MANAGEMENT OF SCHOOL RECORDS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OTUKPO EDUCATION ZONE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The school administrator has the responsibility of seeing to the smooth running of a school. The extent to which he succeeds in carrying out this responsibility depends on a number of factors and one of them has to do with the records that he is expected to keep. These records give a lot of information about the school that will enable him to take decisions and also assess the progress of the school. National policy on education requires that some of the records should be kept appropriately. FRN (2004) Different people such as the headmaster, the class teacher, and the local government education authority keep different records about the school.

School records are official documents, books and files containing essential and crucial information on actions and events which are kept and preserved in the school offices for utilization and retrieval of information when needed (Durosaro, 2002). Such records are kept by principals, teachers, counsellors are administrative staff. Some of the major school records include; students’ personal files, staff record book, the log book, visitors book and inventories book, among others. The purpose of record keeping and management is to ensure that accurate and proper records of students achievement and growth, information on school activities and matters that will promote efficiency and effectiveness of the school system are kept, among others.

According to Durosaro (2002), records are important tools for effective planning and administration of a school. School records occupy strategic position in the effective and efficient organization and administration of the school.

 It helps for effective planning and implementation of appropriate course of actions, thereby introducing proper monitoring of school activities tasks.

Records are important because they serve as major information tool that sustain the school and aid in achieving educational goals and objectives. Records engender teaching competence and maintain the trend in the history of teaching and learning processes. Egwunyenga (2009) observed that not all information can be considered as records until they satisfy such characteristics as genuinety and authenticity, that is, the information that records give must be true, correct and original; records must be comprehensive, accessible and secured.

THE IMPACT OF EDUCATION IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS (A CASE STUDY OF BWARI AREA COUNCIL)

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background to the Study

According to National Population Commission (2012) it is generally believed that Nigeria has a total population of 170 million people, out of this number 67% live in the rural areas while the remaining 34% live in the urban centres. Nigeria is a country in Africa continent located in West of Africa close to the equator extending from latitude 4˚N to14˚ and from longitude 3˚E to 15˚E. Except for the Atlantic ocean to the south, Nigeria is surrounded by French-speaking countries; Niger, Cameroun and Benin Republic. Nigeria is a third world country which means it is a developing country. However, the fact that most of the population reside in the rural areas indicate that rural areas need more of infrastructural development such as good roads, electricity, good and well equipped schools for the growth and betterment of the people living in the rural areas (Anyanwu, 2011).

However, in Nigeria, the reverse is the case. More attention is given to the urban centre for the detriment of the rural areas, as a result of the notion that urban centre are more populated; so they need more basic infrastructure than the rural areas. This perception has caused imbalance between the urban centre and the rural dwellers by creating a wide gap (Akintayo & Oghenekohwo, 2004).

By this gap the urban centre are growing immensely living the rural areas in a state of stagnation and depreciation which is growing at an alarming rate. Therefore, education has a controlling influence over the development of rural societies, communities, individual or group of individuals and families which leads to the reduction of low income rate, poverty and rural-urban migration (Akintayo & Oghenekohwo, 2004).

Although, education has made a significant impact on rural areas in terms of marking personnel maintenance, system of supplying farm production, health care and good governance, but failure of government to tackle rural development and recognition of the importance of rural areas and rural people to the economic development process still remains an issue (Shaffer, 2003).

The major aim of education is learning which is achieved through the teaching and learning process. According to Plato (437-337 BC) “Aesthetic education brings grace to the body and nobility to the mind. Until man in his physical and sensuous mode of being has been accustomed to the laws of beauty, he is not capable of spiritual liberty”. Therefore, education would be incomplete without due consideration being given to rural areas (Biggs, 2006).

Education holds a significant place in this regard, so far as it forms a very convenient and powerful medium for individuals to express themselves in a variety of ways in any situation including his mental skill in relation to overall academic performance. However, it is sad to note that some schools in rural areas have no rooms allocated for teaching even some with class rooms lack furniture; in some schools, teaching is carried on in makeshift classrooms and this can be uninspiring and boring (Aspen Institute 2009).

Madeki , (2008), inadequate and half-baked teachers in some secondary schools are also an issue of concern.  Madeki stressed further that education impacts social change, by improving individual social position as well as standard of living. Education also increases critical ability of rural people to diagnose their needs, assert their right, taking greater control of decision affecting their lives. Education has the potential to respond to the transformation of rural areas, increase labour force and enhancing security.

As the pivot of the educational system, the National policy on Education (FRN, 1981) noted that teachers in all educational institutions including the universities, should be professionally trained because is considered as a tool to be used for the integration of the individuals into the society to achieve self-realization, develop national consciousness, promote unity and strive for social-economic, political, scientific, cultural and technological progress.

Durojaiye (2008) indicates three aspects that are of immediate relevance to education: 1.  The learner, his growth and development, his needs and motivation, his individual characteristics and achievement, his nutritional state and the child-rearing approached employed by his parents. 2. The learning situation, the school and wider society, the cultural context and effects on learning. 3.  The learning process and the teacher who makes them happen including his method, approaches and personality.         

Education has brought about phenomenal changes in every aspect of human’s life. Mahmudul, (2009) opines that education is a process which brings about changes in the behaviour of the society. It enables every individual to efficiently and effectively participate in societal activities and make a positive contribution to the progress of the society. Education create awareness in the rural areas regarding their right to education as stipulated in Article 26 of the United Nation Declaration of Human Right (1984) which says that: 1.  Everyone has the right to education. 2.  Education shall be free at least in elementary and fundamental     stages 3. Primary education shall be compulsory 4. Education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all in the basis of merit.

Research Proposal on THE NIGERIAN ACTOR AND PERSONALITY: A CASE STUDY OF SHERIKOKO AND JENIFER’S DIARY

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

The society often confuses the personality of the character the actor is playing with his or her true character, thereby evaluating him or she based on what they see on stage or screen. The role of the actor is quite different from his person in real life. What the actor does is to pass a message across to the society, as Njamah (2009) rightly observes:

“It has not really changed much. It has only made me to be artistic, people have this mentality that actresses are promiscuous, but they forget that they are only trying to pass a message across the people”.

Eboh, (2012), said that in the same vein Eucharia Anuobi in defense of her personality and that of her fellow actors and actresses says that the role an actor plays in a movie does not reveal who he or she is in actual life. An angel can play a devil in a film and vice vasa.

The Nigerian society ranks the actor nowhere near people in other profession, forgetting that each profession has its role to play in the service of mankind. Because of the contribution of the actor towards human and national development, there is need to educate the people on the real nature of actors and acting and by so doing correct the misconceptions about actors, their personality and professions. It is hoped that this study which examines the personality of the actors will meet the above need (Konkwo, 2011).

On the Nigerian actors and the society, some of them are written by scholars. A greater number of them, however, are written by journalist who has little or no idea of the actors.     This study is therefore, significant because it attempt an in-depth study of the personality of the Nigerian actors as seen by the society and the actor himself focusing on Sherekoko and Jenifer.

Nwodu, (2006), has described Acting as ‘the most glamorous and fascinating art of the theatre. This could own to the fact that the actor is a theatre workforce and that is readily recognized by the audience, as well as by members of the society, due to his task. Hence the Actor is the “image maker” of the theatre and people see his or her personality as a small god.

Assignment on Urban Administration

1.      Conceptualize Urban Administration and discuss the major features

2.      State the three conditions necessary for a stable urban environment

3.      Discuss the major Structures of Urban Administration

4.      Identify the 7 conditions necessary for the control of Urban Machinery

5.      What do you understand by political possibility of urban policy

6.      Discuss the importance of operational possibility when implementing urban policies

7.      Discuss the role of the three arms of government in managing urban services

8.      Discuss how government intervene in urban administration

9.      Discuss the government regulatory measures introduced to improve urban development in Britain

10.  Discuss how public housing measures by local government affected urban development in Britain citing concrete examples

Question 1: Conceptualize Urban Administration and discuss the major features

Solution: Conceiving Urban administration, Hozelt has argued that to understand the administrations of urban centres, we need to decipher the difference between generative and parasitic urban centre.  The administration of an urban centre is seen to be generative if units produce impact in terms of administration and effective economic activities while the parasitic is the reverse.   Urbanization which is a process where human being congregate in relatively large number is a universal phenomena and involves serious governance as it expand.

The administrative and functional specialization theory of urbanization is based on the specialization of functions among human communities through the division of labour.  The functional specialization either by individuals or groups is a given time and period deals with the performance of activities so that goods and services can be produced by the communities.

Two important issues came out from this specialization:

1.      The first deals with the need to coordinate the activities of the numerous but interdependent producers.  In terms of urbanization, the role of coordinators is performed by entrepreneurs and administrators.

2.      The second deals with human ingenuity with respect to pre-occupation with narrowed range of operations such that would lead to the discovery of new and more ways of performing the same operations.

Question 2: State the three conditions necessary for a stable urban environment

Solution:

1.      The urban centres must be with surplus of food production to feed the urban class of specialists

2.      Existence of class of people capable of exercising power and influence stable and peaceful urban environment

3.      There must be a class of entrepreneurs to augment the role of the public sector.

DETERMINE THE INDICES OF DEVELOPMENT AND UNDERDEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This paper considers the indices of  development and underdevelopment. The focus of this paper is on the global indices of underdevelopment and development options available. It highlights the various theories of development and the flaws associated with such theories. This paper uses the theory of modernization, dependency and alternative development theories to operationalize how development is understood along the development trajectory. The paper also highlights the causes of underdevelopment.

Keywords: Indices, Development, underdevelopment.

Introduction:

Today, the lighthouse of development shows cracks and is starting to crumble. The idea of development stands like a ruin in the intellectual landscape. Delusion and disappointment, failures and crimes have been the steady companions of development and they tell a common story: it did not work. Moreover, the historical conditions which catapulted the idea into prominence have vanished as development has become outdated. But above all, the hopes and desires which made the idea fly, are now exhausted as development has grown (Frank, 2011).

The growing gap between developed and developing countries has dominated international relations and diplomacy for a long time. This gap has led to constant capital influx from the developed countries to those in the Third World including Africa; with the goal of helping them overcome their problems and reduce the gap.

The debate concerning the underdevelopment and development of African continent and other equally poor parts of the world is not a new phenomenon in the development discourse but can be traced back to antiquity. There exist a number of reasons deduced to the present condition which might be termed as development crisis. This is because some of the continents have remained largely underdeveloped regardless of the presence of huge natural resources (gold, cocoa, bauxite, oil, diamond, timber) and human resources based in some countries (Pieterse, 2010).

In the case of Africa, several decades after the end of colonialism, most parts of Africa is still fighting with problems such as high poverty rate, corruption,  lack of basic infrastructural facilities in all sectors of the economy, unemployment, high mortality rate, political instability and insecurity of lives and property. The development discourse is made up of a web of key concepts.

DETERMINE THE INDICES OF DEVELOPMENT AND UNDERDEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This paper considers the indices of  development and underdevelopment. The focus of this paper is on the global indices of underdevelopment and development options available. It highlights the various theories of development and the flaws associated with such theories. This paper uses the theory of modernization, dependency and alternative development theories to operationalize how development is understood along the development trajectory. The paper also highlights the causes of underdevelopment.

Keywords: Indices, Development, underdevelopment.

Introduction:

Today, the lighthouse of development shows cracks and is starting to crumble. The idea of development stands like a ruin in the intellectual landscape. Delusion and disappointment, failures and crimes have been the steady companions of development and they tell a common story: it did not work. Moreover, the historical conditions which catapulted the idea into prominence have vanished as development has become outdated. But above all, the hopes and desires which made the idea fly, are now exhausted as development has grown (Frank, 2011).

The growing gap between developed and developing countries has dominated international relations and diplomacy for a long time. This gap has led to constant capital influx from the developed countries to those in the Third World including Africa; with the goal of helping them overcome their problems and reduce the gap.

The debate concerning the underdevelopment and development of African continent and other equally poor parts of the world is not a new phenomenon in the development discourse but can be traced back to antiquity. There exist a number of reasons deduced to the present condition which might be termed as development crisis. This is because some of the continents have remained largely underdeveloped regardless of the presence of huge natural resources (gold, cocoa, bauxite, oil, diamond, timber) and human resources based in some countries (Pieterse, 2010).

In the case of Africa, several decades after the end of colonialism, most parts of Africa is still fighting with problems such as high poverty rate, corruption,  lack of basic infrastructural facilities in all sectors of the economy, unemployment, high mortality rate, political instability and insecurity of lives and property. The development discourse is made up of a web of key concepts.

DETERMINE THE INDICES OF DEVELOPMENT AND UNDERDEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This paper considers the indices of  development and underdevelopment. The focus of this paper is on the global indices of underdevelopment and development options available. It highlights the various theories of development and the flaws associated with such theories. This paper uses the theory of modernization, dependency and alternative development theories to operationalize how development is understood along the development trajectory. The paper also highlights the causes of underdevelopment.

Keywords: Indices, Development, underdevelopment.

Introduction:

Today, the lighthouse of development shows cracks and is starting to crumble. The idea of development stands like a ruin in the intellectual landscape. Delusion and disappointment, failures and crimes have been the steady companions of development and they tell a common story: it did not work. Moreover, the historical conditions which catapulted the idea into prominence have vanished as development has become outdated. But above all, the hopes and desires which made the idea fly, are now exhausted as development has grown (Frank, 2011).

The growing gap between developed and developing countries has dominated international relations and diplomacy for a long time. This gap has led to constant capital influx from the developed countries to those in the Third World including Africa; with the goal of helping them overcome their problems and reduce the gap.

The debate concerning the underdevelopment and development of African continent and other equally poor parts of the world is not a new phenomenon in the development discourse but can be traced back to antiquity. There exist a number of reasons deduced to the present condition which might be termed as development crisis. This is because some of the continents have remained largely underdeveloped regardless of the presence of huge natural resources (gold, cocoa, bauxite, oil, diamond, timber) and human resources based in some countries (Pieterse, 2010).

In the case of Africa, several decades after the end of colonialism, most parts of Africa is still fighting with problems such as high poverty rate, corruption,  lack of basic infrastructural facilities in all sectors of the economy, unemployment, high mortality rate, political instability and insecurity of lives and property. The development discourse is made up of a web of key concepts.

A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

IMPACT OF STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE  ( A CASE STUDY OF GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC).

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Organizations are seeking to create much competition between them, taking more market, more customers, more sales, etc. Rapid changes stemming from globalization, advancement of information systems and other factors have caused higher competition. Many organizations are driven by the market to set their goals in their performance. Some of the goals are: cost reduction, achieving sales levels, increasing the number of customers, increasing the market percentage, improving productivity and quality, innovative products. The realization of these goals will be achieved through the strategic human resources management in organizations. Workforce, as the key to success, will enable the achievement of organizational performance (Abdullah, 2010).

Human resources are regarded as one of the most important sources of today's organizations. Strategic human resources management is more important than other competitive sources because these people use other assets in organization, create competitiveness and realize objectives. Thus organizations must understand the expectations of their workforce in order to achieve the desired performance. The realization of the expectations of employees will enable the desired behavior of employees in the organization (Ogundele, 2007).

Ogundele, (2007) assert that some of the desired outcomes of the organization in managing their workforce are: competence, cooperation of employees with managers, cooperation of employees between them, showing the capabilities of employees; motivation, commitment and satisfaction; attitude and presence; employee behaviors.

The overall goal of performance management is to create a culture as high performance in which individuals and teams to take responsibility for the continuous improvement of business processes and their skills and contribute in achieving the targets set by managers. In particular, management performance can be expressed as the approximation of individual objectives of employees with organizational objectives provided that employees support the culture of the organization (Walker and Webster, 2004).

 

It provides for expectations to be defined and agreed in terms of role responsibilities and accountabilities (expected to do), skills (expected to have) and behaviors (expected to be)(Armstrong, 2006).

The purpose of strategic human resource management is to improve business performance through people management. The organizations need to manage their human resources effectively and efficiently to achieve the desired goals and objectives. The achievement of  the goals and objectives translate also in better performance (Armstrong, 2006).

Assignment - Critically discuss basic assumptions of Elite Theory and apply the theory to any public policy of your choice

INTRODUCTION

In political science, public policy and sociology, elite theory is a theory of the state which seeks to describe and explain the power relationships in contemporary society. The theory posits that a small minority, consisting of members of the economic elite and policy-planning networks, holds the most power and that this power is independent of a state's democratic elections process (Odumakin, 2009).   Through positions in corporations or on corporate boards, and influence over the policy-planning networks through financial support of foundations or positions with think tanks or policy-discussion groups, members of the "elite" are able to exert significant power over the policy decisions of corporations and governments. An example of this can be found in the Forbes magazine article (published in December 2009) entitled The World's Most Powerful People, in which Forbes purported to list the 67 most powerful people in the world (assigning one "slot" for each 100,000,000 of human population).

Even when entire groups are ostensibly completely excluded from the state's traditional networks of power (historically, on the basis of arbitrary criteria such as nobility, race, gender, or religion), elite theory recognizes that "counter-elites" frequently develop within such excluded groups (Higley, 2012). Negotiations between such disenfranchised groups and the state can be analyzed as negotiations between elites and counter-elites. A major problem, in turn, is the ability of elites to co-opt counter-elites.

Assumptions of Elite Theory

Elite theory opposes pluralism, a tradition that assumes that all individuals, or at least the multitude of social groups, have equal power and balance each other out in contributing to democratic political outcomes representing the emergent, aggregate will of society. Elite theory argues either that democracy is a utopian folly, as it is traditionally viewed in the conservative Italian tradition, or that democracy is not realizable within capitalism, as is the view of the more Marxist-compatible contemporary elite theory permutation (Bariledum, 2013).

The theoretical view was also held by many social scientists which holds that politics is best understood through the generalization that nearly all political power is held by a relatively small and wealthy group of people sharing similar values and interests and mostly coming from relatively similar privileged backgrounds (Ojukwu and Shopeju, 2010).

Most of the top leaders in all or nearly all key sectors of society are seen as recruited from this same social group, and elite theorists emphasize the degree to which interlocking corporate and foundation directorates, old school ties and frequent social interaction tend to link together and facilitate coordination between the top leaders in business, government, civic organizations, educational and cultural establishments and the mass media. 

Assignment - Discuss the relationship between the market Urban economy, the family size and structure and welfare state

INTRODUCTION 

It is now widely accepted that market urban economy is as much a social process as it is an territorial process. It transforms societal organizations, the role of the family, demographic structures, the nature of work, and the way we choose to live and with whom. It also modifies domestic roles and relations within the family, and redefines concepts of individual and social responsibility.

This diversity in living arrangements and family composition in urban societies is also closely linked to shifts in the world of work—in the urban economy and in occupations. Not only does urbanization involve obvious changes in employment and working life, it alters the relationships between households (the collective units of consumption) and labor markets (the production sector). Individuals work and earn wages, but it is households (and families) that spend those earnings. Thus, the composition of families and households influences the changing well-being of the individuals in those households as much as the occupational status of its members.

Market Urban economics is broadly the economic study of urban areas; as such, it involves using the tools of economics to analyze urban issues such as crime, education, public transit, housing, and local government finance. More narrowly, it is a branch of microeconomics that studies urban spatial structure and the location of households and firms (Quigley 2008).

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MARKET URBAN ECONOMY, FAMILY SIZE AND STRUCTURE AND WELFARE STATE

There is a relationship between the family (size & structure), nature of welfare state and economy.  This is because the structure of the economy and social system to a large extent determine the welfare needs of a community – whether of a traditional farming or modern market economy.  Take for examples, in some part of Nigeria where younger people get married to many wives at a younger age and give birth to many children as they can without birth control, this has a significant effect to their welfare needs.  The pre-colonial Nigerian rural communities were examples also of a traditional farming community – they were basically rural and large family and were required to cope with farm work.

CHAPTER TWO OF THE EFFECT OF UNETHICAL MARKETING PRACTICES ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK  

2.1.      Conceptual Marketing

This chapter basically outlined and explained some key concepts used in this study and also examines the contributions of some experts, practitioners and scholars toward the effect of unethical marketing practices advertising campaigns in Nigeria.

Categorically, it evaluates the extent of effectiveness of their contributions in solving problems created by unethical marketing practices advertising campaigns. There is no doubt that these contributors have, from time to time, analyzed the importance, highlighting its laid down principles.

 Unethical Marketing Practices Advertising Campaigns  can have negative impact a business, by damaging the business credibility, brand, reputation and potentially causing significant loss of customers and potential business failure Abayomi (2006)

Effect: means something that brought about by a cause or agent, a result, it is the power to produce an outcome or achieve a result.

Unethical: means not connected with beliefs and principles about what is right and wrong. It is not morally correct acceptable. It is means of promoting advertising.

Practice: it means that it is a way of doing something that is usual or expected way in a particular organization or situation.

Advertising: it is a form of communication intend to persuade if viewers, readers or listeners to take some action.

THE EFFECT OF UNETHICAL MARKETING PRACTICES ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS IN NIGERIA

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study

The conduct of business with respect to organizations in Nigeria shrouded in numerous unethical practices. Several cases evidencing this assertion are found in many organizations like, manufacturing companies, banks, service oriented organizations, etc. Marketing  Practices Advertising Campaigns  as a concept, can be defined as a form of communication through the media about product, services, ideas, personalities or organizations, paid for by an identified sponsor writer to promote or market products (Abayomi, 2012).

Marketing  Practices Advertising Campaigns is also controlled, identifiable information and persuasion by means of mass communication media and in its simplest sense, the word “advertising” or marketing practices advertising campaigns means drawing attention to something or notifying or informing somebody of something (Bittner, 2008).

The terms advertising was coined from the Latin word “advertere” which literally means to draw attention. This is when you are getting the audience mind in a product.  Marketing Practices Advertising Campaigns has also been of immense benefit to humanity and has contributed in no small measure to rapid industrialization and expansion processes all over the world. In fact, it has contributed in making the world a better place to live in (Asika, 2010).

The introduction of modern Marketing Practices Advertising Campaigns in Nigeria was made possible in 1859 by a newspaper called “Iwe Irohin”. It was owned by an English Reverend gentleman known as Henry Townsend. It was an eight page newspaper with four pages English version and four pages “Yoruba” version (Osunbiyi, 2006).

 According to Osunbiyi, (2006), this newspaper attracted a lot of readership, creating space for advertisement on births, weddings and obituaries, vacancies for houseboys and maids, church activities, ship schedules and other social events.  It was also revealed that  other newspaper such as the logos observer, the Eagle, the Lagos critic and others joined the music. 

The business of Marketing Practices Advertising Campains enjoyed a great boast in the 1920s as notable companies such as Releigh Bicycle, PZ, lever Brothers, Cadbury, Ovaltine and others sprang up to patronize the services of West African Publicity (WAP) who provided advertising services like radio and television - there was a considerable advancement in Radio/TV advertisement for over four decades. This began with the establishment of Western Nigeria Broadcasting Services (WNBS) and Western Nigeria Television (WNTN) by the defunct Western Religion (Obodoeze, 2012).  

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCTIVITY IN NIGERIA PUBLIC SECTOR

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF STUDY

The development of any nation depends to a very large extent on the calibre, organization and motivation of its human resources. In the specific case of Nigeria where diversity exerts tremendous influence on politics and administration, the capacity to increase the benefits and reduce the costs of this diversity constitutes a human resource management challenge of epic proportion in its public sector organizations. Human Resource Management (HRM) is the function within an organization that focuses on recruitment of, management of, and providing direction for the people who work in the organization. Human Resource Management can also be performed by line managers.

Human Resource Management is the organizational function that deals with issues related to people such as compensation, hiring, performance management, organization development, safety, wellness, benefits, employee motivation, communication, administration, and training. Human Resource Management is also a strategic and comprehensive approach to managing people and the workplace culture and environment. Effective HRM enables employees to contribute effectively and productively to the overall company direction and the accomplishment of the organization's goals and objectives. Human Resource Management is moving away from traditional personnel, administration, and transactional roles, which are increasingly outsourced. HRM is now expected to add value to the strategic utilization of employees and that employee programs impact the business in measurable ways. The new role of HRM involves strategic direction and HRM metrics and measurements to demonstrate.

HRM covers a wide range of activities. The main area of study we will focus on will be incentives and work organization. Incentives include remuneration systems (e.g. individuals or group incentive/contingent pay) and also the system of appraisal, promotion and career advancement. By work organization we mean the distribution of decision rights (autonomy/decentralization) between managers and workers, job design (e.g. flexibility of working, job rotation), team-working (e.g. who works with whom) and information provision.

Civil servants have a reputation for being lazy. However, people’s personal experiences with civil servants frequently run counter to this stereotype. We develop a model of an economy in which workers differ in laziness and in public service motivation, and characterise optimal incentive contracts for public sector workers under different informational assumptions. When civil servants. Effort is invariable, lazy workers and working in the public sector highly attractive and may crowd out dedicated workers. When effort is variable, the government optimally attracts dedicated workers as well as the economy’s laziest workers by offering separating contracts, which are both distorted. Even though contract distortions reduce aggregate welfare, a majority of society may be better off as public goods come at a lower cost. Where we depart from several of the existing surveys in the field is to put HRM more broadly in the context of the economics of management. To do this we also look in detail at the literature on productivity dispersion.