Sev. Joseph Teryima, Ugba Vivien Anna

(Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria)

 

 

Abstract: This paper is a critical analysis of perception management as a strategy for effective decision making and productive managerial performance in Business Organizations. The specific focus was on selected manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The study adopted a simple empirical survey method with a view of eliciting relevant data for analytical purpose so as to answer several questions and attain the objectives of the study. Both primary and secondary sources of data collection were used in a bid to attain the necessary results. Five point Likert rating scale questionnaire were used in obtaining the views and opinions of respondents (i.e., strongly agree: 5, agree: 4, undecided: 3, disagree: 2, and strongly disagree: 1). Three (3) hypotheses were formulated and tested. A parametric tool, Analysis of variance test — ANOVA is used to test the three (3) formulated hypothesis. The study found that there are troublesome errors, distortions and biases in perceptions of employees responsible for poorquality decision making and judgments in manufacturing organizations in Nigeria affecting quality performance attainment leading to low profits. The second finding was that there exist numerous factors affecting perception of reality in manufacturing organizations in Nigeria. And the third finding reveals that there are several strategies for managing perception in organizations. In the light of the findings of the study, it is hereby recommended that managers of manufacturing firms in Nigeria needs a constant training, mentoring and orientations on how to be transparent in their transactions and dealings with clients, subordinates colleagues. Supervisors and necessary stakeholders to the organizations as they make decisions pertaining to them and organization in order to attain high performance status. Again, it was recommended that strategies for effective perception management ranging from careful diversity management, impression management of employees, cultural backgrounds, race, and nationality, religious affiliations, ethnic and tribal differences is pertinent for high performance attainment. The study also recommends that managers of the organizations needs to rethink their attitudes, motives, interest, past experiences and expectations to ensure that there is no disharmony with organizational goals and objectives in their respective perceptual inclinations to facilitate decision making process of organizations.