Monday, 13 July 2015

REWARD MANAGEMENT AS A TOOL FOR IMPROVING ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE (A CASE OF STUDY ZENITH BANK PLC, BENIN CITY)



ABSTRACT
Reward Management has always been central in organizations to both leaders and managers. Employees are likely- to be persistent, creative and productive in the workplace if well rewarded. The reward may be intrinsic or extrinsic in nature. It was in this view the study sought to examine reward management as a tool for improving organizational performance in Zenith Bank Plc, Benin City. In carrying out this study, a representative sample of five Branches of Zenith bank was taken into consideration. A total of 100 questionnaires and oral interview were administered to the various staff of each Branch based on the stated hypotheses out of which 85 were properly filled and returned, the data gathered were analyzed using tables and simple percentage. The stated hypotheses were however tested using the chi — square (x2) statistical toot. Our findings revealed among other things that financial and non — financial rewards play a major role in organizational performance, there was also an indication that there is a high labour turns over in the organizations due to poor reward system. It was therefore, recommended that the design of rewards should take into consideration some identified needs of employees, giving them opportunity to prosper if the business progresses. In addition, employers should develop reward system that reflects the changing nature of work and the business environment in line with the globalized world. The outcome of this study therefore stands as veritable tool for the employers of labour on the use of financial and non — financial rewards to stimulate organizational performance.

 CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
The main focus of this research study is on Reward Management as a Tool for Improving Organizational Performance with reference to zenith bank plc, Benin City. Survival and success of many organizations are largely dependent on efficient and effective performance & employees. Such performance will depend to a great extent on training, work environment and among other factors of important the monetary and non-monetary rewards.
To achieve organizational set objectives, management needs stimulate and motivate its work force for a good performance. Onodugo (2000), state that motivation constitutes those things when put in place propel workers to behave in a desire manner in a work place. In early time, emphasis was placed on output and physical surrounding how these could be improved. In recent time emphasis is on sociological and psychological elements of thoughts, feelings and attitudes & people in the work place. Management in organized workplaces occupied with increasing productivity and motivating the workers r better performance. The employees have expectations to be met by the employers.
The organizations on the other hand have goals and objectives that the employees are expected to help in fulfilling them. This can be termed as psychological contract. Psychological contract specifies the exchange of value that causes the individual to work for the organization and causes the organization to employ that person. Thus, relationship of give-and-take exists between the parties. An employee is selected for a job in an organization, with the hope that he will be able to carry out the functions and responsibilities of a given position. His performance is monitored and evaluated. The employee is rewarded base on the appraisals. Development is encouraged On his areas of weaknesses, which result in increased performance levels for the employee and the organization.
1.2      STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Business organizations are established to maximize profit, create wealth and development by controlling cost. There are four major factors of production. They include man, machine, money and material. Among the elements of production, only man has the capacity of organizing and combining the other elements to produce goods or services. Hence the saying “people are our most important asset”. The reward system is the most basic tool for managing employee’s motivation. It is the mechanism by which performance is defined, appraised and measured. The expected reward for working varies from one individual to another. In some organizations, there are mutual suspicion between management and labour over reward that would enhance organizational performance.
Adequate and effective reward management and administration would reduce conflicts and strife. Most organization discourages employee’s performance through poor reward. Discontents caused by poor reward do not give employees the impetus and zeal to improve performance.
Museleman and Huges (2005), argue that if the employees were not well rewarded, the resultant consequences would be high labour turnover, low morale and inefficient production. They added that poor reward system would only increase production cost. This is so because dissatisfied workers may work against the organizational interest. Again, the organization would spend money and time replacing some employee that would leave the organization since their expectations cannot be achieved. Poor performance arises as a result of dissatisfaction experienced by the employee’s. Therefore, this study is set out to investigate reward management as a tool for improving organizational performance with reference to Zenith Bank plc, Edo State.


1.3      RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1)    Does financial reward motivate employees to perform better in the organization?
2)    Does non-financial reward motivate employees towards a better performance?
3)    Is there a positive relationship between poor reward and labour turnover in organizations?
1.4      RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
Ho: Financial reward does not motivate employees to perform better in organization.
Hi:    Financial reward motivates employee to perform better in the organization.
Ho: Non-financial reward does not motivate employees towards better performance.
Hi:   Non-financial reward motivates employees towards better performance.
Ho:  There is no positive relationship between poor reward and labour turnover in the organizations.
H:     There is a positive relationship between poor reward and labour turnover in the organizations.

1.5      PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The main purpose of this study is to determine the effect of reward management on organizational performance with reference to Zenith Bank plc.
They include:
1.     To determine if financial reward motivates employees to perform better in the organization.
2.     To ascertain whether non-financial reward motivates employees towards better performance.
3.     To determine whether there is a positive relationship between poor reward and labour turnover in organizations.
1.6      SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The relationship between the organizations and staff is governed by what motivate them to work and the fulfillment they derive from it. The study covers banking sectors in Edo state. However, it will not be possible to study all the financial Institutions in Edo State, Hence, five different banking institutions were used for the research out of which Zenith bank Plc were randomly selected; the selected bank will be used to examine how reward management serve as tool for improving performance.

1.7      SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This research study is important because it could be useful as a guide to organization in their managerial control, which can encourage and enhance efficiency and effectiveness in reward administration.
To advice employers that employee must not only be attracted to join organization but effort should be exerted to retain them. These can be achieved through instituting reward management that adequately motivates the workforce towards better performance.
It also intends to suggest how to improve reward management in organizations. Solutions would be proffered on how to reduce labour turnover, eliminate unnecessary frictions between labour and management.
It will also raise some questions which other researchers might be interested in probing further.
It is hoped that the research study will be of value to entrepreneur, Students, government and other institutions of higher learning and the general public in their efforts to administer reward.
1.8      LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
The time given for the study was inadequate in view of the scope of the work. Data collection often times poses a lot of problems as some of the organizations feel reluctant to disclose vital information. Availability of finance also posed a lot of problem as much was required during the study. However, the researcher was able to overcome the limitations, thus has successfully completed the study
1.9      DEFINITION OF TERMS
> Incentives: This means given in return for services rendered.
> Motivation: This refers to what energizes human behaviour, what directs or channels such behaviour and how this behaviour is maintained or sustained (steers and Porter, 1987)
> Organizational Performance: This is effort exerted by workers systematic approach to task in order to produce and maintain a desired result by the organization.
> Reward Management: Refers to the mechanism that is used in defining, evaluating and recording employees. These include financial and non-financial reward.

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