Aligning information and communication technology strategies with Ethekwini municipality’s strategic objectives for service delivery.

Abstract

In the realm of municipal governance, the rapid integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has introduced new opportunities and challenges. A critical challenge is the misalignment between strategic objectives and ICT strategies within municipalities, as exemplified by eThekwini municipality in South Africa. The primary purpose of this research was to investigate the pivotal role of strategic alignment in shaping ICT implementation for effective service delivery within eThekwini municipality. The aim was to provide insights and solutions to bridge the gaps between ICT and municipal strategy alignment. A mixed methods approach was employed in this study, combining qualitative and quantitative techniques in a convergent parallel design. The questionnaires used in the study were meticulously aligned with the research's specific objectives. A census approach was adopted to collect quantitative and qualitative data gathered through purposive sampling. The research identified a key issue as limited executive involvement in developing the municipality's ICT strategy, resulting in a misalignment between the strategy and the overarching municipal goals. This misalignment risks suboptimal decision-making based solely on operational inputs. This finding underscores the critical need for strategic alignment between municipal objectives and ICT strategies in eThekwini municipality. The municipality should thus prioritise the development of a comprehensive ICT strategy that aligns seamlessly with its overarching objectives. This strategy should be crafted with active involvement from key stakeholders, outlining clear goals and action plans aimed at harnessing technology for efficient service delivery. To ensure effective alignment, robust ICT governance structures and decision-making processes must be established. These changes will not only enhance service delivery to the community, but also promote a transparent, efficient, and technology-enabled governance approach.

Iqoqa.

Esimweni sokuphathwa komasipala, ukuhlanganiswa okuphuthumayo kolwazi nobuchwepheshe bezokuxhumana okwaziwa nge-Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sekuveze amathuba nezinselelo ezintsha. Inkinga enkulu ukungahambisani okukhona phakathi kwezinhloso zokuqhubela umsebenzi phambili kanye nezinhlelo ze-ICT ngaphakathi komasipala, njengoba kubonakala kumasipala weTheku eNingizimu Afrika. Yize sekucishe kuphele amashuminyaka amabili okukhula kwezobuchwepheshe, umasipala weTheku usalokhu ubhekene nezingqinamba zokuhambisa ezobuchwepheshe ngendlela efanele. Umnyombo wenkinga ukungabi khona kokuhambisana okungenazihibe phakathi kukamasipala weTheku kanye nezinhlelo ze-ICT. Lokhu kungahambisani sekuholele ekuhlulekeni ukuhambisa izinsiza emphakathini, ukungaphathwa kahle kwezimali kanye nokwehla kwezinga lokuthenjwa wumphakathi. Inhlosongqangi yalolu cwaningo wukuthola iqhaza elingabanjwa wukuba khona kokubambisana ukuze kusebenziseke eze-ICT ngendlela efanele ezosiza ukuhambisa izidingo emphakathini ngempumelelo. Inhloso wukuletha ukuqonda kangcono nezixazululo ukuze kuvalwe igebe lokungahambisani phakathi kwe-ICT kanye nezinhlelo zokuphatha umasipala. Kwasetshenziswa indlela yokucwaninga engxube, ehlanganisa ucwaningozibalo kanye nocwaningonto okubandakanya ukuqoqa imininingo, ukuqhathanisa kanye nokuhlaziya okunzulu. Uhlumibuzo olwasetshenziswa kulolu cwaningo lwenziwa lwahambisana nezinhloso zocwaningo ngokucophelela. Kwasetshenziswa indlela yobalobantu ekuqoqeni imininingo ngokwekhwantithethivu kanti imininingo ngokwekhwalithethivu yaqoqwa ngokuqoka ababambiqhaza ngokwenhloso. Ucwaningo lwavundulula okubaluleke kakhulu njengokugqoza kokuzibandakanya kweziphathimandla ekwakhiweni kwesu lezobuchwepheshe kumasipala. Lokhu kudala ukungaxhumani phakathi kwesu lezokuxhumana nezinhlosongqangi zokusebenza kukamasipala. Lokhu kungaxhumani nokungahambisani kukhinyabeza izinga lokuthathwa kwezinqumo. Le miphumela iqhakambisa isidingo esinqala sokuthi kube nokuxhumana phakathi kwezinhloso zikamasipala kanye namasu ezokuxhumana kumasipala weTheku. Lo masipala kumele ubeke phambili ukubunjwa kwesu le-ICT elinzulu elizohambisana nezinhloso zokusebenza kukamasipala ngokungenazihibe. Lelo lisu kumele libunjwe ngokuhlanganyela nabo bonke abathintekayo njengababambiqhaza, kubekwe obala izinjongo ezicacile, nohlelo lokusebenza oluhlose ukukhulisa ubuchwepheshe ukuze kuphumelele ukuhanjiswa kwezidingo kubantu. Ukuqinisekisa ukuthi lokhu kuxhumana kuyaphumelela, izinhlaka zokuphatha i-ICT kumele ziqine kanti makwakhiwe nezindlela zokuthatha izinqumo eziqinile. Lolu shintsho akukona nje ukuthi luyothuthukisa ukuhanjiswa kwezinsiza okufanele emphakathini kuphela, kodwa kuyothuthukisa ukusebenza okuveza izinto obala, okuhamba ngendlela efanele, kanye nendlela yokubusa egabe ngezobuchwepheshe.