¶ … 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.
Data Analysis for All Propositions
When taking into account response rates, it is certainly intriguing to observe how 70% of the individuals questions provided responses. Furthermore, these respective people seemed to be determined to express their point-of-view -- this supporting the idea that people that are connected in some way to the telecommunication industry in Nigeria want to become actively involved in shaping public opinion. These people actually care about the masses being better acquainted with their point-of-view.
An impressive number of the individuals interviewed emphasized that they support the privatization of the telecommunication industry in Nigeria. The individuals questioned appear to strongly reinforce the idea that privatization is appealing to a large number of people. With 52.1% strongly agreeing to statement 6, it would appear that both governmental officials and private bodies interested in the topic have observed how the masses perceive it.
The majority of individuals supported statement 10. Considering this, it would appear that the persons involved in the questionnaire look forward to the privatization of several industries in the country. This is probably owed to governmental corruption often preventing institutions from properly using their finances and contributing to Nigeria's economy.
Even with the fact that the majority of the people completing the questionnaire provided positive opinions regarding the topic under discussion, it is interesting to consider the 45.1% who strongly agreed with statement 3. This supports the idea that there is still limited information about the subject. This does not necessarily make it difficult to have a general idea about the topic, but it makes it possible for one to understand that people need to learn more about the circumstances in which privatization occurs. With 19.7% disagreeing to statement 5, it would be safe to say that corruption is a main element preventing individuals from expressing their opinion about the topic. It is really difficult to research the subject given that previous research is either inconclusive or has been done in conditions that are not very clear. Transparency is a principal idea influencing people to accept the idea that privatization is good for the Nigerian community as a whole.
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.
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