Evaluation of the Application of Negotiation Technique in the Public Sector Organization
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The main objective of this study is to assess the role of negotiation technique in improving organizational productivity in Ikorodu L.G.A. Lagos state.
However, the intermediate objectives of the study include the following:
- To find out the causes of industrial conflicts between Labour Union and Lagos state government.
- To determine how effective negotiation technique as a strategy is in improving organizational productivity in Lagos state.
- To find out whether the delay in compliance to collective agreement reached contribute significantly to industrial conflicts in Lagos state.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
History of Negotiation technique
The history of negotiation technique is largely a history f unionism. The two are inseparably intertwined. In a historical recital one may emphasize either unionism per se, or its major facet, negotiation technique. The emphasis lies here on negotiation technique. Both Labour unions and negotiation technique are products of a modern Industrial society. Their history in Nigeria, which was as a result of colonial rule, stretches no further than one hundred years.
Between 1900 and 1914 economic activities were mostly restricted to the buying and exportation of agricultural and the construction of roads, railways lines and public works.
When the first World War broke out, in 1914, the Administration found itself in a difficult position for prices of goods had shot up, workers were protesting against the fall in real wages, conscript had to be paid. This was better represented by the imperial Exchequer thus;
I have explained that British merchants engaged in the export Trade made large profits at the beginning of the war… and later on the import trade, from which substantial sums accrued to the imperial Exchequer in the Form of Excess profit Tax. In these profits the local government has not attempt to participate except to the extent of imposing moderate export duties on palm-oil, kernel, and cocoa…
Intensified workers protest force the administration to grant war bonus. Its attempts to extend taxation to other categories of the population sparked off series of riots, the most prominent being- the Aba Women Tax Riot of 1929.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design
Survey research design was considered appropriate for this study. The study sought opinion of a sample of government staff and Labour Union members of Labour Union, Ikorodu in their perception or appraisal on the role of Negotiation technique in organizational productivity. Survey instrument was deemed the most appropriate for gathering the data required for the study, since survey centres on people, their beliefs, opinion, attitude, motivation and behaviours (Ali 1996).
Population of the Study
This study took particular interest in the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) Ikorodu chapter. The total number of Labour Union members (teachers) is 1,038 and government Staffs (officers in SUBEB) is 6. On the whole, a total of 1,044 constituted the total population of this study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Conclusion
An attempt has been made in this study through a case study research to assess how negotiation technique can be employed as a strategy for organizational productivity relations at the workplace generally. A critical look at the respondents’ views has demonstrated that negotiation technique has gained prominent degree of recognition as an effective approach to conflict resolution and organizational productivity not only in the literature but also in practice. This agrees with Ubeku (1985) and Fashoyin (1992) findings that strike is destructive both to the employers, employees and the society at large, leading to decrease in productivity, loss of contract year, loss of profit resulting from loss of revenue, net earnings and idle equipment.
As such, every school could employ negotiation technique in managing industrial conflict as it create room for divergent interest of the actors to be put forward for discussion in a round table conference with the aim of integrating them or coming out with lasting solution to the conflict(s).
Also, this study revealed that the breach of collective agreement contributes significantly to industrial conflict in Lagos state. This was because the majority of the respondents in the six (6) variables confirmed to this assertion.
Recommendations
It is in the light of above findings that this research study strongly recommends the following for implementation.
The government, business organizations, employers of labour, employees, non- profit organizations and all stakeholders in industrial relations should endeavour to embrace negotiation technique, consultation with union representatives and negotiation between employers and employees as the machinery to manage industrial conflicts in their effort to promote organizational productivity, enhance employees performance, increase productivity and improve the living standard of the generality of the people.
The government and employers of labour should always avoid delay in compliance to collective agreement reached with the union representatives.
The government of Lagos state should ensure that they adequately consult their teachers on any issues that affect them and also to try as much as possible to improve the welfare their employees by given them their entitlement as at when due.
The government in order to maintain organizational productivity should ensure that they implement collective agreement reached to the latter.
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