| Abstract: | The purpose of the study was to describe the practice and the problems of
planning human resources in Addis Ababa Foam and Plastics Factory. The
quality of the products and the services offered and the production capacity are
directly dependent on adequate planning and informed management of the human
resources is essential. However, there are significant variations in actual
practice of planning human resources and associated problems in companies
which are being engaged in various business activities. The general objective of
this study was to investigate the factors affecting the practice of planning human
resources and the problems in the Factory in Akaki area. In the study, nonexperimental
research design, quantitative and qualitative research approaches,
particularly descriptive sample survey were used. In addition, formal interviews
and documentary analyses of published and unpublished documents were
conducted. Out of 128 employees in the Factory, a total of 96 respondents were
selected and drawn from the four Departments through proportionate stratified
simple random sampling method. The quantitative data and the qualitative data
were analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques and content analysis
respectively. The findings of the study show that there was no participatory
planning of human resources because it was practised without considering its
internal and external factors, as well as without clear standards. The judgments
of the top level management of the Factory were found to be the sole sources of
forecasting and planning human resources. Generally, the practice of planning
human resources is not effective and efficient and also encounters multidimensional
problems. Therefore, it is recommended that the Factory should
practise participatory planning after it has engaged in SWOT analysis to avail
the right number and kind of skilled manpower at the right place and at the time. |
