1.1 Introduction
Employee participation is deemed desirable in view of the benefits of workers participation to organization and society at large. Worker participation has been seen as capable of providing workers conducive work environment, opportunity to exercise their innate potentials and willingness to pursue corporate goal of the organization. This research work is anchored on the need to raise the productivity level of workers through appropriate motivational techniques. The involvement of workers in management decision making is engendered as a means for inducing motivation in the workers leading to positive work attitude and high productivity.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The concept of employee participation represent a popular theme in the world of work among scholars in the filed of industrial sociology, industrial relations as well as management. It refers to any arrangement which is designed to involve low cadre employees [workers] in the important decision making with the work place. This implies that rather than saddling with a group within the enterprise [for instance management] with the responsibility of making decisions [including the workers] would be involved in its formulation and implementation.
Decision making or Decision according to the oxford advance learner is the action of deciding a conclusion reached and a judgment arrived at. Therefore decision making is the most germane activities management of muitifanous organization ranging from small–scale organization to multinational corporations. Decision making styles throughout organization are changing because the task the environment and the people have changed. We are not marching troops into battle, we do not want blind obedience. Competitive advantage is now the results of employer making decision thinking being creative and asking questions.
Employee participation implies arrangement designed to involve workers in the enterprise decision making process. This allows for employees involvement in the initiation, formulation and implementation of decision within the enterprise. The concept can also be understood in terms of a new approach to industry and society in which people want to be interested with the taking of decision which have direct bearing on them.
McGregor (1960) contend that employee participation consist basically in creating opportunities under suitable condition for people to influence decision which affects them. It is a special care of delegation in which the subordinate gain greater control greater freedom of choice with respect to bridging the communication gap between the management and the workers. This serve to create a sense of belonging among the workers as well as a conducive environment in which both the workers would voluntarily contribute to healthy industrial relations, when most managers are honesty they will acknowledge that their employee often have greater knowledge about their work than the do. Clearly, effectiveness can only be achieved with their total involvement management at times, see decisions to the heart of their job in that, they must always choose what is to be done, who will do it, where and most at times, how it will be done.
Therefore, in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Council of Imo State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Impact of Environment Factors on Employee Participation in Decision Making.
1.3 Statement of the Problem
The spread of democratic value to virtually every society today has brought the need to examine the implication of this trend to other spheres of life. With respect to economic sector, employees are faced with the dilemma of how to cope with the authoritative management in the work place with while living in a democratic society which guarantees basic fundamental freedom.
In addition the denial of workers active involvement in decision making is held to be one of the major causes of the problems which are manifested daily in the work lives of the modern employees. The implication of these employees of increasing exposure to a monetized society, rising education and under contact among people resulting from the breakup of artificial barriers was to shift these aspirations to a more satisfying work of experience greater opportunity for personal development and under scope in exercise of initiative.
Specifically, the refusal of work organization to recognize the human factor in industrial production through greater involvement of employee in its managements decision making would tend to create human problem in this setting. An employee is a society being who brings his personality, hopes, aspirations, anxieties, feelings and attitude to the work place.
He seeks satisfaction and meaning in his work as he does in other sphere of life, when he finds that his work does not provide him with the opportunity to realize his potential [for instance, through strict management control] he tends to engage in negative behaviour like absenteeism, apathy, low commitment and low productivity. The implication of these negative tendencies resulting from strict management among scholars interested in healthy industrial relations.
1.4 Aim and Objective of the Study
The aim of the study is to determine the Impact of Environment Factors on Employee Participation in Decision Making using Ihitte Uboma Local Government Council of Imo State as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows to:
- Ascertain workers level of involvement in the decision making process of their work places.
- Establish the general attitude of workers towards employee participation in management decision making.
- Determine factors which aid or hinder the observed level of participation.
- Investigate the implications of environment factors on employee participation to workers and their organizations.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Does management staff make decision without pre and post discussion and consultation with employees?
- Does management change decision when rejected by employees?
- Do the Organization environmental factors impact Employee's Participation in Decision Making?
- To what extent do employee participation in decision making?
- How often do employees meet to discuss with manager?
