The impact of manpower training and development on organisational productivity

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of training on employee’s commitment at

MTN Buea with the MTN Buea being the area of study. The study used primary data obtained from questionnaires administered to some 32 employees of MTN Buea. These questionnaires were analyzed to determine the effects of man power training on organisations productivity at MTN Buea. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the data. There was a significant positive relationship between training and organisational productivity. There was also a significant positive relationship between man power training and organisational productivity. The study therefore recommended that the training and development should be taken as the organisations main activity because improving employees’ skill or man power, automatically improves the productivity of the organisation.

Keyword:

Man Power Training, Development, Organisational Productivity

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background of the Study

Improved organizational productivity, efficiency and effectiveness are major organizational objectives any organization must pursue to survive in today’s highly competitive corporate environment; this however depends mostly on the quality of employees who must transform available inputs into needed output in other to achieve stated objectives of the organization. To do this, operating employees must possess the necessary knowledge, abilities and competencies. Man power man power training and development is therefore aimed at ensuring that the right person and material resources is available for the right job at the right time. The need to have well qualified, flexible and proactive employees who will help the organization to meet their ever growing challenges of competitiveness, technological advancement, market globalization and improved productivity has made man power man power training and development a vital human resource practice which no organization can ignore on the present scenario of our business world. It is difficult to ascertain whether a specific research study addresses man power training, development, or both. In some studies man power training refers to both man power training and development efforts (aguinis $ kraiger . 2009).

As cited in (Inyang and Akpama   2002), man power training is any learning activity, which is directed towards the acquisition of specific knowledge and skills for the purpose of an occupational task.  Inyang, (1998) further sees man power training as a process or a set of activities aimed at assisting individuals to acquire knowledge, skills and altitudes necessary for the effective performance of a specific task or job. Within the context of work in modern business organization, man power training formal or informal is a planned activity to provide necessary skills or improve existing ones (Umoh 2001).

Development on its part lead to acquisition of new knowledge or skills for purpose of personal growth. At the core of man power training and development is improvement and the performance of individuals participating in man power training activities. Man power training alone may not be able to realize its benefits if it is disconnected from other human resource management functions or activities as well as if the organization is dysfunctional in other areas (interpersonal relationship).man power training and development bundled together with other human resource management practices will have greater impact when implemented following sound principles and empirical research.

The history of man power training in business organizations is as long as the entire history of business organizations (miller, 1996 cited in Ndibe, 2014). As organizations strive to compete in the global economy, differentiation on the basis of the skill, knowledge and motivation of their work place takes on increasing performance(aguinis $ kraiger 2009). Man power training programs  not only develop employees but also help an organization to make best use of their human resources in favor of gaining competitive advantage(khan khan, $ khan 2011). For organizations, man power training and development leads improve profitability while cultivating more positive attitudes towards profit orientation. ( Ramya 2016).

Employees man power training and development tries to improve skills that the employee is better equipped to do his present job or to prepare him for higher position with increased responsibilities ( Ramya,  2016). There is growing concern that organizations should provide opportunities for continuous development of employees not only in their present jobs but also to develop the capabilities for other jobs also. Organizations must grow along with their employees, because there is a need to adapt themselves to the changing business environment. Man power training programs are necessary in any organization for improving the quality of work at all levels particularly in a world of fast changing technology environment. In the meta analysis by Arthur et al. (2003) cited in Aguinis $ kraiger(2009), the researchers examined the impact of man power training on organizational level results. Their results showed that the benefits of man power training vary depending on the type of man power training delivery method, the skill or task being trained, and the measure used to assess effectiveness

All over the world organizations are known to exist and function in complete and dynamic environments. This circumstance compels organizations to adopt innovative measures to meet the changing needs of the time and to bridge the gaps between goals and actual performance (0zoya, 2009). Man power training is considered fundamentally important to human capital development.it could be described as a vehicle that takes organization to their destination within a stipulate time (Oforegbunam $ Okarafor, 2010). It further states that for any organization to survive the competitive world; it must train and retain its human resources in consonance with its immediate and remote operational environment.

In India today, organizations have realized the importance of man power training as a tool to achieve their strategic goals. Man power training in India is no longer viewed by organizations as a burden, but as an investment on one of its most dynamic assets, namely employees. Many organizations in India increasingly considers man power training as a strategic employee retention tool. Man power training helps the organization create a smarter force capable of meeting any situation and challenges. The main object of every organization is to improve its performance, but it can never be possible without the efficient performance of employees ( Ramya 2016).

Man power training and development is generally more advanced in developed countries of the world with strict government regulations and professional bodies promoting the empowerment of employees when compared to developing countries particularly in Africa where the dominance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has generally been associated with limited scope of employee man power training and development. However, increasing evidence suggest that greater recognition of the importance of man power training and development is now been seen even in developing countries in Africa. In Cameroon for instance, most local organizations are still characterize by high labor turn over with little organizational commitments to employee man power training and development. This is also because most organizations operate at small scale that they also lack the capital to adequately or constantly undertake man power training for their employees.

Many organizations in the telecommunication industry in Cameroon such as MTN are now increasingly pursuing continuous improvement in their performance. Thus employee man power training and development tend to be more evident than the situation of some small private organizations

MTN, Buea was established in 2001 as a provider of telecommunication services in Cameroon. The growth curve of the company has been steady since then, with many competitors firm such as ORANGE Cameroon, NEXTEL Cameroon and even CAMTEL. But MTN still dominates the telecommunication industry having majority of the telecommunication subscribers.

According to information gathered from the human resource personnel, the company has an average employee count of about 1000 excluding casual laborers. With branches all over the country. MTN is one of the fastest and largest growing telecommunication provider. According to the company’s website, the company markets and distributes a substantial amount of its products categories in Cameroon such as; calls, mobile money, SMS.

1.2. Statement of the problem

The importance of man power training and development has no doubt been recognized in many organizations as the key factor for improved productivity in many organizations. In Cameroon, both private and public sector face dynamics in their operating environment. The public entities in the country are the most prone to these changes given their reactionary strategies and slow responds to change. MTN is one of the private companies in Cameroon whose services are in an ever increasing demand due to the fact that it is mandated with ensuring people in rural areas access telecommunication. The increase in population and industrialization brought about by devolution has increased demand for power in rural areas. Thus its mandate is quite overwhelming. The function of human resource in this entity is indeed imperative since the functions play a leading role in realizing the firms mission and core objective .it is noted that the challenges brought about by the environmental dynamics has resulted in stiff competition particularly competition for resources like human capital at MTN. it is further asserted that the challenges of outsourcing human resource, has affected the financial performance of the company. This is due to reduced revenues among others. The rational of manpower man power training and development is to lower cost, enhance service delivery including quality of service and in deed improve organizational performance

However, manpower man power training and development entails cost which is a long term investment. Unpredicted circumstances like death can happen in future leaving the company at a loss. The risk of employees flowing out of the organization after being trained will certainly make the enterprise unable to get back its investment and create a heavy loss. Long man power training programs turn to be a wastage of time and resources which could develop loss of interest and reduce satisfaction in the man power training program.at the behest of this. It is in this light that this study was carried out with the aim of examining the impact of man power man power training and development on the organizational productivity in the telecommunication industry. The case of MTN Buea Cameroon.

1.3. Research questions

1.3.1. Main research question

What is the effect of man power man power training and development on organizational productivity?

1.3.2. Specific research question

• What is the significant impact of man power man power training and development on efficient management of MTN?
• What are the challenges associated with man power man power training and development to MTN Buea Cameroon?
• To what extend does man power training and development improve organisational productivity?