Enhancing organizational efficiency by strategically training employees in ICT.

A study of
Natpham branch Masvingo.

1.0 Introduction
The significance of using ICT has been undermined by many organizations
mainly due to fear 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
not spared either. This research will then seek to investigate the impacts or
benefits of ICT training amongst employees at the organization.

1.1. Background of study

Information and the technologies that store and disseminate it are producing
deep-rooted and widespread changes in society - changes of the same
magnitude as those that occurred during the Industrial Revolution (Carvalho
et al, 2019). This modern 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. There is hardly
an aspect of our lives that has not been transformed by technology; itself
an ever-evolving range of inventions like mobile technologies and
artificial intelligence that constantly impact nearly all aspects of our world
(Pauliuk et al, 2022). As organizations strive to compete in the global
economy, differentiation on the basis of the skills, knowledge, and
motivation of their workforce takes on increasing importance (Lee et al,
 Enhancing organizational efficiency by strategically training employees in ICT. A study of
Natpham branch Masvingo.

2020). Consequently, companies which have invested in training programs

have realized an advantage over those who have not according to (Waqar,
2018).

Abdus (2011) conducted a research where the author wanted to determine

the role of training and development programs on organisational
performance in Pakistan. The study revealed that most companies in
Pakistan other than multi-national companies did not have learning and
develepment stratergies where employees could advance and grow in their
line of work. The author argued that there is a gap between knowledge and
skills acquired and imparted in the institutions an example being industrial
environments. The study concluded that training and development cannot be
seaparated from a business because there exist a positive relationship
between training and organisational performance. There is a relationship
between training, development and employee performance as asserted by
Waqar et al (2018). The study determined that there was a positive impact
that was inflicted by training and development programs at an organization.
The authors therefore concluded that organizations that have invested in
training and development programs have enjoyed improved employee
output.

ICTs use in companies has increasingly been adopted. Mohammad Rezaei et

al (2014) investigated the effects of IT on productivity at Shahr Bank in Iran.
The results indicated that the use of IT by employees will improve the
productivity indices among them. This makes employees more willing to
perform their roles which results in the improved human resources
productivity. In addition, the study also revealed that IT as a set of generated
ideas provided through software mechanisms to employees and
organizations played a significant role in human resources development.
 Enhancing organizational efficiency by strategically training employees in ICT. A study of
Natpham branch Masvingo.

Similarly, (Najeeb, 2013) carried out an empirical study on the impact of ICT
training Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Companies in Amman. The study
revealed that there was high level of information and communication
technology training in pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in Amman
which indicate there was awareness among respondents in relation to the
dimension of information and communication technology which therefore
can enhance employees’ performance through information and
communication technology tools.

The Small Scale and Medium Enterprise sector has been lagging in the use of ICTs.
(Taylor, 2015), investigated the adoption and use of ICTs in small and
medium enterprises in the United Kingdom. It was obtained from the data and
findings of the study that the implementation of ICTs in SMEs is different
from that in large organizations mostly due to the specific characteristics of
this sector like resource constraints. The author however, asserted that SMEs
in both developing and developed countries must weigh the benefits brought
by adoption of ICT against the non-benefits. Despite the urgent need of
adopting ICTs in the SME sect or, the author identified lack of resources, ICT
illiteracy, and fear of change as some of the factors hindering the adoption of
ICTs in the small and medium enterprise sector. According to (Manikandan,
2022), ICTs played a pivotal role during the covid-19 pandemic which caught
the world unprepared. ICT tools were the only way of communicating,
learning and doing business because most countries restricted travelling.
The study also highlights the role which ICT played in the discovery of the
vaccines and medicine to cure and prevent against the pandemic.

Previous studies have proven that ICT and employee training are two of the
important factors which influence the performance and output of an
organization. This study follows after previous researches on the subjects by
 Enhancing organizational efficiency by strategically training employees in ICT. A study of
Natpham branch Masvingo.

different scholars at other companies in Zimbabwe and outside. Most of the

studies on this subject were conducted before the Covid - 19 global
pandemic which has impacted on the adoption and use of technology and
this therefore creates a gap in the knowledge thus the author seeks to cover
the gap through research. Also, previous studies have not categorized the
extend of improvement for every group of employees in an organization
therefore the study will categorize and quantify the changes by each group
of employees.

1.2. Problem statement

Over the years, NatPham has continued to grow as an organization and this
involves 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 have been
made on data management and communications systems. The researcher
therefore wants to investigate or assess if the adoption of various ICT
technologies is contributing to organizational efficiency at Natpharm.

1.3. Aim
The aim of this study is to assess the benefits of employee training in ICT on
organizational efficiency at NatPham Masvingo.

1.4. Objectives
1. To highlight the basic ICT skills needed by employees at NatPham.

2. To investigate the level of ICT literacy among employees at

NatPham Masvingo branch.
 Enhancing organizational efficiency by strategically training employees in ICT. A study of
Natpham branch Masvingo.

3. To assess the benefits brought with the learning ICT in day to day
operations at NatPham.

4. To determine the challenges faced by NatPham in training

employees in ICT.

5. To highlight the measures and recommendations to overcome the

challenges faced in training workers.

1.5. Research Questions

1. What are the basic ICT skills that employees need to possess at
NatPham?

2. Which are the skills in ICT that workers currently have at NatPham
Masvingo branch?

3. What are the benefits that can be achieved by training NatPham

workers in ICT?

4. What challenges are being faced by NatPham in training ICT?

5. How can NatPham overcome the challenges faced in training

employees?

1.6. Definition of terms

ICT (Information and Communications Technology or technologies) - it is the
infrastructure and components that enable modern computing enabling
 Enhancing organizational efficiency by strategically training employees in ICT. A study of
Natpham branch Masvingo.

receiving and distribution, processing and storage , retrieving and analyzing

digital information between people and machines (Taylor, 2015).

Organizational efficiency - Organizational efficiency is the organization's

ability to implement its plans using the smallest possible expenditure of
resources (Investopedia, 2020).

1.7. Research Hypothesis

Employee training in ICT will improve the efficiency and productivity of
NatPham.

1.8. Significance of study

This study will benefit several stakeholders directly and indirectly. The
various stakeholders who can benefit from the study include:

NatPham

The organization will get the much needed insights on the benefits of
training employees in ICT. This can foster more investment in this
department thus enabling growth and efficient running of the organization.

The author

The research will give the author an opportunity to dig into depth on issues
relating organizational efficiency and development which adds to his skills.
Through writing this dissertation, the author gains experience in research
which can be used in future in other researches.

Great Zimbabwe University

 Enhancing organizational efficiency by strategically training employees in ICT. A study of
Natpham branch Masvingo.

The publication of this research by the university adds to the university

library and this dissertation can be used by other researchers interested in
related matters to further research and develop more information.

Organizations

Various organizations, whether related to NatPham or unrelated, can use this

research and its findings to relate to their situation. They can also adopt the
solutions made in this research and implement them to enable efficient
operation of their organizations.

To General public

Through adoption of measures suggested in this study, members of the

public can enjoy the benefits of an organization which is digitalized and run
in the modern way. This reduces delays and inconveniences caused by
manually operated systems.

1.9. Delimitations of the study

Geographically, the study was limited to NatPham branch in Masvingo city
because the author have unlimited access to the facilities and respondents.
The scope of the study was targeted at NatPham which is an organization
that is in the pharmaceutical industry. This was done to promote
homogeneity in the research because accommodating organizations from
different sectors could distort the research conclusions .
 Enhancing organizational efficiency by strategically training employees in ICT. A study of
Natpham branch Masvingo.

1.10. Limitations of the study

Like most researches, this research was also subject to limitations which
include:

a. Limited time - the researcher had limited time to conduct the research
hence the number of respondents that was chosen was smaller than in
the case when time was adequate. This was mainly attributed to the
need to balance work and school. However, the author managed to
choose a sample enough to validate the findings of this research.
b. Inadequate data provided by respondents - respondents who used the
online method in answering questionnaires would provide inadequate
information therefore leading to nullifying of their responses. This
further trimmed down the sample size since the author could not
accommodate invalid responses.

1.11. Structure of the dissertation

This dissertation is made up of five chapters. The first chapter comprises of
introduction, background of the study, problem statement, aim, objectives,
and significance of study, research hypothesis, limitations and delimitations
of the study. The second chapter is a literature review wherein various
sources are cited. The author also included an empirical review, conceptual
framework and a theoretical framework. Chapter 3 comprises of the
methodology that is the way the researcher conduct this study. Research
philosophy, research strategy, research instruments, validity of research,
research population and sampling techniques were included in this chapter.
Chapter 4 is mainly findings from the techniques used to obtain data from
respondents. Lastly, chapter 5 is the concluding chapter comprising of
conclusions and recommendations which were made basing on the findings.
 Enhancing organizational efficiency by strategically training employees in ICT. A study of
Natpham branch Masvingo.

1.12. Conclusion
The first chapter is an introduction to the research topic. It comprises of
introduction, background of the study, problem statement, aim, objectives,
and significance of study, research hypothesis, limitations and delimitations
of the study. The next chapter is a literature review where several sources
were used to develop the chapter.