An evaluation of e-government implementation : the case of Harare City Council

Date
2015-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The use of information and communication technology (ICT) in the public sector has brought much transformation. Governments worldwide have adopted the use of ICT to improve their operations with impressive results. Electronic government (e-government) has proved that it has the ability to reduce government expenditure, to strengthen communication within organisations as well as between government and citizens, to increase effectiveness and efficiency in government operations and also to increase transparency in government operations, thereby combating corruption. Though e-government promises a lot of benefits, these benefits will only be realised by those who are committed to its proper implementation. There are various factors that have been identified in e-government literature as essential for e-government implementation. These factors, when not taken into consideration during the implementation phase, will complicate sound e-government development. They include the availability of an e-government vision, availability of a sound ICT infrastructure, a sound financial commitment, and leadership that is committed to e-government projects, among other factors. This study assesses the e-government implementation process in Harare City Council (HCC). The findings reveal that the implementation is not according to acceptable best practices. A number of factors that are crucial for e-government implementation success have been overlooked and need attention if HCC is to fulfil its e-government objectives.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die gebruik van Inligting en Kommunikasie Tegnologie (IKT) in die publieke sector het groot transformasie aangebring. Regerings wêreldwyd het IKT begin toepas om hul bedryf te verbeter, met indrukwekkende resultate. E-regering het bewys dat dit die vermoë het om staatsbesteding te verminder, kommunikasie binne organisasies asook tussen die regering en burgers te verbeter, doeltreffendheid in regeringsbedrywighede te verbeter, asook om deursigtigheid in regeringsbedrywighede te bewerkstellig en sodoende korrupsie te bekamp. E-regering behels baie voordele, maar hierdie voordele kan net ‘n werklikheid gemaak word deur diegene wat hulself aan ordentlike implementering toewy. Daar is verskeie faktore wat in e-regering literatuur aangewys word as absoluut noodsaaklik vir die implementering van e-regering. Indien hierdie faktore nie in ag geneem word deur die implementeringsfase nie, sal dit die ontwikkeling van kwaliteit e-regering kompliseer. Die faktore behels onder andere die beskikbaarheid van ‘n e-regeringsvisie, beskikbaarheid van ‘n goeie IKT infrastruktuur, goeie finansiële verbintenisse en leierskap wat toegewy is aan eregeringsprojekte. Hierdie studie het die implementeringsproses van e-regering in Harare Stadsraad (HSR) bestudeer. Die resultate wys dat die implementasie nie volgens aanvaarde beste praktyke plaasvind nie. Verskeie faktore wat noodsaaklik is vir die sukses van e-regeringsimplementering is misgekyk en benodig aandag as HSR hul eregering doelwitte wil bereik.
Description
Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.
Keywords
Internet in public administration -- Zimbabwe -- Harare, Electronic government information -- Zimbabwe -- Harare, Public administration -- Technological innovations -- Zimbabwe -- Harare, UCTD
Citation