ASSESSING THE EFFECT OF ICT ON THE JOB  PERFORMANCE OF TEACHING STAFF OF THE FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, EDE

ABSTRACT

 

The main aim of this study is to determine the effect of information technology on the performance of staff in Federal Polytechnic Ede, Osun State. Data was collected using hand delivery of questionnaire survey approach, which is the primary data. The study used unsystematic random sampling procedure in selecting the respondents as the sample. A total of 60 questionnaires distributed, 52 respondents were found to be useable for further analysis representing approximately 87% valid response rate. Chi-Square (X²) technique was used to analyze the data. The findings showed that a positive correlation exists between ICT and the performance of staff in the institution. The findings revealed that ICT introduction  has resulted to a proportionate increase in staff overall performance based on the technological factors, which has brought about increases in the skills of workers, staff productivity, communication rates and also help to reduce stress and workload within the Polytechnic. This is confirmed by the level of hypothesis and calculated value which revealed that an insignificant size of staff performance exist without the adoption of ICT. The outcome of this study provides important information on the impact of ICT adoption on staff performance and their operations in Federal Polytechnic Ede, Osun State.

 

CHAPTER ONE

 

INTRODUCTION

 

1.1. Background to the Study

It is observed that more and more organizations in Nigeria are shifting towards ICT driven systems to enhance its effectiveness and competitiveness, such as computer education. Computers are device capable for data storage and processing. Computer technology are being used for financial, sending and receiving, emailing etc; however, almost every management activity in our tertiary institutions requires computer technology, that is why computer education becomes imperative in workers in in tertiary institutions. Ogunkola, (2008) opined that without computer education one cannot be able to make progress as far as his career options are concerned except it is matched with knowledge of computer technology. He further noted that ICT tool to be used in management and administration of institutions is the computer, together with basic software packages like MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or the equivalent open source packages, and access to email and the internet. Computer has been described as an automatic electronic machine that performs calculation. It is capable of accepting data, and performing operation according to instruction (programme), and providing result of the operation with great speed and accuracy.

In relation to the use of ICT on staff performance in various polytechnics in Nigeria which is the core of this work, various studies revealed that using ICT will promote issues on students‟ admission, planning and computation of students‟ results, staff development, record keeping, communication, quality assurance and staffing, financial management and information dissemination will increase the efficiency of tertiary institutions if Information Communication and Technology facilities are adequately and properly utilized, Lawsent and Vincent-Loncrin (1995); Foray (2004); Omirin, (2007). Thus, in developing countries including Nigeria, the argument is no longer whether or not educational institutions should invest in ICT (OECD,2005).

Going by the institutional objectives, with man power shortage to properly handle students records and ICT facilities in Nigerian educational institutions, it is therefore paramount to assess the effect  of ICT on staff performance in Federal Polytechnic Ede, Osun State.

1.2. Statement of the Problem

There is increase in student’s population in higher institutions which accelerated the need for ICTs to process, store and retrieve data in a fast, systemic and accurate fashion. The importance of e-administration in higher education is on the increase due to efficient electronic administration and handling of existing resources economically. The introduction of ICT in our educational sector aims at simplification of a lot of diversified management and administrative tasks. According to Sanat (2006), the use of ICT in higher educational institutions starts with the stages of receiving e-notifications regarding admission, course schedules, and billing procedures and continues till the end of the course including online publication of results. The Action Plan for reforms in the field of higher education revealed that the potential of Information Communication Technology (ICT) should be fully utilized (UNESCO 1998).

The main functional areas of e-administration in higher institutions are; Management Information System (MIS) which is a necessity in university administration, since it is required for need assessment, logistics and planning, resources utilization, operational control and management or evaluation of results, the second is financial management.

Therefore, ICT is supposed to be an integral part of the management process and its potential capacity in university administration will go a long way in ensuring institutional effectiveness. Computer-based MIS in the universities is used for the process of mechanized analysis, updating, storage, display and retrieval of sets of information, particularly those connected with the management and operational sides of administrative decisions. With all the mentioned potential of ICT most Nigerian tertiary institutions are yet to fully adapt to the use of ICT in the workers in their institutions.

However, there are still missing data‟s and results here and there due to inadequate record keeping; wastage of human material and time due to inadequate communication network; also lack of staff development and constraints of man power shortage to handle ICT facilities.

With respect to these problems, the study is interested in identifying the effect of ICT on staff performance in Federal Polytechnic Ede, Osun State.

1.3. Objective of the Study

The broad objective of this study is to assess the impact of ICT on  staff performance in Federal Polytechnic Ede, Osun State. The specific objectives of this study are to;

1. identify how the adoption of information technology affects the performance of staff in Federal Polytechnic Ede, Osun State (Federal Polytechnic Ede).
2. assess the effect of ICT on the performance of staff in Federal Polytechnic Ede.
3. establish the relationship between ICT and Staff performance in the study area.

 

1.4. Research Questions

The study would examine the following questions;

1. To what extent does the adoption of information technology effect staff performance in Federal Polytechnic Ede, Osun State?
2. To what extent has ICT effect the performance of staff in Federal Polytechnic Ede?
3. How do we establish the relationship between ICT and Staff Performance in Federal Polytechnic Ede?

1.5. Hypotheses

1. H0 (1): The adoption of information technology has no significant effect on staff performance in Federal Polytechnic Ede, Osun State.

1.6. Significance of the Study

This study revealed the relevance of information and communication technology particularly as it relates to workers in in tertiary institutions. Similarly, the outcome of the study is expected to assist workers in in tertiary institutions in their decisions towards Information and Communication Technology. The research is of benefit to researchers who are expected to acquaint themselves with this research and source out knowledge that can be of benefit to their research. The outcome also revealed how Information and Communication Technology can be improved in workers in in tertiary institutions as such it can be a useful source of literature review.

The results, conclusions and recommendations of this study are useful to tertiary institutions when using the computer for managerial activities to set up guides based on their needs for use of emerging information technologies. Similarly, the study will help fill the gap discovered in the empirical studies on the use of ICT on workers in tertiary institutions in Anambra State, Nigeria. Findings are expected to provide feedback on the areas of ICT usage which management staff can engage in for speeding managerial activities as well as suggested various computer facilities to engage other Stake holders, government agencies and foreign bodies. In addition, the result of this study is beneficial to National Universities Commission (NUC).

 

1.7 Scope of the Study

The scope of the study the effect of ICT on staff performance in Federal Polytechnic Ede, Osun State. The research work was only limited to staff of the  polytechnic as selected by the researcher.

ASSESSING THE EFFECT OF ICT ON THE JOB  PERFORMANCE OF TEACHING STAFF OF THE FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, EDE

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