CIVIL SERVANT PERCEPTION OF THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF OFFICE POLITICS IN PUBLIC SERVICE OF CAMEROON

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Naturally, politics is an integral aspect of human existence and perceived by many as an inevitable aspect of society that is not inherently negative but has permeates into organization whether private or public like civil service According to Basu (2020) the Civil Service of any country enjoys efficiency and effectiveness to the extent the government of the day objectively yields to its procedural capacity objectives and bureaucratic stability, geared towards the promotion of sustainable human development. This in no small measure ensures effective nation building and economic stability. The  Cameroon Civil Service, according to Akinyemi  (2022) is said to be an exception of this assertion. . For instance, certain administrative confusion has be-clouded the atmosphere of Cameroon civil service, especially as regards nomenclatural positions of top civil servants occupying sensitive offices, while in active service 

Apparently, the office is frequently a source of controversy when it comes to politics, as individuals typically strive to assert their influence over others. Reactions to such endeavours are not consistently favourable and rarely do individuals opt to evade office politics by adopting a neutral stance. As to the findings of Adams et al. (2021), the overall political behaviour inside an organisation encompasses the act of exerting influence over individuals and events in order to achieve personal objectives, promote organisational objectives, or safeguard self-centred interests. These political behaviours are likely to result in a conflict of interests, which impacts the way employees interact and engage with each other and their employers. 

An exemplary instance is illustrated by Postma (2021), who recounts being terminated on the pretence of financial constraints. Indeed, there was a person in a position of power who desired the removal of this employee. The foregoing case indicates that office politics are inescapable, even when one does not want to engage in them. However, self-serving leaders have the ability to prioritise their own interests, disregarding the well-being of personnel, including those who are not directly engaged in political matters. Consequently, numerous employees are compelled to engage in politics in order to protect their interests. Employees that excessively engage in office politics allocate less time to productive work activities (Aransyah & Hetami, 2021). Consequently, the organisation also experiences the harmful effects of toxic business politics. 

Conversely, in the opinion of Ferdinand (2020) power and workplace politics manifest in organizations public sector, from governing how decisions, are made to how employees interact with one another. Similarly, Chaudhary (2022) observed that organizational politics is endemic to organizations because people come to work situations with many goals, not just one unified goal. These goals invoke conflict and competition among workers in the organization, thus he argued that organizational politics involves amassing organizational power for personal benefits, rather than organizational objectives which when these expectations are not met, triggered negative emotions and dissatisfaction. However, the impact of power and politics depends on whether employees use positive or negative power to influence others in the workplace. Office politics, defined as the use of power and social networking within an organization to achieve personal goals (Bacharach, 2019), can create a challenging work environment that affects employee

As observed by Vredenburgh & Shea-VanFossen, (2020), engaging in politics diminishes an individual's work and ultimately impacts the productivity of the organisation. Empirical evidence suggests that persons who engage in political behaviour in the workplace have reduced levels of work focus. Consider the case of an employee who experienced a partial stroke and asserts that they are unable to do the duties for which they were hired, however can still participate in meetings, workshops, and training sessions both inside and outside the organization. This ability is attributed only to their membership in a labor union. An individual of this nature will have a greater inclination towards engaging in gossip and malicious criticism. They will primarily devote their time on criticizing their colleagues. Due to workplace politics, employees are unable to meet targets within the specified timeframe. Consequently, work is delayed in such an organization and in the case of civil service, delivery of service to the public is made a facade.Therefore, this study seeks to assess civil servant perception of the causes and consequences of office politics in public service of Cameroon.

Statement of the Problem

It is no doubt that the Cameroon Civil Service plays a pivotal role in the administration and implementation of government policies and programs. However, in recent times, processes and procedures within the civil service has been increasingly perceived as being influenced by workplace politics, which undermines the principles of meritocracy and fair play (Ezeani, 2020). This perception of politicized recruitment,  promotions has raised significant concerns about the overall efficiency, morale, and effectiveness of the civil service workforce. The promotion process is expected to reward competence, dedication, and performance, yet anecdotal evidence and some empirical studies suggest that factors such as political connections, favoritism, and ethnic affiliations often overshadow merit-based criteria (Olaopa, 2018). More so, Fayo (2020) pointed the issue of office politics may involve the presence of unqualified personnel in crucial positions, inaccurate decision-making, misallocation of organizational resources, fraudulent actions, and sustainability-related challenges. An individual lacking the necessary qualifications may be appointed to a crucial role inside a company if they demonstrate a comprehensive comprehension of the strategic maneuvers necessary to secure the job. This will have a substantial effect on an organization's decision-making process, especially in terms of effectively utilizing available resources and making judgements that are not based on economic factors. Thus  eerroneous decision-making can result in fraudulent actions, misallocation of resources, and impede the advancement of organisational growth. 

Additionally, in his study, Egwu (2019) opined that the impact of workplace politics in civil service is not limited to individual morale and service delivery but also extends to broader organizational culture and integrity. When procedures and processes are perceived as being politically motivated, it fosters an environment of mistrust, cynicism, and intra-organizational conflicts. This can further exacerbate issues of corruption and malpractice within the civil service, as employees might resort to engaging in unethical behaviors to secure  benefits (Olaopa, 2018). Such an environment not only hinders the development of a professional and competent civil service but also affects the overall governance and development outcomes in Nigeria. Therefore, there is an urgent need to critically evaluate the perceived impact of workplace politics on staff promotion within the Nigerian Civil Service. Thus, this study seeks to assess civil servant perception of the causes and consequences of office politics in public service of Cameroon.

 1.3  Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to assess civil servant perception of the causes and consequences of office politics in public service of Cameroon. Specifically, the study will;

Identify the perceived causes of office politics among civil servants in the public service of Cameroon.

Examine the consequences of office politics on the work environment and employee morale in the public service of Cameroon.

Assess the impact of office politics on job performance of civil servants in Cameroon.

1.4  Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

What are the perceived causes of office politics among civil servants in the public service of Cameroon?

How does office politics affect the work environment and employee morale in the public service of Cameroon?

What is the impact of office politics on the job performance of civil servants in Cameroon?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

H0: Office politics has no significant consequences on the work environment and employee morale in the public service of Cameroon.

Ha: Office politics has a significant consequences on the work environment and employee morale in the public service of Cameroon.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The study will amplify the perspectives and apprehensions of civil servants in relation to internal power dynamics within the workplace. Through emphasising their perspectives, the study will enable government employees to participate in productive discussions regarding workplace concerns, champion beneficial transformations, and actively pursue support systems to manage difficulties. Additionally, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regard to civil servant perception of the causes and consequences of office politics in public service of Cameroon.

1.7 Scope of the study   

The scope of this study is boarded on civil servant perception of the causes and consequences of office politics in public service of Cameroon. Empirically, the study will identify the perceived causes of office politics among civil servants in the public service, examine the consequences of office politics on the work environment and employee morale in the public service and assess the impact of office politics on job performance of civil servants in Cameroon.

Geographically, the study will be delimited to civil servants in Cameroon.

1.8 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents. In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed. More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

 1.9 Definition of Terms

Office Politics: refers to the strategies and behaviors that individuals use within an organization to gain advantage, power, or influence.