ABSTRACT
Poor productivity is a global problem that besets
organizations. As a result, the research was set out to ascertain the effects
of strategic planning through the effective use of manpower in the strategic
planning development and the right choice of technology for strategic planning
implementation on organizational productivity. To solve the problem of the
study, three hypotheses were formulated. The statistical tools applied for
testing the hypotheses are mean, standard deviation and T-test. The major
findings are the need for adopting a systematic strategic planning process,
choosing the appropriate technologies for strategic planning implementation and
engaging professionals /
experts in the strategic planning development. The major
recommendations employed the organizational management to scan the environment
and evolve a systematic strategic plan that would checkmate the effects of the
business environment, equip the organization with appropriate technologies for
strategic planning implementation and assign professionals / experts in their
respective area of specialization during strategic planning development. This
would increase productivity and effectiveness in the organization.
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Strategies and
Strategic planning in the context of business organization refer to major
programmes used by organizations to achieve their missions and goals.
Strategic
planning is a systematic process which influences the choice of the long term
goals that define the corporate strategy of every firms. The corporate
strategy, if adequately implemented, through projects, policies and budgets,
helps to determine whether an enterprise achieves its objectives even if it
survives (Onwuchekwa, 2000: 66).
Since strategic
planning is perceived as a mediating force between the organization and its
environment, it has become highly imperative for business organizations to
adopt it so as to enhance their productivity.
For any business
organization to operate in the present turbulent environment as well as survive
the swift competition therein, adequate strategic planning is necessary. This
will define fundamental goals and objectives in specific terms and determine
the means to achieve them. Strategic planning can therefore be said to have a strong
influence on the survival and growth of an organization, most especially in a
volatile environment.
Since strategic
planning aims at finding how a company or organization competes successfully
within its turbulent environment, strategic planning is based on effective use
of manpower in the strategic planning development and choosing appropriate
technologies for effective implementation of the strategic plans. This is
necessary for the survival and growth of organizations under competitive
condition.
Considering the
numerous challenges faced by business organizations, strategic planning is
designed to increase productivity as well as ensure survival and growth.
It
is against this background that this study is being carried out.
1.2 THEORETICAL
FRAMEWORK
The purpose of
strategic or long range planning is to assist the organization in establishing
priorities and to better serve the needs of the organization and the customers.
Strategic
planning, if implemented properly, increases organization’s effectiveness and
productivity (Robison, 2003:204).
A strategic plan must be
flexible, practical and serve as a guide to implementing and evaluating
programs and making adjustments when necessary.
Strategic
planning must follow a systematic process and its implementation should depend
on appropriate technology (Yip, 2002:200). Technology has come a long way in
the life of every organization. The rapid pace of technological change and
innovation has created a significant barrier to improving the implementation of
strategic plan. With the rapid pace of innovation and technology, the
identification and acquisition of technology is highly necessary to achieve
increased productivity in the organization (Lee, 2001:750).
Human resource
commitment towards strategic planning makes strategic plans to be highly
successful (Foster, 2001:151). The staff recruited to the strategic planning
team should come from both the business and information technology division and
require a strong working knowledge of the business activities.
A significantly
related issue, according to Gibson (2004:29), is that while staffs are working
on the development of strategic plan, they are unable to conduct other
organization work. For this reason, it is often
difficult to secure top management commitment for the protracted use of
resources under their control.
Strategic plans,
which ensure the effective use of manpower and appropriate technology for its
implementation, must be closely aligned to achieve organization’s productivity
(Yip, 2002:100). It is vital that strategic planning process moves with the
times and employs new and innovative techniques.
1.3 STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
Poor productivity
in most industries, after the euphoria of the Nation’s Independence, could be
seen from the indices of denial of strategic planning, technology and effective
use of manpower most basic to an organization’s performance.
The
non-systematic strategic planning process, the inability to acquire the
necessary technology due to inadequate fund and the non-effective use of
manpower in the strategic planning development can be seen to have serious
militating hurdles to contend with. The formulation of the strategy of an
organization involves elaborate analysis of technological, environmental and
organizational human resources in particular.
Therefore, output
per unit of a factor of production should be planned in such a way that it
follows the systematic process, identifies the opportunities and threats in the
environment, evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the organization,
acquires the necessary technologies, hires appropriate people and develops
appropriate incentives that will motivate the employees to higher performance.
1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
In an attempt to
proffer solution to the problem of this study, the following objectives were
set:
1.
To find out the effect of
strategic planning on the level of productivity.
2.
To ascertain the effect of
choosing appropriate technology in the implementation of strategic planning.
3.
To examine the impact of effective
use of manpower on the strategic planning of the organization.
4.
To make adequate recommendation
based on the findings of the research.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTION
The
research questions are as follows:
1.
To what extent does strategic
planning lead to the increase of organization’s productivity?
2.
How does appropriate technology
guarantees the implementation of strategic planning?
3.
How can the effective use of
manpower affects the strategic planning process of the organization?
1.6 RESEARCH
HYPOTHESES
The
hypotheses of this study are:
Hi1: There
is significant relationship between strategic planning and the enhancement of
the level of productivity.
HO1: There
is no significant relationship between strategic planning and the enhancement
of the level of productivity.
Hi2: Appropriate
technology does significantly guarantee the implementation of strategic plans.
HO2: Appropriate
technology does not significantly guarantee the implementation of strategic
plans.
Hi3 Sound
strategic planning does significantly depend on effective use of manpower.
HO3 Sound
strategic planning does not significantly depend on effective use of manpower.
1.7 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
The significance
of this study hinge around its contribution to the world of knowledge.
The study will help
managers to achieve a quick and positive result in the organizations productive
efforts by adopting the systematic process of strategic planning. It will
assist the management of every organization in reviving their various policies and introducing
appropriate technologies which will ensure effectiveness within the
organizations.
The students will
equally benefit by using the information gathered from the research for class
work assignments, seminars, lectures as well as for further research work.
On the part of
the government, the study can provide the basis for legislative policy decision
mostly in this era of democratic dispensation.
This study will
also expose the ordinary man to the meaning, importance and effects of
strategic planning on corporate productivity.
1.8 SCOPE
OF THE STUDY
The scope of the
study is limited to Nigerian Bottling Company Plc Enugu.
1.9 LIMITATION
OF THE STUDY
It is always
difficult to complete a research without going through a number of factors
which constitute impediments. The most prominent factors are:
a.
Lack of material.
b.
Lack of cooperation.
c.
Financial constraints.
Most of the
libraries visited could not provide current and up-to-date information as most
of the textbooks on strategic planning were inadequate. Custodians of the
available materials prove grossly uncooperative. Most of the journals from
internets are also inaccessible.
Lack of
cooperation on the side of the workers towards filling the questionnaires was
nothing to write home about. Most of the workers approached for interviews and
questionnaires usually claimed to be occupied.
Finance was
another constraint. The researcher had to make frantic efforts by traveling and
visiting many libraries and other data banks to gather reasonable materials.
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Item Type: Project Material | Size: 71 pages | Chapters: 1-5
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