The purpose of this research work is to identify the impact of technological changes on personnel management in the private sector ( a study of Unilever Plc, Aba). The objective of this study includes the following: to know the leadership of the personnel department, to improve and prevent the down moral workers and efficiency by locating the available resources, to direct workers towards the attainment of specific goals, making recommendations, suggestions and remedies towards improving the working condition of the employees. The sources of data collection used were the primary source and the secondary sources of data collection. In the analysis of data, the researcher used percentages and frequency tables. The further findings shows that training and development in workers always aims at managerial effectiveness, with effective and efficient human resources planning the organization can obtain its goals and objectives and the researcher concluded that base on the findings, manufacturing organizations respond to changes in development because of its advantages to the organization and its employees, hence the researcher recommended and ability to interpret data towards the attainment of the corporate goals and condition of work should be made conducive to accommodate effectiveness of workers.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0  INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background of the Study

Personnel management is a part of management which is concerned with people at work and with their relationship within enterprise. Personnel management according to Filippo (1986) is the planning, organizing, directing and controlling of the procurement, maintenance and separation of human resources to the end that individual organization and society objective are accomplished. It aims at achieving both efficiency and justice, it seek to bring together and develop into effective organization men and women to make best possible contribution to its success both as an individual and as a member of working group.

Early Nigeria personnel officers who were mainly trade unionist, chief clerks and typist were hardly trained in the art of personnel management but after 1960, the situation improved as Nigerian organization began to make conscious efforts to recruit qualified Nigerians into management positions.

Personnel management includes apart from the fractional activities of employment, labour relations, compensation and employee benefits but also is more integrated in both the management and the strategic planning process of the organization because the organization environment has become much more three type of roles operational management and strategic roles. The personnel department is charged with the responsibility of recruiting, selecting, planning, training and development of workers including orientation and induction for new workers.

However, the impact of these technological changes on personnel department is charged with the responsibility of recruiting, selecting, placing, training and development of workers.

The impact of these technological changes on personnel management by private sector has been of great interest to research and analysis from different discipline that have been making great effort in discovery of the impact to changes in personnel management all at which are analyzed in the later sections of the study.

During the year 1964 to 1970, manufacturing operations at the Aba factory were distrupted in consequence, the company opened in resent premises in Lagos factors which enable to maintain suppliers of all that, both soap product to the customers. In pursuance of its expansion policy, a modern detergent factory complete has been constructed its product are soap, perfume, cosmetics, confectionary medicaments and pharmaceutical all which are distributed throughout Nigeria with better stock held strategic centres.

The company is well known through its struck, premier and joy soap, rebbointments, Minta supermints, jet etc.

Since P2 got its equality participation in 1972, the company has been one of the richest and best companies in the profile of companies. In accordance with the federal government directive (indigenization age) it sold another 20 percent of shares participation to 60 percent in favour of Nigerians. After incorporation and modern soap making equipment installed at Aba thereby creating one of the earlier major industrial manufacturing facilities which were further developed during the 1860”s and both by the introduction of under changes perfuming cosmetics and medical product. The original soap factory premises all Aba are 120 longer used for manufacturing purpose but extensive factory and administrative premises have been built up there over the years.

Profile of the Organization

PZ industries plc was incorporated on the 4th of December, 1984 under the name of the P.B Nicholas who had some years prior to that, established a factory for that purpose. Paterson Zochains and Company Limited of Manchester in England (PZ) subscribed 75.5 percent of the companies issues shares and has since directly or through subsidiary companies, retained the controlling interest.

PZ itself incorporated in England in 1884, became a public company quoted on the London and Northern Stock exchange in 1953.

Its principal activity is that of general merchants in West African and it has established in this capacity in Nigeria since 1899. PZ interests now include industrial Ventures in Nigeria, Ghana and Sierraleone and textile while selling in United Kingdom.

1.2 Statements of the Problem

It has been generally observed that most organization in Aba as well as Abia State has not been meeting up with their yearly target. This is as a result of poor functioning of their personnel department in terms of the working condition of the employees and increasing productivity. On the other hand, some personnel managers sometimes show how, some lukewarm character as a result of lack of available data towards the attainment of the desired goal. The idea of employing a non-professional personnel manager into an organization contributes to low or no technological trend on personnel department (manager) in the private sector.

Therefore, lack of managerial expertise has become a problem being private sector, because of the above weakness that one attributed to changes in technology on personnel management in private sector, this study will suggest remedies that will bring solution to the problems discovered.

1.3       Objective of the Study

The important of this study is to formulate ways by which technological changes in private sector as regards to personnel management can be implemented. There have been persistent technological changes in personnel management.

Therefore, in this study, the researcher has the following objectives in mind:

1.         To identify the factors that leads to technological changes

2.         To identify the techniques which technological changes can be implemented in the organization

3.         To find out how technological changes affects and improves the working conditions of the employees.

4.         To determine the extent which the attempts made by personnel department affect the changes in technology of the  organization.

1.4   Research Question

All effort made by the personnel management to see that changes in technology affect the working conditions of the employees positively were being proved counterproductive against the background. The question is:

1.         What are the factors that lead to technology changes?

2.         What are the techniques by which these technological changes can be implemented in an organization?

3.         How can that technological changes affect and improves the working condition of all employee?

4.         Are there attempts made by the personnel department to affect changes technological in the organization?

1.5       Significance of the Study

The study focuses on impact of technological change on personnel management in the private sector. Therefore, this highlight on changes in technology on personnel management.

The findings of the study will extend the frontier of knowledge of business, business organization by providing additional information that will expand existing knowledge. It also serves as a reference material to the existing and future  universities, polytechnics and consultancy firms on viral information on the impact of technological changes on personnel management in private sector.

1.6       Scope of the Study

The study is concerned with the impact of technological changes on personnel management in private sector using PZ industries Plc, Aba as the case study.

Therefore, the researcher has resolved to the use of some staff as respondent for the indepth study. The researcher met with much hardship in the course of research. There was few staff in the organization to give full details of impact of changes on personnel in the organization.

1.7       Limitations of the Study

The limitations of the study lie in the under listed constraint:

a.         There were insufficient journals and textbooks on this topic which lead to scarcity of information that subsequently affected the literature review. However, the researcher made use of the available ones.

b.         There were non-existence of already made, research work on this topic hence, the researcher encountered difficulties in the course of carrying out this research work.

c.         Time and duration of this project work was too short and this adversity affected the research work.

d.         Lack of finance was also one of conducting this research work

e.         Lastly, another major constraint was inadequate co-operation by the respondents which reduced the amount of data collected.

1.8       Definition of Terms

1.         Technological: This is the application of sciences to practical task in industry.

2.         Changes: this simply means causing something to pass from a stage to another.

3.         Private Sector: Management of business by independent companies or private

4.         Effect: The result or outcome of changes made on the management or firm.

5.         Personnel: This can be an employee or office staff.

6. Management: This is the process or practice of managing. It can also mean the executive of an organization.