Manpower planning and development as a tool for higher productivity (a study of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka)

ABSTRACT :This study examined the effect of manpower planning and development on organizational productivity in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka. Manpower planning is the process by which an organization ensures that it has the right number and kind of people, at the right place, at the right time, capable of effectively and efficiently completing those tasks that will help the organization achieve its overall objectives. In an attempt to look into the problems, several literatures, studies and works were reviewed. A sample of 363 staff was selected from the population using simple random sampling method. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources and presented in tables and analysed using percentage and frequencies. Hypotheses were formulated and tested using Chi square test method. It was discovered during the research exercise that lack of manpower planning and development can be seen as the major cause of inefficiency and low productivity in Nnamdi Azikiwe University. The findings also showed that funds are not released to facilitate seminars, workshops, symposia’s, and other training programs for employees to be well equipped towards bringing higher productivity. Following the above findings, Public organization should embrace human resource planning if employee productivity must be ensured; management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University should place emphasis on proper manpower planning and development strategy to improve employee’s productivity.  The researcher also recommended that Public organizations, especially Nnamdi Azikiwe University should map out adequate fund to organize regular and frequent workshops, seminars, symposia, etc for their staff.

AN OVERVIEW of Manpower planning and development as a tool for higher productivity (a study of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka)

CHAPTER ONE

• Introduction
  • Background of the Study

Manpower planning and development is the first and the most important function of management. The essence of manpower planning and development involves a critical analysis of the supply, demand, surplus, shortage and utilization of human resources. It is important to note that manpower planning is often taken as the most important resources of an organization because through it, other resources (material and financial) are harnessed to meet the need of man. The economic development of a country depends on the quality and quantity of its human resources, the state of technology and efficient deployment of resources in both production and consumption process. Most organizations today is facing problems because they did not plan for their workforce neither do they have any systematic human resources management programs that consider organizational goals. The essence is to prepare for and predict future events. Planning goes beyond attempting to attain stated organizational objectives. It involves the development of strategy and procedures required for effective realization of the entire plan. One of the major problems confronting management in any organization is the most effective way of matching people with jobs. The process by which management attempt to provide for the human resources or manpower to accomplish its task is called “manpower planning”. The concept of manpower planning has been given different definition by different authors. Malthus and Jackson (1992) see manpower planning as the process of analyzing and identifying the need for the availability of human resources so that the organization can meet its human resources objectives.

Griffin (1997) sees human resources planning as a plan which involves accessing trends, forecasting the supply, demand for labour and the development of appropriate strategy for addressing any differences. Ehegbunna (1992) sees manpower planning as having the right person and the right number, in the right place and at the right time.

Olutola (1986), when manpower planning is mentioned, it generally refers to the projection of future requirement for a given number of people with specific skill to meet the demand of various sector of the economy. Ogunniyi (1992), in handling manpower planning said that it is a concept that involves critical analysis of supply, demand, surplus, shortage, wastage, and utilization of human resources. Manpower planning is necessary in all organization because it is required for recruitment. Without it, it would be difficult to know the number of personnel required for recruitment. Manpower planning and development helps measurement to determine:

(a) Number of employees

(b) The level of experience each must possess

(c) Their salary scale

(d) The best way to utilize them in an activity which practice increase skills.

The development of indigenous manpower to serve as the propelling force for national growth and development is no doubt a key to Nigeria’s socio-economic and political development (Ake 2008). This is quite indispensable considering the argument of the concept of transfer of technology as a propelling force for the development of the developing countries of which Nigeria is one (Ake 2008). However, it is important to state that the lack of adequate emphasis on manpower development as a tool for development in Nigeria on the part of government as well as the organized private sector could not be far-fetched from the lack of understanding of both the concept and methods for manpower development in a post-colonial Nigerian State in which the process of human resource development for national growth was distorted by colonialism with the attendant negative orientation that was injected into political leadership (Ekpo 2007). Thus, manpower development became an elitist design that was geared to favour capitalist mode of production in which labour was relegated to the background among the factors of production. From the above background, one could therefore argue that there were distortions in both the concept and method of manpower development in the Nigerian State as it was oriented towards serving capitalist interest. This no doubt account for the discrepancies in the educational system, a mechanism designed for manpower development meant to serve national interest. the focus of this paper is geared towards manpower planning and development as a tool for higher productivity.

• Statement of the Problem

The importance of manpower planning and development as a tool for higher productivity can never be overemphasized prior and present studies have shown that it is imperative that organizations carry out constant development of their man power to avoid being obsolete. Despite this situation, there are still numerous concern in organizations about the development of their manpower in other to increase productivity.

Nnamdi Azikiwe University is an institution which is also faced with this dilemma concerning the planning and development of manpower. This is seen in their inefficient manner of employment of staff as some departments are understaffed, while others are overstaffed, e.g the mathematics department of Nnamdi Azikiwe are complaining of being understaffed (field survey, 2015). Apart from this, the problem of training and reinforcement of staff with skills to match up with the recent technology is another challenge facing the institution as there is problem with the releasing of funds to facilitate seminars, workshops, symposia’s, and other training programs for employees to be well equipped towards bringing higher productivity. A typical example can be seen in the institution portals which is still faced with the problem of creating a reliable digital network for students to access data, school fees payment, registration number generation (field survey, 2015).

There is also the problem of reappointment of retired teaching staff, unqualified academic and non academic staff respectively, which in turn affects the nature and quality of their output and productivity. This is in terms of students, information disbursement from non-academic staff, with emphasis on their non-approachable attitude.

• Objectives of the Study

The broad objective of the study is to examine the effect of manpower planning and development on organizational productivity in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka. Thus the specific objectives are as follows:

• To ascertain whether adequate financial resources are provided for
  the manpower development in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka .
• To determine the quantity and quality of manpower employed in Nnamdi Azikiwe University
• To investigate the consistency of organizing internal manpower development programs in Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
  • Research Question

1. Is there a significant relationship between manpower planning and development and productivity in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka?
2. Is adequate financial resources provided for manpower development in Nnamdi Azikiwe University?
3. What is the quantity and quality of manpower employed in Nnamdi Azikiwe University?
   • Research Hypotheses

Hypothesis one

Hi: there is a significant relationship between manpower planning and development and productivity in Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

Ho: there is no significant relationship between manpower planning and development and productivity in Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

Hypothesis two

Hi: Adequate financial resources are not provided for manpower development in Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

Ho: Adequate financial resources are provided for man power development in Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

Hypothesis three

Hi: There are low quality and quantity of manpower employed in Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

Ho: There  are no low quality and quantity of manpower employed in Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

• Significance of the Study

Empirically, a study of this nature will help solve the problem of manpower planning and development and improved productivity in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.  The study will help them know the cause of these problems, how to handle these problems, so that there will be development, self reliance, increased productivity, etc. The government will also benefit from this research, as it will make recommendations to the government on how to tackle manpower planning and development problems.

Theoretically, this study will aid scholars to contribute immensely in the academic circles in carrying out proper research and formulation of relevant theories. Without much ado and will help me to obtain a B.Sc degree.

• Scope of the Study

The scope of the research covered manpower planning and development as a tool for higher productivity, a study of staff of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra state.

• Limitations of the Study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher encountered some difficulties, the researcher discovered that the resources needed to carry out this research was limited, moving from one library to another. Also the questionnaire had to be typed and administered to selected respondents of the organization not as one thought process, it required the personal involvement of the researcher to motivate the worker to fill the questionnaire, explain certain words and answer. Another constraint is lack of total cooperation from the respondents in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, who was unwilling to cooperate with the researcher because they felt that they had nothing to gain from the study. Another serious constraint is finance, because of economic difficulties Nigeria is passing through, it was difficult to get enough money to achieve ones crucial desires. A research of this nature involves a lot of fund e.g for typing, distributing and collecting the questionnaire, and other necessary data for the study.  Others, when interviewed refused to disclose certain information relating to their organization for fear of victimization from the authority of the organization.

In spite of all these limitations, however, data collected were able to provide enough insight into manpower planning and development process in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.

• Definition of Terms

MANPOWER: the total number of available workers in the work force of an organization or state.

PLANNING: the act of formulating a course of action or drawing up a plan.

PRODUCTIVITY: Productivity is a measure of an enterprise ability to produce more goods and services with less input (people, materials, money and information) and thus less cost.

DEVELOPMENT: the process of developing; growth, directed change.

POLICIES: A policy is a guide to the actions and decisions of people.

ORGANIZATION: A group of people or other legal entities with an explicit purpose and written rules.

STAFF: The employee of a business or an organization.

MANAGEMENT: the process or practice of managing.