THE IMPACT OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) IN PUBLIC SECTORS LIKE BANKS (A CASE STUDY ECO BANK)
ABSTRACT
The main purpose of this research is to determine the impact of information and communications technology (ICT) in banking industries. In order to achieve this purpose or objective very successfully, the research has taken into consideration, the meaning or concept of information communication technology (ICT), the negative and positive effects of information communication technology (ICT) the characteristics or attitudes of information communication technology (ICT), the personnel /staff, etc. Having observed the above, the research equally delved into the problems associated with information communication technology (ICT). Consequently, the conclusions reached were maintenance or repair cost are some of the problems associated with information communication technology (ICT) in banking industries. The researcher made some useful recommendation that would aid the effective management and applied information communication technology (ICT).
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Information is not only the basic of human existence. It is also the life wire for running of any organization. This is consequently upon the fact that decision – making and effective execution of those decision, there must be constant information flow. Data gathered must be transmitted to the end – users after it had been processed. Information receipt, processing, storage, dissemination, etc. may be instant; otherwise valuable business opportunities might be lost. That is what information communication technology (ICT) seeks to do in public administration and management.
The development of information communication technology (ICT) has come a long way. The first writing in the world was invented by Egyptian priests around four thousand B.C. at first, the writing was serie of whole picture, which ware drawn to tell a story. This took a long time to represent the whole. Much later on still, the picture were drawn not to represent objects. But to represent sounds, thus the picture of a house was drawn not to represent the actual building, but the sound “haus” Gradually, themethod of writing was improved upon until one letter was used to represent one sound. This is how the first alphabets was made. The priests wrote with a reed pen and made ink by mixing soot and gum with water.
But the scope of the writing the HIERIOGLYPHICS was restricted to priests; hence it was called SACRED writing. The writing was used to record important religious ceremonies, medical facts and records of kings and nobles. The most important writings were recorded or carved on stones while the less important records were kept on thin stripes from a reed known as PAPYRUS, a plant that grew on the banks of the River Nile. The modern wword “paper” came from papyrus. Other ancient ways of writing include the SUMMERIAN CUNEFORM, ANTHENIAN OSTRAKON, JEWISH SCROL or parchment, which was written on animal skin.
For their information dissemination, the ancient world employed a number of ways. The Greek used runners. The marathon race today is in honor of an Athenian runner who not only ran all the way from Athens to Sparta to call the Spartans to the battle field, but also after the Persians had been defeated at a place called marathon, ran a further 35 kilometers to Athens to report the vistory, after which he fell down dead after announcing the victory. The old-talking drums, gongs, etc. were also used to send out information. In emergency situations, a section of the forest could be set on fire to warn people of impending or sudden enemy attack. All those various means of receiving, storing and sending information in the ancient times have been replaced by the vast array of machines in the modern world. This is what is called information communication technology (ICT), which refers to a host of equipment and materials, essentially computer-based that are used in the modern world for information receipt, processing, storage and dissemination.
The invention of the printing machine by a German called john Guttenberg: the calculating machine invented by Charlse babbage in 1855: The typewriter invented in 1967 by the Sholes brothers of America: the invention of the telephone in 1876 by Scot Alexdra Graham bell; the invention of radio in 1895 by Marches Marcini; the television in 1922 by johnlogis barrd; the turnaround brought about with the invention of the photographing machine in 1826 by joseph Niece, a French and so on have marked a turning point in information communication technology (ICT). From the earliest times to the modern times, precisely the twenty-first century, information communication technology (ICT) has spanned three distinct stages. These are:-
- Primary stage – use of human labour
- Secondary stage – use of electrical machines
- Tertiary stage – use of electronics machines.
The modern age is aptly called the age of machines or the machine age. This is true in the light of the numberless communication gadgets and information equipment that have flooded the market. But the greatest of this revolution is the computer, which has now revolutionized the modern business world.
The primary stage was the period during which labour was used enormously in information receipt, storage and dissemination. At that time, electricity was not popular as it came into human existence in 1831 by Michael faraday the manual typewriter came under this stage.
The secondary stage was the period during which electricity became the source of power for some machines the electric typewriters came under this stage and also many other machines that became electrically powered. The last stage is the tertiary stage, which is the present age of electronics, is the power source of communication equipment.
- Statement Of The Problems
Information communication technology (ICT) has given birth to many complex machines, some of which are beyond the operational scope of an average business man. According to Hirsch, the machine age brought about the development of methods. Business executive, administrators, managers and staff need to go beyond their natural endowment to be able to understand the operations and procedures of these machines and also be able to operate these machines themselves. This makes training a sine-qua-non, but only very few businesses an individuals can effort the high cost of training required to operate those machines. This cost become impossibility when it involves an overseas training course.
Moreover, the costs of acquiring the machines are very exorbitant. The exchange rate of the naira is too down to earth when compared with other major currencies of the world, like the American dollars, British pounds, Japanese yen, etc.
Deeds thousand naira which is out of financial capability of some business organizations, how much more the computer, photocopiers, fax machines, etc. whose costs run into nearly hundreds of thousands of Naira to purchase. The high cost of machines is almost defeating the goal of information communication technology (ICT).
Another problem associated with information communication technology (ICT) is servicing and maintenance of the machines. All these machines are manufactured in highly technologically advanced countries such as Germany, France, America, Japan, Britain, etc. when they are imported into Nigeria and other third world countries, the user nations lack the expertise and technical know-how to maintain and service the machines. This is because the qualified service personnel required to service machines are not brought along with the machines. The implications of this are that half-baked technicians are forced to service the machines. Rather than putting the equipment back into use, they spioil it.
The results in scrapping many of the machines when these machines breakdown, the businesses can no longer use them and the operations of that business are greatly impaired.
Finally, the world of information communication technology (ICT) is an ever-changing sea. The rate at which the manufacturers and producers turn out these machines overwhelms stakeholders in the business world. It is very difficult to keep pace with the influx of these communication gadgets. As new discoveries are made, new machines are manufactured with their attendant different operational procedures. This keeps stakeholder on their toes as they are unsure about what is to replace the present machines.
The main purpose of this study is to find out the impact of information communication technology (ICT) in banking industries using Eco bank as a case study.
In addition, this study will also try to:-
- Establish the true meaning of business in the modern world;
- To find out the personal characteristics or the essential qualities appropriate for information communication technology (ICT) personnel;
- To find out the personal characteristics or the essential qualities appropriate for information communication technology (ICT) personnel:
- Determine the different environments under which businesses are operated in the modern world of information communication technology (ICT)
- To find out the various information communication technology (ICT) machines used in banking industries.
- To identify some of the correction symbols used in information communication technology (ICT)
- To make recommendations on ways and means of making information communication technology (ICT) more efficient and effective.
This study is limited to the effects made by information communication technology (ICT) in banking industries. This covers both the positive and negative impact of information communication technology (ICT).
- Research questions
- Has information communication technology (ICT) made any impact on BANKS in Nigeria?
- What are the various information communication technology (ICT) equipment used by banks in Nigeria?
- In what way has information communication technology (ICT) negatively affect banks in Nigeria?
- What are the personal characteristic and attributes of BANKS staff in the age of information communication technology (ICT)?
- What are the correct symbols, reference materials and standard abbreviations used by BANKS staff in information communication technology (ICT)?
- Research Hypothesis
The following hypothesis have been advanced for the purpose of this study:
Hi .information communication technology (ICT) has a direct impact in banking industries and management
Ho . information communication technology (ICT) has no direct impact in banking industries and management
H.i information communication technology (ICT) has not revolutionized the business world;
Ho. information communication technology (ICT) has not revolutionized the business world;
Hi.A business cannot be successfully run today without the information communication technology (ICT).
Ho. Various machines and equipment are use in information service
Hi. Various machines and equipment are not use in information service.
THE IMPACT OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) IN PUBLIC SECTORS LIKE BANKS (A CASE STUDY ECO BANK)
