THE IMPACT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ON BANK PERFROMANCE IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF WEMA BANK PLC)

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Information has always been an integral part of every organization operation and manager job. Its importance and the need to manage it continue to grow at a nominal rate. A powerful force that is driving the world towards a converging commonality is technology. From the beginning of the human era, technology has been one of the most essential and most important factors for the development of making. During the last two hundred years. Technology changes have often related to economic growth in the form of new types of goods and services. Information technology can therefore be defined as the modern handing of information by electronic means which involves its access, storage, processing of electronic technology in its various form in order to improve the operations and profitability of the business as a whole. The growing importance of information technology stem down from the increasing complexity of organization environments and the ever growing complexity of information created by that complexity. For information to be useful to a manager, it must be accurate as it should provide valid and reliable reflection of reality it as to be timely since it has to be available on time for appropriate managerial dictions. Information must also be complete as it provides the manger with all of the facts and details he/she needs. Information also has to be relevance as this assures the managers that the information is useful to them in their particular circumstances for that particular need. In conclusion, the bank of the future will need to be technology driven and customer focused in order to thrive and survive. The most important ingredient for the success of any organization is the people. Vision, drive and willingness to demand accountability for delivery are also important. Also, the bank will require discipline, project management, management sponsorship and commitment, requisite skills and effective change of management.
1.2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF WEMA BANK PLC
WEMA bank plc was incorporated in May 1945 and IS headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria as a private limited liability company and commercial ‘business operation as a commercial bank in the same year. The bank was converted to a public limited liability company in April 1987 and was subsequently listed on the floor of the Nigeria stock exchange in January 1990. WEMA bank Plc, through its subsistence, provides commercial banking and financial service. The banks subsidiaries include Wema registrar limited; Wema trustees limited; Wema homes limited Wema insurance brokers limited; and Wema venture limited. It offers capital restructuring, project finance portfolio management, .mergers and acquisitions, treasury management, trade finance,’ lending, cash flow analysis and fund transfer services. Additionally, the bank provides internet mobile and telephone banking services. It caters to agricultural manufacturing and publishing, and oil and gas industry. The bank has witnessed tremendous growth and development in branch network, quality, of service delivery and well financial performance in the last two decades. On February 5, 2001, the central bank of Nigeria granted a universal banking license to the bank thus allowing the’ bank to undertaking a ‘wide range of financial services to its numerous customers across the country. It has embarked on a process of corporate transformation that has resulted in the emergence of a restructured Wema bank plc, strategically positioned to fully optimized opportunity in the industry. Wea bank plc is adequately capitalized, its shareholders’ funds is in excess of N25 billion and its assets base is N165 billion. Presently, Odu’s investment company limited holds 10% equity stake in the bank:, while private individual investment and staff of the bank own the remaining 90% the authorized share capital of the bank is N7billion Naira divided into N14billion ordinary share of Sock each.
1.3 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Therefore, the problem statement of this research can be put in question broad form:
1. What impact is information technology on bank performance?
2. How effective does information technology contributes to the bank and similar financial institutions? Before the advent of information technology, the banking sector has not been able to store their data properly. Henceforth to retrieve data, the management find it very difficult to locate it within the short period, due to the fact that most of the data must have been kept decades ago. But, with the, inception of information technology system, to retrieve any information does not pose any problem. However, organizations need to break the rigid hierarchical barriers, and work with everyone involved i.e. The customer, supply, employee, government etc. in order for them to accomplish quick decisions. Also in the corporate world today, most of the section has been computerized and networked. This means that the managers in charge of the function must of the function must have at least working knowledge of the system he is responsible for or is using. If he is not and if he is not willing to learn he may end up in making wrong decisions, simply because he does not fully understand the system and this could lead to job dissatisfaction and performance and it can equally result into work becoming meaningless and the employee powerless on their jobs. However, the need for organization to be more productive and efficient in the competitive and global world necessitated the adoption of means such as IT in the work processes.
1.4 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
To ascertain the effect of information technology on the profitability level of banking industry. To evaluate the .extent to which corporate reputation of the banking industry is being improved by information technology To determine the effect of information technology on the creation of competitive advantages. To find out how effect and efficient information technology infrastructure is in the banking industry.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The various importance of the study are outline below: This study examines the appropriate factors that contribute to organizational response to competition through effective management of information technology innovations. It showcases the extent to which information technology has improved service provision in the banking industry. It explores into the impact of effective information technology infrastructure on staff, customers, etc. It identifies new information technology discoveries i.e. E commerce’, E-business, which is the cutting edge for business today.
1.6 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The fundamental research questions include the following:
To what extent has information technology improved the profitability level in the banking industry?
What effect does information technology have on the corporate reputation of the banking industry?
What are the significances of information technology In creation of competitive advantages in the banking industry?
1.7 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
The research hypothesis includes the following:
Ho: Information technology does not improve the profitability level of the banking industry
HI : Information technology improves the profitability level of the banking industry.
Ho: Information technology does not Improve the corporate reputation of the banking industry.
HI : Information technology Improves the corporate reputation’ of the banking industry.
Ho: Information technology does not create competitive advantages in the banking industry.
HI : Information technology creates competitive advantages in the banking industry.
1.8 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF STUDY
This research work will be limited in depth and coverage to the bank in view, Wema Bank PIc operating in Lagos area. The business environment in this case shall include the employees, customers or clients, competitors and vendors while such other variable like economic, social and political environment will not be considered in the study area regarded as fixed. The research work shall Endeavour to make both the descriptive and empirical analysis of the efficient and effective technology in the banking industry with special emphasis being placed of Wema bank Plc. The limitation of the study shall be time constraint, inability of customers to provide relevance information.
1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS
This part of the chapter will be focused on bringing out a better understanding of the term which has been used in the process of the writer up of these chapters. The terms are listed and defined below:
E-COMMERCE:- This is a modern business methodology that addresses the needs of organization, merchants and consumers to cut cost while improving the quality of goods and services and increasing the speed of service delivery. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: – It could be considered as the modern handing of information by electronic man’s which involves its access, storage, processing, transfer and deliver and also the harnessing of its various firms in order to improve the operation and the profitability of the business is a whole.
INTERNET:- This is’ a collection of the various computer networks t8hat are interconnected to each other. It represents a large pool of information which provides solution to various Issues.
MISSION:- This can be explained as set goal/objective.
RESEARCH WORKS: – It can be summarized as an act of analysis a finding which could be anything like information technology with the view of bringing out a proper understanding of the findings.
SOFTWARE:- It is an application which uses set of instrument or a written computer program in accomplishing certain definite tasks.
USED NETWORK WORLD WIDE WEB (WWW):- These are platforms available on the internet through which several detailed materials can be reached to educated as well as enlighten the user on its field of study.
UNIVERSAL GLOBAL BANKING:- This term is being used to explain the change information technology has brought to the banking industry terms of improved global service.