Assessment Of Relationship Between Individual Performance And Teamwork In Management Of Manufacturing Firms
EGBOSIONU, Anthonia Nneka
Registrar Department, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria
Keywords: individual performance , teamwork , management , manufacturing firms
Abstract
The study centered on Team Approach to management in the manufacturing industry of the South East, Nigeria, Challenges and Prospects. The objectives of the study include to: ascertain the extent to which organizational competitiveness and effectiveness are better achieved by teamwork than by individualism, determine the relationship between teamwork and organizational performance in the management of manufacturing firms, evaluate the difference in customer satisfaction between when products are designed by teamwork and by individual effort, find out the extent to which innovation by workers in an organization is better achieved by teamwork than individualism and determine whether team motivation is better than individual motivation in an organization. This study employed descriptive research design. The instruments used for data collection were structured questionnaire and interview schedule. The questionnaire was structured in line with Likert five point rating scale and was validated. The instrument was checked for reliability using pilot study and Spearman’s ranked order correlation coefficient. The result yielded a coefficient of 0.79 indicating high consistency in the items survey. From a population of ten thousand and two (10,002) workers in the employ of manufacturing firms in the SouthEast States used for the study, a sample size of three hundred and eighty-five (385) questionnaire distributed, three hundred and fifty (350) were returned, giving a response rate of 90.9%. The data from the responses were presented using frequencies, simple percentages, cumulative percentages, means and standard deviations. The tests of hypotheses were carried out using Z-test, t-test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient as appropriate. The study found out that organizational competitiveness and effectiveness were better achieved by teamwork than by individualism (Zc = 1.75 > Zt = 1.65; α = 0.05). There was positive relationship between teamwork and organizational performance in the management of manufacturing firms (tc = 1.699 > tt = 1.645; α = 0.05). Innovation by workers in an organization was better achieved by teamwork than by individualism (2c = 1.70 > Zt = 1.645; a = 0.05) There was more difference in customer satisfaction between when products are designed by teamwork than by individuals (Zc = 1.70 > Zt = 1.645; α = 0.05). There was a positive correlation between teamwork and job satisfaction in an organization (rc = 0.65 > Pt = 0.50). Team motivation was better than individual motivation in an organization (Zc = 1.66 > Zt = 1.65; α = 0.005). Based on the findings the following recommendations were made among others. For effective and durable competition manufacturing industries should embrace team approach in every aspect of their activities. There should be team incentive and rewards to boost team performance and effectiveness. Team members should be reshuffled from time to time to inject fresh ideas aimed at creating conducive atmosphere for innovations. From the foregoing there is enough evidence to conclude that team approach and management in manufacturing industry enhances organizational competitiveness and effectiveness. Also, there is strong relationship between individual performance and team in the management of manufacturing firms.