Track: Human Factors and Ergonomics

Abstract

Human resources are strategic assets essential for implementing and executing business objectives. Intricate business operations of large multinationals are intended to add value by transforming inputs into productive outputs.  These inputs are inclusive of human resource (labour), supplies, factory overhead, materials, energy, and machinery. Outputs comprise products and services. The effectiveness of business outputs is highly dependent on the optimal and efficient performance of corporate inputs. This research focuses on human resources as a corporate input. The efficient utilisation of human resources relative to corporate sustainability and competitiveness is considered. The dynamic nature of the corporate sector has resulted in business units exploring productive approaches to enhance sustainability and competitiveness. This research aims to identify, define and explore key human resource levers together with recommending solutions towards enhancing human resource efficiency. The role of the identified human resource levers influencing enterprise operations and objectives are investigated. Nigeria as a subset in the Africa context is explored to illustrate the efficient utilisation of selected human resources levers. Best practice questions are developed, explored and empirically tested, with a sample from the manufacturing sector in the Nigeria context. The results, as documented,  is a significant tool for enterprise practitioners specific to corporate assessment, testing, and implementation of key human resource strategies.