From manual to digital: The impact of networking tools on administrative effectiveness in higher education

Abstract

The integration of Information Technology (IT) in administrative settings has significantly enhanced management efficiency, minimized paperwork, and facilitated faster and more accurate service delivery. Despite these benefits, many administrative officers in higher education institutions still underutilize or neglect the adoption of networking tools, thereby limiting administrative effectiveness. This study aimed to investigate the impact of networking tools on administrative effectiveness in higher education institutions in Enugu State, Nigeria. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted for the study. The population consisted of 213 administrative staff members (111 males and 102 females) drawn from Enugu State College of Education (Technical) and the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 103 administrative officers from the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu. Data were collected using an 18-item instrument titled Administrative Officers’ Achievement Test (AOAT). The data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to assess the pre-test and post-test results. The findings revealed that the use of networking tools significantly improved office management and service delivery compared to traditional administrative methods. Based on the findings, it is recommended that administrative officers should adopt networking tools in their daily operations. Furthermore, regular upskilling programs such as seminars, workshops, and conferences should be organized to equip administrative staff with relevant computer networking skills.

Keywords: Information and communication technology (ICT), computer networking, digital literacy skills, internet, colleges of education, administrative officers.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0