WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT AS A TOOL FOR COST REDUCTION AND PROFIT MAXIMIZATION (A CASE STUDY OF UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC, LAGOS STATE)

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to examine and evaluate the working capital management as a tool for cost reduction and profit maximization, a case study of Unilever Nigeria Plc, Lagos State. To this effect, working capital is current assets less current liabilities. This study covers in detail, all aspects of working capital management in a manufacturing companies which includes; cash, inventories, and marketable securities. A total number of 21 personnel staff were chosen as the population of study. This number was later scaled down to a sample size of 20. The sources of data used were both primary and secondary sources of data. The primary sources of data are interviews, while the secondary sources of data are obtained from other related literature. The analysis and discussion of the results of the study is in relation to working capital management as a tool for cost reduction and profit maximization. Research instruments used were interviews and questionnaires. The data collected were analyzed critically using tables and chi-square (x2) distribution from the researchers finding. It will be seen that working capital management created a lot of problems in today’s business environment. This can be attributed to the dynamics nature of business operations due to global development of science applied in business. The researcher recommends that seminars and workshops should be organized for the staffs and management of the company on the effect and advantages of effective and efficient working capital management. 
TABLE OF CONTENTS Title page Approval page Dedication Acknowledgment Abstract Table of contents
CHAPTER ONE  1.0  Introduction 1.1  Background of the study 1.2  Statement of the problem 1.3  Objectives of the study 1.4  Research questions 1.5  Formation of hypothesis 1.6  Significance of the study 1.7  Scope and limitation of the study 1.8  Definition of terms            References     
CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW  2.1  Working capital management and its significance to the firm 2.1.1Definitions      2.1.2Importance of working capital management   2.1.3The need for working capital       2.2  Components of working capital       2.2.1Current assets       2.3  Financing working capital       2.4  Profitability as a measure of firms performance          References      
CHAPTER THREE 3.1  Research design and methods      3.2  Population of the study       3.3  Determination of sample size       3.4  Questionnaire design     3.5  Description of respondents      3.6  Method of data analysis           References     
CHAPTER FOUR  4.0  Presentation, analysis and interpretation of data      4.1  Data analysis    4.2  Analysis of hypothesis formed   
CHAPTER FIVE 5.0  Summary, Recommendations and Conclusion     5.1  Summary of finding     5.2  Conclusion     5.3   Recommendations     Bibliography     Appendix     Questionnaire