THE IMPACT OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ON THE PERFORMANCE OF UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Today's business environment is very dynamic and undergoes rapid changes as a result of technological innovation, increased awareness and demands from customers. Business organizations, especially the banking industry of the 21st century operates in a complex and competitive environment characterized by these changing conditions and highly unpredictable economic climate. in contemporary time the banking system has witnessed a lot of innovation and development in the area of introduction Automated Teller Machine (ATM), telephone banking, internet banking, branch networking, interbank fund transfer and the most recent of all which is now a fad in the banking industry which is the Cashless attention which tend to reduce the amount of money in circulation in the economy.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is at the forefront of these global changes. The question now arises ”what is information communication technology”, information can be referred to as processed data or output i.e. any development or action that is meant to be worked upon effects decisions Irechukwu (2010).

Communication can be said to be the means or methods of getting information past from one location to another. i.e. a method through which relationship are established, extended and maintained through a predefined codes. Elizabeth N. et el(2009)

Technology is said to be the process of using state of the art equipment

To perform operations efficiently and effectively Laudon and Laudon, (2009).

Information communication technology (ICT) is acquisition, processing, storing and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by microeconomic base combination of computing and telecommunication (Macmillan et al 2010).

Grossman G. And E Helpman 2009, ascert that information communication technology (ICT) stresses the role of unified communication technology and integration of communication (telephone lines and wireless signals) computer middle ware as well as software, storage and visual system which enable users to create ,access ,store, transmit and manipulate information. Laudon and Laudon, (2009).contend that managers cannot ignore Information Systems because they play a vital role in contemporary organization. They point out that the entire cash flow of most fortune 500 companies is linked to Information System.

The application of information and communication technology concepts, techniques, policies and implementation strategies to banking services has become a subject of fundamental importance and concerns to all banks and indeed a prerequisite for local and global competitiveness. ICT directly affects how managers decide, how they plan and what products and services are offered in the banking industry. It has continued to change the way banks and their corporate relationships are organized worldwide and the variety of innovative devices available to enhance the speed and quality of service delivery.

Harold and Jeff (2008) contend that financial service providers should modify their traditional operating practices to remain viable in the 2000s and the decades that follow. They claim that the most significant shortcoming in the banking industry today is a wide spread failure on the part of senior management in banks to grasp the importance of technology and incorporate it into their strategic plans accordingly. Woherem (2010) claimed that only banks that overhaul the whole of their payment and delivery systems and apply ICT to their operations are likely to survive and prosper in the future . He advices banks to re-examine their service and delivery systems in order to properly position them within the framework of the dictates of the dynamism of information and communication technology. The banking industry in Nigeria has witnessed tremendous changes linked with the developments in ICT over the years.

The quest for survival, global relevance, maintenance of existing market share and sustainable development has made exploitation of the many advantages of ICT through the use of automated devices imperative in the industry. This study evaluates the response of Nigerian banks to this new trend and examines the extent to which they have adopted innovative technologies in their operations and the resultant effects.

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1.2 Statement of the Problem

The advent of information and communication technology on the performanceof the United Bank For Africa among other sectors has brought about several noticeable developments but at the same time, it brings about its attendant problems. There is the problem of banks unable to strictly comply with the mission statement /corporate mission. With information technology, some bank management does not adequately plan to meet the services quality. For example, the required number of customers to be attended to by a cashier within the daily working hours to guide against long queues is neglected- this causes delay in service delivery time leading to long queues in the banking hall.

Another problem is the high incidence of bank fraud borne information technology. This fraud ranges from ATM card fraud, internet banking fraud, email and text message fraud, fund transfer to untraceable offshore accounts, among others.

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1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To identify how the introduction of information and communication technology has influenced bank performances.
2. To find out the reason why banks nowadays have to abandon the former ways of operations to modern banking.
3. To investigate into the extent of effectiveness and efficiency in banking sectors after the introduction of information technology.
4. To access how information technology helps in the reduction of cost and benefit in increasing the revenue profit of the bank.
5. To access how information technology has affected the customer base of the banks.

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1.4 Significance of the study

The banking system is required as a catalyst for a rapid macro-economic development of other sectors of the economy; hence, its stability should be the priority of the government most especially during the democratic dispensation. Going by the recent distress in banking industry in Nigeria, the level of public confidence in the sector has dwindled and this has led to the instability syndrome in the sector and as such the public assurance and confidence on efficiency in the private sector in decaying.

The major cause of this syndrome can be attributed to the problems inherited in the banks operational system. The quest for globalization and commercialization has brought about innovations in technology. The digital age and the potential threat posed by non-traditional competition which necessitates innovation has made it inevitable for Nigerian commercial banks to improve upon their operation as they face evolving revolution are being confronted with increasingly sophisticated customer base compelling them to offer today what their customers would be expecting tomorrow. Banks have to deviate from just being a profit making bank to a more conscious customer centered institution.

This research will enable banks to identify ways of remaining competitive in the global and domestic financial industry. It also helps prepare banks repositioning towards meeting the challenges imposed by global banking.

Also, it is expected that the work will contribute to the bank's future projections on strategies to be used in attracting depositor's funds, reduce queues in the banking hall, the bank's management policies.

Finally the research work will also be a contribution to knowledge in academic field and serve as a source of reference to researchers who would carry out research on similar study in the future.

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1.5 Research Questions

• How the introduction of information technology does has influenced bank performances.
• To find out the reason why banks nowadays have to abandon the former ways of operations to modern banking.
• To investigate into the extent of effectiveness and efficiency in banking sectors after the introduction of information technology.
• To access how information technology helps in the reduction of cost and benefit in increasing the revenue profit of the bank.
• To access how information technology has affected the customer base of the banks.

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1.6 Scope of the study

The research work covers the impact of information and communication technology on the operations of Nigerian banks in Nigeria. Specifically, the information in this research work is limited to happenings in the UBA Plc, Kaduna. The period of the study is to be focused on 2004-2010.

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1.7 Limitations of the Study

The major limitations of this research work are the constraints encountered in the use of questionnaires for generating data information. Bank customers often find the efficiency of the operational system of the bank in different ways or perspectives; hence, it is not possible to determine the exact level of differences between belief and practice in the banking operation.

The bank staffers are not ready to give out information in any form particularly in writing as it may be required in the case of questionnaires due to secrecy. To get information or data from these groups of people, the researcher has to exercise a lot of patience.

Due to time and financial capability, the researcher was not able to cover all the products of the bank that has been made possible through information technology.