From Tech Skills to Performance Gains:How Digital Literacy Drives Productivity Improvements in the Public Sector

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54201/iajas.v4i1.93

Keywords:

Digital literacy, Access to ICT, Employee productivity, motivation, Digital skills, ICT adoption

Abstract

With rapid technological advancements, developing a digitally literate workforce is imperative for public sector organizations to enhance performance. However, research linking digital literacy and employee outcomes in developing country contexts has been limited. This study investigated the relationship between digital literacy and productivity among local government employees in Nigeria. A survey was conducted with 113 employees in Ilorin West Local Government in Nigeria. PLS-SEM was used for the analysis. Digital literacy demonstrated significant positive effects on productivity. Access to ICT positively moderated the digital literacy-productivity relationship. The study makes important theoretical contributions by extending ICT adoption research to public sector contexts and revealing the performance benefits of digital literacy in the workplace. Practically, it capacitates public organizations to increase investments in structured digital skills development programs to motivate employees and unlock productivity improvements.

Author Biographies

  • Kazeem Adebayo Oladimeji, Al-Hikmah University

    Lecturer, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

  • Abdulrazaq Kayode Abdulkareem, University of Ilorin

    Lecturer, Department of Public Administration, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

  • Abdulhakeem Adejumo, Federal University Dutse

    Senior Lecturer, Department of Political Science, Federal University Dutse, Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria

References

Abane, J. A., Adamtey, R., & Ayim, V. O. (2022). Does organizational culture influence employee productivity at the local level? A test of Denison’s culture model in Ghana’s local government sector. Future Business Journal, 8, 34. http://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-022-00145-5

Abdulkareem, A. K., Abdulhakeem, A., & Ajadi, I. A. (2018). Local Government Internally Generated Revenue And Administrative Costs: A Question Of Efficiency. Journal of Techno-Social, 10(2), 22–28. https://doi.org/10.30880/jts.2018.10.02.004

Abdulkareem, A. K., Ameen, A., & Ishola, A. A. (2016). A Review of E-Government as a Tool for Building Citizens Trust in the Nigerian Government. Sahel Analyst: Journal of Management Sciences, 13(2), 77–86. Online: https://shorturl.at/oBHR8

Abdulkareem, A. K., & Mohd Ramli, R. (2021). Does trust in e-government influence the performance of e-government? An integration of information system success model and public value theory. Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, 16(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1108/TG-01-2021-0001

Abdulkareem, A. K., & Oladimeji, K. A. (2024). Cultivating the digital citizen: trust, digital literacy and e-government adoption. Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy. https://doi.org/10.1108/TG-11-2023-0196

Abdulkareem, A. K., Oladimeji, K. A., Ishola, A. A., Bello, M. L., Umar, A. Y., & Adejumo, A. (2024). Investigating ICT adoption and public value of e-recruitment in the public sector: the role of social media use. International Journal of Public Sector Management, 37(2), 284–304. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-10-2023-0307

Abdulkareem, A. K., & Ramli, R. M. (2021a). Does digital literacy predict e-government performance An extension of Delone and Mclean information system success model. Electronic Government, an International Journal, 17(4), 466–493. https://doi.org/10.1504/EG.2021.118103

Abdulkareem, A. K., & Ramli, R. M. (2021b). Evaluating the performance of e-government: Does citizens’ access to ICT matter? Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 29(3), 1507–1534. https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.29.3.03

Agundu, U. C. (2008). Credibility and capacity building in local government – strategic cash management imperatives – a case study of Rivers State of Nigeria. Journal of Financial Management & Analysis, 21(2), 57–65. Online: https://shorturl.at/mstZ4

Alao, D. O., Osakede, K. O., & Owolabi, T. Y. (2015). Challenges of local government administration in Nigeria: Lessons from comparative analysis. International journal of development and economic sustainability, 3(4), 61–79. Online: https://shorturl.at/dgDH2

Alvarenga, A., Matos, F., Godina, R., & Matias, J. C. O. (2020). Digital Transformation and Knowledge Management in the Public Sector. Sustainability, 12(14), 5824. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12145824

Asah, F. N., Kaasbøll, J. J., & Anthun, K. S. (2022). Obstacles of eHealth Capacity Building and Innovation Promotion Initiative in African Countries. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 299, 33–43. https://doi.org/10.3233/shti220961

Bandura, A. (1989). Regulation of cognitive processes through perceived self-efficacy. Developmental psychology, 25(5), 729–735. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.25.5.729

Belshaw, D., & Higgins, S. (2011). Digital literacy, digital natives, and the continuum of ambiguity. Online: https://shorturl.at/fgrM8

Bjorklund, F. (2016). E-government and moral citizenship: the case of Estonia. Citizenship Studies, 20(6–7), 914–931. https://doi.org/10.1080/13621025.2016.1213222

Calvani, A., Fini, A., & Ranieri, M. (2009). Assessing digital competence in secondary education. Issues, models and instruments. In M. Leaning (Ed.), Issues in information and media literacy: Education, practice and pedagogy (pp. 153–172). Informing Science.

Chetty, K., Qigui, L., Gcora, N., Josie, J., Wenwei, L., & Fang, C. (2017). Bridging the digital divide: measuring digital literacy. Economics Discussion Papers, No 2017-69. Kiel Institute for the World Economy. Online: https://shorturl.at/ltAP5

Chohan, S. R., & Hu, G. (2022). Strengthening digital inclusion through e-government: Cohesive ICT training programs to intensify digital competency. Information Technology for Development, 28(1), 16–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/02681102.2020.1841713

Chukwudi, A. S. (2015). Manpower development, capacity building and service delivery in Ife-East Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria. Journal of Public Administration and Policy Research, 7(1), 1–14. http://doi.org/10.5897/JPAPR2013.0262

van Deursen, A. J. A. M., & van Dijk, J. A. G. M. (2009). Improving digital skills for the use of online public information and services. Government information quarterly, 26(2), 333–340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2008.11.002

van Deursen, A. J. A. M., & van Dijk, J. A. G. M. (2010). Civil servants' internet skills: are they ready for e-Government? In M. A. Wimmer, J.-L. Chappelet, M. Janssen, & H. J. Scholl (Eds.), Electronic Government. EGOV 2010. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 6228 (pp. 132–143). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-14799-9_12

van Deursen, A. J. A. M., & van Dijk, J. A. G. M. (2015). Internet skill levels increase, but gaps widen: a longitudinal cross-sectional analysis (2010–2013) among the Dutch population. Information, Communication & Society, 18(7), 782–797. http://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2014.994544

van Deursen, A. J. A. M., & van Dijk, J. A. G. M. (2016). Modeling traditional literacy, Internet skills and Internet usage: An empirical study. Interacting with Computers, 28(1), 13–26. http://doi.org/10.1093/iwc/iwu027

van Dijk, J., & Hacker, K. L. (2018). Internet and democracy in the network society. Routledge.

Dong, L., Jamal Mohammed, S., Ahmed Abdel-Al Ibrahim, K., & Rezai, A. (2022). Fostering EFL learners’ motivation, anxiety, and self-efficacy through computer-assisted language learning-and mobile-assisted language learning-based instructions. Frontiers in psychology, 13, 899557. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.899557

Dunleavy, P., Margetts, H., Bastow, S., & Tinkler, J. (2006). New public management is dead–long live digital-era governance. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 16(3), 467–494. https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/mui057

Eakin, H., Eriksen, S., Eikeland, P.-O., & Øyen, C. (2011). Public sector reform and governance for adaptation: implications of new public management for adaptive capacity in Mexico and Norway. Environmental management, 47, 338–351. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-010-9605-0

Escobar, F., Almeida, W. H. C., & Varajão, J. (2023). Digital transformation success in the public sector: A systematic literature review of cases, processes, and success factors. Information Polity: The International Journal of Government & Democracy in the Information Age, 28(1), 61–81. https://doi.org/10.3233/IP-211518

Falck, O., Heimisch-Roecker, A., & Wiederhold, S. (2021). Returns to ICT skills. Research Policy, 50(7), 104064. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2020.104064

Ferrari, A. (2012). Digital competence in practice: An analysis of frameworks. Publications Office of the European Union Luxembourg. https://doi.org/10.2791/82116

Grindle, M. S. (1997). Divergent cultures? When public organizations perform well in developing countries. World Development, 25(4), 481–495. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(96)00123-4

Hardyman, W., Garner, S., Lewis, J. J., Callaghan, R., Williams, E., Dalton, A., & Turner, A. (2022). Enhancing public service innovation through value co-creation: Capacity building and the ‘innovative imagination’. Public Money & Management, 42(5), 332–340. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540962.2021.1981042

Hasan, S. M., Rahman, M. S., Rahman, M. M., Mamun, M., & Rahman, M. M. (2022). Improving ICT Literacy through Participatory Approach: A Study on Human Capital Development Projects under LGSP in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Public Administration, 30(3), 51–79. http://doi.org/10.36609/bjpa.v30i3.377

Hatlevik, O. E., Throndsen, I., Loi, M., & Gudmundsdottir, G. B. (2018). Students’ ICT self-efficacy and computer and information literacy: Determinants and relationships. Computers & Education, 118, 107–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2017.11.011

Ibok, E. E. (2014). Local governance and service delivery in Nigeria. Caribbean Journal of Sciences and Technology, 2(1), 536–541. Online: https://shorturl.at/awXZ3

Igbokwe-Ibeto, C. J., & Osakede, K. O. (2023). Nigerian public service and the dilemma of good governance: examining the normative and empirical challenges. Advance Journal of Management and Social Sciences, 7(1), 41–57. Online: https://shorturl.at/uEKW9

Jumayev, B. A., & Nazarov, S. (2022). Impacts of IT-related group tasks on capacity building of young scholars. In Proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on Computer Systems and Technologies (pp. 125–129). Association for Computing Machinery. http://doi.org/10.1145/3546118.3546122

Kislov, R., Waterman, H., Harvey, G., & Boaden, R. (2014). Rethinking capacity building for knowledge mobilisation: developing multilevel capabilities in healthcare organisations. Implementation Science, 9, 166. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-014-0166-0

Lopes, A. S., Sargento, A., & Farto, J. (2023). Training in Digital Skills—The Perspective of Workers in Public Sector. Sustainability, 15(13), 10577. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310577

Martin, A., & Grudziecki, J. (2006). DigEuLit: Concepts and tools for digital literacy development. Innovation in teaching and learning in information and computer sciences, 5(4), 249–267. https://doi.org/10.11120/ital.2006.05040249

Miller, C., & Bartlett, J. (2012). ‘Digital fluency’: towards young people’s critical use of the internet. Journal of Information Literacy, 6(2), 35–55. http://doi.org/10.11645/6.2.1714

Mukerji, S., & Tripathi, P. (2019). Professional Skill Enrichment in Higher Education Institutions: A Challenge for Educational Leadership. International Journal of Technology-Enabled Student Support Services (IJTESSS), 9(2), 14–27. http://doi.org/10.4018/IJTESSS.2019070102

Newman, J., Cherney, A., & Head, B. W. (2017). Policy capacity and evidence-based policy in the public service. Public Management Review, 19(2), 157–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2016.1148191

Ng, W. (2012). Can we teach digital natives digital literacy? Computers & Education, 59(3), 1065–1078. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2012.04.016

Nikolopoulou, K., & Gialamas, V. (2016). Investigating Young Children’s Engagement with Computer Use as a School Activity: A Pilot Study. In P. Anastasiades, & N. Zaranis (Eds.), Research on e-Learning and ICT in Education: Technological, Pedagogical and Instructional Perspectives (pp. 47–57). Springer. http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-34127-9_4

Nurdin, N. H., & Purna, Z. A. (2023). Unleashing the Power of Capacity Building: Transforming Governance and Policy Implementation in the Digital Era. KnE Social Sciences, 8(17), 274–288. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v8i17.14121

Oyedele, S. O., Osezua, E. M., Abdulkareem, A. K., & Ishola, A. A. (2017). Local Government Administration and National Development in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects. Ilorin Journal of Human Resource Management, 1(1), 142–154. Online: https://shorturl.at/lCEJR

Pepinsky, T. B., Pierskalla, J. H., & Sacks, A. (2017). Bureaucracy and service delivery. Annual Review of Political Science, 20, 249–268. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-polisci-051215-022705

Prenestini, A., & Lega, F. (2013). Do senior management cultures affect performance? Evidence from Italian public healthcare organizations. Journal of Healthcare Management, 58(5), 336–351. http://doi.org/10.1097/00115514-201309000-00007

Setiawan, A., Tjiptoherijanto, P., Mahi, B. R., & Khoirunurrofik, K. (2022). The Impact of Local Government Capacity on Public Service Delivery: Lessons Learned from Decentralized Indonesia. Economies, 10(12), 323. http://doi.org/10.3390/economies10120323

Simmonds, H., Gazley, A., Kaartemo, V., Renton, M., & Hooper, V. (2021). Mechanisms of service ecosystem emergence: Exploring the case of public sector digital transformation. Journal of Business Research, 137, 100–115. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.08.008

Sobeck, J., & Agius, E. (2007). Organizational capacity building: Addressing a research and practice gap. Evaluation and Program Planning, 30(3), 237–246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2007.04.003

Vimalkumar, M., Singh, J. B., & Gouda, S. K. (2021). Contextualizing the relationship between gender and computer self-efficacy: An empirical study from India. Information & Management, 58(4), 103464. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2021.103464

Zia, S., Ahmad, K., Alvi, F. S., & Sheikh, K. S. (2021). Capacity Building and Skill Enhancement of Rural Females through Livestock Extension Education. Journal of the Punjab University Historical Society, 34(1), 117–129. Online: https://shorturl.at/gptDY

Zou, D., Zhang, R., Xie, H., & Wang, F. L. (2021). Digital game-based learning of information literacy: Effects of gameplay modes on university students’ learning performance, motivation, self-efficacy and flow experiences. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 37(2), 152–170. http://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.6682

Downloads

Published

2024-06-26

How to Cite

From Tech Skills to Performance Gains:How Digital Literacy Drives Productivity Improvements in the Public Sector. (2024). Institutiones Administrationis - Journal of Administrative Sciences, 4(1), 56-73. https://doi.org/10.54201/iajas.v4i1.93