An investigation into Decision Making Styles practices and preferences of human resource managers in the Banking Industry in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine decision making styles of human resource managers in the banking industry of southwestern Nigeria. More specifically, the objective of the study was to identify and examine decision making styles preferences and practices among human resource managers in the Nigerian banking industry. Primary data used for this study were obtained from Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria where most banks have their headquarters and main human resource departments he study sample consisted of 500 randomly selected human resource managers from human resource section of each of the 23 banks with sample traction of 40% out of 1131. Data on key variables of interest for the study were obtained through the administration of questionnaire on the selected managers. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.   The findings indicated  that there is significant difference in decision making style  preferences and practices among human resource managers in Southwestern Nigeria(F=2.413,P<0.05) and that  individuals do combine decision making styles in making important decisions and do not rely on a single decision style. The study concluded that human resource managers do not prefer and practice a particular decision style rather they have a combination of two or three styles from which they choose depending on decision situations they confront.

Key words: Decision Making Styles: human resource managers