Public Tertiary Institutions in Anambra State, Nigeria Adaobi Ezeike Chinwendu Department of Business Administration/Management Sciences/Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Igbariam Anambra State, Nigeria. Ezeikechinwendu070@gmail.com Stephen Arinze PhD Emeka Department of Business Administration, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Igbariam Anambra State, Nigeria. 10 07 2026 1 5

Abstract This study examined the effect of industrial relations management practices on the performance of academic staff in public tertiary institutions in Anambra State, Nigeria. The study specifically investigated the influence of participatory management practices on task performance, employee disengagement practices on operational performance, and collective bargaining on adaptive performance. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised academic staff in public tertiary institutions in Anambra State, while a sample size of 200 respondents was selected using a stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (regression analysis). The findings revealed that participatory management practices have a significant positive effect on task performance, employee disengagement practices have a significant negative effect on operational performance, and collective bargaining has a significant positive effect on adaptive performance. The study concludes that effective industrial relations management practices are critical for improving academic staff performance and ensuring institutional effectiveness. The study recommends that tertiary institutions should promote participatory decision-making, address employee disengagement through improved welfare and motivation, and strengthen collective bargaining mechanisms to enhance industrial harmony and staff performance. Keywords: Industrial Relations, Participatory Management, Employee Disengagement, Collective Bargaining, Academic Staff Performance.

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