The Impact of Information and Communication Technology on the Efficient Management of Public Enterprise
Chapter One
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.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Introduction
The idea of the information and communication technologies was not studied in brief in the literature by either scholars, researchers, or practitioners within the industry, though it is a very significant part of the proficiency of the organization and the organization work, mostly in SMEs (Kashmeeri et al., 2022; Moshin et al., 2013; Meo et al.,2020; Suki et al.,2022; Chowdhury et al., 2021). Furthermore, ICTs are one of the main elements which define the current century and have a fundamental role as a basis for adopting and implementing innovative practices, companies need to develop management and production methods so that they can compete globally and in the competitive market. According to Kroh, Luetjen, Globocnik, and Schultz (2018), the effect of this typically greatly improves the creativity of innovative goods and procedures that lead to customer satisfaction promotion and encourages demand for the organization’s other products through the efforts of the information and communication technologies. Also, Karadal and Saygin (2011) argued that the implementation and adoption of IT have important positive consequences for the output of innovative products and thus innovation, which enables businesses to use IT to generate new ideas and to incorporate them in manufacturing processes to deliver the product that they need. Sunday and Vera (2018) considered the degree to which companies intend to optimize the everyday practices of innovation, the ICTs shall firstly be adopted and enforced, and, on appeal, the information and communication technology programs should be compatible with all activities of corporate innovation. Therefore, in addition to the two complementary variables, there are sufficient literature arguments that demonstrate the presence of empirical evidence for the connection between the ICT’s as well as for effective and valuable use of information and communication technologies capabilities, which can rise businesses for creation and use (Moshin et al., 2013; Islam et al.2020; Chaudhary et al.,2022; Ali et al.,2021; Saif et al.,2022; Awan et al.,2022). Likewise, Ismail and Mamat (2012) determined that both the information and communications technologies are highly relevant as innovations for researchers, scholars, industry practitioners, politicians, administrators, and government agencies as well as enterprise programs. In the literature, theoretical and scientific studies are very popular, given that introduction and application of information and communication technologies offer an incentive for companies to develop their innovation practices efficiently and effectively, enabling them to obtain or increase their competitive edge (Tallon, Queiroz, Coltman, & Sharma, 2019). Nowadays, a large proportion of the businesses in many countries, primarily SMEs, devote a vast portion of their financial capital to purchasing or renewing information and communication technology, which function as a commercial practice as well as a corporate routine (Ismail & Mamat, 2012). In the areas of customer relationship management, enhanced manufacturing procedures, supply chain management, innovation, and other important practices of the organizations these firms regularly use information and communication technologies (Dehgani & Navimipour, 2019), In addition to significantly enhancing their competitiveness (Dehgani & Navimipour, 2019). In this respect, a number of scholars, researchers, and business and computer r scientists have used information and communication technologies in designing engineering practices as a fundamental aspect (Zheng, Hatakka, Sahay, & Andersson, 2018).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design
This study adopts a descriptive survey research design. The survey design is considered appropriate because it allows the researcher to collect data from a large number of respondents within the selected organization in order to examine their perceptions of ICT and its impact on efficient management in public enterprises. According to Creswell and Creswell (2018), a survey design enables the collection of standardized information that can be statistically analyzed to test hypotheses and answer research questions. This design is also suitable because it focuses on describing, explaining, and exploring the relationship between ICT application and management efficiency at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Warri.
Area of the Study
The area of this study is NNPC, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), located in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. NNPC is a leading public enterprise in Nigeria responsible for petroleum exploration, refining, and distribution. The Warri refinery is one of the key subsidiaries of NNPC, and it provides a practical case for investigating the role of ICT in ensuring efficiency in operations, administration, and service delivery.
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Population of the Study
The population of this study comprises all employees of NNPC, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company. According to the Human Resources Department (2024 records), the total workforce of NNPC Warri is 1,245 staff, covering both administrative and technical units. These employees represent different departments where ICT facilities are applied for information management, decision-making, and operational efficiency.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION
Introduction
This chapter presents the data collected from respondents in NNPC, Warri, on the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on efficient management in public enterprises. The analysis is organized around the research questions stated in Chapter One. Responses were gathered through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, and mean scores, while interpretations were made in line with the research objectives.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary of the Study
This study investigated the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on the efficient management in public enterprises, using the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Warri, as a case study. Two research questions guided the study:
- Are information and communication technology really necessary in a business organization?
- Will management of information be better handled by employing experts?
A descriptive survey research design was employed. The population comprised 1,245 employees of NNPC, Warri, from which a sample of 303 respondents was selected using stratified random sampling. A structured questionnaire served as the instrument for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency counts, percentages, and mean scores.
The results revealed that:
- ICT is considered highly necessary in business organizations, as a large majority of respondents strongly agreed that ICT enhances communication, record management, service delivery, and overall efficiency.
- The management of organizational information is perceived to be better handled by employing ICT experts, since expertise ensures accuracy, reliability, security, and efficiency in information processing and management.
These findings are in line with earlier scholarly works such as Laudon and Laudon (2020) and O’Brien and Marakas (2019), who highlighted ICT as an indispensable resource for organizational competitiveness and efficiency.
Conclusion
Based on the findings, the study concludes that ICT is an essential requirement for effective and efficient management in public enterprises. The integration of ICT tools into daily operations enables faster communication, better decision-making, improved service delivery, and enhanced accountability. Furthermore, the employment of ICT experts is critical to achieving these outcomes, as skilled professionals possess the technical know-how to manage, secure, and utilize organizational information effectively.
In the context of NNPC, Warri, the study shows that employees strongly perceive ICT as a key driver of organizational performance, while emphasizing the necessity of experts to maximize the benefits of technology adoption. Hence, public enterprises that embrace ICT and invest in human capital development stand a better chance of achieving sustainable efficiency and productivity.
Recommendations
In light of the findings and conclusions, the following recommendations are made:
- NNPC and other public enterprises should increase investment in modern ICT tools and infrastructure to improve efficiency in management processes.
- Management should prioritize the recruitment and retention of qualified ICT professionals who can ensure effective information handling, system maintenance, and innovation.
- Continuous training and re-training of staff on ICT applications should be implemented to close knowledge gaps and enhance digital literacy among employees.
- Government and public enterprise managers should develop clear ICT policies that promote digital transformation, transparency, and accountability in service delivery.
- Public enterprises should not only adopt ICT but also integrate innovative approaches such as cloud computing, e-government platforms, and artificial intelligence to remain relevant in the evolving digital era.
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