AN EVALUATION OF THE NEXUS BETWEEN COMMUNICATION AND EMPLOYEES PERFORMANCE IN SELECTED ORGANIZATIONS IN  CAMEROON

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Communication in any business organization holds equal importance to the organization itself. The term "communication" originates from the Latin word "Communis," meaning "to share" (Ezezue, 2018). So, this means that sharing is a social activity as it allows for participation and collaboration. In addition, communication originated at the same time as the universe. Also, no beginning has ever existed without communication(Adeolu, 2019)

Communication is concerned with all forms of human activity in that the way we speak, our gestures, our emotions, and our reactions are how we communicate with each other. The most crucial instrument for achieving the desired outcome in any organization is effective communication.  Conceptually, communication is the expression of thoughts feelings, ideas, observation, etc. According to Lawal(2019),it is the process of obtaining what you want, sharing what you have and what you desire, feeling like you belong, and keeping a balanced awareness and progressive attitude in society. In a similar vein, it serves to enlighten an audience on the goals and objectives of an organization, as well as its policies, practices, duties, and other enterprise-wide activities (Farmer, 2018). Puth (2022), on the other hand, made the case in his research that information about policy development may be shared to increase the effectiveness of these units and that people are the most valuable resource in them. 

Thus, in order to raise employee performance and organizational productivity, managers must control the information flow. Because of this, the majority of managerial duties are unified, and communication becomes crucial for all parties. However, communication is only considered to have occurred when the decision-maker perceives the message as it truly is and receives the intended reaction. The main goal of these contemporary management techniques is to increase worker productivity by taking use of communication opportunities (Erogler, 2019). 

According to systems theory, the characteristics and roles of its parts are determined by the whole (Waweru, 2021). The extent to which a manager meets organizational objectives depends on his or her ability to communicate effectively (Herich, 2018). It's true that a lot of leaders still don't know what communication is or how important it is to business success. Nnamseh (2019). Effective management communication has received attention in the literature due to its influence on enterprises and employee experience. According to Greenberg (2020), communication is a "core function of every manager." In order to secure the success of their organizations, managers communicate with others for 80% of their daily job. Communication inside an organization can occur horizontally, downwardly, and upwardly. 

Through official channels, such as policy documents, rules, regulations, etc., top management (the highest position inside the organization) communicates with individuals or groups lower down the hierarchy. An organization's ability to behave effectively depends on its communication model. To boost engagement in companies, leaders and members should communicate openly with one another (Hsiung, 2020). Effective communication inside the business unit can lead to increased profitability, better employee engagement, better organizational governance, and ultimately better organizational performance. Because job satisfaction and lack of engagement can affect employees' intention to retire, several research examine the impact of effective communication in the workplace on the workforce. 

 Studies (Aburge, 2018; Fragouli & Ibidapo, 2015; Hsiung, 2020; Sanchez, 2016) have demonstrated the necessity of this. An organization must have a solid communication plan. All employees and decision-makers communicate with one another. staff faith in business unit effectiveness and staff productivity is negatively impacted by poor business communications inside an organization. Similarly, Research has demonstrated that effective communication increases worker performance (Goris, 2017) and that ineffective communication lowers worker participation in the company. According to one researcher, rumors help to improve working relationships (Sostek 2016 by Tubbs and Moss 2018). Specifically, it boosts output and assists companies in gauging the effectiveness of various groups inside them (Sostek 2018).

 Organizational goals and objectives sometimes fail when communication is ineffective. Lack of effective communication is one of the main reasons that can lead to confusion and poor planning.Nevertheless, Tubbs (2022), believe there is a connection between the quality of interaction between effective communication and employees performance. Therefore, a survey will be conducted to evaluate the nexus between communication and employees performance in selected organizations in  Cameroon.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

 The workplace has suffered from diminished employee performance due to inadequate communication on various fronts. When dissatisfaction arises among employees or employers regarding demeanor, behavior, or assigned tasks, the absence of constructive feedback exacerbates discontent. Also, employee commitment within the organization wanes. Moreover, ineffective communication serves as a significant barrier, leading to ambiguity, strained relationships among colleagues, heightened conflict, and inefficient coordination of activities, among other issues. Furthermore, to tackle these challenges, it's imperative for organizations to establish a communication framework fostering effective internal dialogue, nurturing positive interpersonal relationships devoid of confrontation, and centered around achieving common goals. These objectives involves enhancing skill sets, rallying employees toward evolving goals, and optimizing the workforce's potential amidst changing production methods. However, managers play a crucial role in addressing issues and upholding quality by supporting and empowering their teams, thereby facilitating task distribution and minimizing unnecessary conflicts. Nevertheless, effective communication skill, such as proficient speaking, active listening, and adept interpretation of verbal and non-verbal cues are paramount for managers in nurturing organizational communication, a prerequisite for enhancing performance and driving business growth (Fletcher, 2018; Agrawal, 2019). Hence, it is in the light of these that the study seeks to evaluate the nexus between communication and employees performance in selected organizations in  Cameroon.

1.3  Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the nexus between communication and employees performance in selected organizations in  Cameroon. Specifically, the study will;

1.Determine whether there is a significant relationship between  communication and employees performance in selected organizations in  Cameroon

2.Ascertain the  communication pattern adopted by selected organizations in  Cameroon

3.Evaluate the impact of communication on the employees performance in selected organizations in  Cameroon

4.Identify the barriers to effective communication  in selected organizations in Cameroon

1.4 Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

Is there a significant relationship between communication and employees' performance in selected organizations in Cameroon?

What communication patterns have been adopted by selected organizations in Cameroon?

How does communication impact the performance of employees in selected organizations in Cameroon?

What are the barriers to effective communication identified in selected organizations in Cameroon?

1.5  Research Hypothesis

H0: There is no significant relationship between communication and employees performance in selected organizations in  Cameroon.

Ha: There is a significant relationship between communication and employees performance in selected organizations in  Cameroon.

1.6  Significance of the Study 

There may be laws and guidelines pertaining to workplace communication and employee wellbeing in Cameroon, as there are in many other nations. Identifying the connection between employee performance and communication promotes a positive work environment and aids in ensuring compliance with such laws. Also, the results of the study will provides employees with the necessary information to perform their roles effectively. As they will benefit from improved communication by feeling more engaged, empowered, and supported in their work.

 Further more, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regard to the nexus between communication and employees performance in selected organizations in  Cameroon.

1.7 Scope of the study 

The scope of this study is boarded on the nexus between communication and employees performance in selected organizations in  Cameroon. Empirically, this study will Determine whether there is a significant relationship between  communication and employees performance in selected organizations in  Cameroon, ascertain the  communication pattern adopted by selected organizations in  Cameroon, evaluate the impact of communication on the employees performance in selected organizations in  Cameroon and identify the barriers to effective communication  in selected organizations in Cameroon.

Geographically, the study will be delimited to employees of some selected organizations in Yaounde, Cameroon.

1.8 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents. In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed. 

More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

 1.9 Definition of Terms

Communication: is used to communicate to an audience information about an organizations' mission and vision, policies, and procedures, tasks and responsibilities, and various activities within the enterprise (Farmer, 2018)

Employee Performance: is a dimension to measure the success of an organization in which an organization must be able to create high employee performance in order to maintain survival and a sustainable competitive advantage

Employee effectiveness: According to the study is a measure of the relationship between employee inputs (skills and effort) and outputs (good and services produced) and in simple terms the more output an employee can achieve with a given amount of inputs, the more effective they become.