AN INVESTIGATION OF THE IMPACT OF CYBERLOAFING AMONG ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF IN UNIVERSITY OF DOUALA, CAMEROON

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Computers and the internet have made it easier and better for people from different organizations to talk to each other. In addition to making communication better, these technological resources have increased production and made operational processes better. While the internet's amazing growth continues, employees have come up with new ways to avoid doing their work and are using company computers and the Internet to do things that aren't connected to work during work hours (Kim, 2018). However, these actions have become so common that they are seriously hurting the productivity of the company, as more and more workers are neglecting their duties and cyber-loafing (Chaven, et al., 2022). Because workers aren't paying attention when they're cyber-loafing, companies face many problems, such as lower productivity, higher security concerns, wasted time, and a lack of new ideas (Buntarangin, &Frantzen, 2022). Because of this, this act is seen as a major problem for businesses with educational institution not left out. Furthermore, a worker is cyberloafing when he or she uses technology for personal reasons when that worker should be doing work-related tasks (Pindek, Krajcevska & Spector, 2018). Cyberloafing is a type of counterproductive work behavior (CWB), which means doing things at work that hurt the company (Mercado, 2017). Production deviance (like working slowly or inefficiently on purpose), sabotage (like destroying equipment or wasting materials on purpose), theft (like lying about working more hours or taking goods home without permission), and withdrawal (like staying late or taking longer breaks) are all examples of counterproductive behavior at work. While cyberloafing is similar to both withdrawal (working less than needed) and production deviance (doing work wrong or badly), they are not the same thing. Additionally, the act of cyber-loafing has become very common in the workplace. In 2018, Rescue Time did a study in the US that found the average workday to be only three hours long and that workers spent 19% of their time on social media instead of doing the work they were paid to do (MacKay, 2019). This is because some people check their phones all the time without realizing it, and some employees don't realize that their cyberloafing habits make them less productive and less good at their jobs. People also think that the last 20 years have been more groundbreaking in terms of technology, with the rise of web-based services like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube (Collins & Halverson, 2018). These "social networks" are becoming important for both businesses and people who want to share knowledge and do research (Appel et al., 2020). Businesses have to use the internet and social media these days to stay ahead of the competition and meet customer needs quickly and correctly (Agrawal & Narain, 2021). As per a 2016 study from the World Bank Group, companies are using the internet to boost worker productivity, make communication easier, and reach customers in faraway places. On the other hand, researchers have found that employees are abusing the internet that their companies provide for personal reasons instead of office work (Rahman et al., 2022). This leads to significantly poor job performance (Hadlington& Parsons, 2017). Cyberloafing is seen by some experts as a waste of time and money and bad for the organization (Coskun &Gokcearslan, 2019). Nevertheless, some experts think that cyberloafing is good for businesses. Several studies have shown that web leisure at work is directly linked to employee happiness because it makes workers feel calm at work, which makes them more efficient and productive (Mohammad et al., 2019). People who browse the web are also creative because it lets them get and share information, which leads to new ideas (Van Laar et al., 2019). 

The different studies that have been done on how cyberloafing affects workers' work performance show that more research needs to be done in this area.  Hence, a survey will be conducted in order to investigate the impact of cyberloafing among administrative staff in University of Douala, Cameroon. 

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The effects of cyber-loafing can be related to its nature, that is, to whether it has good or bad effects (Elizabeth et al., 2020). It is damaging when it hurts the organization, like when costs go up, time is lost working, and work quality goes down. On the other hand, cyberloafing is constructive when it has a positive effect on the organization, such as increased job happiness, job productivity, and creative and productive work behaviors (Sze et al., 2019). The effects of cyber-loafing can be looked at from the point of view of both individuals and businesses (Luo et al., 2022). From an individual viewpoint (consider this to avoid repetition- perspective), disruptive cyber-loafing behaviours can eat up productive time, derail workers from their official responsibilities, and decrease job performance and work efficiency (Jiang et al., 2021). Similarly, workers who use cyber-loafing as a way to relieve stress can be more productive at work because it helps them recover from mental or physical fatigue caused by their jobs (Prakash & Kaur, 2018). 

A lot of research has been done on how cyber-loafing affects work performance. Similarly, studies have shown that online browsing in moderation can boost mood and be fun. A lot of cyber-loafing, on the other hand, could be tiring for the worker and make them less productive at work (Akram, Li, & Akram, 2019). When employees browse the Web for things that aren't connected to work, some of the information they find may help them learn and understand their tasks better. Furthermore, using social media may boost workers' social capital, which makes it easier to share information and ultimately improves job performance (Cao et al., 2019). Abusing email services, using adult websites and online casinos, downloading illegal software, and getting to information that isn't supposed to be seen can all be harmful to an organization's reputation and cause problems with liability and data security (Tamunomiebi & Adim, 2019). All of these things can lead to legal issues and higher costs for the group (Lim et al., 2020). Werner (2020) also talked about the bad effects of destructive cyber-loafing, like the tendency to read adult websites, gamble online, and have security holes in businesses. In addition, Karthikeyan and Thomas (2017) said that companies lose billions of dollars every year because of problems with security and the internet, lawsuits, and other costs that are linked. Companies have to deal with big problems when employees waste time on the internet, like less work getting done and less job performance. Cyberstalking takes a lot of mental energy, time, focus, and thinking skills, which makes it hard for the employee to get back to their work (Prakash & Kaur, 2018). Extreme cyber-loafing causes employees to delay and mostly put off their responsibilities. As a result, tasks are not completed on time, which can negatively impact the performance of the organization (Kalejaiye & Hammed, 2021).

Thus, it is in the light of these that the study seeks to investigate the impact of cyberloafing among administrative staff in University of Douala, Cameroon. 

1.3  Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between self-control and cyberloafing behavior as an effect on employees job performance in Cameroon.  Specifically, the study will;

1.Assess the prevalence  of cyberloafing behaviors exhibited by administrative staff at the University of Douala

2.Find out the implications of cyberloafing among administrative staff members in University of Douala.

3.Find out the factors associated with cyberloafing among administrative staff  in University of Douala

4.Find out the strategies to mitigate cyberloafing among administrative staff, in University of Douala.

1.4 Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

What is the prevalence of cyberloafing behaviors exhibited by administrative staff at the University of Douala?

What are the implications of cyberloafing among administrative staff members in the University of Douala?

What factors are associated with cyberloafing among administrative staff at the University of Douala?

What strategies can be employed to mitigate cyberloafing among administrative staff at the University of Douala?

1.5  Research Hypotheses

H0: There is no significant impact of cyberloafing on administrative staff in University of Douala, Cameroon. 

Ha: There is a significant impact of cyberloafing on administrative staff in University of Douala, Cameroon. 

1.6  Significance of the Study

Cyberloafing has become a standard practice being carried out by employees in many

organizations. However, the study outcomes will give some details on the right tools that universities can use to stop cyberloafing on their campus. This study will also help the administration staff understand how cyberloafing hurts institutions and how to lower risk in their workplaces by not allowing risky internet behaviors. Additionally, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regard to the impact of cyberloafing among administrative staff in University of Douala, Cameroon. 

1.7 Scope of the study

The scope of this study is boarded on the impact of cyberloafing among administrative staff in University of Douala, Cameroon. Empirically, the study will assess the prevalence  of cyberloafing behaviors exhibited by administrative staff at the University of Douala, find out the implications of cyberloafing, the factors associated with cyberloafing and the strategies to mitigate cyberloafing among administrative staff in University of Douala.

Geographically, the study will be delimited to  administrative staff in University of Douala.

1.8 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents. In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed. More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

 1.9 Definition of Terms

Cyberloafing: is a terminology which can be described as the action of employees who use the internet for non-work related activities or personal use during their working hours while pretending to do official work.

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