Abstract:
Globally, workplace technology, the utilisation of equipment in organisations to execute tasks to
increase productivity and efficiency, has led to exponential revolution in work processes and has
tremendously enhanced organisational productivity. In Nigeria, particularly in food and beverage
industry, technology has brought innovations with implications for work variables. Previous
studies on workplace technology have focused on organisational productivity. However, scanty
attention has been paid to the influence of workplace technology, especially on job satisfaction
and commitment. This study investigated the levels of technology across workplace units and
their influence on job skill, alienation, satisfaction and commitment in Nestle Societe Anonyme
(S.A.) and Nigeria Brewery (NB) Plc., Lagos, Nigeria.
Labour Process and Alienation theories provided a framework. A cross-sectional survey design
was employed and data were collected using quantitative and qualitative approaches. Nestle S.A.
and NB Plc., Lagos were purposively selected being the largest food and beverage conglomerates
in Nigeria. Stratified sampling was used to select permanent staff across all cadres of both firms.
A total of 447 respondents were drawn using Yamane’s (1967) sample size determination
formula. Simple random sampling was used to proportionately administer questionnaire on 305
permanent staff in Nestle and 142 in NB. Thirty-eight (38) in-depth interviews were conducted
with Units’ Heads: Nestle (18) NB (20). Burawoy’s (1985) model of classification of
technological levels into low, medium and high was adopted. Quantitative data were analysed
using descriptive statistics and One-way ANOVA at p≤0.05, while qualitative data were contentanalysed.
The respondents’ mean age was 32.41±1.0 years, 58.2% were males, 75.0% attained tertiary
education in both organisations. Low technological level units: Nestle (3.2%) while NB (19.1%);
medium technological level units: Nestle (71.7%) while NB (63.8%) and high technological level
units: Nestle (25.0%) while NB (12.1%). Workplace technology differently influenced job skill
across the three technological level units (low: 66.75, medium: 67.81 and high: 60.30) and was
statistically significant in Nestle S.A.Workplace technology differently influenced job alienation
across the three technological level units (low: 33.86, medium: 35.82 and high: 37.35) and was
statistically insignificant in NB Plc. Workplace technology differently influenced job satisfaction
across the three technological level units (low: 45.42, medium: 43.34 and high: 41.38) and was
statistically significant in Nestle S.A. Workplace technology differently influenced job
commitment across the three technological level units (low: 18.58, medium: 18.65 and high:
16.37) and was statistically significant in Nestle S.A.Technological transition decreased job skill.
Departure from low-speed line to high-speed line and Information and Technology-support
equipment decreased job alienation. Evolution of food and beverage analysers from manual to
semi-automation and full-automation decreased job satisfaction and job commitment.
Workplace technology decreased job skill, satisfaction and commitment in Nestle and Nigeria
Brewery but alienation was not established in both organisations. Therefore, workers’ adaptation
to the emerging challenges from workplace technology should be facilitated through capacitybuilding programmes.
