Motivation And Its Impact On Workers’ Productivity In Construction Firms In Lagos, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Motivation is considered as an important tool for enhancing worker’ productivity. Construction sector is not an exception. It has been empirically established that motivation has positive impact on construction worker’s productivity. Moreover, empirical studies have shown that productivity in the sector has been decreasing globally. This study therefore aims at examining the relationship between motivation, resistance and productivity and develops a model of this relationship as a way of addressing this challenge. Quantitative research design was employed with same questionnaire to the population covered. Productivity level was measured by work study with the use of five minutes field rating. Stratified and random sampling techniques were used to administer questionnaire to the supervisors, craftsmen and contractors sampled from a selected number of medium and large size firms in Lagos, Nigeria. Stratified sampling was used to divide supervisors into strata of builder, architect and engineer. Purposive sampling was used to administer questionnaires to various supervisors and craftsmen. 174 questionnaires were administered to supervisors collectively and 105 was filled and returned which constitute 60% success rate. 295 questionnaires were administered to craftsmen, 150 were filled and returned which constitute 50.85% success rate. 16 questionnaires were administered to contractors which makes up the firms surveyed, 12 were filled and returned which constitute 75% success rate. Questionnaire was designed in Likert scale of 1-5. Analysis was done by statistical packages for social sciences version 17. Descriptive statistics which include frequency, percentage and tables were used to present the data. One Way Analysis of Variance was used to determine whether there is variation in motivating factors influence on categories of professionals considered in the study. Linear correlation was used to test the hypothesis designed for the study. Factor analysis was used to group factors in order of potency and to also eliminate variables with low variance. This enables variables that cluster to be used to develop a model of the relationship between motivation, resistance and productivity. Multiple linear regressions were used to develop the model. It was established that: the major motivating factor of supervisors and craftsmen is financial related reward. Contractors do not relate motivation application to workers needs; there is a high positive linear relationship between motivation and productivity; the association between motivation and resistance is a weak negative relationship. The regression equation of the model of relationship between motivation, resistance and productivity is Y = -1.694 + (-907)b1+ (-425)b 2. The findings also reveal that the influence of resistance among workers is not sufficient to impair on the level of productivity in construction firms in Lagos, Nigeria. The study concludes that productivity decrease being experienced in Nigeria construction industry may continue if motivation strategy is not re-designed to meet workers need.