MOTIVATION AS A TOOL FOR PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to attempt an evaluation of the effect of motivation on productivity improvement. It is a case study of Nigeria’s oldest and major security documents corporation, the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Plc. The manner in which an organization selects its employees and the reward system adopted to compensate them, total pay and benefits paid, opportunities for personal development on the job as well as the recognition they enjoy in terms of enhanced pay, status and prestige can go a very long way in enhancing their morale and satisfaction on the job. Performing employees can fast track the growth and development of their organization. In this study, three hypothesis were posed and tested. It has long been known that specific components of overall performance, individual behavior and actions of employees tend to be driven by needs, values and the extent to which they are being addressed. Based on the findings of this study, it could be stated tentatively and within the framework of the research design and methodology, that there is a positive relationship between motivation and workers’ productivity.

Consequently, whatever a business enterprise can do in order to boost the morale of the employees and keep them motivated would generally enhance their performance. One of the three hypotheses posed and tested in this study clearly shows that there is a strong and positive relationship between leadership style and employee morale. How employees feel about the work place and how they perceive the leadership style of their supervisors can impact strongly on the business bottom-line because people are largely responsible for nearly all the problems of the business enterprise. Similarly, the solutions must come from people.

Employees are undoubtedly the most important assets of the organization and this is particularly true of the business enterprise. Managers and supervisors therefore need to understand how to vary their managerial styles in order to respond to the changing requirements of their subordinates. However, performance depends on many factors. In this context, ability, effort, organizational resources, leadership style and organizational climate/environment are vital in inducing good performance. Furthermore, managers should never ignore the needs of their subordinates so that the most appropriate set of incentives could be applied to motivate different categories of employees. This is very important in building and sustaining good performance.

The three hypotheses posed and tested in this study tend to support the long held view that workers’ productivity can be enhanced by influencing their behaviour since high employee morale is a pre-requisite for motivating higher output and improved performance. Furthermore, in the context of the research design and methodology, the study found that there is a positive relationship between employee morale and employee productivity. In addition, it was discovered that there is a positive and strong relationship between motivation and workers’ productivity.

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Human motives have a way of being driven by needs although the process may be somewhat complex and subconscious. Some are primary needs such as physiological requirements for water, air, food, sleep and shelter. Other needs may be regarded as secondary, such as self-esteem. Status, affiliation with other affection, accomplishment and self-assertion.

People participate in an organized enterprise and indeed in all kinds of groups in order to achieve some goal that they cannot attain as individuals. The question arises as to what activities will people be willing to take up at any point in time and why? This is where motivation comes in.

According to Berlson and Steiner (1964) motive “is an inner state that energizes, activates moves (here motivation) and directs or channels behaviour towards specific goals. In other words, motivation is a general term applying to the entire class of desire, needs, wishes and similar forces. There are things, which satisfy these drives and desires, they may include higher pay; a prestigious title, and a name on the office door and a host of other things, including a reserved space in the car park or company’s parking lot.