The Impact Of Information And Communication Technology On The Efficient Management In Public Enterprise

Project and Seminar material for Public Administration

Abstract

This project focuses on “the Impact of Information and Communication Technology and the Efficiency of Management Information in Public Enterprise, using Nigeria National Petroleum (NNPC), Warri, as a case study. In carrying out the study, research questions is formulated from the statement of the problems. The researcher examined the uses of the information and communication technology in carrying out office functions, its contribution to the efficient management of information in the organization and a comparison between the productivity of workers in a computerized environment and those using manual system of information processing. The study revealed that information and communication technologies have been of tremendous assistance to the organization. Based on careful analysis of the data collected, the following recommendations are made. Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) should organize training programmes on continuous basis for staff to increase their skills and efficiency on the job. Also, machines and equipments should be upgraded to meet production targets and there should be establishment of information and communication technology.

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Communication and information management occupy the central place in every organization. There is virtually no office where one form of communication or the other does not exist. Communication has greatly assisted in the growth of business as well as in the control of activities of the organization. The rapidity with which the world is changing as we all know today is no more news. The heart of these changes is the various forms of computer based information communication technologies that abound.

According to Odgers (2002), Information Technology (IT) is the study, designed, development, implementation, support and management of computer-based information system particularly software applications and computer hardware. It could also be describe as technology that combines computing with telecommunication and networking to produce unable information. It is the engine that growth and development in the organization is tied. It points and indicates the pace of events, fashioning the way we live, work and conduct business.

Innovation in information and technology is a welcome development both in business and in the public sector. Communication is essential to the organized effort involved in business. Communication enables human beings to work together in an organization, it is the vehicle through which management perform its basic functions. Managers direct through communication, coordinate through communication and staff, plan, control through communication.

This research work examined the concept of information and communication technology in the efficient management of information.

It studies the application of information and communication technology in business organizations; this is how people use information and communication technology to store information regarding payrolls, control inventory, analysis of sales and manages laboratory data.

There has never been a greater need for efficiency in management of information than there is today. The need for efficiency, speed and accuracy in management work has necessitated the application of modern technology information management.

Prior to the advent of information and communication technology, most management work was done manually, slowing the pace of work, leading to inefficiency and ineffectiveness. This result was low productivity. To eliminate these negative effects, science and technology has played a great role of improving the methods and machines used in offices. A lot of development has taken place in the last decade with regards to the use of modern offices machines of which the information and communication technology is one of them.

The larger an organization, the more likely it is to be heavily dependent on the information and communication technology. The filling retrieval of information is carried out with ease by giving appropriate commands to the computer to either display such information on the screen (Visual Display Unit) or print the information on paper with the printer attached to the computer.

The use of information and communication technology also ensure security of information as only authorized personnel will have access to such information with the use of a password.

The researcher intended ascertain the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the management of information in business organization with particular reference to Nigeria National Petroleum Corporations, (NNPC) Warri.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

People hardly believe that there is a need to acquire information and communication technology because of the cost involved. Information and communication technology are very expensive so also the cost of operating and maintaining them.

Meanwhile, the state of information management before the introduction of computer was very poor in the sense that most work was done manually.

However, some workers feel threatened by the information, introduction and communication technology. They feel that their jobs will be taken over by the use of information and communication or that their jobs will be mere bottom pushers. They think they will lack personal touch in their jobs, so a feeling of insecurity prevails. It is against this background that the research is been carried out.

1.3 Research Question

In order to conduct a more reliable and guided investigation into the impact of information and communication a business organization, the following are research questions asked.

Are information and communication technology really necessary in a business organization?
Will management of information be better handled by employing experts?
Do information and communication technology necessarily guarantee greater efficiency in an organization?
Do information and communication technology actually take away people’s jobs?

1.4 Research Hypothesis

Null Hypotheses

Ho: There is no significance relationship between information communication technology and business organization.
Ho: There is no significant relationship between information communication technology by employing experts.
Ho: There is no significant relationship between information communication technology and greater efficiency in an organization.

Alternative Hypotheses

Hi: There is significance relationship between information communication technology and business organization.
Hi: There is significant relationship between information communication technology by employing experts.
Hi: There is significant relationship between information communication technology and greater efficiency in an organization.

1.5 Purpose of the Study

The study focus on the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on the efficient management of information in public enterprise like Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Warri, and to find out whether it is necessary for the organization to computerize its operations also, to see how much roles it has played in the enhancement of the information management.

1.6 Scope of the Study

This research work is limited to the impact of information and communication technology on the efficient management of information using NNPC Warri, Delta State as a case study.

Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Warri is a typical organization where set of data such as Quantity and type of products available in its depots and their distribution nationwide are computerized. It has other administration data that are processed with high speed and precision, for clients who are major and independents oil marketers.

1.7 Significance of the Study

The significance of this study is to enlighten the management of the usefulness of information and communication technology, application in an organization and to know how computerization of workers payroll quickens the processing of management request in the organization. Also with the application of computer to be able to provide a reasonable storage information about workers of the organization (department) and how information and communication technology make work easy and convenient for the management.

Although, the finding of this project work is limited to Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Warri, it is believed that individual management and workers of the department in particular might find the outcome valuable.

1.8 Definition of Terms

ICT:

Information and communication technology. It is an umbrella term that includes all technologies for the communication of information. It encompasses any medium to record information (whether paper, pen, magnetic, disk tape, optical disk, CD/DVD, flash memory etc) and also technology for broadcasting information – radio, television, any technology for communicating through voice and sound or images microphone, camera, loud speaker, telephone to cellular phones.

Computer:

A computer is an electronic device that has the ability to receive data internally stored and automatically execute a set of detailed instruction performed either manually, logically or manipulatively and eventually report results.

Internet:

The internet is the largest public communication network, is a gigantic system of network serving millions of computers, offering information on business, science and government and providing communication flows among more tan 170,000 separate networks around the world.

Telecommunication:

It is an alternative work style that allows people to perform their work at hoe connected to office data-based and information system through telecommunication equipment and connected computers.

Electronic Mail:

This is the process of delivering mail by electronic signal over telecommunication lines using a personal computer or desktop terminals.

Electronic Money:

A means of paying for goods and services over the internet.

Electronic Conferencing:

This is sometimes referred to as teleconferencing. This allows groups of people to communicate simultaneously from various locations via-electronic mail and via telephone.

EDI:

Electronic Data Interchange is the transmission of business documents or data over communication media.

Chapter Five

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Introduction

It is important to reiterate that the objective of this study was to examine the Impact of Information and Communication Technology on the Efficient Management in Public Enterprises.

In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in examining the Impact of Information and Communication Technology on the Efficient Management in Public Enterprises.

5.2 Summary

This study was undertaken to examine the Impact of Information and Communication Technology on the Efficient Management in Public Enterprises. The study opened with chapter one where the statement of the problem was clearly defined. The study objectives and research hypotheses were defined and formulated respectively. The study reviewed related and relevant literatures. The chapter two gave the conceptual framework, empirical and theoretical studies. The third chapter described the methodology employed by the researcher in collecting both the primary and the secondary data. The research method employed here is the descriptive survey method. The study analyzed and presented the data collected in tables and tested the hypotheses using the chi-square statistical tool. While the fifth chapter gives the study summary and conclusion.

5.3 Conclusions

In this research work, we have empirically verified and discussed the impact of information and communications technology on the performance of the oil and gas industry. The objective of the study was to identify the usage of information communication technology (ICT) facilities in NNPC WARRI and its impact on its operations performance. Generally, it is observed that ICT impacts the operations performance level of NNPC WARRI as it as its contributes to the operational efficiency and increase productivity level and the decision making process of NNPC WARRI but has not improve the performance level of the oil and gas industry.

Thus, from the foregoing, we can conclude that the use of ICT has not significantly improve the performance of the oil and gas industry but has improve its operations performance of NNPC WARRI.

5.3 Recommendations

On the basis of the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made;

It is essential to install communications and information infrastructures capable of supporting the creation and sharing of information and knowledge in the oil and gas industry through an interactive website.
Consequently, oil and gas industry stakeholders should adopt a longer term strategic approach, including increased Research and Development efforts in the oil sector geared towards developing and implementing new and valuable ICT solutions by training.
There is the need to partner with the ICTs industry, academia and civic organizations to highlight the need for successful adoption and diffusion of ICTs to other organizations.
Obsolete ICT facilities should be should be scrapped; proper maintenance of facilities and available technicians should be made possible through technical support assistance.
More access point for the provision of ICT facilities like internet access should be created and instant emailing services be provided.
Information Technology capability in terms of human resources development, infrastructural and institutional developments should be strengthened and provide the necessary ICT infrastructure to develop, use and diffuse.

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