A framework for promoting ICT usage in parastatals in Uganda

Abstract

This study was about the development of a framework for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) usage in the parastatals in Uganda. It involved reviewing literature on the challenges that parastatals facing in using of information and communication technologies. It also involved a review of the different ICT usage approaches that are currently in use. Questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions and observations were used to collect data. To analyse the collected data Colaizzi’s (1978) framework for data analysis was used during the study. The public utility sector was considered as a case study with a focus on Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL). The analysis results indicated that UETCL faces a number of challenges in utilization of ICTs. These challenges include; a lack of management and organization support to ensure that ICT is utilized, uncoordinated and unplanned ICT adoption, a lack of the full implementation of the ICT policy document, lack of awareness of the diffusion processes of ICT into organizational culture, lack of a holistic ICT selection, design and implementation plan, a lack of a structured needs assessment. The main objectives of this research were to review the existing frameworks for ICT usage and thus extend one of the most appropriate existing frameworks to build a proposed framework for ICT usage among parastatals in Uganda which would eventually lead to formulation of a proposed framework promoting ICT usage. Based on the findings of this study, an adoption and utilization framework was developed. The developed framework is an extension of Technology Organization Environment (Tornatzky and Fleischer: 1990) framework. The different stages of TOE framework were improved using constructs adopted from other adoption and utilization approaches including, Diffusion of Innovations theory, Technology Acceptance Model, Theory of Perceived Benefits of the ICT and other theoretical and conceptual studies carried out. The developed framework is expected to help parastatals realize improved efficiency in public service delivery provision. Thus more research still needs to be carried out in these areas with emphasis on Uganda and other developing countries. The findings of the study pointed to various new approaches of ICT adoption and utilization through consideration of the three factors of the technology, the organization and the environment within which the parastatal operates in. xii This framework was found to be appropriate and useful in its applicability within the parastatals in Uganda for adoption and utilization of ICT in their business processes aiming at improving the service delivery As a recommendation, this research study can be further validated by more experts in enterprise architecture to make it even more refined to parastatals and expounded on it to build a framework for that can be further extended to cater for the very infant stage of ICT implementation in Uganda.