INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION AND ENTERPRISE GROWTH (A STUDY OF SELECTED MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN PORT HARCOURT)

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Abstract

The study examined the relationship between interpersonal communication and enterprise growth of selected manufacturing firms in Port Harcourt. The survey research design was adopted. The population of this study is made up of 100. A self-designed questionnaire on interpersonal communication and enterprise growth was used and administered for the collection of data from the respondents in selected manufacturing. The Taro Yemens formula was used to determine the sample size of 67. The study reveals that all dimensions of interpersonal communication influences enterprise growth of selected manufacturing firms in Port Harcourt. Based on the findings of the study, we recommend that management policies of Nigerian Bottling company and Nigerian flour mill should be flexible and not rigid for easy flow of  communication so as to have effective interpersonal relationship and enterprise growth and firms should ensure that the nature of the working environment should not be constraints to organizational members in order to have a productive goal.

Table of Contents

Title Page        i

Cover Page      ii

Declaration      iii

Certification    iv

Dedication      v

Acknowledgements    vi

Abstract          vii

Table of Contents       viii

List of Table    x

List of Figures xi

CHAPTER 1   1

INTRODUCTION     1

1.1 Background of the Study 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem 3

1.3 Objective of the Study     4

1.4 Research Questions           4

1.5 Significance of the Study 5

1.6 Research Hypotheses        5

The following research hypotheses were postulated to guide the study.       5

1.7 Scope/Limitation of the Study     5

1.8 Definition of Terms          6

CHAPTER 2   8

LITERATURE REVIEW      8

2.1 Conceptual Framework     8

2.2 Theoretical Framework     8

2.3 Review of Literature on Study variables  9

Concept of Enterprise growth            20

2.4 Empirical Review  28

CHAPTER 3   32

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY      32

3.1 Research Design   32

3.2 Population of the Study    32

3.3 Questionnaire Design        33

3.4 Method of Data Collection           33

3.5 Sample and Sampling Techniques            33

3.6 Data Analytical Techniques          34

3.7 Reliability and Validity    34

CHAPTER FOUR      35

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS          35

4.1 Questionnaire Administration and Retrieval        35

4.2 Hypotheses Testing           40

4.3 Discussion of Findings     44

CHAPTER 5   45

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION        45

5.1 Summary   45

5.2 Conclusion            45

5.3 Recommendations            46

Reference        47

Appendix I      49

Appendix I      50

List of Table

Table 4.1: Questionnaire Administration and Retrieval         36

Sex of Respondent     36

Age of Respondent     37

Academic Qualification          37

Employee Designation            38

Test Statistics  41

Test Statistics  42

Test Statistics  43

List of Figures

Fig. 2.1: Conceptual Framework on Interpersonal communication and Enterprise growth   8

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

To be successful, an organization must have a statement, a philosophy, and a series of programs and goals that focuses on the skills and talents of its employees. All of this must be managed with care and guidance so that the organization’s mission is successfully accomplished. One construct that can enhance enterprise growth is interpersonal communication.

Enterprise growth is a measure by how well a company meets the individual objectives of its business plan. It lies in understanding how each element can support or restrain the other, on how to balance the dynamics between the elements to determine the most constructive solutions in any situation.

The study of interpersonal communication has been an important activity and looks a variety of elements that contributes to group cohesiveness. The development of communication through one’s lifetime is crucial because it is required in almost every aspect of human life which is beyond group cohesiveness. No man is an island of his own, this is because it is man’s nature to communicate whether in the primitive world or in modern times, in homes, group, churches, schools, markets, vehicle internet and business organizations etc wherever there are people, there must be communication.

Communication is the process of transmitting information and common understanding from one person to another. Interpersonal communication is important in building and sustaining human behaviour and relationships at work. Communication is basic to an organizations existence because people rely heavily on how communication interrelates with the work of individuals and groups. If groups are to cooperate to accomplish a common objective, that objective must be known to all group members and for this to influence their behaviour; it must in somewhere be communicated. The basic process of communication initiates when a fact is perceived or an idea devised by a single person. That person (the sender) chooses to decipher the perception into a message, and subsequently conveys the message through some communication medium to another person (the receiver). The receiver then must construe the message and supply feedback to the sender indicating that the message has been comprehended and fitting action taken.

Interpersonal communication is important in building and sustaining human behaviour and relationships at work. Communication is basic to an organizations existence because people rely heavily on how communication interrelates with the work of individuals and groups.

If groups are to cooperate to accomplish a common objective, that objective must be known to all group members and for this to influence their behavioour; it must in somewhere be communicated.

Allen et al. (2007) define interpersonal communication as involving real time face-to-face or voice-to-voice conversation that allows instant feedback. They also add that interpersonal communication is appropriate for discussing matters that require give-and-take between participants. Such matters include discussion about performance appraisal; management by objectives (MBO) sessions conversations in which praise or criticism is given coaching, counseling or training sessions. Meetings and conferences are useful forms of interpersonal communication as well as brainstorming sessions, quality circles, committee meetings, and contract negotiations. It is important at this stage to distinguish between organizational communication and interpersonal communication.

Interpersonal communication helps to break the barrier of formal relationships, generate warmth and create harmony essential for increased productivity. It is therefore a very significant form of communication. (Sybril, 1990).

All successful personalities start their interpersonal journey by maintaining a healthy relationship through communicating with others. This attributes makes them positive people who interrelate positively with all around them.

More so, a kind of communication and relations tends to influence an individual responses to people therefore consequent interaction result to groups and individuals placing expectation in one another. This expectation could be compatible or incompatible.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

There is a growing concern that the quality of homes and workers life is declining and thereby, causing poor workers contribution and enterprise  growth at workplaces. Studies have shown that when there are happy homes, workplaces automatically become successfully free and enjoyable place to be. This has made most management of business organizations to look beyond the mere attracting and maintaining activities of the human resources management to embrace the concept of interpersonal communication of their workers. This no doubt is deliberately designed to improve interpersonal communication in terms of increase enterprise growth, it is also believed that organizations introduces these programs to enhance applicability of worker that will in turn assist employee in achieving a conducive communication style which includes flexible and employee assistance programs

It is against this background that this study is designed to evaluate the impact of interpersonal communication and enterprise growth and how Nigerian workers cope with adverse communication problems in their various domain. Management and has received significances attention from employers, workers, government, academics researchers and the popular media.

Therefore, the importance of this topic shall be discussed based on the manufacturing firms, the overall purpose of this study shall be the finding of suitable opportunities and instruments for the implementation of interpersonal communication in manufacturing firms.

1.3 Objective of the Study

The main objective of this study is to examine the relationship between interpersonal communication and its effect on enterprise growth other specific objective of the study include.

i.          To examine the relationship emotion and enterprise growth in selected manufacturing firms in Port Harcourt.

ii.         To investigate the relationship between information and enterprise growth in selected manufacturing firms in Port Harcourt.

iii.        To examine the relationship between feedback and enterprise growth in selected manufacturing firms in Port Harcourt.

1.4 Research Questions

In order to achieved the objectives of this study the following research questions are employed to guide the researcher.

i.          To what extent does emotion influence enterprise growth in selected manufacturing firms in Port Harcourt?

ii.         To what extent does information affect enterprise growth in selected manufacturing firms in Port Harcourt?

iii.        To what extent does feedback promote enterprise growth in selected manufacturing firms in Port Harcourt?

1.5 Significance of the Study

The research or findings of this study is designed to benefit the society and the respective corporate organizations, particularly the manufacturing firms within Port-Harcourt.

The study is also aimed at contributing to the literature on related to researchers with particular reference to manufacturing firms.

1.6 Research Hypotheses

            The following research hypotheses were postulated to guide the study.

H01: There is no significant relationship between emotion and enterprise growth in selected manufacturing firms in Port Harcourt.

H02: There is no significant relationship between information and enterprise growth in selected manufacturing firms in Port Harcourt.

H03: There is no significant relationship between feedback and enterprise growth in selected manufacturing firms in Port Harcourt.

1.7 Scope/Limitation of the Study

The study is delimited under the following heading: content scope, geographical scope and unit of analysis.

Content Scope: The content scope of this study involves an investigation to ascertain the relationship between interpersonal communication and enterprise growth. The independent variable is interpersonal communication measured by emotion, information and feedback. While dependent variable is enterprise growth measures by market share, profitability and innovation.

Geographical Scope: This study is delimited to Port Harcourt Metropolis with special reference to selected senior staff of Nigeria Bottling Company and Nigerian Flour mill in Port Harcourt.

Unit of Analysis: The unit of analysis in this research involves senior staff at the time of carrying out the study.

The most limiting factor encountered in course of carrying out the research work is lack of fund and research materials.

And also the duration required for the completion this research is too short couple with the tight academic schedule, hence a difficult task due to the fact that some materials were not available at the time of writing.

1.8 Definition of Terms

The following terminologies are operationally defined below; 

Communication: The transmission of information which involve exchange of acts, thoughts, values, judgments and options which can       take many forms like fact to face conversation, telephone calls, letters etc.

Enterprise growth: It is a measure by how well a company meets the individual objectives of its business plan.

Emotions: They are biological states associated with the nervous system brought on by neurophysiologic changes variously associated with thoughts, feelings, behavioural responses, and a degree of pleasure or displeasure.

Feedback: It is the information sent to an entity (individual or a group) about its prior behavior so that the entity may adjust its current and future behavior to achieve the desired result.

Information: It is the resolution of uncertainty; it is that which answers the question of “what an entity is” and thus defines both its essence and nature of its characteristics.

Interpersonal Communication:  It is the process that involves real time face-to-face or voice-to-voice conversation that allows instant feedback.

Interpersonal: Connected with relationship between two or more people.

Market share: It represents the percentage of an industry or market’s total sales that is earned by a particular company over a specified time period.

Profitability: It is the ability of a business to earn a profit.

  

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