CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
People work for a wide variety of reasons. Some want money, some want challenge, and some want security.
The things that each unique individual in organization decides that he or she wants from work plays an instrumental role in determining motivation to work.
But some do not know what they want.
Employee motivation represents one of the largest competitive reserves and a key element for increasing competitive advantage of any
organization.
Motivation is a central force and strong factor in employee performance. It is the energizing force that induces or compels and maintains behaviour. Human behaviour is motivated, it is goal directed.
It is not easy to motivate an individual, for the success of any motivational effort depends on the extent to which the motivator meets the needs of the individual employees for whom it is intended. Motivation is an internal psychological process whose presence or absence is inferred from
observed performance.
According to Nwachukwu (1988:181), motivated behaviour has three
basic characteristics:
(a) It is sustained – It is maintained for a long time until satisfied.
(b) It is goal directed – It seeks to achieve an objective.
(c) It results from felt need – an urge directed towards a need!
A need creates a tension in the individual who moves in a certain direction in order to achieve the desired objective which reduces the tension.
A satisfied need does not motivate, conversely, an unsatisfied need
motivates.
Therefore, to motivate an employee in order to boost his or her performance, management must create real or imagined need for the employee to aspire to. A real need could be a desire to achieve through promotion, increase in images or employment of increased organizational favours, such as company cars with a chauffeur. Imagined needs of a staff could be an aspiration to have coffee at 10 am which is the entitlement of successful executives, to have a secretary, have someone carry his briefcase upstairs, have someone run into the office at the sound of the bell or
visitors fill papers before they enter into his office. Based on these, since every employee has needs, he is capable of being motivated. The task of
management is to determine what is the valued needs that will make him react according to organizational desires – increased productivity.
The Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) is one of the Universities in Enugu State. It was formerly called the Anambra State
University of Science and Technology (ASU TECH.) until 1991 when Enugu State was created out Anambra State. Most of these staff contributes poorly
or at low capacity level due to the absence of motivation towards the achievement of the goals and objectives of the University and to make the
University a force to reckon with in Enugu State and Nigeria as a whole.
To that extent, it is in the light of the above that the researcher deemed it fit to research into motivation and performance in an organization: A case
study of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).
A number of factors such as Economic, Sociological, Managerial and
Personnel’s problems have been said to militate against motivation in
ESUT.
1.2 Statement of the Problem One of the major problems confronting the Enugu State University of Science and Technology authority is that of motivating her workers to perform assigned tasks to meet or surpass predetermined standards of the University as a seat of academic heights. Harry (1973) made a very interesting observation about an unmotivated employee and his or her level of task performance thus:
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The characteristics of a Jackass are stubbornness, stupidity, willfulness and unwillingness to go to where some one is driving them. These, by interesting
coincidence, are also characteristics of the unmotivated employee.
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An unmotivated employee is a threat to the organization. When an employee fails to achieve a goal or perceive that he cannot achieve a goal, he feels frustrated, thereby affecting his performance in the organization. It is against this background that these questions are found relevant to guide
the present research effort.
(a) What are the importance of motivation and performance of the
staff of ESUT?
(b) What are the factors hindering motivation and performance of the
staff of ESUT?
(c) What are the measures to boost motivation and performance of
the staff of ESUT?
1.3 Objective of the Study
In the light of the foregoing, therefore the general objective of this research study is to determine the effect of motivation on performance in
ESUT .
The specific objectives are:
(a) To identify the importance of motivation and performance in
ESUT.
(b) To determine the factors hindering motivation and performance in
ESUT.
(c) To identify measures to boost motivation and performance in
ESUT.
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1.4 Significance of the Study
The research study on motivation and performance a study of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) was hinged on
the following reasons.
a) The Importance of motivation and performance in an organization, appraising the Enugu State University of Science and Technology cannot be overemphasized.
This is because the essence of all the motivational efforts in an organization is to increase employee productive performance. So, this research work would be of great benefit to organization with regard to motivation and appraisal of the work performance of their staff.
b) The research study would be of immense benefits to students’ undergraduates and graduates, who are kin in researching into motivation and performance in an organization. Knowledge of this would further broaden their academic mentality in relation to personnel management.
c) The research study would also be of benefit to other researchers who are researching in motivation and performance in organizations. The challenges in this research work would pose as opportunities for further research into the subject matter of this work.
d) Organizations, managers, directors, policy formulators, university authorities, etc would gain a lot if they are aware of the factors that spur or inhibit motivation and performance in organizations.
1.5 Scope and Limitation of the Study
This research study focuses on motivation and performance.
A study of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). It would essentially focus on factors promoting motivation and performance in
ESUT, the problems that hinder motivation and performance in ESUT, and the measures to boost motivation and performance in ESUT. We would also
limit the scope of the study to the period between 1999 – 2007.
In line with the limitation of the study, the researcher encountered certain constraints.
One of such is financial constraints. Another is the lack of sufficient time needed to achieve the full essence of
the research study. Also the access to information about the level and
nature of motivation and performance in ESUT is to a large extent loosely
open.