Impact of Bureaucracy in Nigeria Public Enterprise
Chapter One
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this study is to examine the root causes of poor power supply, especially in relation to bureaucracy. The workers reaction to bureaucratic pattern employed by the management to enlist the co-operation of workers and bureaucratic efficiency. The study also intend to find out the extend to which bureaucracy has undermined the smooth running and effective operation of PHCN Enugu District.
For this reason, some of the areas this study intends to accomplish are as follows:
- To show the bureaucratic pattern employed by the management of PHCN Enugu aimed at inducing over reaction for the enhancement of productivity.
- Probe and find out what may be the likely management problem with bureaucracy in PHCN Enugu District.
- Show the effects bureaucracy has on productivity and efficiency in power supply.
- Proffer solution to identified management deficiencies in the management of bureaucracy.
- Finally, document the findings for interested researchers in the future.
Chapter Two
Review of related literature
Introduction
More recently, bureaucracy and efficiency in the public service has been an issue of contemporary discourse. Several researchers have had one thing or the other to say about this subject. In this light, this chapter aims at examining the ideas of several authors on the issues directly and indirectly related to the subject of discourse. This section will be divided into several subheadings with each one trying to provide reasonable information that will help in assessing the ideas of the researchers on each subheading. Some of the points that will be examined include the concept of bureaucracy, the concept of efficiency, bureaucracy and efficiency in the public service, and others. It is expected that this chapter will provide us with a proper theoretical background to the paper
THE CONCEPT OF BUREAUCRACY
According to Garston (2006), a bureaucracy is an organization of non-elected officials a government or organization who implements the rules, laws, and functions of their institution. In a study carried out by Garston (2006), bureaucracy was identified as the most efficient and rational way of organizing. Bureaucratization as seen by 13 Max Weber was the key part of the rational-legal authority, and the key process in the ongoing rationalization of the Western society (Garston. 2006). Swedberg and Agevall (2005) further described bureaucracy as characterized by hierarchical organization, delineated lines of authority in a fixed area of activity, action taken on the basis of and recorded in written rules, bureaucratic officials need expert training, rules are implemented by neutral officials, career advancement depends on technical qualifications judged by organization, not individuals. While recognizing bureaucracy as the most efficient form of organization, and even indispensable for the modern state, Allan (2005) suggested that Weber also saw bureaucracy as a threat to individual freedoms, and the ongoing bureaucratization as leading to a “polar night of icy darkness”, in which increasing rationalization of human life traps individuals in the aforementioned “iron cage” of bureaucratic, rule-based, rational control. According to Allan (2005), entrepreneurs care capable of counteracting bureaucracy. Kuldeep (2012) in his description of the concept of bureaucracy saw it as an abstract system for rational solution of management problems without the frictions caused by human errors and emotions. According to Kuldeep (2012), the concept of bureaucracy was developed by Max Weber. In his article, the author suggested that 14 bureaucratic organizations are the most rational means of carrying out imperative control over human beings. According to the author, the theory of bureaucracy is based upon the nature of authority relationships in organization. It is concerned with how organizations actually operate rather than with how they should function (Kuldeep (2012). In conclusion, Kuldeep (2012) asserted that bureaucratic model was visualized by Weber as an orderly structuring of power to achieve rational human behavior under a hierarchy of professionals. Furthermore on the concept of bureaucracy, modern academics asked themselves to which extent elected officials do control their bureaucratic agents (Hall, 2006). Because bureaucrats have more information than elected officials about what they are doing and what they should be doing, bureaucrats might have the ability to implement policies or regulations that are against public interest. These concerns led to the “Congressional abdication” hypotheses, a claim that the American Congress had left its authority over public policy to appointed bureaucrats (Hall, 2006). The relationships between the government, interest groups, bureaucrats and the genera! public, all have an effect on each other. Without one of these pieces the entire structure would completely change. This relationship is considered a network so that not one single piece can describe or control the entire process (Hall, 2006). 15 Ritzer (2004) in her concept of bureaucracy stated that it is a major sub-field of Public Choice. According to the author, bureaucracy is the set of regulations drawn by governments to control activity, usually in large organizations and governments (Ritzer, 2004). In this article, the author made mention that bureaucracy is represented by a standardized procedure that dictates the execution of all processes within an institution, division of power, hierarchy and relationships. In every-day practice the interpretation and execution of policy leads to informal influence. In conclusion, the author described bureaucracy as a concept in sociology and political science referring to the way in which the administrative execution of legal rules is socially organized (Ritzer, 2004). Finally, Wintrobe (2007) stated that to most Americans, “bureaucracy” is a fighting word. Few things are more disliked than bureaucracy, few occupations held in lower esteem than the bureaucrat (Wintrobe, 2007). The author in his book stated that both bureaucracy and bureaucrat are subjected to repeated criticism in the press and damned regularly by political soap box orators and ordinary citizens (Wintrobe, 2007). “Inefficiency,” “red (ape,” “stupidily,” “secree\,” “smugness,” “aggressiveness,” and “self-interest” are only a few of the emotionally charged words used to castigate bureaucrats. The author described bureaucracy from the standpoint 16 of public administration and social science literature in general. In the description, bureaucracy means much more than the various bothersome characteristics of modem organizations. The term in serious administrative literature denotes the general, formal structural elements of a type of human organization, particularly a governmental organization (Wintrobe, 2007J. In this sense bureaucracy has both good and bad qualities:
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitutes of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine impact of bureaucracy in Nigeria public enterprises. Power holding company of Nigeria, Enugu form the population of the study.
SAMPLE SIZE DETERMINATION
A study sample is simply a systematic selected part of a population that infers its result on the population. In essence, it is that part of a whole that represents the whole and its members share characteristics in like similitude (Udoyen, 2019). In this study, the researcher adopted the convenient sampling method to determine the sample size.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain impact of bureaucracy in Nigeria public enterprises. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of impact of bureaucracy in Nigeria public enterprises
Summary
This study was on challenges of impact of bureaucracy in Nigeria public enterprises. Three objectives were raised which included: To show the bureaucratic pattern employed by the management of PHCN Enugu aimed at inducing over reaction for the enhancement of productivity, Probe and find out what may be the likely management problem with bureaucracy in PHCN Enugu District, Show the effects bureaucracy has on productivity and efficiency in power supply, Proffer solution to identified management deficiencies in the management of bureaucracy and Finally, document the findings for interested researchers in the future. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from power holding company of Nigeria, Enugu district. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
Public enterprise is the implementation of services and making sure they are timely delivered to people and places they are intended to. If the private sector is the engine of growth, then the public sector is the fuel needed to propel that engine to function profitably. However, the general view on public service delivery has not be satisfactory with complaints of excessive bureaucratic procedures intended to extort money from prospective clients, thereby stalling social and economic development, deepening the suffering of the people. The negative impacts of bureaupathology, as a result of ineffective civil/public institutions are too costly to quantity in monetary terms. Until government pursue a strong public sector reforms, setting measurable objectives, disciplining corrupt public servants and reprimanding ineffective institutions, bureaucracy shall only be a word in the dictionary.
Recommendation
There is a need for the mental attitudes and beliefs of the civil servants to be reoriented, so that they can cope with the policies of the new governments. Furthermore, there is a need for a strong political elites, who are able to articulate political goals and to establish and maintain a framework of both political and legal institutions. They must also maintain communications with the major social and political group in order to sharpen governmental objectives/programmes. Nigeria equally needs a bureaucracy that is characterized by a high degree of deconcentration and decentralization of the decision-making process, a bureaucracy in which there is effective communication and coordination in which appreciate the thoughts and feelings of the people when formulating and implementing policies. Finally, corrupt officials should be sacked, the behaviour of civil service personnel must change, they must be trained and retrained to embrace the spirit of achievement, and prudent use of material and human resources instead waste that have characterized public bureaucracies over the years
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