ABSTRACT

 

This study investigated the effect of  staff discipline on employee performance in the Abia state civil service. fraudulent practices such as lateness to duty or work, absenteeism, insubordination and falsification of records are some of the problems that led to this work.  Specifically, the study examined the effect of written reprimand on employee effectiveness in Abia State Civil service; determined the effect of suspension on employee commitment in Abia State Civil service; ascertained the effect of employment termination on employee effectiveness in Abia State Civil service; ascertained the effect of demotion on employee commitment in Abia State Civil service. Survey design method was used to investigated the effect of discipline and staff control on employee performance in the Abia state civil service. Primary and secondary data were used for the study. A total sample size of 279 respondents consisting of 101 respondents drawn from ministry of Education, 53 respondents drawn from ministry of Health, 75 respondents drawn from ministry of Agriculture, and 50 respondents drawn from ministry of Finance. However, only 100 copies of questionnaire out of 101copies distributed to respondents at ministry of Education, 51 copies of questionnaire out of 53 copies distributed to respondents at ministry of Health, 70 copies of questionnaire out of 75 copies distributed to respondents at ministry of Agriculture and all the 50 copies of questionnaire distributed to respondents at ministry of Finance were retrieved and used for analysis of the study. Data obtained were analyzed using mean scores. Simple regression analysis technique was used to test the various formulated hypotheses for the study. Findings showed that the employee effectiveness in Abia state civil service ministries of education, health, agriculture, and finance was significantly and positively influenced by written reprimand. Employee commitment in Abia state civil service ministries of education, health, agriculture, and finance was significantly and positively influenced by suspension of employees. Employee effectiveness in Abia state civil service ministries of education, health, agriculture, and finance was significantly and positively influenced by employment termination. Employee commitment in Abia state civil service ministries of education, health, agriculture, and finance was significantly and positively influenced by demotion. The study recommends that efforts aimed at improving employee performance in the Abia state civil service in terms of increasing worker effectiveness and commitment should avoid the use of sentiments in administering various forms of disciplinary actions, and all erring employees, regardless of rank, should be disciplined accordingly.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page                                                                                                                                i

Declaration                                                                                                                              ii

Certification                                                                                                                            iii

Dedication                                                                                                                              iv

Acknowledgements                                                                                                                v

Table of Contents                                                                                                                   vi

List of Tables                                                                                                                          vii

Abstract                                                                                                                                  viii

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION                                                                                     

1.1 Background of the study                                                                                                  1

1.2 Statement of the Problem                                                                                                 3

1.3 Objectives of the Study                                                                                                    5

1.4 Research Questions                                                                                                           5

1.5 Statement of Hypotheses                                                                                                  6

1.6 Significance of the Study                                                                                                             6

1.6.1 Theoretical Significance                                                                                     6

1.6.2 Empirical Significance                                                                                                   7

1.7 Scope of the Study                                                                                                           7

1.8 Operational Definition of Terms                                                                                       8

CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE                                                                     

2.1. Conceptual Review                                                                                                          10

2.1.1 The concept of discipline                                                                                               10

2.1.2 The concept of Control                                                                                                  13

2.1.3 Types of Discipline                                                                                                        15

2.1.4 Types of disciplinary Actions                                                                                        17

2.1.4.1 Written Reprimand                                                                                                     17

2.1.4.2 Suspension                                                                                                                  18

2.1.4.3 Demotion                                                                                                                    19

2.1.4.4 Termination of Employment                                                                                       20

2.1.5 Employee Reprimand System                                                                                        20

2.1.6 Employee code of conduct.                                                                                           21

2.1.7 Employee Disciplinary procedure                                                                                  23

2.1.8 Employee Rules and Regulation                                                                                    24

2.1.9 Effects of code of discipline on employee performance                                               25

2.1.10 Effects of disciplinary procedures and systems on performance                                27

2.1.11 Effects of disciplinary actions on employees’ performance                                        28

2.1.12 Employees Performance                                                                                              30

2.2 Theoretical Framework                                                                                                     32

2.2.1 Reinforcement Theory                                                                                                   32

2.2.2 Business Ethics Theory                                                                                                  33

2.2.3 Equity Theory                                                                                                                35

2.2.4 Systems Theory                                                                                                              35

2.2.5 McGregor Theory X and Y                                                                                           37

2.3 Empirical Review                                                                                                              37

2.4 Summary of Related Literature Reviewed                                                                       42         

2.5 Gaps in Knowledge                                                                                                          43       

2.6 Theoretical Framework application of the Theory                                                            44

CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY                                                                         

3.1       Research Design                                                                                                         45

3.2       Population of the Study                                                                                              45

3.3       Sources of Data                                                                                                          46

3.3.1    Primary data                                                                                                                46

3.3.2    Secondary data                                                                                                           46

3.4       Sample and Sampling Technique                                                                                47

3.4.1    Sample size determination                                                                                          47

3.5       Validity of the Instrument                                                                                          48       

3.6       Reliability of the Instrument                                                                                       49

3.7      Method of Data Analysis                                                                                             49

3.8       Model Specification                                                                                                    49

CHAPTER 4: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSES

4.1       Data Presentation                                                                                                        51

4.1.1    Questionnaire administration                                                                                      51

4.1.2    Demographic characteristics of respondents                                                              53

4.1.3    Effect of written reprimand on employee effectiveness in Abia State civil service   64

4.1.4    Effect of suspension on employee commitment in Abia State civil service               66

4.1.5    Effect of employment termination on employee in Abia State civil service              68

4.1.6    Effect of demotion on employee commitment in Abia State civil service                 71

4.2       Hypotheses Testing                                                                                                     74

4.2.1    Hypotheses 1                                                                                                              74

4.2.2    Hypotheses 2                                                                                                              78

4.2.3    Hypotheses 3                                                                                                              83

4.2.4    Hypotheses 4                                                                                                              87

4.3       Discussion of Findings                                                                                               92

4.3.1    Effect of written reprimand on employee effectiveness in Abia State civil service   92

4.3.2    Effect of suspension on employee commitment in Abia State civil service               94

4.3.3    Effect of employment termination on employee effectiveness in

Abia State civil service                                                                                               95

4.3.4    Effect of demotion on employee commitment in Abia State civil service                 97

CHAPTER 5: SUMMARYOF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1       Summary                                                                                                                     99

5.2       Conclusion                                                                                                                  101

5.3       Recommendation                                                                                                        102

5.4       Contribution to the Body of Knowledge                                                                   103

5.5       Suggestions for further Studies                                                                                  104

            References                                                                                                                  105

            Appendices                                                                                                                 111