THE INFLUENCE OF MULTIPLE INTELL IGENCE ON WORK PERFORMANCE: A STUDY OF UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF IN SRI LANKA

Abstract

Anchored in Howard Gardner’s (1983,1999) theoretical discussion of ‘Multiple Intelligence’ and considering the significance of these intelligences with working performance of Administrative Staff within the Sri Lankan University system; this study attempts to identify whether High Performers among university administrative staff have adopted different combination of Multiple Intelligence and to identify the influence of Multiple Intelligence on their working performance. Directed by a quantitative methodological approach to business research the study was conducted among sixty-nine administrative officers in six national Universities located in the western province, Sri Lanka. Data gathered through a structured questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive, correlation and regression statistical methods. The schematic diagram was developed based on the Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Model. Linguistic, logical, musical, bodily, visual, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalist, spiritual and moral intelligences were independent variables and the work performance was the dependent variable in the schematic diagram. According to the findings of the study, they have adopted different combination of Intelligence to perform well and 66% of the variation in the work performance is explained by the Multiple Intelligence, among these intrapersonal intelligence has been the most prominent.