A framework for selection of information systems : case of the Kenya Civil Service
Date
2013
Authors
Miriti, Fridah Karen M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
Organizations in the civil service should endeavour to implement information
systems that meet both their organisational objectives as well as e-Government
objectives. However, information systems in the civil service in Kenya are
characterized as being underutilized or unutilized; focused internally and existing in
silos often leading to incompatible systems; being driven by vendors, donor and
development partners; or acquired through collusions between vendors and
government officials. This is due to lack of a suitable framework to guide selection
of information systems in civil service.
The research sought to review existing frameworks used to guide selection of
information systems, identify factors that need to be considered in selection of
information systems, determine how these factors apply in the selection of
information systems in the civil service and develop a framework that can be used to
guide selection of information systems before acquisition in the civil service in
Kenya. The research identified the selection process, selection criteria, decision
making structure and the evaluation technique as the factors that need to be
considered in selection of information systems. A survey was sent out to the forty
two ministries to determine how these factors applied in the civil service.
It was found that most ministries in the civil service had a formal structured process
for selection of information systems, weighting and scoring of criteria and cost
benefit analysis were the most frequently used evaluation techniques, availability of
funds and improved service delivery were the most frequently used selection criteria,
the ICT department most frequently determined which information systems should
be selected for acquisition and the accounting officer made the final decision on
which information systems were selected for acquisition. The results of the survey
were used to develop a framework to guide the selection of information systems in
the civil service. The components of the framework were based on the four factors
identified for the selection of informaiton systems. The framework aims at providing
a standardized formal structure for selection of information systems in the civil
service that support organisational objectives as well as e-Government objectives.
Description
Partial fulfillment for award of the degree of Masters of Science in Information Technology