Democracy and development in Rivers State of Nigeria
- Authors: Ukpere, Wilfred I. , Otto, Godly
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Democracy - Nigeria , Nigeria - Politics and government
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:5466 , ISSN 2039-9340 , ISSN 2039-2117 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13442
- Description: Democracy is popularly defined as the government of the people by the people for the people. In other words, it is a peoples’ government informed by the majority for the interest of the greatest number in society. Such a government must therefore aspire to improve the welfare of the greatest number in society to remain relevant. Nigerians clamoured for the return to democratic governance for a long time and that clamour was not without conflicts and injuries. However, since 1999, democracy has been in the country and currently is about 13 years old. The question is: are the expectations being realized? This work compares the pre-democratic and democratic dispensations in Rivers State using the unbalanced growth theory. The work observed that the cost of democracy in Nigeria at this time is relatively high compared to the military era. There is a need for more efficiency in governance in Nigeria now.
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Employee performance management at a South African government organization
- Authors: Ukpere, Wilfred I. , Khan, Saajida
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Performance management , Employees - Rating of
- Type: Journal
- Identifier: uj:5469 , ISSN 2039-9340 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13445
- Description: Performance Management is a process by which the outputs of employees are measured and controlled in order to improve organisational effectiveness and reward employees accordingly. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of Performance Management, inclusive of its policies; administration processes and systems on employees and determine how to optimize its current status at a South African Government Organization. Face-to-face interviews and performance management compliance audits were conducted with all Line Managers and a sample of employees in order to determine its impacts on employees and the management of their performance. It has been found that gaps exist in terms of understanding the use of the electronic performance management system, compliance to performance management policy & timelines, pertinent feedback from management with regard to development areas, and a lack of training initiatives to address training needs in order develop organisational effectiveness & employee morale. It is recommended that mechanisms are initiated such as information sharing sessions, feedback timelines and training plans in order to address these challenges effectually.
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Innovation through global collaboration : a new source of competitive advantage (a study of Nigerian Breweries PLC)
- Authors: Ukpere, Wilfred I. , Otto, Godly
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Competitive advantage , Breweries - Nigeria , Nigerian Breweries Plc
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:5467 , ISSN 2039-9340 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13443
- Description: Recent studies on innovation portray traditional approaches to innovation, wherein firms focus solely on their centralized Research and Development team in their pursuit and creation of innovation, as fast becoming outdated; bringing about the need to rethink the way firms managed innovation. This study was motivated by the need to understand the strategies and practices used by firms that have achieved greater success in their collaborative innovative efforts, and how this gave them a competitive advantage, using Nigerian Breweries Plc., as a case study. The research objectives are to: ascertain ways of measuring and developing innovation capabilities for business growth; provide an insight into the concept of global innovative collaboration and how it leads to organizational efficiency; and find out how an effective collaborative network can enhance innovativeness as a springboard for attaining competitive advantage. The research design adopted was the survey method. Primary data were collected using the questionnaire; our hypotheses were tested using the Chi-square, and our respondents comprise of the Management staff, and other category of workers at Nigerian Breweries Plc., which resulted in the following findings: that Nigerian Breweries Plc. was able to achieve efficiency and an immense growth in business by developing adequate collaborative innovative capabilities which have positive impact on the competitive advantage of the organisation. Therefore, the effective collaborative innovative network is the springboard of Nigerian Breweries Plc.’s attainment of competitive advantage; and a corporate collaborative innovation environment helps reinforce and amplify employee morale, build leadership and career opportunities by helping employees work better together. It was concluded that, collaborative innovation is an effective and efficient way to achieve competitive advantage. It is recommended that organisations should, critically assess their collaborative innovation strategies alongside those of other players in preparing for collaboration, tactfully address the issue of trust, focus on efficient use of firm’s resources, and continually foster an organisational climate that promotes the processes of collaborative innovation.
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Rural development projects in Nigeria : the case of Rivers State
- Authors: Ukpere, Wilfred I. , Otto, Godly
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Rural development - Nigeria
- Identifier: uj:5474 , ISSN 2039-9340 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13450
- Description: The recent over flooding in about 20 States in Nigeria, throws up the age old question of the rural development efforts. Many of the affected areas are rural and many of the displaced are residents of rural areas. Many of these displaced people are more likely to migrate to the urban areas, therefore compounding the challenges of the over populated urban areas. The levels of destruction in these rural areas also reinforce the need to question public efforts towards rural development. This work examined rural development efforts in Rivers state, Nigeria and observed that though governments had made concerted efforts to address challenges confronting rural areas, there are still major difficulties. To sum up some of these are social, economic, psychological, attitudinal and natural. Governments should always appraise and concert efforts to complete any project it initiates.
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Technology and work-life conflict of academics in a South African higher education institution
- Authors: Kotecha, Kajal , Geldenhuys, Madelyn , Ukpere, Wilfred I.
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Work-life balance , Work-life conflict , Information and Communication Technology
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:5475 , ISSN 2039-9340 , ISSN 2039-2117 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13451
- Description: The use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to work after regular working hours has become prevalent in the academic profession. Although ICTs are known to enhance work flexibility, they also seem to encourage academics to use ICT devices after hours for work-related purposes. The objective of this study was to investigate the implications of technologyassisted supplemental work (TASW) on the work-life conflict (WLC) of academics. The moderating role of gender was also taken into consideration in investigating the relationship between TASW and WLC. The study adopted a quantitative research approach and made use of an online survey to collect data. The WLC scale and the TASW scale were used. The sample consisted of academics from a higher education in South Africa (n = 216). The results of the research revealed a significant relationship between TASW and WLC. TASW is a significant predictor of WLC. Furthermore, the results revealed that gender significantly moderated the relationship between TASW and WLC. This study contributes further knowledge to the emerging field of research relating to TASW in a South African context. This study also emphasises the implications of using ICTs and their potential to encourage academics to extend their working hours.This study therefore questions the benefits of this work flexibility that many academics are privileged to have from using ICTs
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