High Performance Work Practices, Entrepreneurial Orientation and Organisation Excellence in Nigerian HEIs, A Correlational Analysis

Necessity for excellent performance in organisations (organisational excellence – OE) have taken preeminence for a long time, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) inclusive. Towards ensuring excellent performances, High Performance Work Practices (HPWPs) have been found to be necessary complements to the excellent performances. It is also on record that this aim is only possible through an enabling environment that can be provided by a disposition towards entrepreneurship (entrepreneurial orientation - EO). The study uses the Ability, Motivation and Opportunity (AMO) framework to establish a theoretical framework for the research. Data was collected from members of academic staff in selected public HEIs in the North-Central and South-Western geo-political zones of Nigeria. The study employed multistage sampling procedure with the use of survey questionnaires. The sample used was 420 questionnaires distributed and analyzed through SPSS 20.0. The correlation results show strong relationship between HPWPs and OE as well as EO and OE. The study recommends sustainability of HPWPs and EO in Nigerian HEIs towards World Class operation.