A Study Of Electronic Records Management In The Namibian Public Service In The Context Of E-Government

ABSTRACT

In striving to achieve good governance, organisations including Governments worldwide have been turning to information technologies. The conduct of business online has led to an increase in the creation of electronic records, which has brought about challenges in the management of records. This study, titled “A Study of Electronic Records Management in the Namibian Public Service in the Context of E-Government”, was based on the assumption that the Public Service of Namibia has embarked on egovernment, which should result in an increase in the creation of electronic records (erecords). The study aimed to answer the research question: “How can the electronic records environment be strengthened to support e-government in Namibia?” An electronic records environment encompasses the existing records management awareness amongst all officers; records keeping procedures; legal and regulatory framework; safety, security and confidentiality of records; monitoring of records keeping practices; resources and facilities for records management; training and skills for records management; electronic information systems and ICT use; and the management of records emanating from these systems. The study investigated all these issues, and applying existing records management models, attempted to establish whether or not the Public Service of Namibia has the capacity to create, manage, share, and use electronic records to support e-government. This capacity is referred to as e-records readiness.