Assessing The Impact Of Lack Of Network Documentation In Higher Learning Institutions: Case Of University Of Dodoma

ABSTRACT 

Network complexity continues to grow as enterprises add and remove different communication technologies. Software tools that identify network elements, provide logical and physical network views, track network changes, and provide accurate documentation for all network components which are needed and should be employed in the organizations. It has been observed that most of the Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs) in Tanzania facing serious problems in monitoring and managing network because of neglecting documentation. This study intended to assess the impact of lack of network documentation in Higher Learning Institutions in Tanzania. Specific objectives were; to identify factors that contribute to negligence of network documentation in HLIs, to identify the effects of lack of network documentation in HLIs and to develop a prototype that will be adopted in higher learning institutions to document network. Methods used in data collection were in depth interviews and observations. The study population comprised of system administrators from the University of Dodoma. Purposive sampling was employed to get the sample size of 22 system administrators. The researcher discovered that awareness and negligence are among the factors which contributed to the lack of network documentation in HLIs. In addition, researcher found out that troubleshooting and managing network without network documentation is difficult. Finally the researcher develops prototype and use NetBrain Workstation to document UDOM network.