Practitioner perspectives on Nigerian telecommunications industry privatization

¶ … privatization of the telecommunication industry in Nigeria

QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGN AND SCALE MEASUREMENT

There is much controversy with regard to the contemporary privatized telecommunication companies. In order to gain a more complex understanding of the topic, one would have to interact with people and observe how they feel with regard to the fact that telecommunication companies are being privatized. By addressing senior managers, government officials, consultants, and academia, the research methodology process aims at providing accurate information regarding the way that specific communities feel toward the fact that capitalism is slowly but surely taking over the telecommunication industry in the country.

Measurement is one of the most important steps in this process, taking into account that, in order for it to be reliable and valid, the researcher needs to have a very good understanding of the concepts he or she is measuring.

In order to achieve best results with the questionnaire survey, research is focused on having individuals who take part in it feel comfortable with expressing themselves and actually get actively involved in putting across their exact opinions concerning the topic under discussion.

Validity is going to dominate the questionnaire and the measurement process, as the study is directed at providing readers with truthful responses. This means that the researcher is going to be able to effectively identify cause and effect connections and is going to be more probable to put across information that is as accurate as possible. Internal, external, and construct validity types are going to be taken into account when addressing results from the questionnaire. In order for the study to be effective, answers gathered during the survey need to fit a larger public. By generalizing answers to fit the target population, the overall study is going to be more accurate and is going to reflect ideas expressed by larger communities rather than concepts that only correspond to particular people.

2) DATA COLLECTION AND RESPONSE RATE

From the persons who were presented with the survey, a staggering 70% provided responses. This leads to believe that these people were particularly concerned about having others understand their viewpoint. Furthermore, the fact that such a large number of the persons targeted responded to the survey demonstrates that answers can be generalized to fit the overall population that the study addresses.

What is especially intriguing about the survey's results is that participants were not discouraged by the fact that they needed to complete the surveys themselves. Most people are likely to agree that self-completion surveys typically yield low response rates, with participants feeling that they waste a significant amount of their time addressing questions in the survey. "The ability to tailor persuasion strategies to address a sample person's concerns is highest with face-to-face contact, and is minimal in self-administered surveys." (Groves et. al. 166) This, again, proves that these people wanted to be heard and that they perceived the survey as a tool to put across their thinking regarding the privatization of the telecommunication industry in Nigeria.

The survey took place over a larger time period in order to provide participants with the chance to answer questions at times that suit them. This probably played an important role in getting a higher response rate, especially considering that many respondents were likely to consider the survey time-consuming and to thus delay it in accordance with their schedules.

Sending surveys over the internet certainly involves a series of risks, with one of the principal risks being the fact that there's no certainty that respondents are who they say they are. As a consequence, the current survey was accompanied by chat sessions during which participants were encouraged to support responses they gave.

3) DATA ANALYSIS OF THE PILOT TEST

During pre-testing the survey was presented to several academicians in order for them to validate its general direction and to have them play an active role in providing advice regarding changes that could improve it. Most agreed that questions were valid and that they were necessary in order for the study to yield conclusive results.

The pilot study was meant to anticipate the results of the overall survey and the eventual conclusion of the survey actually demonstrated that pilot studies in general are essential in providing researchers with a more complex understanding of the questionnaire they want to present a community of people with. The pilot study was performed using 20 individuals each belonging to a particular group (senior managers, government officials, consultants, and academia).

Although one would be inclined to believe that pilot studies often fail to provide conclusive results because of their limitation, in this situation the pilot test was actually very close to the actual survey. Most people involved in the test put across their support toward privatizing the telecommunication industry in Nigeria. Sixteen of the people who completed the pilot test seemed to be hesitant about supporting state involvement in the telecommunication industry. Two government officials considered that the government played an important role in regulating the industry and in encouraging the masses to contribute to improving it, and two academicians believed that in particular circumstances the state could actually be as good (if not better) than private bodies in helping the Nigerian telecommunication industry experience progress.

4) SAMPLING DESIGN & TARGET POPULATION

As previously mentioned, the target population chosen for this study is divided into four different groups: senior managers, government officials, consultants, and academia. These four communities were chosen on account of how each of them interacted with the subject under discussion in some way and because they were considered experienced in making it possible to determine whether or not Nigerian telecommunication companies have actually benefited as a consequence of being privatized.

Senior managers are well-acquainted with the benefits associated with doing business without being controlled through illogical legislations and have seen the way that privatization affects the developing world. Similarly, government officials, in spite of their tendency to acknowledge the importance of state involvement in various dealings through the country, have a good understanding of the degree to which institutions should be privatized and the degree to which they should be kept under the government's authority. Consultants and academicians are probably the most experienced in providing constructive answers for this survey. These people have had the chance to interact with environments similar with the one discussed here and have thus seen the way particular actions can help an industry thrive.

5) RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF THE SCALES

Reliability and validity are extremely important when performing a study, as they reveal the quality of the respective research. Random errors can interfere with all studies and it would thus be essential to consider any errors that might have influenced results. "A measurement instrument is valid if it is as free of random errors as possible and additionally conceptually correct." (Schaffer 2) In this situation errors could have largely intervened as a consequence of respondents failing to understand questions. This meant that the study focused on individuals in Nigeria being able to properly comprehend questions associated with the telecommunication industry. The fact that these people were already familiarized with the topic made it less likely that they did not understand why particular questions were part of the questionnaire.

Validity in this study regards conceptual accuracy and involves measuring exactly what the study is expected to measure. By addressing a wide range of individuals in the four communities under discussion, the study was expected to yield results that can be used efficiently and that provide a complex understanding concerning the telecommunication industry in Nigeria.

With the majority of individuals who responded to the questionnaire being familiarized with the topic, the study was able to reflect exact effects of privatization on Nigerian telecommunications. The fact that these people supported the feat and actually emphasized the degree to which the country as a whole benefited from the process demonstrates that privatization actually proves that it represents a positive element. The overwhelming support that the study reveals with regard to privatizing the telecommunication industry only contributes to people thinking that privatization in general supports concepts that can be devastating for a culture as long as they are not properly managed.

7) EXPLORATORY FACTOR ANALYSIS

Senior managers and government officials emphasized their support concerning privatization. Without being able to access resources they needed, many companies that were formerly owned by the state ended up performing poorly and being unable to provide the masses with the technologies they needed.

Even with the fact that these individuals provided conclusive data regarding how the telecommunication industry thrives in an environment of privatized institutions, it is difficult to ignore the numerous variables involved in the study. With Nigeria being a developing country, many individuals inhabiting it are inclined to take on unlawful attitudes in an attempt to increase their profits faster. This means that some might want privatization to dominate the telecommunication industry in order to be able to get involved in illegal activities.

There have been numerous instances in which government officials in particular increased their wealth as a result of engaging in activities that were detrimental for the state in general. "The ability to influence policy makers, to offer various kinds of bribes and incentives for favorable political and administrative actions, places corporate business elites in an advantageous position to entice government officials into corrupt activities." (Farazmand 14) It was thus essential to consider variables associated with people having mixed opinions with regard to the exact effect that privatization is going to have on the telecommunication industry.

8) Conclusion

The questionnaire itself was designed with the purpose to avoid having the study negatively influenced as a consequence of particular respondents wanting to influence people's opinion about the topic. Ideas like "Nigerian Privatized firms conduct their operations in a translucent and in a competently accountable way" were intended to have respondents consider the conditions in which privatization occurs in and to acknowledge that in a society that is constantly improving both from a social and from a technological point-of-view individuals find it more and more difficult to operate without having all of their actions monitored.

Another important variable that needs to be taken into account when discussing with regard to this topic involves the fact that privatization as a whole can be understood differently by particular individuals. The fact that the questionnaire was completed by 90 individuals coming from diverse backgrounds contributes to the idea that it would actually be possible to generalize regarding their answers. Furthermore, with these people being part of communities that have interacted with the telecommunication institutions both before and after they were privatized, the study yielded results that manage to overthrow variables and to essentially enable individuals to have a good understanding of the degree to which the privatization of the telecommunication industry can really have a positive effect on the business environment in Nigeria as a whole.

As shown in Table __ and depicted graphically in Figure __ below, in response to statement 1, "There is a positive impact on privatized telecommunications firms in Nigeria," slightly less than half (47.2%) of the respondents either strongly agreed (17 or 23.9%) or agreed (16 or 22.5%). Eighteen respondents (or 25.4) used the "neither disagree nor agree" option. Just over a quarter (27.1%) of the respondents either strongly disagreed (5.6%) or disagreed (21.1%) that there is a positive impact on privatized telecommunications firms in Nigeria.

Table

Responses to statement 1, "There is a positive impact on privatized telecommunications firms in Nigeria"

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

Valid

Strongly Disagree

4

5.6

5.7

5.7

Disagree

15

21.1

21.4

27.1

Neither Disagree nor Agree

18

25.4

25.7

52.9

Agree

16

22.5

22.9

75.7

Strongly Agree

17

23.9

24.3

Total

70

98.6

Missing

System

1

1.4

Total

71

Figure __. Responses to statement 1, "There is a positive impact on privatized telecommunications firms in Nigeria"

As shown in Table __ and depicted graphically in Figure __ below, in response to statement 2, "Nigerian privatized firms function as effectual private division," just one respondent (or 1.4%) strongly disagreed but 15 respondents (or 21.1%) disagreed and more than a third of the respondents (25 or 35.2%) used the "neither disagree nor agree" option. Conversely, 11 respondents (or 15.5%) strongly agreed and 18 respondents (or 25.4%) agreed that Nigerian privatized firms function as effectual private division

Table

Responses to statement 2, "Nigerian privatized firms function as effectual private division"

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

Valid

Strongly Disagree

1

1.4

1.4

1.4

Disagree

15

21.1

21.4

22.9

Neither Disagree nor Agree

25

35.2

35.7

58.6

Agree

18

25.4

25.7

84.3

Strongly Agree

11

15.5

15.7

Total

70

98.6

Missing

System

1

1.4

Total

71

Figure __. Responses to statement 2, "Nigerian privatized firms function as effectual private division"

As shown in Table __ and depicted graphically in Figure __ below, in response to statement 3, "There is a deficiency in preceding research on improvement made by privatized telecommunication firms in their goal achievement," nearly two-thirds of the respondents (46 or 65.7%) either strongly agreed (32 or 45.1%) or agreed (14 or 19.7%) and 17 respondents (or 23.9%) used the "neither disagree nor agree" option. Five respondents (or 7.0%) disagreed with statement 3, and two respondents (or 2.8%) strongly disagreed that there is a deficiency in preceding research on improvement made by privatized telecommunication firms in their goal achievement.

Table

Responses to statement 3, "There is a deficiency in preceding research on improvement made by privatized telecommunication firms in their goal achievement"

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

Valid

Strongly Disagree

2

2.8

2.9

2.9

Disagree

5

7.0

7.1

10.0

Neither Disagree nor Agree

17

23.9

24.3

34.3

Agree

14

19.7

20.0

54.3

Strongly Agree

32

45.1

45.7

Total

70

98.6

Missing

System

1

1.4

Total

71

Figure __. Responses to statement 3, "There is a deficiency in preceding research on improvement made by privatized telecommunication firms in their goal achievement"

As shown in Table __ and depicted graphically in Figure __ below, the responses to statement 4, "Uncertainties have been expressed about the privatized telecommunication firm's corporate governance practices, CSR performances and organizational culture," were skewed towards the positive with more than half (38 or 51.5%) of the respondents either strongly agreeing (17 or 23.9%) or agreeing (21 or 29.6%). Although 18 respondents opted for the "neither disagree nor agree" selection, seven each respondents (or 9.9% each) disagreed and strongly disagreed that uncertainties have been expressed about the privatized telecommunication firm's corporate governance practices, CSR performances and organizational culture.

Table

Responses to statement 4, "Uncertainties have been expressed about the privatized telecommunication firm's corporate governance practices, CSR performances and organizational culture"

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

Valid

Strongly Disagree

7

9.9

10.0

10.0

Disagree

7

9.9

10.0

20.0

Neither Disagree nor Agree

18

25.4

25.7

45.7

Agree

21

29.6

30.0

75.7

Strongly Agree

17

23.9

24.3

Total

70

98.6

Missing

System

1

1.4

Total

71

Figure __. Responses to statement 4, "Uncertainties have been expressed about the privatized telecommunication firm's corporate governance practices, CSR performances and organizational culture"

A majority of respondents (33 or 60.6%) either strongly agreed (24 or 33.8%) or agreed (19 or 26.8%) with statement 5, "Telecommunication privatization is not limited to the predicted efficiency, transparency and accountability of public official" as shown in Table __ and depicted graphically in Figure __ below. Twelve respondents (or 16.9%) used the "neither disagree nor agree" option, 14 respondents (or 19.7%) disagreed and just one respondent (or 1.4%) strongly disagreed that telecommunication privatization is not limited to the predicted efficiency, transparency and accountability of public official.

Table

Responses to statement 5, "Telecommunication privatization is not limited to the predicted efficiency, transparency and accountability of public official"

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

Valid

Strongly Disagree

1

1.4

1.4

1.4

Disagree

14

19.7

20.0

21.4

Neither Disagree nor Agree

12

16.9

17.1

38.6

Agree

19

26.8

27.1

65.7

Strongly Agree

24

33.8

34.3

Total

70

98.6

Missing

System

1

1.4

Total

71

Figure __. Responses to statement 5, "Telecommunication privatization is not limited to the predicted efficiency, transparency and accountability of public official"

As shown in Table __ and depicted graphically in Figure __ below, the responses to statement 6, "Privatized firms in Nigeria are confronted with control and/or ownership from public to private sector" showed that a clear majority (60 or 84.5%) either strongly agreed (37 or 52.1%) or agreed (23 or 32.4%) while just three respondents (or 4.2%) opted for the "neither disagree nor agree" alternative. Moreover, fewer than 10% of the respondents (7 or 9.8%) disagreed (5 or 7.0%) or strongly disagreed (2 or 2.8%) that privatized firms in Nigeria are confronted with control and/or ownership from public to private sector.

Table

Responses to statement 6, "Privatized firms in Nigeria are confronted with control and/or ownership from public to private sector"

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

Valid

Strongly Disagree

2

2.8

2.9

2.9

Disagree

5

7.0

7.1

10.0

Neither Disagree nor Agree

3

4.2

4.3

14.3

Agree

23

32.4

32.9

47.1

Strongly Agree

37

52.1

52.9

Total

70

98.6

Missing

System

1

1.4

Total

71

Figure __. Responses to statement 6, "Privatized firms in Nigeria are confronted with control and/or ownership from public to private sector"

As shown in Table __ and depicted graphically in Figure __ below, in response to the statement, "Nigerian Privatized firms conduct their operations in a translucent and in a competently accountable way," a majority (42 or 59.2%) of the respondents either strongly agreed (30 or 42.3%) or agreed (12 or 16.9%). Ten of the respondents (or 14.1%) opted for the "neither disagree nor agree" selection, four respondents (or 5.6%) disagreed and 14 respondents (or 19.7%) strongly disagreed that Nigerian Privatized firms conduct their operations in a translucent and in a competently accountable way.

Table

Responses to statement 7, "Nigerian Privatized firms conduct their operations in a translucent and in a competently accountable way"

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

Valid

Strongly Disagree

14

19.7

20.0

20.0

Disagree

4

5.6

5.7

25.7

Neither Disagree nor Agree

10

14.1

14.3

40.0

Agree

12

16.9

17.1

57.1

Strongly Agree

30

42.3

42.9

Total

70

98.6

Missing

System

1

1.4

Total

71

Figure __. Responses to statement 7, "Nigerian Privatized firms conduct their operations in a translucent and in a competently accountable way"

As shown in Table __ and depicted graphically in Figure __ below, the responses to statement 8, "The Nigerian privatized firm's business performance can be improved by initiation of Government's Transformation Programme" were highly mixed, with 14 (or 19.7%) of the respondents strongly agreeing, 16 respondents (or 22.5%) agreeing and 27 respondents (or 38.0%) electing to use the "neither disagree nor agree" option. Thirteen respondents (or 18.3%) disagreed that the Nigerian privatized firm's business performance can be improved by initiation of Government's Transformation Programme, but none of the respondents strongly disagreed with statement 8.

Table

Responses to statement 8, "The Nigerian privatized firm's business performance can be improved by initiation of Government's Transformation Programme"

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

Valid

Disagree

13

18.3

18.6

18.6

Neither Disagree nor Agree

27

38.0

38.6

57.1

Agree

16

22.5

22.9

80.0

Strongly Agree

14

19.7

20.0

Total

70

98.6

Missing

System

1

1.4

Total

71

Figure __. Responses to statement 8, "The Nigerian privatized firm's business performance can be improved by initiation of Government's Transformation Programme"

As shown in Table __ and depicted graphically in Figure __ below, in response to the statement, "The decision making and staff hiring of Nigerian privatized firms are being hindered and/or intruded by the government," just about one-in-five (21.2%) of the respondents either strongly agreed (6 or 8.5%) or agreed (9 or 12.7%) and more than a quarter (19 or 26.8%) of the respondents elected to use the "neither disagree nor agree" alternative. A slight majority (36 or 50.7%) of the respondents either disagreed (22 or 31.0%) or strongly disagreed (14 or 19.7%) that the decision making and staff hiring of Nigerian privatized firms are being hindered and/or intruded by the government.

Table

Responses to statement 9, "The decision making and staff hiring of Nigerian privatized firms are being hindered and/or intruded by the government"

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

Valid

Strongly Disagree

14

19.7

20.0

20.0

Disagree

22

31.0

31.4

51.4

Neither Disagree nor Agree

19

26.8

27.1

78.6

Agree

9

12.7

12.9

91.4

Strongly Agree

6

8.5

8.6

Total

70

98.6

Missing

System

1

1.4

Total

71

Figure __. Responses to statement 9, "The decision making and staff hiring of Nigerian privatized firms are being hindered and/or intruded by the government"

As shown in Table __ and depicted graphically in Figure __ below, a clear majority of the respondents (40 or 62.0%) either strongly agreed or agreed (37 or 51.1% and 7 or 9.9%, respectively) with statement 10, "Nigerian privatized firms stress on knowledge workers and human capital by means of engaging the best talent through a transparent and open employment system." Nine of the respondents (or 12.7%) used the "neither disagree nor agree" selection, 14 respondents (or 19.7%) disagreed and three respondents (or 4.2%) strongly disagreed that Nigerian privatized firms stress on knowledge workers and human capital by means of engaging the best talent through a transparent and open employment system.

Table

Responses to statement 10, "Nigerian privatized firms stress on knowledge workers and human capital by means of engaging the best talent through a transparent and open employment system"

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

Valid

Strongly Disagree

3

4.2

4.3

4.3

Disagree

14

19.7

20.0

24.3

Neither Disagree nor Agree

9

12.7

12.9

37.1

Agree

7

9.9

10.0

47.1

Strongly Agree

37

52.1

52.9

Total

70

98.6

Missing

System

1

1.4

Total

71

Figure __. Responses to statement 10, "Nigerian privatized firms stress on knowledge workers and human capital by means of engaging the best talent through a transparent and open employment system"

As shown in Table __ and depicted graphically in Figure __ below, the responses to statement 11, "The Nigerian privatized firm's operations are exemplified by mismanagement, monopoly powers and bureaucracy," showed that almost one-third (33 o 32.4%) either strongly agreed (12 or 16.9%) or agreed (11 or 15.5%), while six respondents (or 8.5%) opted for the "neither disagree nor agree" alternative. A clear majority of the respondents (41 or 57.8%) felt differently about this issue, and 11 respondents (or 15.5%) disagreed and 30 respondents (or 42.9%) strongly disagreed that the Nigerian privatized firm's operations are exemplified by mismanagement, monopoly powers and bureaucracy.

Table

Responses to statement 11, "The Nigerian privatized firm's operations are exemplified by mismanagement, monopoly powers and bureaucracy"

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

Valid

Strongly Disagree

30

42.3

42.9

42.9

Disagree

11

15.5

15.7

58.6

Neither Disagree nor Agree

6

8.5

8.6

67.1

Agree

11

15.5

15.7

82.9

Strongly Agree

12

16.9

17.1

Total

70

98.6

Missing

System

1

1.4

Total

71

Figure __. Responses to statement 11, "The Nigerian privatized firm's operations are exemplified by mismanagement, monopoly powers and bureaucracy"

Finally, as shown in Table __ and depicted graphically in Figure __ below, a slight majority (38 or 53.5%) of the respondents either strongly agreed (25 or 35.2%) or agreed (13 or 18.3%) with statement 12, "Managers with professional, leadership traits are able to demonstrate, exhibit management knowledge and skills. This is an advantage to privatized firms." More than a quarter of the respondents (19 or 26.8%) used the "neither disagree nor agree" selection in response to this statement. Four respondents (or 5.6%) disagreed and nine respondents (or 12.7%) strongly disagreed that managers with professional, leadership traits are able to demonstrate, exhibit management knowledge and skills and that this is an advantage to privatized firms.

Table

Responses to statement 12, "Managers with professional, leadership traits are able to demonstrate, exhibit management knowledge and skills. This is an advantage to privatized firms"

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

Valid

Strongly Disagree

9

12.7

12.9

12.9

Disagree

4

5.6

5.7

18.6

Neither Disagree nor Agree

19

26.8

27.1

45.7

Agree

13

18.3

18.6

64.3

Strongly Agree

25

35.2

35.7

Total

70

98.6

Missing

System

1

1.4

Total

71

Figure __. Responses to statement 12, "Managers with professional, leadership traits are able to demonstrate, exhibit management knowledge and skills. This is an advantage to privatized firms"