ADMINISTRATIVE PRODUCTIVITY: EXPLORING THE STRATEGIC INFORMATION SHARING NEXUS IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between strategic information sharing and administrative productivity in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study was anchored on the Knowledge-Based View (KBV) theory and the Resource Dependence Theory (RDT). A correlational survey design was adopted, with a sample of 110 respondents drawn from registered SMEs in Rivers State through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire validated by experts. Reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s Alpha, which returned coefficients of 0.87, 0.83, and 0.81 for the three subscales, all exceeding the 0.70 threshold. Two null hypotheses were tested using Spearman Rank Order Correlation Coefficient at the 0.05 level of significance with the aid of SPSS version 25. Out of 110 questionnaires administered, 105 were fully retrieved and analysed, representing a 95.5% response rate. Findings revealed that strategic information sharing has a significant positive relationship with both employee task performance (rs = 0.731, p = 0.000) and decision-making efficiency (rs = 0.698, p = 0.000) in SMEs in Rivers State. The study concluded that the deliberate, structured sharing of relevant operational and strategic information within SMEs is a potent driver of administrative productivity. It was recommended that SME owners and managers institutionalise formal information sharing frameworks, invest in digital communication platforms, and cultivate a culture of information transparency to enhance administrative outcomes.