WORKPLACE DESIGN AND COMPETITIVENESS OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES IN RIVERS STATE

Abstract

The study examined workplace design and competitiveness of road construction companies in Rivers State. The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between dimensions workplace design (cubicles, open workspace and ergonomic design) and measures of competitiveness such as strategic planning, experienced workforce and new technology of road construction companies in Rivers State. Thus, the study was anchored on Person-Fit Environment Theory as its theoretical foundation. The study adopted the explanatory cross-sectional survey research design, the population of the study consists of Forty-Two (42) road construction companies operating in Rivers State. Due to accessibility and manageability, only fifteen (15) functional road construction companies are studied. Since the population is small, the sample size of the study consists of the entire population. Thus, the study adopts a census method of sampling. In terms of respondents, three (3) top level managers were taken from each of the fifteen (15) road construction companies in Rivers State. Structured questionnaire served as the instrument for data collection. The reliability of the instrument was ascertained using test-retest. After validation by the test and measurement, a total of forty-five (45) copies of the validated questionnaire were distributed to the targeted audience. The researcher was able to retrieve thirty-eight (38) and were used for the data analysis. Mean and standard deviation was used for research questions analysis while Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to test hypotheses. It was found that there is a significant positive relationship between dimensions of workplace design and measures of competitiveness of road construction companies in Rivers State. It was concluded that Road construction companies that fall short of designing their workplace properly in terms of cubicles, open workspace and ergonomic design will find it difficult to compete favourably in the global market. Consequently, management of road construction company should ensure office workers are isolated to plan strategically through adoption of cubicle designs; management of road see company should ensure adequate provision of good office furniture that relaxes employees to be innovative.