A survey of the use of flexible human resource practices by manufacturing firms in Nairobi

Abstract

This study was an exploratory study whose objectives were: • To establish the extent of use of flexible Human Resource Practices in manufacturing firms in Nairobi • To find out the benefits accruing from the use of flexible human resource practices • To establish the relationship between firm characteristics and extent of use of flexible human practices. The study was aroused by the fact that a lot of literature available on these practices was based on research done in America and Europe. No study appears to have been conducted in Kenya on such practices. The data was collected by use of a structured and non-disguised questionnaire. The questionnaires were administered by a "drop-an-pick-Iater" basis. Secondary data from the firms' human resource manuals was also used. Eighty manufacturing firms were surveyed of which fifty eight responded. According to the findings of this study, the following flexible human resource practices were found to be used extensively by the firms surveyed; • Training and skill development • Selectivity in recruiting and use of outsourcing and temporary contracts. In general the extent of use of flexible human resource practices in the manufacturing firms was found to be very Limited. Chi-square test was used to establish any relationship between the extent of use of flexible human resource pr.4lcticesand firm characteristics .. It was established that there was a relationship between the extent of use of flexible human resource practices and the following firms characteristics. • Existence of a human resource department • Firm ownership i.e. either locally owned, foreign owned or joint venture. • Scope of operation i.e. National, regional, or international Firms that embraced flexible Human resource practices benefited to a great extent in numerous areas.