Effect of Employee Training and Development on Organizational Performance: A Study of Selected Oil Services Companies in Port Harcourt

Abstract

Aim of the Study: This study investigated the effect of employees training and development on performance of oil services companies in Port Harcourt. The study was motivated by increasing low level of participation of indigenous oil services firms in the oil and gas industry of Nigeria inspite of the enactment of the Nigerian local content policy aimed at favoring indigenous oil services firms’ participation in the oil and gas industry. The objectives of the study included; to analyze the effect of on-the-job training, in-service training, participation in seminars/ workshops/ conferences, exhibitions as well as involvement in research and development by staff of oil services firms on the performance of their organizations.

Methodology: Four research questions and four hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A total of 15 firms were surveyed. The questionnaire was the primary instrument of data collection. A reliability coefficient of 0.765 was obtained using the Cronbach Alpha. A study population was made up of 152 technical staff of the surveyed firms. A study sample of 110 people were administered copies of the questionnaire. A total of 96 returns were made, out of which 14 were found invalid. The analysis was based on the opinion expressed by 82 of the respondents. One sample test, multiple stepwise regression models, t-test, F-test were used to test the various component of the research. The hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance.

Findings: The study found that only x₂) and x₄ had significant effects on performance (y). While the effect of x₂ was positive that of x₄ is negative.

Conclusion: The study concludes that oil services companies in Port Harcourt seem not to have invested adequately in x₁ and x₃ given the absence of the variable in the model equation. The study recommended that oil services companies in Port Harcourt need to review the human resources development policies and practices with specific attention on improving the level of x₁ and x₃ while sustaining x₂ and x₄.