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 Rivers State.

Rivers 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

While succession planning is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on employee productivity within Rivers State remains sparse and, in places, contradictory. This lack of localized, rigorous evidence makes it difficult for decision-makers to know with confidence whether current approaches to succession planning are helping or hindering employee productivity — a gap this study sets out to close.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Succession Planning on employee productivity in Rivers 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 Rivers 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

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around employee productivity. For managers and practitioners within Rivers State, the study provides practical insight into how succession planning can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on human resource management by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to an examination of Succession Planning and its relationship with employee productivity within the context of Rivers State. It reflects a clearly defined scope of analysis and relies on data and perspectives available within that scope; generalizing the findings beyond this specific context should therefore be done with appropriate caution.