PRACTICE AND PROBLEMS OF HUMAN RESOURCES PLANNING IN ADDIS ABABA FOAM AND PLASTICS FACTORY

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 In addition, formal interviews and documentary analyses of published and unpublished documents were conducted.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.