Impact of ICT Adoption on the Performance of Small and Medium Scale Food and Beverages Firms in Nigeria

Abstract

SMEs are designed as individual self-help and empowerment vehicles for employment Opportunities .Testing the impact of ICT on Business operational activities and ICT in Nigeria is expected to serve as a basis for attainment of SMEs growth. This paper attempts to investigate the strength ICT adoption on performance of food and beverages SMEs operation. The study was carried out in Lagos State, using multi-stage sampling technique, with a sample of Two hundred and twenty-five (225) Questionnaires administered and distributed to both Owner & staff of the selected Food and Beverages SMEs, Fifteen(15) respondent each was picked from the fifteen (15) selected Food and Beverages  SMEs. Two hundred (200) Questionnaires were found useful for the purpose of the study representing 80% of the total questionnaire distributed. Data collected were coded and analyzed using frequency table and Simple percentage while non-parametric statistical test, ANOVA was used to test the formulated hypothesis using SPSS analysis package. The study concludes that ICT has a positive effect on the performance of selected Small and Medium Scale food, fruit drink and Beverages Firms operation in Nigeria, buttressing the significance relationship between ICT and performance in the selected food and beverages business enterprises. To this end, it is recommended that government make the business environment ICT friendly through provision of ICT Infrastructures which will facilitate expansion. Further, entrepreneurs should be educated and informed about the important of ICT and how it could be used to increase operational efficiency.

Keywords: Firm Performance, Lagos, Nigeria, Small and medium scale Food and beverages Firm, SMEs Growth.