The Relationship Between Employee Participation in Decision Making and Work Performance in the Manufacturing Sector (a Case Study of Unilever Plc Lagos State)
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The major objective of the study is to examine the relationship between employee participation in decision making and work performance in the manufacturing sector. However, the specific objectives include:
- To assess the extent do employees participate in the study organization
- To determine the employees participation in organizational decision making affect performance
- To examine the factor affecting workers participation in decision making
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 INTRODUCTION
In this study, the review of related literature will focus on the following areas:-
- Definition of worker/ employee participation
- Forms of participation
- Evolution of worker participation
- Theoretical framework for the study
- Effects of worker participation in decision making on organizational growth
- Impact of employee participation on job satisfaction, employee commitment and employee productivity
- Benefits of worker participation viii. Summary of related literature
Definition of worker participation
Noah (2005:2) defined worker participation as arrangements designed to involve workers in the enterprises decision making process. This allows for workers involvement in the initiation, formulation and implementation of decision within the enterprise. The concept can also be understood in terms of a new approach to industry and society in which people want to be interested with the taking of decisions which have direct bearing on them. It refers to any arrangement which is designed to involve how cadre employees (workers) in the important decision making within the work place. (Adewumi, 1993/:14). It is the process whereby employees are involved in decision making processes rather than simply acting on orders (Verma and Syha 1991:42). According to Locke and Schweiger, (1979:14) Wagner (1994:72), employee participation is generally defined as a process in which influence is shared among individuals who are otherwise hierarchically unequal.
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY AND DESIGN
Introduction
The term methodology is a system of explicit rules and procedures in which research is based and against which claims of knowledge are evaluated (Ojo, 2003:22). Therefore, this section focuses on the research techniques adopted and used for this study with the aim of achieving the research objectives.
Research Design
In this study, survey research design is adopted. Survey research design was chosen because the sampled elements and the variables that are being studied are simply being observed as they are without making any attempt to control or manipulate them.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Data Presentation
This chapter of the study was based on data presentation, distribution and analysis of data. For the purpose of this research work, a total of two hundred (200) questionnaires were distributed to workers of Selected firms in Lagos State.
The tale below shows the number of questionnaires collected and various research questions addressed by the researcher. The questions in the questionnaire will be analyzed by the use of tables and percentages.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the analyzed data, the findings in this study include the followings:-
A large number of respondents (62.5%) opined that the extent of worker involvement in the decision-making process of their work place is low. This is evidenced in the first hypothesis tested in which the calculated value of chisquare x2 63.71 is greater than the tabulated value of 5.991.
The study further revealed that worker participation poses a lot of challenges in the decision making process of their work places. This is also evidenced in the second hypothesis tested in which the calculated value of chi-square 55 is greater than the tabulated value of 7.815.
Worker participation has impact on job satisfaction. This is also evidenced from the third hypothesis tested in which the calculated value of chi-square 645 is greater than the tabulated value of 7.815.
Conclusion
Based on the findings of the study, it concluded that workers in the study establishments are generally not much involved in the management decision making within the manufacturing sector. On the other hand, the workers generally demonstrated high-interest in management decision making. The study therefore confirmed that while the workers demonstrated positive attitude towards involvement in decision making, the actual level of involvement they exercise is negative.
Workers who are subjects of this study generally demonstrated willingness to accept the responsibility of involvement in management decision making whenever such opportunity arises, however, many hold the view that management decision making is the preserve of the management.
This implies that while the workers are willing to accept the responsibility of greater involvement in management decision making they are role reading to challenge the management in the regard.
Another conclusion reached from the study is that respondents level of income in management decision making have implication on certain organizational factors. Specifically, the commitment level demonstrated by the workers is a factor of the extent of influence they exercise of management decision making.
Recommendations
The following recommendations are made to the management of case study establishments and other organizations that are interested and favourably disposed towards granting their workers significant measure of involvement in management decision making in order to enhance employee job performance and organization growth.
- Enlightenment program for workers on their rights to seize the opportunity of involvement in decision making.
- Provision of monetary and other incentives for workers to encourage them sustain the current interest participation.
- Liberalizing management structure so as to allow for greater workers involvement.
- Training programs for workers in management functions as a way of properly equipping them on their decision making role.
- Levels of worker commitment may be enhanced where they have assured levels of access to the making of decision and formulation of any outcomes.
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