Research into Globalizations effect on Human Resource Management

Introduction

The aim of this research work is to investigate how globalization affects human resource management of MTN Telecommunication Company operating in Nigeria and other African countries.

The subject of globalization is a modern development which has come to prevail in organization’s human resource management and overall productivity since the last century; also it plays an important role in the management of business organizations in general. Some authors in the field of International Human Resource Management (IHRM) such as Briscoe et al, 2009; Vance and Paik, 2006; Aimiuwu, 2004 etc. have critically analysed the effects of globalization on human resource management so as to ensure that organizations benefit from globalisation by using it properly for future business development, since it cannot be avoided, changed or prevented by the organization which relies so much on the economy.

According to Briscoe et al (2009), the globalization of business enterprise is moving with great speed and it affects human resource management by increasing the degree of competition which places great pressure on organization to develop the capacity that will enable it to operate at a lesser cost as well as greater speed and also provide good customer service and innovation, since HR functions of recruitment, selection, development and retaining the existing workforce can be used to attain global competitiveness in an organization. However, despite the benefits of globalization in relation to the human resource management of an organization, Vance and Paik (2006) argued that human resource management functions of planning, staffing, training, compensation, performance management, and employee management relations are faced with global cultural challenges which influence organisation’s workforce management. More so, Aimiuwu (2004) noted that globalization has led to a change that is affecting the physiology of human society in general through the infliction of restraints on decision making liberty for the important allotment of scarce resources and societal values amidst other functions.

Nevertheless, the author is of the opinion that the effects of globalization on human resource management has increased the transfer of information technology and also changed the attitude of human capital in organizations. For example, HR services have improved by providing easy access to information at a limited time without having to make long movements, and manual method of job application has drastically reduced in most organisations. All the same, the challenges brought about by this socio-economic interconnectivity is what compels the author to carry out this research work which intends to focus on the effects of globalization on human resource management of MTN Telecommunication and how globalization contributes to effective and efficient management of its human resource.

This work will attempt to critically review the opinions of classic researchers on the field of globalization and international human resource management (IHRM), and also examine orthodox opinions from different authors concerning globalization and human resource management so as to differentiate and determine as far as possible the extent in which the results of this research work will agree with the derived abstractions and propositions.

The research work will be carried out in MTN Telecommunication Company operating in Nigeria. The researcher is a former contract staff of the company, working under the strict supervision of Mr Davis Eke, who is the company’s regional security coordinator south east region of MTN telecommunication located in Asaba Delta State Nigeria. Mr Davis has agreed to assist the researcher with all the necessary information that will be required for the progress and successful completion of this work, demanding that a copy of the research work be submitted to the company after completion.

1.1 About MTN Telecommunication

MTN Telecommunication Nigeria is part of the MTN Group, a global brand which is at the forefront of telecommunication services in Africa and the Middle East, with its vision of being the leader in telecommunication services in emerging markets, by linking nations through the provision of affordable, accessible and quality telecommunication services which will accelerate economic development (MTN Progress Report, 2010).

As one of the most enterprising operators to enter the telecommunication industry in Africa, MTN has over 5,290 permanent and contract staff in Nigeria and also has duplicated its outstanding success from South Africa in its operations in Rwanda, Uganda, Swaziland, Cameroon as well as Nigeria, therefore ensuring that these countries have access to leading edge telecommunication that will be affordable without compromising on quality. And with these successes in mind, MTN’s vision is fast becoming a reality. Hence MTN aims at facilitating change which will have a long-term domestic benefit, economic development, upgrading of local infrastructure and facilities as well as uplifting the quality of life in communities through its establishment in Nigeria (MTN Progress Report, 2010).

Since its establishment in august 2001, MTN Nigeria has steadily deployed its services across the country and more than $1.8 billion (US) has been invested in building telecommunication infrastructure. Also MTN now provides services in more than 223 cities and 10,000 villages as well a growing number of highways across Nigeria and many of these communities are being connected to the world of telecommunication for the first time in history (Aimiuwu, 2004).

MTN Nigeria subsist on core brand values of integrity, leadership, innovation, relationship and a can do attitude so as to achieve its vision, and also it prides itself with the ability to make possible the connecting of people with friends, family including opportunities. And its overriding mission is to be an accelerator for Nigeria’s economic growth and development by assisting to release the developmental potentials of the country not only through provision of world class telecommunication but also through innovative sustainable corporate social responsibility initiatives which will require efficient global or international human resource management (MTN Progress Report, 2010).

1.2 Significance of the research study

This research study is geared towards establishing how globalization affects human resource management in relation to the operating business environment of MTN Telecommunication Nigeria. It will try as much as possible to ensure the acceleration of personnel performance and efficiency, promotion of international business, global competitiveness, regional equilibrium, infrastructural development and above all improve human standard as well as human resource competence.

The strategic significance of this work is to identify the global barriers facing human resource management and provide practicable suggestions that will help to change the situation. It is the desire of the author that this will provide HR managers with the proper knowledge when applying human resource management methodologies and also enable employees to understand the global demands and challenges of organizations in the face of globalization, by creating the knowledge which will be used to challenge the pro-activeness of individuals, government and other stakeholders in the telecommunication industry. It is hopeful that this work will benefit MTN Nigeria in managing its human resource through the positive application of the knowledge of globalization effects on human resource management in this ever changing business environment.

1.3 Research Objectives

The research objectives for this work are as follows;

To identify the influence of globalization on human resource management practices of MTN Telecommunication.

To assess whether the quality of HR service delivery has changed in the wake of globalization in MTN Telecommunication.

To furnish recommendations to ensure that human resources are pro-active to cultural challenges posed by globalization in MTN Telecommunication.