Sustainability Of Information And Communication Technology Projects In Public Organisations In Kenya; A Case Of Kenya Revenue Authority

ABSTRACT

The emergence of Information and communication technologies (ICTs), and e-Government, has made it possible to improve efficiency and effectiveness of internal administration within government and to re-locate government service from government offices to locations closer to the citizens. However, in its effort to have ICT systems that make these services available to citizens, most of the system projects have not been sustainable as the systems do not last or achieve the objective they were intended to over time. It is for this reason that this study was carried out, to investigate the sustainability of Information and Communication Technology Projects in Kenya Revenue Authority. The specific objectives of this study were to find out the effect of financial resources, ICT Infrastructure, Management Support, Skills and Stakeholder Participation on Sustainability of ICT projects in Kenya Revenue Authority. This study employed descriptive survey research design. The target population consisted of all the 1,496 employees in the 5 major ICT projects in KRA. Research instruments used were questionnaires with both open-ended and structured questions. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical approaches. The collected data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Multiple regression analysis was carried out to determine the relationship between independent and dependent variables. This study concluded that sustainability of the ICT projects was dependent on the improvement of ICT infrastructure by allocation of more financial resources towards purchase of ICT equipment, involvement of all project stakeholders during implementation, as well as allocation of more resources towards skills enhancement for the staff. From this study, it was found out that insufficiency of financial resources has had negative effects on sustainability of ICT project in KRA. Also, that ICT infrastructure has been an influence in the sustainability of the said ICT projects in the KRA to the negative deviation. On the idea of management support, this study concluded that the management has not done enough in ICT projects sustainability and this has limited its success. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended, enough financial resources should be set aside in the ICT sector to allow proper training and acquisition of efficient ICT infrastructure in order to increase the integration and sustainability of ICT projects in the KRA. This study also recommended that the management support should heavily take up the ICT initiative, have better perception towards ICT and start campaigning for the ICT strategy initiatives integration in KRA.