CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Technology has affected humanity and its surroundings in a number of ways and has helped to develop more advanced economies (as well as today's global economy). Technology, simply put, is a means of harnessing and exploiting our understanding of nature for our own benefit. It is an application of knowledge for practical purposes. It is used to improve the human condition, natural environment or to carry out other socio-economic activities. It could also be defined or refers to all processes dealing with materials and their end products. One important attribute of technology is that it does not just happen; it is developed and learned whether in the farm of manual skills or as applied science. It is the systematic application of collective human rationality to the solution of human problems through the assertion of control over nature; technology is the engine of growth. Technology can be traced historically to the beginning of time to be man's quest to improve his way and quality of life. According to Egbogah (2012), Technology is the total and complete application of man's knowledge, skills, tools, and materials. It is the use of scientific knowledge to develop and produce goods and services useful to man. It is a practical problem-solving enterprise, which is propelled by scientific discovery or by societal needs.
Many factors contribute to employees’ productivity, and as such most employees look out for certain indices or red flags before deciding to be a part of any organisation. One of such includes technological environment. What then is a technological environment? Technological environment has to do with the state of science and technology in a particular nation and associated aspects such as degree of technological development, institutional provisions for development and presentation of new technology, among others (Kriti Chouhan, 2015). Nigeria, as a country at 60, is open to many possibilities, and it is a great opportunity to digitally transform its economy in preparation for the Industrial Revolution. Developmental gaps remain huge; despite the abundance of human and natural resources, Nigeria is blessed with so many factors, including poor leadership, mismanagement, corruption, nepotism, which are responsible for this lacuna in the country’s growth. Many of these identified challenges have continued to plague the economy as a whole, with none of the sectors spared. Despite this, the information and communications technology (ICT) sector has remained relatively stable. In 2015, telecoms' contribution to GDP stood at eight percent and had grown significantly quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year, to reach the current milestone of contributing 14.30 percent to GDP in Q2, 2020.
In Redeemer’s University, the ultimate goal is the acquisition, conversation, dissemination, and application of knowledge. Its mission is to continuously impact society through commitment to excellence in education, research, creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, and raising global leaders as change agents imbued with God-fearing attributes. The University has a functional IT department. The Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Unit supports Redeemer’s university in administration (Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Bursar, Registrar, Librarian, Admissions Office, Chief Security Officer, Secretary), research (ICT and ACEGID), and academics (Dean Of Faculties, Head of Departments, Lecturers, etc.) by providing information technology infrastructure, support, and services. The IT department collabourates with tech firms, staff, and students on innovative IT solutions to meet the diverse needs of the university. They enable employees to develop software to address specific needs and empower students to securely create new applications with the use of Edusocial app, Learn app, LMS (currently in use), The library system, e-learning boards/magic board, Google meet and zoom for our online classes (recorded zoom classes), e-portal (both students and staffs) where students registration and payments are being made, school tab, social media (WhatsApp, Instagram), etc.
According to the definition of technological environments, its aspects are; rate of technological progress, institutional arrangements for the development, and application of new technology. These aspects will be used to evaluate its impact on employees’ productivity within Redeemer’s University, which are the technological progress, its institute for development, and its application of its advance and new technologies. Acquisition of advanced technological tools by a firm is to improve the employees’ performance and productivity, communication, efficiency, facilitate job tasks, and better levels of effectiveness in the work space. Advance technology in the firm has changed the way of performing jobs, improved employee performance, and productivity as well as curtail the employee working effort and task completion time because new technology is not only essential for a firm or government, it is also beneficial for a nation.
This study, seeks to study the impact of the technological, environmental aspects on staff/employees' productivity in Redeemer’s University.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Employees’ productivity has become a widely discussed subject in management studies, and this is so because of its financial and moral effect on the organisation’s overall outlook and stance in the industry in which it operates. Today, organisations that are still operating with old technologies are finding it difficult to retain employees as a result of many millennials quitting the workforce because of work load on them due to outdated technologies in the firm (Dauda & Akingbade, 2015). Thus, employee turnover greatly demands management attention and do whatever they can to retain and motivate existing employees. The ability for the employees to grasp and put to effects the technological tools of the firm is also important.
Certain corporations are late in their approach and utilisation of the technological advancements that are occurring in current times. Some purposefully choose to stay true to the technological foundation with which the organisation was built, and others simply do so as a result of ignorance of the trends in the technological environments. Altogether, the advancement of the times and the availability of such technological progress are left to the decision-making processes and management positions in these organisations who are responsible for the optimisation and utilisation of such technologies.
Required that the continuous upgrade across all corporations and industries would visualise a greater output and productivity for the organisation and economy, organisations need to be made aware of the collective impact of technological advancement and how it particularly entails a more positive and productive outcome in the economy. This helps to buffer the growth and development process, which in turn enables gross development in societies and communities.
Yuvraj (2015), in his research, discovered that most companies that have better output deploy technologically advanced techniques to solving most of their internal and external problems. The failure of the other companies may be due to low or no deployment of technology, financial incapability, or plain old ignorance; hence the difference is clear. Other challenges with this research which focused on the technological aspects which are; advancement of technological environment, the impact of technological tools on employees’ productivity level, application of new technology for efficiency and effectiveness of employees in Redeemer’s University, which rest on the fact that this study is not specifically based on a particular theory or a specific model in generating the hypothesis that could be tested.
With the improvement in technology in Nigeria, more work productivity and better output are expected, and this has been achieved over the years with studies testifying to this fact. Having noticed the research work is to evaluate the advancement of technological environment effect on employees’ productivity in Redeemer’s University.
1.3 Research Questions
The study seeks to provide answers to the following research questions:
- What is the relationship between advancement in technological environment and employees’ productivity?
- Does technological environmental tools have an impact on the productivity level of employees?
- Does gadget and computers have a significant influence on employees’ productivity?
- Does internet connectivity have a significant influence on employees’ productivity?
1.4 Objectives of the Study
The following are the detailed objectives of the study:
- To examine the relationship between advancement in technological environment and employees’ productivity.
- To determine the impact of technological environmental tools on productivity level of employees.
- To evaluate the significance of gadgets and computers on employees’ productivity.
- To estimate internet connectivity significant influence on employees’ productivity
1.5. Research Hypotheses
This research studies the following research hypotheses.
Ho1: There is no relationship between advancement in technological environment and employees’ productivity.
Ho2: Technological environment tools do not have an impact on employees’ productivity level.
Ho3: Gadgets and computers has no significant influence on employees’ productivity.
Ho4: There is no significant influence of internet connectivity on employees’ productivity.
1.6 Significance of the Study
The study helps management, business owners, researchers, consumers, Redeemer’s’ University Management, scholars and other stakeholders in business identify the antecedent of job satisfaction, employee productivity, and every aspect of the technological environment. The study also provides a better understanding of the relationships among the variables on how this would help the organisation in sustaining or improving its overall retention strategy. This research will come in handy as a point of reference as it will be useful for schools, staff, or researchers who want to carry research in this regard. The study will also be a welcome tool for school management as it will provide a working formula on how to keep track of employee productivity and how technology plays a huge role in this. Staff in the department found the research useful in their bid to seek more knowledge on the topic and other related topics.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The scope of the study is to examine the impact of technological environment on employees’ productivity in Redeemer’s University. It is therefore focused on measuring the impact of technological aspects, which has to do with the rate of technological progress, institutional arrangements for the development, and application of new technology to optimise employees’ productivity. In terms of geographical coverage, this study is delimited to staff and non- academic staff in Redeemer's University.
1.8. Definitions of Terms
Technology: This is the sum total of advanced techniques, skills, methods, and processes involved in the running of daily academic activities in Redeemers’ University.
Employees: The total of staff that makes up the academic and non-academic team of Redeemers’ University.
Productivity: This has to do with the act/presentation of the staff, both teaching and non-teaching staff using the technologies available to their advantage for job efficiency and effectiveness.
IT: The IT department is Redeemers’ University, also referred to as (ICT) Information Communication and Technology is comprised of professional IT specialists who make up the company's core team. The role of IT in Redeemers’ University is seen in how it can help your Redeemers’ University become more productive, increase performance, save money, improve the customer experience, streamline communications and enhance managerial decision-making
