EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP OF EMPLOYEES’ WORK ETHICS AND THE PERFORMANCE OF SMALL AND MICRO ENTERPRISES OPERATING IN ADDIS ABABA A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED SMALL AND MICRO ENTERPRISES IN KOLFE KERANIO SUB-CITY

Abstract

This study has been prepared for a research to be done on the topic of “Exploring the relationship of Work Ethics of Employees‟ and the Performance of Small and Micro Enterprises operating in Addis Ababa, specifically targeting the case of selected small and micro enterprises in Kolfe Keranio Sub-City. The purpose of the study is to explore the poor work ethics prevalent among employees/operators and their influence in the performance of small and micro enterprises in Addis Ababa. Although, the study has capitalized upon elements of quantitative research methodology when appropriate but it has adopted a qualitative approach in conducting the research. Since the study used promotion to medium level as an indicator of success the total number of „promoted‟ and not promoted should be equivalent. Thus the 95 promoted enterprises in the sub-city together with other equivalent 95 not promoted ones give us 190 enterprises as the population of the study. The researcher has used the Lohr Formula for determining the simple size to be calculated as 128. Therefore, the quantitative aspects of the study involved the collection of primary data from 128 randomly selected enterprises with promoted and not promoted ones constituting 64 enterprises each. The significance of the study lays on identifying the prevalent poor employees‟ work culture in SMEs and bringing about a solution to empower the sector of small and micro enterprises in their role of transforming the Agricultural based economy to industrialization and contribute in establishing a mechanism of a healthy work culture to assist on the country‟s efforts to alleviate poverty through strengthening performance. Although, the findings show that the overwhelming respondents ascertain the importance of hard working, however most of the youth tend to relate work to mainly material benefits. Therefore, the study concluded with the mixed work ethics that both good work ethics and inappropriate work ethics are organizational realities that co-exist together. Finally, this study recommended that it is paramount importance to encourage skilled craftspeople and launch a cultural reform activity that brings attitudinal changes to the society in general and to the job seekers in particular; there should be precepts and guideline outlining appropriate and inappropriate use of the Internet in the workplace; and learning and development schemes should be implemented that focus on bringing about attitudinal changes.