The Impact of Digital Literacy on Executive Secretaries’ Administrative Efficiency

Thesis Abstract

In the contemporary organizational landscape, digital literacy is increasingly recognized as a critical competency for administrative professionals, particularly executive secretaries, whose roles have evolved from traditional clerical functions to strategic administrative support. Despite this shift, limited empirical evidence exists regarding how digital literacy influences the efficiency of executive secretaries, especially within fast-paced corporate environments. This study aims to investigate the impact of digital literacy on the administrative efficiency of executive secretaries in manufacturing firms, with specific objectives to evaluate the level of digital literacy among secretaries, assess their administrative efficiency, and identify the relationship between digital literacy and efficiency indicators. The research adopts a descriptive correlational design to elucidate the extent and nature of the relationship between digital literacy and administrative efficiency. The study population comprises 250 executive secretaries employed in manufacturing companies within the Metropolitan City of Lagos. Using stratified random sampling, a sample of 150 secretaries was selected to ensure representation across various organizational tiers and departments. Data collection employed a structured questionnaire, comprising a Digital Literacy Assessment Tool adapted from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) framework and an Administrative Efficiency Scale developed for the study, validated through content and construct validation processes. Reliability analysis yielded a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.88 for the instruments, indicating high internal consistency. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics to profile participants’ digital skills and efficiency levels, and inferential techniques, including Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analysis, to determine the relationship and predictive power of digital literacy on administrative efficiency. The analytical procedures were executed using SPSS Version 26, with significance tested at the 0.05 alpha level. The anticipated findings suggest that executive secretaries exhibit moderate to high levels of digital literacy, but variations exist based on age, educational background, and years of experience. It is expected that digital literacy will significantly correlate with multiple dimensions of administrative efficiency, including task timely completion, quality of work, and technological problem-solving capabilities. Moreover, regression analysis is projected to demonstrate that digital literacy accounts for a substantial proportion of variance in efficiency metrics, controlling for demographic factors. These findings are expected to underpin the assertion that enhancing digital literacy competencies among secretaries could directly improve organizational productivity and operational effectiveness. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by empirically substantiating the link between digital competence and administrative performance, thus providing a theoretical basis for integrating targeted digital literacy training within secretarial professional development frameworks. The study leverages the Technological Competencies Theory and the Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes (KSA) model to interpret how improved digital skills translate into enhanced efficiency, filling gaps in previous research predominantly focused on Western corporate contexts. Concluding, the study affirms that digital literacy has a measurable and positive influence on the administrative efficiency of executive secretaries. It recommends that organizations prioritize continuous digital literacy training programs, incorporate digital skill assessments into secretarial career development pathways, and foster a digital culture to sustain productivity growth. Future research avenues include longitudinal studies to examine causal relationships over time and comparative investigations across different industries to generalize findings. The practical implications of the study aim to inform policy formulations on secretarial training and underscore the strategic importance of digital competencies for administrative roles in the modern workplace.