TRAINING, DISCIPLINE AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION IN A BUREAUCRATIC ORGANIZATION: A CASE STUDY OF WARRI REFINERY AND PETROCHEMICAL COMPANY (WRPC)

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ABSTRACT

The study under Consideration was “Training Discipline and Performance Evaluation in a Bureaucratic Organization”. In analyzing how, Warri Refinery Petroleum Cooperation was taken, as Case Study and the objective was to examine the usefulness of training, discipline and performance evaluation. In analyzing the usefulness of training, discipline and performance evaluation as a guide to decision made by Warri Refinery Petroleum Cooperation, the descriptive type of study was used. Primary and Secondary data was used. Specifically, data was extracted from the company’s journals and staff, and compared. It was found that the years under focus 1978 to 2008 the Company recognized the relevance of training, hence it made provision for the training of all categories of staff over the years. Human Resources are the most valuable assets of an organization and if not properly managed, the attainment of the organizational goals will be difficult. To enhance workers performance, they have to be trained on periodic basis to acquire new skills that are crucial to the effective and efficient performance of their duties. For these new skills learnt to be put to use, discipline should be their watchword because laid down rules of the organization must be adhered to, as to be able to achieve conformity of workers behaviour for positive results. Performance evaluation is the mirror that brings out the employee’s strength and weaknesses after assessment or evaluation, done periodically by a superior. It was recommended that the company should plan and organize such training programmes on more regular basis, and the Application of non-objective factors in the selection of candidates to be trained be discouraged. Also adequate and effective machinery for dealing with cases of misconduct by employees be used. The performance evaluation of employees should be based on merits or objectively done, to enhance efficiency and productivity; favoritism should be totally eradicated from the system, if much is to be achieved by the organization. The interview system of performance evaluation should be adopted in place of the confidential system, which has been unproductive. This will no doubt give employees the confidence on the assessment of their performance, as they believed that it is objectively done or evaluated.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title Page                                                                                                    i

Certification                                                                                                 ii

Dedication                                                                                                  iii

Acknowledgement                                                                                                   iv

Abstract                                                                                                       v

Table of Content                                                                                                   vi

List of Tables                                                                                       v

CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study                                                     1

1.2 Statement of Problems                                                           2

1.3 Objectives of the Study                                                    3

1.4 Research Questions                                                                  3

1.5 Scope of the Study                                                                     4

1.6 Significance of the Study                                                              4

1.7 Definition of Terms                                                              5

CHAPTER TWO – LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction                                                           7

2.2 Definitions of Training, Discipline and Performance Evaluation                         8

2.3 Distinction Between Training, Discipline and Performance Evaluation           14

2.4 Objectives of Training, Discipline and Performance Evaluation.                         15

2.5 Planning Training, Discipline and Performance Evaluation Programmes            18

2.6 Steps in Designing Training, Discipline and Performance Evaluation Programmes       21

2.7 Evaluating the Programme                                          23

2.8 Constraints to Effective Training, Discipline and Performance Evaluation        25

2.9 Factors that Hinder Effective Utilization of Trained Manpower, Discipline and Performance Evaluation                                                                                                                     26

2.10 Training, Discipline and Performance Evaluation Methods/Techniques           29

2.11 Performance Evaluation Methods/Techniques                   37

2.12 Evolution of Training, Discipline and Performance Evaluation Programmes in Nigeria        38

2.13 Background of the Study Area                             44

CHAPTER THREE – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction                                                                            50

3.2 Research Design                                                                                 50

3.3 Type/Sources of Data                                                                     50

3.4 Tools for Data Collection                                                                                    51

3.5 Population of the Study                                                                   51

3.6 Sampling Procedures                                                                         51

3.6.1 Sample Size Determination Method                                                  52

3.6.2 Determination of Specific Number of Respondents                        52

3.7 Sample Size                                                                                         53

3.8 Questionnaire Design and Administration                                53

3.8.1 Reliability of Data                                                                  54

3.9 Data Treatment Technique                                                    54

3.10 Limitation of the Study                                                        54

CHAPTER FOUR – PRESENTATION AND DATA ANALYSIS

4.1 Introduction                                                                       55

4.2 Training, Discipline and Performance Evaluation Policy of the

      Organization (WRPC)                                                                                                   55

CHAPTER FIVE – SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND

RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Introduction                                                                            73

5.2 Summary of Findings                                                          73

5.3 Conclusion                                                                              78

5.4 Recommendations                                                                                80

Bibliography

Appendix I

Appendix II

LIST OF TABLES

Table 4.1        Educational of Respondents                                                          57

Table 4.2        Departments of Respondents                                                        58

Table 4.3        Provision for Training                                                                    59

Table 4.4        The Category that Benefits from the Programme Training        59

Table 4.5        Previous Training                                                                            60

Table 4.6        Duration of Service before Training                                             61

Table 4.7:      Duration of Training                                                                        61

Table 4.8:      Assessment of the Training Programme                                       62

Table 4.9        Positive Relationship between Staff Training and Promotion 62

Table 4.10     Training Method                                                                              63

Table 4.11     Training Relevance                                                                          64

Table 4.12     System of Evaluating Training                                                       64

Table 4.13     Training needs Identification                                                         65

Table 4.14     Adequacy of Qualification                                 66

Table 4.15     Impression about Disciplinary Measures                     66

Table 4.1.6    Who Should Handle Discipline                                                     67

Table 4.17     Impact of Discipline                                                                        68

Table 4.18     Introduction of Discipline                                                              69

Table 4.19     Assessment of Evaluation                                                              69

Table 4.20     Types of Performance Evaluation Preferred                               70

Table 4.21     Role of Performance Evaluation                                                   71

Table 4.22     Relevance of Performance Evaluation                                         72

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Training, discipline and performance evaluation are some of the features of personnel management in a typical bureaucratic organization. Ubeku, (1975), sees human resources as the most valuable assets of an organization. If they are not properly managed, the attainment of organizational goals may be difficult. In order to enhance the quality of performance, the workers have to be trained on periodic basis. By so doing, they acquire new skills, ideas and information that are crucial to the effective and efficient performance of their duties. This was probably why Armstrong, (1982) posited that “there is a gap between what a worker can do and what he should be able to do”. Hence he suggested that training should be embarked upon to bridge this gap.

In another development, discipline is one of the pillars on which the success of an organization rests. In other words, discipline is meant to achieve the conformity of the behaviour of a worker to the norms of the organization. Therefore, discipline is geared towards the reduction, if not total elimination of phenomena that are harmful to the achievement of organizational goals (Encyclopedia of Professional Management, 1978). The absence of discipline may result in lawlessness, anarchy or even organizational decay.

Performance evaluation is the mirror with which the worker sees himself. His performance has to be assessed or evaluated periodically, so that his strength and weaknesses can be brought to a sharp focus. The worker knows the areas he is doing well and those in which his performance falls short of expectation. It is only an efficient performance evaluation system that will result in the achievement of the desired results of an organization.

This study focuses on training, discipline and performance evaluation, which are aspects of personnel management in a bureaucratic organization, Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), as a case study. It aims at the evaluation of the training programmes of Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), as well as the disciplinary and performance evaluation systems. The intention is also to make suggestions on the improvement of these aspects of personnel management in the public sector. Some of the issues that the study will deal with include the adequacy or inadequacy of training in the organization, the impact of performance evaluation on the morale of the officials and the relationship between discipline and productivity.

1.2       STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

All organizations, be it political, religious or business have predetermined goals and objectives, which they intend to achieve and these are ends towards which organizations strive to achieve their respective goals and purposes since this is used as a standard or yard-stick for assessing its success of failure.

TRAINING, DISCIPLINE AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION IN A BUREAUCRATIC ORGANIZATION: A CASE STUDY OF WARRI REFINERY AND PETROCHEMICAL COMPANY (WRPC)