THE IMPACT OF DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY ON ORGANIZATIONAL GROWTH IN NIGERIA(A CASE STUDY OF LEARN AFRICA PLC.)

ABSTRACT

This study is on the impact of delegation of authority on organizational growth in Nigeria with the case study on Learn Africa Plc. This is with a view to identifying some of the challenges that have hindered affective delegation in an organization. The methodology adapted involves the use of primary data, through structured questionnaire collected from samples of 120 respondents randomly selected and determined through Bowley’s Rule. The data obtained were analyzed using the descriptive method to express the relationship among variables. The data were further subjected to chi-square statistical tool in testing the hypothesis from  which the position of the research study was established. The result obtained showed that authority delegation serves as an important device to motivate employee’s which ultimately leads to improved efficiency in organization. As such we can conclude that authority delegation if effectively applied will lead to faster and better attainment of organizational goals.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1    BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

A common and popular adage states that a tree does not make a forest. Put differently, no man is an Island. Based on psychological, economical and biological limitations of individuals. It  is  unavoidable  that  individuals  should  cooperate  with  one another in order to be able to surmount the many problems facing man.

Similarly, in the business world, the business managers are faced with lots of problems and tasks performance in their organizations. Some of these problems are exogenous, that is problem external to the organization. As a result of this, the manager or who so ever is responsible must prepare himself and herself in order to compete favourably in the dynamic business environment so as to achieve the goals and objectives of the organization. On the other hand, if there is failure then the objectives of the organization for going into business will be defeated. Bearing in mind their human limitations and that humans are not “jack of all trade and

master of none”. The need for authority delegation in the organization should be given and unquestionable encouragement. This is more because whenever an organization changes its legal form the medium size or large scale company.  It inevitably grows to a point of impersonality.

At this point of impersonality, it is no longer possible for top management to know every one in the organization and exactly what they are doing or should be doing nor is it possible for anyone to oversee the whole activities  personally. Instead, organizational techniques such as delegating of authority are utilized to spread the  bulk  of  work  to  be  done  by the  managers  with authority delegation in the organization, the work load of the manager is reduced or eased economically. This appears moreso because, left alone the manager cannot accomplish the entire tasks necessary for the attainment of the group goals thus, some of these tasks have to be delegated to enable the delegate to carry out every assigned task.

1.2HISTORICAL      BACKGROUND      OF      THE      STUDY ORGANIZATION LEARN AFRICA PLC

Learn Africa Plc is an educational solutions business with a history spanning over 50 (fifty) years.   The company was established in 1981 as Longman Group Uk Limited, now Pearson Education.

On July, 23 1906 the shares of Longman Nigeria Plc were listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. In 2008 the company became a subsidiary of Pearson Plc following the latter’s increase in  its  shareholding  from  29  to 51 percent. In 2011, however, Pearson and Longman Nigeria mutually agreed to become separate coporaote entities in Nigeria.

The main business of Learn Africa Plc is the publication and marketing of textbooks for the entire gamut of the educational system.  Nursery, primary, secondary and tertiary. The company has  equally distinguished  itself  in  the  marketing  of  reference, professional and general reading materials.

Today, Learn Africa Plc is Nigeria’s largest educational publisher with the widest range of books/educational resources and a very expensive distribution network.

To enhance quality of education in Nigeria and beyond, the company offers teacher training/development programmes, digital content provisioning and educational consultancy services.

To realize its vision, Learn Africa Plc continues to provide products of such high quality and international standard that will enable it sustain the confidence and patronage of its customers, remain the preferred education partner and guarantee adequate returns to its shareholders, offer its employees fair and adequate rumuneration and opportunities for full realization of their potentials as individuals, provide exceptionally high quality content. In book or electronic format that appropriately serves the needs of pupils, students and teachers at all levels of education. Support teachers and lecturers  by giving them access to cutting edge teaching resources adhered through workshops and on-line services.

As a customer focused organization, Learn African Plc places due emphasis on customer insight, product quality and value addition. The company appreciates the crucial role it

plays in the development of human capital that is primed for the challenges of the 21st Century and beyond.

As a learning organization, the company keeps searching for innovative ways of making education more accessible and enjoyable to people, thus enhancing the quality of life and the socio-economic development of the nation.

To be the leading learning resource company admired for its products, people, partnerships and performance.

To employ our resources in a socially responsible manner to provide consistently superior value to our stakeholders.

!   Professionalism and Performance

!Reliability and Respect

!Integrity and Innovativeness

!Devotion and Decency

!Excellence and Equity

1.3STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Today’s managers have continually observed the lack of much as they could, they have not been able to properly motivate and make the best of the workforce for greater

performance. Some firms even with abundant resources both material and financial still experience poor performance due to lack of a structured organization which is largely as a result of the liability of some managers to delegate authority to their subordinates.

The issue of authority delegation in the organization has posed a very big problem to the smooth running of many organizations as well as the various governments, ministries in the country and the society at large. It has become so enormous and has increased the complexity of most organizations by creating relationship gap between managers and their subordinates and has inevitably had enormous impact on the over all performance of the organization.

1.4PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of the study is to identify the influence or impact authority delegation has on manager employee relationship and as a result of this to:

a)Identify the cause and effect of non-delegation of authority in the work place.

b)Determine the most cost-effective means of delegation of authority that will not have an adverse effect on the organization.

c)Proffer solution and recommendations to problems identified.

1.5RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.What are the cause and effect in an adequate or non adequate delegation of authority in the work place?

2.How can we determine the most cost effective means of delegation of authority.

3.What are the solutions of problems in delegation of authority.

1.6HYPOTHESES

There are two forms of hypotheses. The null hypothesis (Ho) and the alternative hypothesis (H1). The null hypothesis describes the negative assumption of the result of research project. Both forms of hypothesis are used in this research project as shown below:

Ho:The effect of delegation of authority on business enterprises as regard to organization growth cannot lead to the attainment of the organization’s goals and objectives.

H1:The effect of delegation of authority on business enterprises as regard to organization growth can lead to the attainment of the organization’s goals and objectives.

Ho:In this new dispensation, the occurrence of delegation of authority in business enterprises cannot lead to the motivation of the employees in the organization.

H1:In this new dispensation, the occurrence of delegation of authority in business enterprises can lead to the motivation of the employees in the organization.

Ho:The impact of delegation of authority cannot lead to productivity and efficiency in business enterprises.

H1:The impact of delegation of authority can lead to productivity and efficiency in business enterprises.

1.7    SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The study is very important since the researcher is a management student and there is likelihood that I will face this situation at my place of work.  It will help actualize and appraise the reality and problems perfectly. The research work is equally of importance to the chosen firm as it will help management appreciate the importance of delegation of authority and would be able to delegate authority and aslo delegate enough responsibility without loosing total control in order to achieve increase in the organization’s efficiency, productivity, dedication and satisfaction among the workforce thereby increasing profitability as the aim of any organization is to maximize profit.

1.8DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

For the purpose of this research study, the researcher’s effort will be concentrated on identifying the effects delegation of authority has on the organization and the different problems militating against the proper and effective delegation of authority.

The research data questionnaire and interview will be limited to the employees of Learn African Plc. It will comprise of the managers, supervisors and their subordinates.

Others intended to be covered in the course of the research work includes the view of management professionals on the definition and the role delegation of authority plays on the organization and the results laid on suggesting possible ways of assisting managers in delegating authority as much as possible to their subordinates.

1.9    LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

Access to information was the major constraint of this study due to the secretive nature of the organisation and nature of the topic.

Another constraints to  this study was the inadequacy of funds,  especially with  regards  to  transport  fairs,  production  of questionnaire, sources of secondary data and other miscellaneous expenses that eventually became burden some.

The researcher was also constrained by time because time was given to other academic work. Notwithstanding the above constraints, the results of this study is very reliable and valid.

1.10  DEFINITION OF TERMS

!Authority

The moral or legal right or ability to control.

!   Accountability

Completely responsible for what they do and must be able and must be ask to give a satisfactory reason for it.

!   Delegation

Dreuker (1977: 343) defines authority as the right to use assigned resources within ones discretion to accomplish an assigned task.

!   Management

The planning, organizing, controlling and directing of an entity in order to achieve a goal or purpose.

!   Organization

A group of people who work together in a structural way for a shared purpose.

!   Professionalism

Having experience and expertise in a particular field.

!Innovative

Different and new ideas.

!   Task

A piece of work to be done.

!   Subordinate

Junior or lower in rank

!   Department

A  division  or  a  part  of  a  school,  organization,  business  or government.

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