DIGITALIZATION OF HUMAN CAPITAL AND PRODUCTIVITY IN NIGERIAN BREWERIES: EVIDENCE FROM GOLDEN GUINEA AND NIGERIA BREWERIES IN ABIA STATE

Abstract

This study examines the impact of digitalization on human capital productivity in
Nigerian Breweries, drawing evidence from Golden Guinea and Nigerian Breweries in Abia State.
Three research objectives, questions and hypotheses were raised to guide the study. The study
adopted a survey research design. The study population comprised all staff members of the two
manufacturing organizations, totaling 868 persons. Using the ‘Taro Yamane formula’, a sample
size of 274 respondents was randomly selected out of 868 persons (senior and junior staff) in the
organizations. A questionnaire titled "Digitalization of Human Capital and Productivity Survey
Questionnaire" (DHCPSQ), constructed using a 4-point Likert scale, was used for data collection
and complemented with secondary data. The research instrument was validated by three experts
from the organizations, and a reliability of 0.80 was obtained. Data collected were presented in
tables, analyzed using frequency counts, simple percentages, and mean. The hypotheses were
tested using Pearson‘s Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient at a 0.05 significance level. The
study found that the degree of employees’ commitment to ICT training programmes, ICT
professional knowledge, and the educational level of the staff were insufficient; therefore, they
had a limited negative impact on the productivity of the brewing firms. It was recommended that
the government/business organisations should prioritise funding for the digitalisation of human
capital development through ICT training programmes, professional skills development, and
educational research to improve productivity in Nigerian brewing firms.