Factors influencing effective information management in Nigerian polytechnics

Effective information management is not a simple task. Organisation employees, at all levels, must intentionally understand every element and process that leads to its strategic implementation. The upgrade of polytechnic education and ultimately its national developmental contributions will come with the cognisance of its workforce about effective information management. At the centre of the impacts of polytechnics and their staff on personal development and that of the nation is the management of information. By examining effective information management, this research offers insights with significant implications for theory, management, decision-making, and higher education institutions. The sequence of information grouping and utilisation concerns stakeholders, including registry staff who are thorough record keepers, pointing to their meticulousness in constantly handling data/information. This paper investigates information keeping costs, technological gadget status, institutional culture, training quality, and skill levels as variables that may influence effective information management in polytechnics among registry staff. The study was underpinned by the behavioural science theory of management and an expanded economic theory, adopting a survey research design with a quantitative approach. The study population comprised the registry staff of polytechnics, 378 in all. A total enumeration technique was employed. Findings showed that the five predictor variables of technological gadgets status, quality of training obtainable, skills possessed by the respondents, institutional culture, and cost were significantly predictive of effective information management. However, regarding the contributions of the predictor variables, technological gadgets’ status was the highest. Hence, by implementing the predictive variables and their indicators, polytechnics can develop a comprehensive approach to effective information management, ensuring that information is accurate, complete, timely, and secure.