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EFFECT OF MOTIVATION ON THE PRODUCTIVITY OF EMPLOYEES IN THE NIGERIAN INSURANCE INDUSTRY

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

The role of motivation on the productivity of employees in any organization cannot be overemphasized. Now, research on the subject of motivation has advanced greatly in western countries; this cannot be said for developing economies like Nigeria (Ituma et al, 2011). The goal of employee motivation is to achieve organizations goals through employee creativity. Since one of the organization’s goals is customer satisfaction, it is important that in this era of globalization, where intense competition is rife, there is need to motivate employees in order to be able to respond quickly to changes in the business environment.

Motivation is a basic psychological process along with perception, personality, attitudes, and learning (Tella et al, 2007; Aworemi et al, 2011); Motivating is the management process of influencing behaviour based on the knowledge of what make people encouraged to work. Effective motivation is way of stimulating people such that they become satisfied with and committed to their jobs (Inyang, 2011). It is however agued that, insurance service being an intangible, heterogeneous, perishable, service product, produced and consumed simultaneously, only motivated employees can seek to differentiate themselves from their rivals by treating customers in the way they would want to be treated, thereby attaining the quality service that enhance organizational performance.

To many customers and potential insurance consumers in Nigeria, whom insurance service is a technical product, the first contact persons (employees) represent the insurance company. If these employees are able and satisfactorily meet their needs, they are not only satisfied, but would become emotionally attached to the company. Insurance is a variable service product, where customers are involved in the production and consumption of the service. Imagine frontline employees in Nigerian insurance industry, such as sales representatives, underwriters, claim handlers, being motivated to use their initiative in decisions regarding work schedules, terms and conditions of cover, risk exceptions and exclusions, underwriting requirements and claim settlement, there would be increased trust, customer-employee positive relationship, customer satisfaction and increased productivity.

Motivation is an art targeted to getting people work willingly, and an art of inducing one to behave in a particular manner to achieve a task. Mee-Edoiye and Andawei (2002) viewed motivation as a human engineering approach being triggered by the individual needs. Flippo (1982) defined motivation as a psychological process initiated by the emergence of needs involving a goal directed action and behavior aimed at satisfying a particular desire. It is the inducement given to workers for higher output. Motivated behaviour has three basic characteristics:

1. It is sustained – it is maintained for a long time until satisfied.

2. It is goal-directed – it seeks to achieve an objective.

3. It results from a felt need – an urge directed towards a need.

Employee productivity according to Akindele (2003) is defined as labour output per day (man-day). This is often reduced by delayed, unclear or inadequate instructions, provision of poor tools and equipment, unbalanced work gangs, use of working method, lack of incentives, and failure to delegate authority from senior to lower level supervisors (Heap 1987). The productivity of individual employee, which in turn affects the productivity of a company, is a very important parameter to watch as it measures an insurance company’s competitive power. It is an indicator of a firm’s profit margin, a measure of the firm’s survival in business, a yardstick for remuneration of employees, and a means of recognition of hard work. It against this backdrop that this research study will examine the “effect of Motivation on the Productivity of Employee of Insurance Companies” with a special reference to AIICO Insurance Company Nigeria Plc.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

There are divergent opinions on employee attitude towards motivation and the impact on employee performance. In the past, employers of labour have been complaining that employees perform their work efficiently when they are newly employed but with time, their efficiency and productivity decreases. Based on literature review, employees have attributed decrease in efficiency and productivity to the fact that employers do not provide adequate motivation to enable them put in their best. Productivity suffers a lag if motivations are poor or inappropriately used. The use of various incentives to motivate staff should be adequate and appropriate to enable employees put in their best, in order to survive in a profitable way in the highly challenging and competitive Nigerian insurance market.

Among the factors of production the human resource constitutes the biggest challenge because unlike other inputs employee management calls for accomplished handling of thoughts, feelings and emotions to ensure highest productivity. Sometimes employers in the insurance industry in Nigeria fail to implement a tactical tool built on motivation in accomplishing their mission and vision. Even when they understand the significance of motivation, they lack the skill and knowledge to provide a work environment that fosters employee motivation. It is in the view of this, that this research is being carried out to examine the  “Effect of Motivation on the Productivity of Employees of Insurance Companies” with a special reference toAIICO Insurance Nig Plc.

1.3   OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The major objective of this study is to examine the effect of Motivation on the Productivity of Employees of Insurance Companies. While other specific objectives include;

1.To assess the effect of motivation on the productivity of employees of insurance companies.

2.To examine the effect of reward system on employee performance.

3.To determine the effect of job incentives on the commitment of workers to their organisations.

4.To examine the relationship between motivation and organizational profitability.

5.To find out the effect of employees participation in decision making on organizational efficiency.

6.To provide plausible recommendations on the effect of motivation on the productivity of employees of insurance companies.

1.4   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The undertaking of this research project will beam a searchlight on the following research questions;

1. Does motivation has effect on the productivity of employees of insurance companies?

2. Does reward system have any effect on employee performance?

3. What is the relationship between job incentives and the commitment of workers to their organisations?

4. Does motivation has effect on organizational profitability?

5. What is the effect of employees participation in decision making on organizational efficiency?

1.5    RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The researcher intends to test the following hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance;

Hypothesis One

Ho: There is no significant relationship between motivation and productivity of employees in insurance companies.

Hi: There is a significant relationship between motivation and productivity     of employees in insurance companies.

Hypothesis Two

Ho:There is no significant relationship between reward system and employee performance in AIICO Insurance Nig Plc.

Hi: There is a significant relationship between reward system and employee performance in AIICO Insurance Nig Plc.

Hypothesis Three

Ho: There is no significant relationship between job incentives and commitment in AIICO Insurance Nig. PLC.

Hi: There is a significant relationship between job incentives and commitment in AIICO Insurance Nig. PLC.

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