Enhancing organizational efficiency by strategically training employees in ICT.
A study of
Natpham branch Masvingo.
Table of Contents
Introduction..................................................................................................................................2
Background of study....................................................................................................................2
Problem statement........................................................................................................................3
Aim...............................................................................................................................................3
Objectives.....................................................................................................................................4
Research Questions......................................................................................................................4
Definition of terms.......................................................................................................................4
Literature review..........................................................................................................................5
Theory on ICT and efficiency..................................................................................................5
The use and roles of ICT in organizations...............................................................................5
Contribution of ICT to organizational efficiency.....................................................................5
Methodology................................................................................................................................6
Research strategy......................................................................................................................6
Research Instruments...............................................................................................................6
Data Analysis and Review.......................................................................................................6
References....................................................................................................................................6
Enhancing organizational efficiency by strategically training employees in ICT. A study of
Natpham branch Masvingo.
Research Topic: Enhancing organizational efficiency by strategically training employees in
ICT. A study of Natpham branch Masvingo.
Introduction
The significance of using ICT has been undermined by many organizations mainly due to tear of
changing and learning therefore leading to using rudimentary methods. However, the coming of
the COVID-19 global pandemic was an alarming signal to many organizations on the
significance of having a comprehensive ICT system within an organization. The pandemic was
characterized by mainly lockdowns and strict traveling restrictions. Business was conducted
online, meetings were attended online, churches, lectures and many other events were conducted
online because gathering of people was banned. This gave many organizations an insight on the
importance of implementation of ICT in an organization and NatPham was no spared either. This
research will then seek to investigate the impacts or benefits of ICT training amongst employees
at the organization.
Background of study
Since the early years of the 20th century, the world has been experiencing a revolution known as
information technology. Some consider it to be the most fascinating development since the
industrial revolution around the mid-18th Century (Tom, 1991). This revolution is changing our
daily lives at home and at work, in shops and banks, in schools, colleges and universities. It is
changing the way people think, communicate and behave. Today, the world has become a global
village with the internet, mobile phones and satellite networks shrinking time and space, bringing
together computers and communications; resulting in new ways of communication, processing,
storing and distributing enormous amounts of information (UNDP, 2001). Advancement in chip,
satellite, radio, and optical fiber technology have enabled millions of people around the world to
connect electronically regardless of national or international boundaries. This explosion in
connectivity is the latest and the most important wave in the information revolution (Evans &
Wurster, 1997). Information Technology (IT) is clearly considered as a key growth area in this
century, specifically, in a dynamic and highly competitive business environment which requires
utilizing advanced IT tools to improve efficiency, cost effectiveness, and deliver high quality
Enhancing organizational efficiency by strategically training employees in ICT. A study of
Natpham branch Masvingo.
products and services to customers (Allen & Morton, 2004). IT is also considered as a tool of
marketing, contacting customers and looking for possible customers, as well as presenting IT
services as distinguished potential services for customers (UNDP, 2001; Werthner & Klein,
2005).Organizations are increasingly using information technology to develop solutions to
business problems, to improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of the decision-making
process, to enhance productivity and service quality, to achieve dynamic stability, and compete
for new markets. According to Cerere (1993) organizations have always sought and adopted
technologies that enhance efforts of their manpower in production and management. Indeed, he
noted that although it has evolved over a considerable period of time, information technology has
emerged as an important tool in management of organizational operations3
Problem statement
Organizational efficiency is the organization's ability to implement its plans using the smallest
possible expenditure of resources. This means creating smart business goals that use only the
resources absolutely necessary for success. The goal is to minimize risk as much as possible. The
more easily and cost effectively an organization reaches its goals, the more profitable it will be
(Investopedia, 2020). Over the years, NatPham has continued to grow as an organization and this
involved a change in its operations and processes. There has been a significant growth in the
number of technological devices used by staff at NatPham at the Masvingo branch. Also,
significant investments were made on data management and communications systems. The
researcher therefore wanted to investigate or assess if the adoption of various ICT technologies
was contributing to organizational efficiency. The researcher anticipates to reveal some of the
benefits of adopting ICT systems which includes reduced time on dealing with clients, data
accuracy, fast error detection, easy problem diagnosis amongst many other benefits which
improves organizational efficiency. (Griffith, 1999) asserts that, Information technology
researchers have empirically demonstrated that IT investments enhances firms productivity,
management capabilities and comparative advantage therefore the author of this research
directed this to focus on the effects of ICT on efficiency.
Enhancing organizational efficiency by strategically training employees in ICT. A study of
Natpham branch Masvingo.
Aim
To assess the benefits of training employees in ICT at Natpham.
Objectives
1. To highlight the basic ICT skills needed by employees at an organization.
2. To investigate the level of ICT literacy among employees.
3. To determine employees' perceptions towards using ICT in their work.
4. To assess the changes brought with the learning ICT in day to day operations at Natpham.
Research Questions
1. What are the basic ICT skills that employees need to possess at an organization?
2. Which are the skills in ICT that workers currently have?
3. How do employees perceive the use of ICT in everyday operations?
4. What are the changes that can be achieved by training workers in ICT?
Definition of terms
ICT (Information and Communications Technology or technologies) - it is the infrastructure and
components that enable modern computing. It also refers to the devices, applications, media,
associated hardware and software that receive and distribute, process and store, retrieve and
analyze, digital information, between people and machines (as information) or among people (as
communication). In the organizational context, ICT refers to a broad range of computer-based
digital systems from transaction and information processing to wired and wireless
communication media, connected through internal intranet or external Internet and wireless
networks. The list of ICT components is exhaustive, and it continues to grow. some examples of
ICT components include mobile phones, computers, smartphones, digital TVs and robots.
Organizational efficiency - organizational efficiency examines how to increase the output an
organization can achieve, using a specific amount of resources. The more output delivered using
those same resources, the more efficient the organization is.
Strategic training - it is the process of designing specific employee training programs that
directly align with business needs. Training with a strategic focus develops the capabilities and
Enhancing organizational efficiency by strategically training employees in ICT. A study of
Natpham branch Masvingo.
tools that employees need to successfully carry out their jobs. In turn, the capabilities gained give
organizations a competitive edge.
Literature review
Theory on ICT and efficiency
The author selected the Theory ov Planned Behaviour (TPB) as the guiding yheory for this
research. The theory suggests that a person's intention to perform certain behavior is the central
determinant of that behavior because it reflects the level of motivation a person is willing to exert
to perform the said behavior (Teece et al., 1997). The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)
proposes that A fundamental principle of socio-technical systems thinking is that a technology
on its own has little meaning for purposes of organizational performance analysis. It can only be
understandable in terms of the context in which it was embedded and the organizational goals or
transformations that it serves or enables.
The use and roles of ICT in organizations
Non-government organisations (NGOs) have traditionally contributed significantly to a
countrys future, however, to continue this work effectively in todays technological age, they
need not only the technology but the skills to use and gain value from applications from which
the technologies have enabled. Furthermore, they require timely access to markets to enable the
sharing and dissemination of the information obtained. Often NGOs are at a grass-root level;
these organisations give assistance to communities at a local level by the local or common man.
Grassroot NGOs are a life line for many people in developing countries in improving skills,
knowledge, and support from outside the confines of their small, isolated communities.
Many organisations perceive IT as an important tool to optimize operations and conduct
information exchanges.
Information technologies can provide powerful strategic and tactical tools for organizations,
which, if properly applied and used, could bring great advantages in promoting and strengthening
their competitiveness (Porter, 2001). IT can be a means of facilitating communication and the
exchange of information and/or facilitating knowledge sharing between various departments and
functions in the organization. In this light IT can act as an enhancer of collaboration and a
Enhancing organizational efficiency by strategically training employees in ICT. A study of
Natpham branch Masvingo.
networking tool amongst employees, customers and partners because it removes the barriers to
real-time communication and effective information sharing (Scott, 2001).
IT helps organisations innovate through fusion of new technologies with society and business
thus enabling the creation of new knowledge and discovery (Diem, 2007). IT is being used by
organizations to improve performance, communication, motivate employees, increase
competitiveness, improve market dynamics, and repositioning the company against its
competitors facilitating entry into new markets (Hagen, 2010).
Methodology
Research strategy
The author will apply quantitative approach in order to answer the research questions.
Quantitative research focuses on numbers to derive the implications of a phenomenon therefore
the author chose this method.
Research Instruments
The researcher will use mostly questionnaires to obtain data from respondents who were
randomly selected from the study population. The questionnaires will be administered using both
physical and online methods.
Data Analysis and Review
Data was analyzed using statistical models which establish relationships between two or more
variables.
References
Dieweri, W. E., & Smith, A. M. (1994). Productivity measurement for a distribution firm.
Journal of Productivity Analysis, 5(4), 335-3476
Evans, P. & Wurster, T. (2007). Strategy and the New Economics of Information. Harvard
Business Review, 70-82.
Enhancing organizational efficiency by strategically training employees in ICT. A study of
Natpham branch Masvingo.
Harris, S. E. & Katz, J. L. (1991), Organizational Performance and Information Technology
Investment Intensity in the Insurance Industry, Organizational Science, Vol. 2(3): 263-296.7
Tom, P. L. (1991). Managing information as a corporate resource. New York, NY: Harper Collins
Publishers7
UNDP (2001). GEO-3: Global Rnvironment Outlook; Chapter 2; Socio-economic background;
Global overview.7
