Approaches for enhancing information sharing between government and communities in Western Cape

South African Journal of Information Management

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Approaches for enhancing information sharing between government and communities in Western Cape
 
Creator Nelwamondo, Murendeni Njenga, James K.
 
Subject — government; intermediary; information sharing; ICT; Western Cape; information; community library; e-centre
Description Background: The Western Cape Provincial Government uses digital intermediaries to facilitate information sharing between individuals, communities and the government. Digital intermediaries are shared facilities where communities can visit and have access to information and communication technology (ICT) and the internet. Communities benefit economically, socially and politically by using free access to ICT and the internet from intermediaries’ facilities to share information with the government. There seem to be disparities between the roles of the different stakeholders in information sharing. These disparities often result in poor communication between the government and communities, and also poor government services delivery.Objectives: This research investigated how intermediaries can enhance information sharing between government and communities in the Western Cape Province.Method: This study adopted a qualitative research approach by using semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling was used to collect qualitative data from 15 participants from different intermediaries’ staff in the Western Cape Province. A narrative analysis approach was used to analyse the data.Results: The study found that intermediaries intermediate between communities and the government by providing free access to ICTs, provide basic computer training and access to computing resources and serving as an information hub. The study also found that operating hours, lack of resources, skilled staff and communication challenges adversely affect information sharing.Conclusion: This study recommended that intermediaries are supported to increase the number of resources and facilities and the number and levels of training in the province to cater for more communities. This study further recommended an increase on operational hours, and communication channels between the government and intermediaries.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor
Date 2021-12-17
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Interviews
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/sajim.v23i1.1414
 
Source SA Journal of Information Management; Vol 23, No 1 (2021); 9 pages 1560-683X 2078-1865
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://sajim.co.za/index.php/sajim/article/view/1414/2121 https://sajim.co.za/index.php/sajim/article/view/1414/2122 https://sajim.co.za/index.php/sajim/article/view/1414/2123 https://sajim.co.za/index.php/sajim/article/view/1414/2124
 
Coverage — — —
Rights Copyright (c) 2021 Murendeni Nelwamondo, James K. Njenga https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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