1.0 Introduction
This study focuses on the appraisal of those functions performed by the personnel department of Imo State Water Corporation. Thus, personnel management department of Imo State Corporation are charged with the responsibilities of ensuring that competent personnel are not only recruited into organizations but also properly and effectively trained motivated, development, remunerated, promoted, disciplined, among others to enable them actualize the organization goals and objectives.
Imo State Water Corporation is one of the governments owned organization which was established by the Federal government of Nigeria in the year 1976. It is located at Okigwe Road Orji Owerri in Imo State. The organization is in the service of providing suitable drinking water throughout the state according to their different routes and kilometers like from to Owerri to Douglas is 20 routes, from owerri to ikenegbu is 50 routes e t c. The organization has been in existence for more than 30 year. It has a workforce of over 150 employees including 8 managers and 25 senior staff.
Finally, the parastatal has not failed in carrying out its social responsibilities to Imo state communities. It has also contributed immensely to the revenue of both the federal and state government.
1.1 Background of the Study
General speaking, personnel management is an aspect of management concerned with the management of human resources or personnel of an organization.
According to Ubeku (1975:12), personnel management means a function or responsibility of every manager who has subordinates under him, all of whom are working towards the achievement of organization.
Jacous (1972:42), asserts that personnel management is the field of administration which has to do with planning organizing directing and controlling the functions of procuring, developing, maintaining and utilizing a labour force such that the objective for which the organization is established are attained economically and effectively.
Therefore, personnel management is the life wire of any organization. The effectiveness of any organization whether private or public will depend to a large extent on the efficiency of its personnel management. Personnel management functions are concerned with recruitments, selecting, development, utilization and accommodation of people in an organization and even retirement.
This study focuses on the appraisal of those functions performed by the personnel department of Imo State Water Corporation. Thus, personnel management department of Imo State Corporation are charged with the responsibilities of ensuring that competent personnel are not only recruited into organizations but also properly and effectively trained motivated, development, remunerated, promoted, disciplined, among others to enable them actualize the organization goals and objectives.
Imo State Water Corporation is one of the governments owned organization which was established by the Federal government of Nigeria in the year 1976. It is located at Okigwe Road Orji Owerri in Imo State. The organization is in the service of providing suitable drinking water throughout the state according to their different routes and kilometers like from to Owerri to Douglas is 20 routes, from owerri to ikenegbu is 50 routes e t c. The organization has been in existence for more than 30 year.
It has a workforce of over 150 employees including 8 managers and 25 senior staff. The organization has 8 functioning departments. Imo state water corporation has helped in providing water throughout the 27 local governments in Imo State from the big reservoir built inside the organization.
Finally, the parastatal has not failed in carrying out its social responsibilities to Imo state communities. It has also contributed immensely to the revenue of both the federal and state government.
1.2 Statement of Problems
There are several problems which prompted this research study in Imo state water Board.
- Is recruitment of competent personnel in Imo state water corporation necessary to achieve its set goals?
- Is the personnel department efficient in its function of recruitment in Imo State Water Corporation?
- What are the criteria of recruitment of personnel in Imo State Water Corporation?
- Are recruitment exercise based on merit system?
- Does the imposition of personnel in Imo state water corporation have adverse effect on the achievement of its set goals?
- Does the personnel management department organize any programmes that motivate personnel towards high performance?
- Are the funds voted for personnel department in Imo state water corporation enough for the execution of its function?
- Are the staffs in the personnel department competent enough to handle personnel issues in Imo state water corporation?
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The objectives of this study are as follows:
- To ascertain how the recruitment of competent personnel in Imo state water corporation enhances goal achievement.
- To examine the strategy used in recruiting personnel in
- Imo State Corporation
- To find out whether recruitment exercise is based on merit system
- To find out if the imposition of personnel on Imo State water corporation have adverse effect on the achievement of its set goals
- To ascertain if there is provision of training and retraining of personnel toward high performance in Imo State corporation.
- To know if the funds voted for personnel department in Imo State water corporation is enough for the execution of its functions
- To examine if the staff in the personnel department are competent enough to handle personnel issues.
- To examine whether the personnel department is efficient in its function of recruitment in Imo state water corporation.
1.4 Research Questions
- How can we ascertain the recruitment of competent personnel in Imo state water corporation enhances goal achievement?
- In what way can we examine the strategy used in recruiting personnel in Imo State Corporation?
- How can we find out whether recruitment exercise is based on merit system?
- How can we find out if the imposition of personnel on Imo State water corporation have adverse effect on the achievement of its set goals?
- How can we ascertain if there is provision of training and retraining of personnel toward high performance in Imo State Corporation?
- In what way can we know if the funds voted for personnel department in Imo State Water Corporation is enough for the execution of its functions?
- In what way can we examine if the staffs in the personnel department are competent enough to handle personnel issues?
- In what way can we examine whether the personnel department is efficient in its function of recruitment in Imo state water corporation
1.5 Significance of the Study
Personnel management functions are a study which cannot be neglected. It is very important and beneficial to the entire public, government, personnel managers and decision makers.
As it has been viewed as an aspect of management concerned with the recruitment and welfare of workers and that of the organization at large. With this in mind, this study have been written to be of benefit to the entire staff of Imo State water Board Owerri, all the workers of government owned organizations, personnel managers and all those who aspire to be managers.
Apart from being a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of National Diploma (ND), in Public Administration. This project work will be very significant to other students, researchers and writers who might be interested in carrying out further research on the subject matter.
1.6 Scope of the Study
The personnel management itself is a very wide area of study and it is also too cumbersome. For the purpose of this study, the scope covers Imo State water Board Owerri.
I have therefore, confined this study by limiting its scope to the importance of personnel management functions in Imo water Board by appraising the functions as performed by the personnel department of Imo water Board.
The managers should listen to the objections of the employees which will enable him plan and carry out his personal management functions effectively as to achieve the objectives of Imo state water corporation.
The subordinates should be allowed to exercise some self direction and self control on routine matters such as in provision of waters, collection of bill etc. In doing this, the personal manager can improve workers moral, reduce resistance to formal authority and induce to the workers to co-operate.
1.7 Limitation of the Study
I have therefore, confined this study by limiting its scope to the importance of personnel management functions in Imo water Board by appraising the functions as performed by the personnel department of Imo water Board.
This study is also limited due to inability to get enough textbooks, Handouts, manuals on the subject matter of discourse due to the poor quality of our libraries. Also ignorance of the topic by most library attendants in getting relevant materials for this research.
Time was also a limiting factor because the available time competed so much with lectures, assignment, and term paper writings.
Finance was also a limiting factor due to high cost of fuel and other related products which makes the cost of transportation and movement very costly. During my preliminary research to the case study firm, some workers were not interviewed especially those in the plan and production sections and other staff.
1.8 Definitions of Terms
Some terminologies used in this study and their meanings are as follows:
Human Resources:
These are the human being (people) working in an organization. OR it refers to the energies, skills, knowledge of people which are or which potentially can or should be applied to the production of goods and services which include managers, supervisor's subordinates.
Recruitment:
This is the process of searching for prospective employees and stimulating them to apply for jobs in an organization. It is always positive because all applicants may have in mind that they may be selected employed.
Job Description:
A statement describing the kind of people who would be best for the job including the skill, education, and previous experiences the job requires.
Selection:
This process of choosing individual who are most likely to succeed on the job from among those already recruited.
Placement:
This is the fitting in of employees into the rightful places in the organization. Proper placement of employees ensures efficiency and effectiveness.
Performance Appraisal:
This is the process of evaluating employees performance on their job in the organization and communicating it back to them
Training:
This is a continuous assistance or coaching given to an employees in order to make him to posses the current knowledge, skill and attitudes to enables him to perform his job effectively.
Interviewer:
This is the person who conducts interview is for an organization while interview is the process of assessing applicant's ability and knowledge towards on particular job.
Development:
This involves preparing employers for higher responsibilities in the further or learning activities given to the non-routing employees for decision making like Rectors, vice chancellors, managers e t c.
Motivation:
This is the process of spurring an individual into action. It is also what makes the moral of workers higher
