A Theoretical Framework for Government Information Service Delivery to Deep Rural Communities
A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICE DELIVERY TO DEEP RURAL COMMUNITIES
Promise S. Mvelase1, Nomusa Dlodlo2 , Sizakele Mathaba3 , Salah K. Kabanda4
1, 2,3 Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Meraka Institute Box 395 Meiring Naude Road Brummeria Pretoria 0001 South Africa Telephone: (+27) 012 841 31901,2 / 29483 Fax: (+27) 012 841 4720/4570 E-mail:pmvelase@csir.co.za1, ndlodlo@csir.co.za2 , smathaba@csir.co.za3
4 University of Capetown Faculty of Commerce Department of Information Systems P.Bag X3 Rondebosch 7701 South Africa Telephone: (+27) 021 650 4253 Fax: (+27) 021 650 4369 E-mail: salah.kabanda@uct.ac.za4
Abstract
This paper reports on a study to determine the information requirements of communities in deep rural areas on government services and how this information can be made available to them. The study then proposes an e-government theoretical framework that utilizes deep rural Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) to serve as access points to the government information on services available and needed by this rural community. Initially the study identifies current services provided by the government to the community and measures the levels of satisfaction of the community on the service provision. On the basis of the analysis of community satisfaction levels the gaps in the information needs of the deep rural community are identified. The study also identifies the challenges faced by the community in trying to access these services. A theoretical framework for government information service delivery is then proposed.
This research was conducted as a case study at KwaNongoma rural area in KwaZulu-Natal. To come up with the community needs, recreation needs of three communities of KwaKhangela, KwaMememe and KwaSomkhele were
Promise S. Mvelase1, Nomusa Dlodlo2 , Sizakele Mathaba3 , Salah K. Kabanda4
1, 2,3 Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Meraka Institute Box 395 Meiring Naude Road Brummeria Pretoria 0001 South Africa Telephone: (+27) 012 841 31901,2 / 29483 Fax: (+27) 012 841 4720/4570 E-mail:pmvelase@csir.co.za1, ndlodlo@csir.co.za2 , smathaba@csir.co.za3
4 University of Capetown Faculty of Commerce Department of Information Systems P.Bag X3 Rondebosch 7701 South Africa Telephone: (+27) 021 650 4253 Fax: (+27) 021 650 4369 E-mail: salah.kabanda@uct.ac.za4
Abstract
This paper reports on a study to determine the information requirements of communities in deep rural areas on government services and how this information can be made available to them. The study then proposes an e-government theoretical framework that utilizes deep rural Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) to serve as access points to the government information on services available and needed by this rural community. Initially the study identifies current services provided by the government to the community and measures the levels of satisfaction of the community on the service provision. On the basis of the analysis of community satisfaction levels the gaps in the information needs of the deep rural community are identified. The study also identifies the challenges faced by the community in trying to access these services. A theoretical framework for government information service delivery is then proposed.
This research was conducted as a case study at KwaNongoma rural area in KwaZulu-Natal. To come up with the community needs, recreation needs of three communities of KwaKhangela, KwaMememe and KwaSomkhele were
References: 1. A Rural Health strategy for South Africa, http://www.rudasa.org.za/download/RuralHealthStrat_draft020306.doc 2. Susanto, T.D., Goodwin, R., An SMS-based e-government model, proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Enterprise Information systems, ICEIS 2006, Paphos, Cyprus, 2006. 3. Danish dada, the failure of e-government in developing countries: a literature review, The Electronic Journal on Information systems in Developing Countries, Vol. 26, No. 7, pp. 1-10, 2006 4. Heeks, R., e-government in Africa: promises and practice, iGovernment Working paper Series, paper 13, Institue of Development Policy and Management, Manchester, UK, 2002 5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-government/ 6. backus, M., E-government in developing countries, IICD Research, Brief-no-1, 2001. 7. Heeks, R., e-government for development, http://www.egov4dev.org.