Diffusion and adoption of information and communication technologies in the public sector (original) (raw)
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lis.uzulu.ac.za
ICT is a compound term that is used to refer to the convergence of a wide array of new computer-based communication technologies that are presently being developed and used in the creation, processing and transmission of information. The public services referred to in this study are key government departments responsible for servicing society, devising policies, and ensuring their implementation. The main aim of this study was to examine the use, types, availability, and impact of ICTs in four government departments in the KwaZulu-Natal province (KZN) in the context of work productivity and creativity. Through a survey, government departments that are considered to be central to service delivery were targeted. Due to the diverse and dispersed nature of the public sector in South Africa, the scope was narrowed down to government departments in KZN. In order to obtain a representative sample, a systematic sampling method was applied. Using this technique, five (5) out of eleven (11) suitable district municipalities were selected, where every second district was selected from a list. The sample size of the whole study was two hundred and sixty managers. One hundred and fifty-two (152 questionnaires were completed and returned. The five (5) district municipalities selected were uMgungundlovu, uMzinyathi, Zululand, uThungulu, and Sisonke. In these districts, four government departments were targeted, namely the Departments of Arts and Culture, Home Affairs, Education, and Health. These departments were sampled using purposive and systematic sampling techniques. Three selection strategies were used: i) Identifying highly dispersed and service-intensive departments; ii) Categorizing the personnel in the selected departments into top, medium and lower level management; and iii) Dividing the service areas into rural or urban-based centers.
Alternation: Interdisciplinary Journal for the Study of the Arts and Humanities in Southern Africa, 2019
The key challenge however facing the South African Government is poor adoption of ICT by its public institutions to support e-government (Ebrahim & Irani 2005). As a result, the SA Government is unable to fully exploit the benefits of ICT adoption to ensure economic growth, effective governance and efficient service delivery. The research objective was to establish the factors which influence technology acceptance or rejection decisions within the South African police services (SAPS). In carrying out this objective, an understanding of the technology adoption context within the public sector would be established. A questionnaire was administered to a sample within the Northwest Province, with a 91% response rate achieved. The SAPS ICT model was derived using concepts from Technology Acceptance determinants. Six moderating factors were identified as part of the model. The research addressed gaps in management levels perceptions on associated value of information versus tools to aid in establishing an integrated approach towards ICT adoption within government departments.
Advances in politics and economics, 2024
Technology adoption models play an important role in understanding the different factors affecting the adoption and use of new technology. The development of well-informed e-Government strategies is the first stepping stone in the right direction for the successful implementation and successful use of e-Government. This paper investigated from the officials; perspective factors that affect the uptake of e-government services provided by the Limpopo departments of Home Affairs. Using a qualitative research approach whereby three different Department of Home Affairs' service Centres namely Polokwane, Waterberg, and Sekhukhune in Limpopo province were used as case studies, the study conducted semi-structured interviews with nine (9) officials comprised of management, ICT department, and street-level officials to identify and understand better the factors affecting uptake of e-government in the DHA. The study found that lake of skills and access to e-government programmes were at the top of the list of challenges faced at the Centres. Therefore, the study recommended amendments to the ICT policy of the department so that it accommodates different languages spoken in societies particularly the eleven official languages currently spoken in South Africa. This article further recommends several solutions that can enhance the uptake of e-government in the DHA.
Adoption of ICT in a government organization in a developing country: An empirical study
The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 2008
eGovernment initiatives all over the world endeavor to integrate Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to transform delivery of government services to their stakeholders by improving quality of services, accountability and efficiency. In this study we explore adoption of ICT to enhance government-to-employee interactions in a government organization in a developing country. We examine this adoption behavior by utilizing the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) that provides an integrative view of user acceptance. We found that performance and effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions all positively impact the use of the ICT. We did not find a significant moderating effect of gender on these relationships.
Management Studies and Economic Systems, 2015
This study intended to assess the utilization of information technology services by employees in public sector through taking Geita District Council, Tanzania as a case study. The study aimed at examining the utilization of IT services as a tool to generate efficiency of work in order to find out IT services utilized by employees in the organization; it also investigates the role of IT sectors in developing the economy to pinpoint the problems that rise in regard to IT services and how far those problems are solved. The researcher used survey methodology to collect data and information using questionnaires and documents as tools in data collection. Participants involved in the study were managerial staff from departments and units found at Geita District Council. The collected data were analyzed by the help of SPSS software. The study identified that IT service in public sector plays a curcial role as it simplifies the procedures of processing, keeping, and recording of data. It enables the country to build a digital nervous system. Furthermore, the study observed that there are insufficient skilled system administrators in IT services, poor management as well as lack of training on system administration. The study recommends that District Councils should employ and train more system administrators, connecting all departments and units to the local network, establish adequate internet facilities, utilize internet facilities better, and provide backup service in order to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of IT.
Report and opinion marsland press, 2013
In line with the current trends in the use of Information and Communication Technologies tools for various administrative purposes both in government establishments and private sectors in different countries of the world; this study investigates correlation that exists between deployment and utilization of ICTs facilities in government's ministries, by extension departments, units and sections for administration efficiency in Kaduna state and sampled employees' ICTs skills influence on the government productivity. Results showed that there is strong relationship between the deployment of various ICTs facilities in the state government ministries of education, economic planning, finance, information and orientation, and science and technology and employees' usage for varied administrative duties assigned to them. This was established through Pearson Moment of Correlation Coefficient and test of statistical significance. The study also found that Information and Communication Technologies skills of the employees influence the use of ICTs for government productivity at the Chi-Square value of 300.000 at 6 degrees of freedom which was significant at 0.000. Based on the findings, the researcher recommends among others that other state and local governments in Nigeria should emulate Kaduna state government by deploying necessary ICTs tools to various ministries, departments and agencies so as to ensure adequate performance and enhanced productivity on the part of employees in all ramifications. There is also a need for any government that wants to be relevant in terms of G2C ICTs application to equip her staff with necessary movable ICTs facilities not only office-stationed tools.
Evaluation of Information Technology: The Case of Limpopo Legislature
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is no longer merely a basic necessity. The role of ICT in driving social change and promoting best practices in public governance is the core theme of this paper. World-class organizations constantly invest in the latest technology to stay ahead of their competitors. This paper examines the level of ICT usage within the Limpopo Legislature's secretariat. The secretariat comprises 22 functional units with a total of 206 employees. A sample of 30 employees was selected using purposive sampling methods. Twenty successfully completed the questionnaire. The study found that sixty percent of the legislature's business transactions were done manually. The paper indicates clearly that the legislature has yet to invest in e-procurement. It recommends that the legislature accelerate initiatives to increase ICT usage among its employees. Finally, the paper recommends that top management accelerate the infusion of ICT in the entire legislature's service delivery value chain.
Exploring the Integration of ICT in Public Sector Management in Namibia
Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology, Sixth Edition
This study explored how Namibia's public sector management is impacted by information and communication technologies (ICT). Information technology is currently undergoing significant change, beginning with the impact it is having on public sector employees' attendance at training sessions so they can learn new skills like using IT developments, gaining new knowledge, skills, and utilizing programs in various fields where more productive and profitable results are obtained. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the public sector, civil society, and international actors to work together to develop the policies and programs that will fully realize the potential of digital government for Namibia's public sector at all levels.
Factors That Affect the Effective Use of E-Government Procedures in Limpopo
Journal of Service Science and Management
The purpose of the survey was to assess and evaluate determinants of the demand for e-government services among public sector employees in Limpopo Province. The survey was based on data gathered from 823 public servants and community-based stakeholders who work on public service delivery at a local community level. The 823 participants of the survey were 5 senior project managers, 5 senior managers working on finance-related issues, 6 Directors and Deputy Directors working on policy and governance-related issues, 4 technical managers, 15 mayors and their assistants, and 788 stakeholders working in the 5 Districts of Limpopo Province (Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Waterberg) at various local communities in Limpopo Province (South African National Department of Public Service and Administration, 2022). Quantitative methods of data collection and analyses were used for conducting the survey. Indicators of the use of e-government services were measured based on a composite index developed by the United Nations Department of Social and Economic Affairs (2022) for developing nations. The study found that the perceived demand for e-government services in Limpopo Province was 54.01%. Results obtained from multivariate analysis (ordered logit regression analysis and log-linear analysis) showed that the use of e-government services was significantly influenced by 3 predictor variables. These predictor variables were the need for South African identity document applications and related services, the need for social grant services, and tax-related services.
The study investigated information and communication technology (ICT) accessibility and utilization of regional bureaus for sustaining public sector reform programs in Oromia Regional State. To examine the status of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) utilization to modernize the civil service, and sustain the reforms currently being implemented, the relevant data were collected both from primary and secondary sources. Instruments such as survey questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) were used to gather data for this study. The study sampled 160 public sector employees in selected regional sectors in Oromia regional state. Besides, interviews and FGDs were conducted with officials, employees and ICT officers in the sectors, and policy documents, reports, and relevant secondary sources were also reviewed. The collected data were analyzed using the descriptive statistics, while Chi square-test was used to test the association between different variables at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that at regional/bureau level, more than shortage of ICT facilities, mismanagement of resources is found to be critical problem; the process of implementing the ICT in the region is negatively affected by shortage of technical experts, lack of access to and the skill to use the technology, lack of understanding the technical contribution of this technology by leadership from top down to the lower level managers, high turnover and mismanagement of IT professionals, misunderstanding or communication barrier between ICT professionals and the sector leaders, and weak professional ICT support for employees on how to effectively utilize ICTs, were the challenges identified by the study. The reform programs such as BPR and BSC which are currently being implemented in the region are not also properly supported by IT. Attention for ICT offices/processes on the part of organizational leaders, improving employees’ support on how to apply ICT on the part of IT officers, and designing mechanisms to reduce turnover of the ICT officers on the part of the government are among the recommendations of the study. Keywords: ICT, public sector reform, utilization, accessibility, implementation, New Public Management