ABSTRACT
The project is on the determinants of human resource management practices in small firms. The brief background of the study captures U.C block industry as a case study. The type of staff required for small scale business is mainly unskilled staff with little or no qualification but with the physical strength to match the work profile. The major problem of the study is declining performance of firms in the block industry in Enugu and its environs due to such factors as hiring of people over 40 years of age for labour, inadequate contacts and lack of sensitivity  in  the  choice  of  location.  The  objectives  of  the  study  were:  to  identify  the relationship between hiring people over 40 years of age for labour in a block industry and performance.  To  examine  the  effect  of  lack  of  adequate  contact/public  relation  and performance and to carryout a sensitivity analysis of location in the positioning of a block industry. Data collection instrument were questionnaires, interviews and observation. A total of nine (9) questionnaires were distributed to workers of U.C. block industry personally by the researcher out of which  seven (7) were duly completed  while likert scale method was applied in solving the  research hypotheses       ∑fx. The findings indicate that MAN is the most important factor of production; work N  is done for the satisfaction it brings other than MONEY  EXCEPT  working because of the money or the nature of work required  in the business  will  determine  the  HRM  practice  of  that  firm.  The  study  from  its  findings recommends that: proper operational goals should be adhered to. The work attitude of the staff should  be improved  to  help  management.  Management  should  involve  the  staff  in constant training/development to ensure efficient and effective delivery.
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
A block industry is a going concern like any other small firm set up for the purpose of block production/manufacture in small or large quantities for commercial venture. Ekpenyong (1995, P. 23) this concept was born out of the need to save time, cost and professional torch in block production. To produce and deliver good quality blocks require good cement with the correct weight bag, clean water that is not salty or hard but suitable for drinking, sharp and clean sand devoid of clay or lumps, preferably river sand. Use of correct
dosage, measurement and careful mixture to be molded as fast as possible especially when the weather is sunny and dry. Allow curing properly before delivery and always delivering the blocks produced first (FIFO). Production process of sandcrete block involves composite material made up of cement, sand and water mixed in their correct proportions to produce blocks in different dimensions. Unicem Journal (2011 P. 34). One should buy only the quantity required for the week or for a fortnight, Store the cement in a dry area and away from the wall, Use wooden plank/pallets or waterproof sheets. Handling requires one to always adopt first in first out approach (FIFO), cement that conforms to standard if not properly stored will be exposed to moisture in the air resulting to caking therefore cement in normal polypropylene bags should be stored in such an environment that will ensure satisfactory performance after 2-3 weeks. Enquobahrie (1997, P. 88). Use of cement lumps due to poor storage should be avoided and use of partially caked cement, considered usable, should be increased by 10-20% because of the strength that has been lost. Good sand should have no clay, loan or dirt, mud, silt, no organic or chemical impurities. Different sizes of sand, more stone, the better. Sand from gutter, lagoon or sea to be washed properly to remove the salt. River or sea dredged remains the best standard requirement. SON (2010 P. 38). It is important that the sand from these sources are clean and well graded. Sand needs to be carefully stored to avoid getting dirty on site. Water requirement for making sandcrete blocks shall be fit for drinking. Salt contaminated water shall, as a matter of good manufacturing practice be avoided, as it will give low strength sandcrete blocks. Fancy blocks, balusters, interlocking stones are new developments in the block industry. The choice of workers should be those that have at least first school leaving certificate that can be trained on the job for at least three months to acquire the skills. The job does not require much skill but requires other variables like Energy/Age, Contact and Location. One requires a lot of energy to lift the mould or pallet housing the produced block to the place for curing. To achieve
efficiency/effectiveness within a given time period requires wage earners between the ages of
18 to 40. For an entrepreneur to breakeven or operates at a profit margin in a highly competitive undifferentiated business as block industry requires contact. Location wills also playa pivotal role as this will go a long way to determine the entrepreneur’s turnover, workload and such other sensitive decision like Outsourcing.
A block industry strategically located in urban area provides the owner the opportunity of outsourcing haulage for sand, water and even delivery of blocks to customers/consumers. Here there are varieties to choose from unlike the rural area where there maybe little or no such opportunity thereby leaving the entrepreneur at the mercy of the haulage owners or the option of acquiring such trucks at the early stage of the business even when it does not fall within his schedule for the period. This might bring about the death of such industry as the owner/manager may be forced to allocate the fund meant for running cost to purchase fixed assets. To produce block involves two methods. Hand mould and machine vibration. The hand mould involves 100% manpower- cement; sand and water are mixed in a given proportion through the aid of a shovel. The same shovel is used to pour the mixture in an iron mould that looks like a top open metal box. The mould containing the mixture is lifted so as to deposit the mixture in a place for curing after vibration and compression which then comes out as block. This is a one man show.
The machine vibrated blocks are of various types. We have the semi mechanical/manual method, and the complete automation method. The semi mechanical/manual method involves manual use of shovels by two or three workers to mix the sand, cement and water after which the mixture is poured into the mould machine (rescometer) at a proportional rate and interval with the aid of a shovel to produce the blocks. Here the rescometer is either powered by a plant/generator or electricity. The complete automation method involves a concrete mixing
machine that mixes sand/cement/water and pours the content into another highly sophisticated mobile machine that moulds the blocks and lays them on the concrete floor as it moves at intervals through the aid of a driver.
1.2 STA TEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Declining performance of firms in the block industry in Enugu and it’s environ due to such factors as, hiring of people over 40 years of age for labour. In the block industry operation such hands will be too old to carry out the kind of manual job involved. The type of staff required for small scale business is mainly unskilled staff with little or no qualification but with the physical strength to match the work profile. Lack of adequate contact/public relation. Establishing a small scale business such as block industry without contacts such as adverts, bill boards or sales representations but relying on prayers, act of God or happenstance. Lack of sensitivity in the choice of location for a block industry is a very sensitive one. Bad location will adversely effect cost, profit and turnover. Oftentimes people from certain geopolitical zone or state are known to be associated with block industry related labour such as Kogi and Ebonyi State. Youths from these states find dignity in such jobs hence they provide the best hands as they are happy and satisfied with such jobs as against others in other locations who see such jobs as taboo. Therefore the area to source for labour also determines performance, cost and output. Going ahead to establish a block industry based on qualitative decision without taking into consideration some variables as location will definitely project negative indicators. The possible implication of failure to address these problems are low productivity, poor quality output, material spoilage due to long storage before use, high cost of production, low turnover, less attraction to customers and loss of goodwill/confidence.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
1.3.1 GENERAL OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The general objective of the study is to identify the Determinants of Human Resource
Management practices in small firms.
1.3.2 MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
To achieve the main objective, the study will focus on the following sub objectives. l. To identify the relationship between hiring people over 40 years of age as
labours in a block industry and performance
2. To examine the effect of lack of adequate contact/public relation on performance in a small firm such as U.C block industry.
3. To carryout a sensitivity analysis of location in the positioning of a block industry.
1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
Given the objective of the study, the following hypotheses are formulated:
HOI: There is evidence to show that there is a relationship between hiring people over
40years of age as labourers in a block industry and performance
Ho2: There is significant indicator to show the effect of lack of adequate contact/public relations on performance in a small firm such as U.C Block industry.
H03: There is available evidence that location is very sensitive in the positioning of a block industry.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
1. This study reveals factors that will determine the Human Resource Management of small firms.
2. The findings of this study will help small firms employ professional experts to plan and manage their human resource issues.
3. The study will enable the government, trade union, private sector and prospective small firm entrepreneurs to come up with policies that will improve the Human Resource Management of small firms.
4. The study will enable me contribute my own views and ideas on the factors that will determine the Human Resource Management of small firms.
5. The study will be of immense help to other people and students who wish to carry out other research in the field or related field.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of this research is limited to Determinants of Human Resource Management practices in Small firms.
1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
In carrying out this research many factors served as constraints:
1. The limitation of the research scope to just Determinants of Human
Resource Management practices in Small firms.
2. Time Limitation: Time factor constituted the major limitation of this
research study. It relates to the fact that the time for this research work was short due to combination of lectures, studies and examination.
3. Negative attitude of respondent.
This material content is developed to serve as a GUIDE for students to conduct academic research
DETERMINANTS OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN SMALL FIRMS
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