Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Succession Planning has increasingly attracted the attention of researchers, regulators, and practitioners concerned with employee productivity. This growing interest reflects the recognition that succession planning does not operate in isolation, but interacts with a wider set of institutional and market conditions found within Ogun State.

Ogun State presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on succession planning, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with employee productivity, particularly within Ogun State. Many organizations continue to make decisions about succession planning without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect employee productivity. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Succession Planning on employee productivity in Ogun State.
2. To assess the extent to which succession planning influences employee productivity within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with succession planning in relation to employee productivity.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing succession planning in order to improve employee productivity.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of succession planning on employee productivity in Ogun State?
2. To what extent does succession planning influence employee productivity within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with succession planning in relation to employee productivity?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize succession planning in order to improve employee productivity?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Beyond its academic contribution to the field of human resource management, this study has practical value for management teams within Ogun State seeking to understand how succession planning translates into measurable outcomes around employee productivity. It is equally useful to students and future researchers looking for a localized empirical reference on this relationship.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this study confines itself to Ogun State, focusing specifically on how succession planning relates to employee productivity within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.