DETERMINANTS OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN SMALL FIRMS
ABSTRACT
The project is on the determinants of human resource management practices in small firms. The brief background of the study captures U.C block industry as a case study. The type of staff required for small scale business is mainly unskilled staff with little or no qualification but with the physical strength to match the work profile. The major problem of the study is declining performance of firms in the block industry in Enugu and its environs due to such factors as hiring of people over 40 years of age for labour, inadequate contacts and lack of sensitivity in the choice of location. The objectives of the study were: to identify the relationship between hiring people over 40 years of age for labour in a block industry and performance. To examine the effect of lack of adequate contact/public relation and performance and to carryout a sensitivity analysis of location in the positioning of a block industry. Data collection instrument were questionnaires, interviews and observation. A total of nine (9) questionnaires were distributed to workers of U.C. block industry personally by the researcher out of which seven (7) were duly completed while likert scale method was applied in solving the research hypotheses ∑fx. The findings indicate that MAN is the most important factor of production; work N is done for the satisfaction it brings other than MONEY EXCEPT working because of the money or the nature of work required in the business will determine the HRM practice of that firm. The study from its findings recommends that: proper operational goals should be adhered to. The work attitude of the staff should be improved to help management. Management should involve the staff in constant training/development to ensure efficient and effective delivery.
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