CREATING AN ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE THAT ENHANCES PERFORMANCE

ABSTRACT

This research work appraised the importance of creating an organizational culture that enhances the overall organizational performance using Zenith Bank Plc in three different states in south-east Nigeria as reference points, which include Enugu, Aba and Owerri branches. The study specifically determined if organizations have cultures that guides the employees’ behaviour, how the employees’ get oriented into the culture, its impact on employees, the organization and equally on the external environment.

Using survey method, 138 respondents were sampled by simple random sampling method. The main instruments used in collecting data were the questionnaire and personal interview. However, materials from library and other research units provided secondary data. Chi-square statistics was then employed in analyzing the data obtained based on the stated hypotheses.

The study revealed that the organization has culture that guides the behaviour of the employees, the employees are oriented into the organization through certain formal events such as general meetings, company parties, award dinners and basically through training programmes. The existing culture in an organization has great impact on the overall performance of the organization and has also affected the external environment through certain community development projects, education scholarship scheme among others.

Based on these findings, conclusion was drawn and some recommendations were made.

TABLE OF CONTENT

                                                                   PAGES

Title Page    –        –        –        –        –        –        –        –        іі

Dedication  –        –        –        –        –        –        –        –        ііі

Acknowledgements        –        –        –        –        –        –        іѵ

Cerification          –        –        –        –        –        –        –        ѵі

Abstract      –        –        –        –        –        –        –        –        ѵіі

Table of Content  –        –        –        –        –        –        –        іx

CHAPTER ONE

1.1     Background of the Study        –        –        –        –        –        1.

1.2     Statement of the Problem        –        –        –        –        –        2.

1.3     Objectives of the Study  –        –        –        –        –        3.

1.4     Significance of the Study         –        –        –        –        –        4.

1.5     Research Hypotheses     –        –        –        –        –        4.

1.6     Definition of Terms       –        –        –        –        –        5.

          References  –        –        –        –        –        –        –        7.      

CHAPTER TWO

2.0     Literature Review –        –        –        –        –        –        8.

2.1     Culture       –        –        –        –        –        –        –        8.

2.2     Organizational Culture  –        –        –        –        –        8.

2.2.1  Types of Organizational Culture       –        –        –        11

2.2.2  Components of Organizational Culture      –        –        15

2.2.3  The Importance of Organizational Culture –        –        31

2.3     Organizational Culture and Managerial Action    –        32

2.4     Performance                   –        –        –        –        –        –        35

2.4.1  Stages of Performance   –        –        –        –        –        46

          References  –        –        –        –        –        –        –        50

CHAPTER THREE

          Research Methodology  –        –        –        –        –        55

3.1     Introduction         –        –        –        –        –        –        –        55

3.2     Research Design   –        –        –        –        –        –        55

3.2.1  Population of the Study –        –        –        –        –        55

3.2.2  Sample Size and Sampling Method  –        –        –        56

3.2.3  Sources of Data    –        –        –        –        –        –        57

3.2.4  Research Instrument      –        –        –        –        –        58

3.2.5  Validity and Reliability of Research Instruments –        58

3.2.6  Data Analysis Techniques       –        –        –        –        59

          References  –        –        –        –        –        –        –        61

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1     Data Presentation and Analysis        –        –        –        –        62

4.2     Testing/Interpretation of Hypotheses         –        –        –        79

CHAPTER FIVE

Summary of Findings, Conclusion and Recommmendations- 88

5.1     Summary of Findings    –        –        –        –        –        88

5.2     Conclusion –        –        –        –        –        –        –        91

5.3.1  Recommendation –        –        –        –        –        –        91

5.3.2  Recommendation for Further Studies         –        –        –        92

          Bibliography        –        –        –        –        –        –        93

          Appendix I –        –        –        –        –        –        –        98

          Appendix II          –        –        –        –        –        –        –        104

CHAPTER ONE

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

 Culture is an important building block for the success and growth of organizations. It is what controls the behaviour of people and events that happen in an organization. It determines how activities are carried out in any organization.

       From the above, it can be deduced that culture runs deep in every organization. It is the reason behind the way an organization is run. Every organization has its own unique culture which most often emerges based on the values of the top management and or founders of the organization.

       The realization that an organization can only get as far as their cultures can lead them has spurred management into taking more interest in culture and how to build or maintain a culture that will enhance the performance of an organization.

       Because the organization is located in an environment that has its own culture and also woks with people who have different cultural backgrounds, culture analysis comes in handy in dealing with those aspects that seem irrational, frustrating and intractable. The bottom line for leaders is that if they do not become conscious of the cultures in which they are embedded, those cultures will manage them.

       Within an organization, there are sub-cultures (these sub-cultures are as a result of individual cultures which employees bring into the work place). There is the need therefore to bring these cultures together to the benefit of the organization.

       The importance of culture is growing as a result of several recent developments. Organizations are encouraging employees to be more responsible and think and act like owners by owning up the organizational culture.

This study is intended to motivate the management of organizations to look into the culture of their organizations and work towards creating a culture that will enhance their performance.

The Researcher’s choice of Zenith Bank as a case study stems from the published consistent and impressive performance of the bank within a few years of their operation in the banking sector.

1.2  STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM