THE EFFECT OF MOTIVATION OF LABOUR, COST AND PRODUCTIVITY ON NIGERIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
THE EFFECT OF MOTIVATION
OF LABOUR, COST AND PRODUCTIVITY ON NIGERIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY (A CASE STUDY OF MARLUM
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, BENIN)
ABSTRACT
This study was intended to evaluate the effect of motivation of labour,
cost and productivity on Nigerian construction industry.
This study was guided by the following objectives; To examine
the factors which motivate employees to perform in the organization, To look at
various techniques of motivating people to performance in the construction
industry, To ascertain the effect of motivation of labour, cost and
productivity on workers in the construction industry of Nigeria, To identify
the problems associated with the motivation of workers in the construction
industry of Nigeria, To suggest the solutions to such problems, if any,
Finally, to improve people’s knowledge in this area of organizational behaviour.
The study employed the case study design;
questionnaires in addition to library research were applied in order to collect
data. Primary and secondary data sources were used and data was analyzed using
the simple percentage mean and chi-square
(X2) statistical tool at 5% level of
significance which was presented in frequency tables and percentage. The
respondents under the study were 160 respondents of Marlum
construction company Benin.
The
study findings revealed that there is a positive relationship between the
quality of supervision and motivation to work; this implies that workers being
conscious of the management supervisory role will put in their best to work.
Many of the workers in the company are not happy with the fringe benefits,
which they get from the company.
This study
will educate the management of the organization (especially construction
companies in Nigeria) on how to motivate their workers to productivity.
INTRODUCTION
Human
resource management is of strategic importance when it comes to industries that
are labour intensive like construction industry. The effective management of
human resource is the key towards achieving the higher construction workforce
productivity thus accomplishing the construction projects within their
predefined limits. The bond between motivation and productivity is widely
accepted and of high significance as well. The relationship between motivation
and productivity can be summarized as that productivity is directly linked to
motivation, and motivation is, in turn, dependent on productivity. Suitable
motivation of labour can be hypothesized as a key contributor to maximizing
workers’ productivity Kazaz et al (2008. Workers need motivation just as
equipments need fuel and operators. Motivation is a process which activates
productivity. In order to effectively manage the human resources and to make
sure that workforce is productive enough; it is necessary to understand those
factors which have edge over others for motivating the construction workforce.
In this study, the potential of organizational and economic factors will be
studied for motivating employees.
There
were several studies which explored the relationship between motivational
factors and construction workforce productivity around the globe but there was
a scarcity of this work in the local environment of Nigeria. The construction
industry plays an important role in the development of the economy of the
country. Construction industry is an area influenced by many different factors
such as labour, material, equipment and construction methods etc. Among these
factors, human resources come first without which, other resources would not be
utilized or transformed into productive use. Any improvement in labour
productivity would contribute a great deal to the improvement of the overall
productivity as identified by Hashim (1995). The motivation concept is
generally defined as a composition of powers and mechanisms which help to
direct human behavior in a desired manner, or with a more specific context it
is described as the all convincing and encouraging actions which help workers
fulfill their tasks willingly and to come closer to project objectives.
Motivation of the labour force is of paramount importance because the quality
of human performance at the workplace depends largely upon motivation. That is,
higher motivation brings higher productivity which is suggested by Kazaz et al
(2008). According to most researchers there is a positive relationship between
motivation and productivity. This means that when motivation increases, a rise
in productivity is also expected. This reflects the belief that an increased
motivation level causes an increase in productivity. Achieving the results
demands that an adequate quality of inputs is provided in this first place and
improved construction workforce productivity means a better input and this it
will help contractors to be more competent and profitable whilst executing
their jobs.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Construction companies exist
for the purpose of rendering some services. For the organization to meet its
objectives, people are employed in the organization in order to help the
organization meet its objectives. Thus, in order to ensure that people employed
in the organization perform optimally towards the realization of organizational
goals, they need to be motivated to work.
Motivating people to work
entails meting their needs. There is a great controversy over the issue of
motivating people.
Some people are of the view
that such extrinsic factors like money, praise, and quality of supervision and
company’s policy can motivate people to work, while others are of the view that
such extrinsic factors like advancement quality of the job done by person,
recognition and growth can motivate workers to productivity.
It is in view of these
controversies that this study wants to look at the motivation of employees in
the organization by using MarlumConstruction Company as a case study; and in
doing this, the following questions arise:
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE
STUDY.
This research work hopes to
achieve the following objectives:
- To examine the factors which motivate employees
to perform in the organization
- To look at various techniques of motivating
people to performance in the construction industry
- To ascertain the effect of motivation of
labour, cost and productivity on workers in the construction industry of
Nigeria.
- To identify the problems associated with the
motivation of workers in the construction industry of Nigeria.
- To suggest the solutions to such problems, if
any.
- Finally, to improve people’s knowledge in this
area of organizational behaviour.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
It is in view of the above problems that the following
questions arise:
1. What are
the factors that motivate employees to perform in the construction industry of
Nigeria?
2. What are
the available techniques of motivating employees for higher productivity?
3. Do
motivation of labour, and cost actually steer employees productive capacity?
4. What are
the problems militating against employees motivation, and
5. How can
these problems of employees’ motivation be addressed in order to improve
productivity in the construction sector of Nigeria?
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
The following hypotheses will be tested in this
study:
1.
Ho: The
quality of supervision will not motivate workers productivity.
Hi: The
quality of supervision will motivate workers productivity.
2.
Ho: A worker’s
perception of what obtained in his organizational will not motivate him to
greater productivity.
Hi: A worker’s perception of what obtained in his
organizational will motivate him to greater productivity.
3.
Ho: A worker’s
perception of organizational appraisal policy will motivate him to greater
productivity.
Hi: A worker’s perception of organizational
appraisal policy will not motivate him to greater productivity.
4.
Ho: The
worker’s satisfaction with its fringe benefits will not motivate him to greater
productivity.
Hi: The worker’s satisfaction with its fringe
benefits will motivate him to greater productivity.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study will educate the management of the
organization (especially construction companies in Nigeria) on how to motivate
their workers to productivity.
The findings of this study will generate people’s
interest in researching into other areas of motivation in the organization will
enrich the literature on motivation as a phenomenon.
Finally, the study hopes to enrich people’s
knowledge in this area of organizational behaviour and management of people in
the organization.
1.7SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This
study is on effect of motivation of labour, cost and productivity on the
construction industry of Nigeria. The study will also covers the various
techniques of motivation and theories of motivation as they impact on employees
productivity in an organization.
1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
The
following terms were defined as used in this study:
Productivity:
Is the ratio of output or production capacity of the workers in an
organization. It is the relationship between the amount of one or more inputs
and the amount of outputs from a clearly identified process.
Employees:
are the workers in an organization,
working for the accomplishment of the organizational goals. In this study, the
employees are those staffs of the organization,
Motivation:
Motivation is a decision-making process, through which the individual chooses
the desired outcomes and sets in motion the behaviour appropriate to
them".
Adequate Motivation: These are factors (familiarity, concern and
driving force), which exist or are provided in a work situation either
physically or psychologically which determine the input and productivity level
of the worker.
Intimacy: Intimacy or Familiarity could be described as
the feeling of warmth and friendliness based on interpersonal relationship
among people.
Consideration: Consideration
or Concern refers to a situation where both their colleagues and managers treat
staffs with understanding. In this case, there is both a personal and human
touch in dealing with workers.
Morale: Moral refers to
staff emotional and mental level of zeal.
EDITOR SOURCE: The Effect Of Motivation Of Labour, Cost And Productivity On Nigerian Construction Industry
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