EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES: A CASE STUDY OF NIGERIAN BOTTLING COMPANY PLC, BENIN CITY  

ABSTRACT

This research was designed to study the extent to which workers communicate effectively in Nigeria Bottling Company PLC (N.B.C), Benin City.

The questionnaire method was the tool used in data collection from 70 respondents out of which 55 were used for data analysis. Results of the analysis showed that effective communication play an important role in the employees attitude and behaviour in Nigerian Bottling Company PLC. Also revealed was the fact that organizational structure enhances effective communication which in turn ensure efficient human resources management.

Furthermore, the study showed that human characteristics affect free flow of information and hence constituting barriers to effective communication. Also revealed was that the authoritarian way of communicating affects effective communication.

Based on the findings of the research work, it was recommended that the management of Nigerian Bottling Company, should ensure an improvement in the company’s communication system, which will therefore improve understanding and effectiveness in communicating. It is also recommended that there should be mutual understanding and co-operation between the superiors and subordinate staff, since his will enhance free flow of information that goes up and down the horizontal line in the organization ladder.

TABLE OF CONTENTS              

Title Page             

Table of Contents         

Abstract               

CHAPTER ONE

1.0      Introduction   

1.1      The Origin of Communication1.2      The Statement of Problem           1.3      Aims and Objectives of Research  1.4      Relevance of Study       1.5      The Scope of the Study               1.6      Limitations of the Study       1.7      Organizational of the Study  References                              
CHAPTER TWO2.0      Literature Review         

2.1  Introduction                

2.2  Definition of Terms       

2.3  The Communication Process 

2.4      The Important of Organizational Effective

Communication                   

2.5      Types of Communication Flow      

2.6      Methods of Communication         

2.7      Steps to Planning Effective Communication        

2.8      Keys to Effective Communication  

2.9      Barriers and Breakdown in Communication

2.10   Communication Networks    

References                

CHAPTER THREE3.0      Research Methodology  3.1      Introduction                3.2      Methods of Data Collection   3.3      The Research Instrument     3.4      Techniques for Data Analysis 3.5      Brief History of Company under Study

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0      Data Analysis and Presentation

4.1      Introduction         

4.2      Data Analysis                      

4.3      Testing the Hypothesis  

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0      Conclusion and Recommendations

5.1      Introduction         

5.2      Findings and Conclusion

5.3      Recommendation         

Bibliography              

Appendix                     

CHAPTER ONE

1.0     INTRODUCTION

Communication is an every moment and every day virtual. It is the basis of developing a state systems. Indeed, it is generally agreed that the world has become a small village as a result of the improvement in communication system. Thus, the need for an effective communication system in human society cannot be compromised.

Focusing on organization set up, we find that effective communication is the basis for effective management of resources which includes human, raw materials, financial and technical resources. Managers and other employees in the organization ought to be trained in the process of effective communication to overcome the ruin and improve the well-being of any organization depending on how it is handled.
1.1THE ORIGIN OF COMMUNICATIONThe word ‘communication’ comes from the Latin word “communi-care”. “Communi” means community (a group) while care, which in modern terms means to give a dam.Communication, per se, is a multi-meaning word having different meaning for whoever uses it. To a Geographer, for instance, it means one thing and to the electronics engineer, it means on another. To the business student however, communication still has its meaning. It refers to the process by which information is passed between individuals and/or organization by means of agreed symbols.Communication is the binding force in every personal culture and the dominant influence in the personal life of every one of us. 1.2THE STATEMENT OF PROBLEMManagement analyst and scholars have seem to agree that organizations do not exist in a vacuum but essentially in an environment which consist of many publics and that for effectiveness, smooth, business and success, it is pertinent to establish, maintain and promote a cooperation and productive relationship with customers, employees, government, present, past and potential ones and indeed the whole society. It is in realization of this that one tries to erase the factors that hinder communication which constantly exist between top management supervisors and lower level of management in the communicating process.Moreover, many people in organization know they communicate but what is communication they do not know. The purpose of communication persistently remains unknown to most lower level workers in organization. This also extends to those in the light level especially those who went through promotional grades to a higher position.The problem of the factors that hinder effective communication account for break-down constitute one of the major problems encountered by managers. It should be noted that communication problems are often symptoms which must be deeply rooted. For instance, poor decision making is one of the causes of the uncertainty about the direction of any organization. Put slightly different, a poor designed organization structure may not clearly communicate organizational relationships. In order to allow for effective communication to take place, in any organization, the vague standards which usually leaves workers in that organization uncertain about what is expected of them should be proved.Information distortion is another problem experienced in the process of communication. In some cases information is deliberately distorted by the person who handles it. Infact, some distortions evolve from a deliberate attempt of persons or groups to promote purely personal interest and to pursue organizational goals that differ from those proscribed by top management.Given that effective communication is intended to change the management pattern of the management of Nigeria Bottling Company Plc. (NBC). The study is interested in finding to what extent, do factors hinder effective communication and do workers communicate effectively in the organization.    
1.3AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCHThe aims and objectives of the study is to obtain some basic information from the members of staff of Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC), Benin City, on how effective they communicate in the organization.Furthermore, to into factor hinder the effective communication processes and techniques that are required by employees to influence their attitude and performance in the organization. Although they spend most of their time communicating, there is overwhelming evidence that they do not do it very well. This is why importance of organizational communication has been stressed by reasoning that communication is not a secondary function or helper for other more basic function, but is the essence of all organized activity.The objective of the study therefore is to have a look at how effective do workers in Nigerian Bottling Company PLC, communicate.Emphasis in this project will be placed on the evaluation of the various methods of communication available in an organization. Identify barriers leading to ineffectiveness of communication process between superiors and subordinates; and as a way of rounding up, recommend useful suggestions for improvement of effective communication in human resources (employees).   1.4RELEVANCE OF STUDYWithout the means, capacity and the will to communicate, what we know as business, government and community activities could not be. But it is not enough for people to talk to others without they need to know how to talk with others.Communication in its effectiveness represent an important part of the entire management adaptation scheme that is used in the dissemination of information in an organization.It will also be a tool on how to design information system to a system analyst and those individuals in supervisory positions will also gain from knowing how communication flow in an organization. This will help solve the problem of bureaucracy in organizations.Most top management and thee supervisory level will find far reaching solutions to their problems involving communication and the break-down of it.The study will be useful for both students and workers undergoing carriers in business and other related disciplines.1.5THE SCOPE OF THE STUDYIn an attempt to obtain reliable and useful result, the research will cover all the levels of staff in Nigeria Bottling Company PLC (NBC), Benin City. The effectiveness of workers communication in the company, particularly in the face of opportunities and threats that emerge from the business environment will be critically studied, in order to know if effective communication of a worker will influence his attitude behaviour.1.6ORGANIZATIONAL OF THE STUDYFive chapters is used in organizing the study. Chapter one which is the introduction, comprises of the introduction, origin of communication, statement of problem, the aims and objectives of the study, relevance of study, the scope of the study as well as the limitations.Chapter two, entail a review of relevant and existing literature on communication, the process of communication, factors that hinder relevance, types, methods, steps to effectives communication, barriers of communication and the communication networks.In Chapter three, the method of data collected and the techniques for analysis will be discussed.In Chapter four, the data collected for the study will be analyzed and in due course of the analysis the hypothesis stated in Chapter three, will be tested.Chapter five will contain the conclusions from the study as well as the recommendation.