Peterson Dewah | National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) (original) (raw)

Papers by Peterson Dewah

Advances in public policy and administration (APPA) book series, May 31, 2024

Journal of the South African Society of Archivists, 2013

This article reports the findings of the study on the digitisation of the land registry in the Ug... more This article reports the findings of the study on the digitisation of the land registry in the Ugandan Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (MoLHUD), which is being done to improve access to land records. The aim of this study was to ascertain the extent to which the land registry, especially the Kampala mailo land registry, had adopted digitisation. The case study assessed the ministry’s readiness to manage electronic land records, establish the challenges and chart strategies to overcome the challenges faced by stakeholders. The study adopted a mixed research approach and used both qualitative and quantitative techniques to examine how digitisation of the land records is achieved. The quantitative methods enabled the researchers to collect data from 207 clients who visited the Kampala mailo land registry between May and December 2011. The qualitative methods were applied in interviewing MoLHUD staff (systems administrators, registrars of titles, and Senior Assistant Records Officers) regarding an interpretation and description of how digitised records are established and managed in the registry. The findings suggest that, though efforts are in place to digitise the land registry in Uganda, the bulk of the records still exist in paper format. The authors recommend strengthening the management of both paper and digital records as a matter of urgency if the land registry is to continue protecting the vital evidence that the land records contain.

Journal of the South African Society of Archivists

The change from paper to digital records management at the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (... more The change from paper to digital records management at the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has been widely accepted to solve problems of poor records management systems and inefficiency throughout the organisation, but it brought with it some challenges. The purpose of the study was to assess the digitisation project to improve records access at ZERA. In a sequential explanatory design, the researchers used a simple mixed methods research approach to collect data. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews from purposively selected individuals because of their characteristics and significance in the context of what the study was investigating. The findings of the study revealed that the digitisation project at ZERA was a major success and it has improved the records management system in numerous ways, including improved access to records, fast and easy retrieval of information and timely access to records. However, the study revealed that digitisation come...

South African Journal of Library and Information Science

This study investigated the use of Information and Communication Technologies that are used to fo... more This study investigated the use of Information and Communication Technologies that are used to for knowledge management amongst academics at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) based on anecdotal evidence that inadequate IT resources have always hampered knowledge management among academics. The purpose of the study was to investigate how ICTs are used to enhance knowledge management amongst academics at the NUST. Anchored on the interpretivist paradigm, the study used qualitative research method in a case study design where interviews were conducted with six deans of faculties across the university and one ICTs officer. Data was gathered through face-to-face in-depth interviews and analysed using themes. Findings indicated that NUST provides the academics with desktop computers for knowledge management and laptops are provided only on request. Academics are offered training when the ICTs department introduces new software. It also emerged that mistrust and bure...

ESARBICA Journal: Journal of the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives, 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the implementation of a proposed records management ... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the implementation of a proposed records management policy at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST). Driven by the need for compliance with a records management policy in order to achieve efficient and effective records management for accountability, transparency and good governance in all business operations at NUST, t he study sought to establish why NUST has not yet implemented a proposed records management policy 25 years after the university was established. Using both quantitative and qualitative approaches data were collected using interviews, document analysis and questionnaires. Purposive sampling was used to select 13 respondents for the questionnaire and seven participants for the interviews. The findings indicate that implementation of the proposed records management policy is dependent on the initiation of the University Registrar and recruitment of a university archivist and records manager who will spearh...

ESARBICA Journal: Journal of the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives

The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant intervention measures disrupted and affected... more The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant intervention measures disrupted and affected the normal operations of business and access to records and archives as information sources. The study sought to explore the impact of Covid-19 on the access to records and archives in the public sector during the pandemic, bearing in mind the disruptive and catalytic effects of the pandemic. Using a qualitative methodology, data were gathered through document studies, and interviews were conducted with records managers from 18 purposively selected organisations. The findings showed that organisations had not moved much towards e-records but depended heavily on paper records. The lockdown period witnessed misdirection and loss of records. Staff taking turns to report for duty also impacted negatively on records. This posed serious threats to proper records and archives management, making room for occurrences such as destruction or alterations by unscrupulous individuals. The study concl...

Mousaion: South African Journal of Information Studies

ZIMPAPERS has begun a massive digitisation of newspaper stories and photographs, according to the... more ZIMPAPERS has begun a massive digitisation of newspaper stories and photographs, according to their subject, that it has been storing in the established archival facility. Newspapers from as far back as 1892 have been bound to create volumes of newspaper-bound books. Digitisation not only makes them more widely available, but it also has preservation benefits by eliminating or reducing physical handling of archives and photographs by users. The photographs are kept together with the original picture for every published picture and its story. The archival facility serves as a memory and knowledge hub for the organisation and its sister companies, providing journalists and other interested parties with a rich research base. The story-based filing system ensures that stories about the same subject are collected from the newspapers and filed. This sparked the idea of commercialising the knowledge housed in this special collection facility. This unique collection, which has the potential...

ESARBICA Journal: Journal of the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives, 2013

The paper gives an empirical assessment of the suitability of Gweru Records Centre in housing pub... more The paper gives an empirical assessment of the suitability of Gweru Records Centre in housing public records. The study employed the descriptive survey method and triangulation of both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, observation of the building premises and content analysis of institutional reports. The major findings were that records were at risk as a result of the ageing building, Gweru Records Centre’s location, lack of funding among other reasons. To improve on the records safety, funds should be channelled to the organization for the purposes of constructing a purpose-built records centre.

Regional Journal of Information and Knowledge Management, 2017

Rationale of Study - The first step to implement knowledge management is preceded by an audit of ... more Rationale of Study - The first step to implement knowledge management is preceded by an audit of the organisation's knowledge and as such, this study sought to investigate the knowledge that National Archives of Zimbabwe (NAZ) needs, where that knowledge is, how it is being used, the problems experienced, and the improvements which can be made. Methodology - A case study approach with a triangulation of data collection methods was employed. Data was collected through questionnaires, interviews and documentary analysis. Findings - The study established that NAZ archivists possess vital tacit knowledge required by the organisation. However, they need to acquire knowledge on audio-visual records management, conservation of documents, and reprographics, among other areas. It also emerged that printed documents such as manuals and bookswere very useful sources of explicit knowledge for decision making. Another finding was that internal and external knowledge flow is hindered by poor ...

University of Dar es Salaam Library Journal

Despite the need to bridge the knowledge gap introduced by technology, knowledge hoarding by libr... more Despite the need to bridge the knowledge gap introduced by technology, knowledge hoarding by library staff seems to affect service delivery at a state university library in Zimbabwe. The study employed a qualitative research approach in a case study design, informed by the interpretive paradigm. The target population of this study consisted of senior library management personnel and their subordinates. Maximal variation purposive sampling strategy was chosen to sample twenty-six library staff/ individuals that differ on some characteristics. Data were generated using interviews and observations. Key findings revealed that mistrust, unfair treatment, poor interpersonal relations, lack of recognition, and absence of a reward system induce knowledge hoarding and discourage library staff from sharing experiences. Furthermore, the study revealed that while librarians hoard knowledge as a security strategy for indispensability, hoarding knowledge has led to individualism and privatisation...

The paper gives an empirical assessment of the digitization work done so far to preserve and prom... more The paper gives an empirical assessment of the digitization work done so far to preserve and promote access to information held in the liberation movements’ archives housed in the National Heritage and Cultural Studies Centre (NAHECS) at the University of Fort Hare in South Africa. In view of the fact that the bulk of the world’s 20 th century audiovisual heritage is now lost, and much more is slipping beyond recovery the University of Fort Hare embarked on a six month project to digitize liberation archives in order to preserve and promote access. The question arises: What issues have arisen from the liberation movements’ archives digitization programme and the way forward? From a practitioner-based inquiry perspective data were collected through observation, questionnaires, interviews and analysis of institutional reports on the progress of the digitization process that commenced in 2011. The major findings were that all the ANC audio material has been successfully digitized throu...

Evidence plays an important role in the administration of justice and the protection of citizens’... more Evidence plays an important role in the administration of justice and the protection of citizens’ rights. Without evidence, cases may be delayed, thereby denying justice and this consequently infringes on the rights of the individual. This qualitative study collected data through questionnaires, interviews and content analysis to investigate the admissibility of digital records as evidence in Zimbabwe’s Bulawayo High Court. The study focused on establishing how digital records are admissible as evidence in courts of law, taking into consideration that they are subject to manipulation, tampering, deletion and alteration, among other challenges. The population and sample included court officials such as the judge, prosecutors and lawyers as they are custodians of the law. Findings revealed that digital records were admissible as evidence although the focus at the moment was on audio-visual records. Acts relating to the issue of evidence were enacted years ago when technology was still...

African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science, 2013

Knowledge attrition is a worldwide challenge that can impact negatively on a particular organisat... more Knowledge attrition is a worldwide challenge that can impact negatively on a particular organisation. This study is based on a PhD degree that was completed in 2012. The study investigated how knowledge loss affected three member states of Southern African Development Community (SADC) public broadcasting corporations’ performance. These are Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe. A survey questionnaire was administered to 162 professionals and managers in the three public broadcasting organisations. This included 37 managers were drawn from the departments of: Human Resource, Engineering, Library and Archives, Radio and Television, Finance and Accounts, Administration, Corporate Services, Information and Communication Technology, Sales and Marketing, Programming, Learning and Development, Transport, Procurement, Content Enterprises, Organisational Development, Audiences Services, Licences, Broadcast Information Technology, International Affairs and Public Commercial Services. The resul...

Indilinga: African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge Systems, 2014

Cases of infidelity and cheating among married couples have characterised African traditional mar... more Cases of infidelity and cheating among married couples have characterised African traditional marriages. Consequently, indigenous intervention methods have been used to address issues related to immorality. One method that has been used in Zimbabwe to deal with men who prey upon other men's wives by seducing them is runyoka/lunyoka. Runyoka is an indigenous way of 'fencing' or 'locking' a spouse, usually wives, to prevent them from committing adultery. This is done without the knowledge of the victim. The article is based on a study that sought to explore ethical issues related to the use of runyoka/lunyoka. Using literature review and interviews the study identified more than 16 types of runyoka that are common among the Zimbabwean communities. Data were gathered from the internet and eight interviews held with some married women in urban Gweru. The major findings were that women detested the invasion of their privacy through constant surveillance by their husba...

The purpose of the study anchoring this chapter was to measure the extent to which the students f... more The purpose of the study anchoring this chapter was to measure the extent to which the students from the Department of Library and Information Science had intentions to venture into infopreneurship after graduating with their Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Library and Information Science. Using a mixed-method design, data were collected from a population of 45 students through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Findings revealed that the majority (25) students intended to pursue infopreneurship as information consultants, information brokers, researchers, information literacy assistants, writers, and proofreaders. The study concluded that infopreneurship could be a panacea to the unemployed information science graduates in Zimbabwe. Since the field of infopreneurship is unique and under-researched, the study recommends the creation of a community of practice of infopreneurs who research, share ideas, collaborate, and make the field of infopreneurship robust and ef...

This article is based on a study that investigated the extent of mobile phone access and use in s... more This article is based on a study that investigated the extent of mobile phone access and use in support of information sharing among students at the National University of Science and Technology and implications for academic integrity. Through a survey questionnaire the study collected data from 495 undergraduate and postgraduate students who were randomly sampled in the Faculty of Communication and Information Science. Data were analysed using SPSS version 18. The results indicate that mobile phone access and use among students are increasing for the purpose of sharing information to support their studies. However, the lack of policy on the use of mobile phones to support academic work has not helped to leverage mobiles for education purposes in the University. Besides, mobile phones are sometimes used for academic dishonesty such as cheating in examinations. This study has implications for learning, bridging the digital divide and ethical misconduct among students not only in Zimb...

This article reports on a study that assessed the organisational learning activities for the purp... more This article reports on a study that assessed the organisational learning activities for the purposes of retaining critical knowledge in three Southern African Development Community (SADC) public broadcasting organisations. The article reports the partial findings of a doctoral study that focused on analysing the knowledge retention strategies in three public broadcasting corporations, namely, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Department of Broadcasting Services (DBS) and Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), in the SADC. The aim of the study was to establish how organisational learning strategy captured and retained knowledge in these public broadcasting corporations. A structured self-administered survey questionnaire was used to purposively sample 162 professionals and managers in the three organisations. The study concluded that through organisational learning the three public broadcasting organisations captured and retained knowledge but were limited by the ...