Information Needs of Company
Employees in Nigeria
Yahya Ibrahim Harande
Email: harandeyi @yahoo.com
Department of Library and Information Sciences
Faculty of education, Bayero University, Kano.
Nigeria.
INSCIT 2006, International Conference on
Multidisciplinary Information Science and Technologies
October 25-28 2006 Merida, Spain.

Introduction
In the context of manufacturing companies information needs differ
according to the following :-
a). Department or Unit of the company.
b). Status of the employees of the company.
c). Differences in the daily activities of the employees.
The essence of satisfying the information needs of the company
employees is to achieved the following goals:-
i.) Increase the productivity of the company.
ii) Empower employees efficiency for enhanced production activities.
iii) Defeat competitors from other manufacturing companies.
v) To know the performance of their products in the markets.

Information is considered as indispensable tool in the
processes of product manufactured
Successful survival of manufacturing companies depend
largely in their ability to utilize information.
Internal and external Information enables company
operates above their rivals and competitors.
Effective utilization of internal and external information
satisfies the information needs of company employees
positively.

Material and Methods.
The study investigate the extent to which the employees are
satisfied with the information received for their daily
company activities.
The company activities considered for this study are:-
a) Quality control of products manufactured.
b) Decision making processes
c) Marketing of Finished products
d) Maintenance of machinery
e) Staff discipline

Due to investigative nature of the research, survey research method was
adopted and considered appropriate.
Questionnaire was used as the main instrument for data collection. It is
one of the instrument recommended for data collection in survey
research.
The sample was drawn out using purpose sampling procedure. The
selection was based on the popularity of the company, size and year of
establishment.
This was the conviction of the researcher that they will yield the results on
the basis of which generalization could be made

Results.
The results shows that :-
– Decision making activity has not been given much attention by
the sampled companies.
– Table III exhibit that eighteen of the companies scored
between 5-45% percent. Only one company records 65%
percent success.
– Many of the companies do not bother to consider quality
control as important for their development, progress and
success.
– Table III exhibit that Fifteen of the companies scored between
5-40% percent. While five of these companies scored 50-70%
percent in their effort to utilize quality control as a necessity
for their progress.

- On marketing of finished products, seventeen
of the companies scored between 5-49%
percent success.
-on the issue of staff discipline, very low
responses were recorded i.e. between 5-20%
percent success.
-Machinery in use in these companies are
generally not maintained. The score ranges
between 5-25% percent success.

Discussions
Generally these manufacturing companies do not
consider decision making processes as important
factor in the daily activities of their company
employees
The employees information needs on this aspect
are therefore not satisfied.
The companies are not doing well in the quality
control of the products they manufactured. This
affects the quality of the products they produced.
People are not keen in patronizing their products
and thus get attracted to products of quality
produced by other companies or imported into the
country.

Marketing activities are grossly underscored by
these companies. Lack of proper and effective
marketing strategies and activities contributed to
their lack of popularity in the country and thus
lack proper patronage from their customers.
Products manufactured by the multinational
companies are more popular and accepted by all
and sundry . Their success could be attributed to
the following:-

a) effective and aggressive marketing
activities.
b) Enhanced advertisement of their
products.
c) satisfying the marketing and other
information needs of their employees.

Staff discipline is not enforced and this course lack
of coordination in the activities perform in these
companies.
- Itis believed that industries can only survive if
discipline is in stilled properly.
- Lack of satisfaction on the information needed by
the employees on the issue of staff discipline brings
about lack of effective supervision and thus
indiscipline.
Maintenance of machinery used is considered basic
ingredient needed for the survival of the machinery
used.

Insufficient maintenance of the machinery in
use affects the quality as well as the quantity
of the products manufactured by this
companies.

Conclusion
Information needs of the company employees
on the five outlined aspects are not properly
satisfied.
The result of which, their companies are not
functioning well, their products are of low quality
and lack proper patronage by the society.

♣ people desire for good quality products and
therefore patronized other companies in the
country and also go for the products imported
into the country.
♣ Indigenous companies in Nigeria most
cultivate the culture of effectively satisfying
the information needs of their employees for
their growth, success, progress, popularity
and acceptability.

Table 3: INFORMATION NEEDS OF THE COMPANY EMPLOYEES
Decision making Quality Marketing Staff Dis. Maintenance Other Total
(Machinery) purpose
Company Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq %
100%
20
- -
-
-
20
2
35%
7
25%
5
30%
6
Chellco Industry
100%
20
- -
25%
5
%
-
40%
6
15%
3
20%
4
Cotton & Agric. Company
75%
15
- -
-
-
-
-
20%
2
60%
12
5%
1
Nasco fibre Products Ltd
95%
19
- -
5%
1
15
-
45%
9
25%
5
20%
4
United Nigeria Textile Ltd
80%
16
- -
5%
1
%
-
30%
6
35%
7
10%
2
Zazzau ginnery Ltd
65%
14
- -
5%
1
-
3
30%
6
10%
2
10%
2
Kaduna Textile Ltd.
85%
17
- -
5%
1
-
2
35%
7
20%
4
15%
3
Supertex Nig. Ltd
100%
20
- -
-
-
15
-
-
-
60%
12
40%
8
Nacaco Nig. Ltd.
45%
15
-
- -
-
%
-
15%
3
50%
10
10%
2
Makeri smelting Co.
100%
20
-
- -
-
10
2
65%
13
10%
2
15%
3
Jos Steel Rolling Co.
100%
20
-
20% -
4
%
-
5%
1
70%
14
5%
1
Kaduna Refin. &
50%
10
-
- -
-
-
3
20%
4
5%
1
10%
2
Petrochemical
100%
20
-
5% -
1
-
1
35%
7
25%
5
30%
6
Ideal flour Mills
45%
9
-
5% -
1
10
2
10%
2
10%
2
10%
2
Nasco foods
50%
10
-
- -
-
%
-
35%
7
10%
2
5%
1
Jos Cereals
100%
20
-
20% -
4
-
1
20%
4
40%
8
15%
3
Pioneer Milling Co.
100%
20
-
5% -
1
15
-
-
-
30%
6
5%
1
United Oil Mills
90%
18
-
10% -
2
%
2
10%
2
15%
3
65%
9
Techno-plastic Co.
100%
20
-
15% -
2
5%
4
20%
4
50%
10
45%
-
Nasco Pack Co.
55%
11
-
- -
-
20
1
30%
6
35%
2
-
2
Zaria Pharmaceautical
%
10
%
5%
-
10
%
20
%
5%

Questions?