Abstract:
Tanzanian public sector is challenged to promote good governance through ICT. Thus effective use of ICT as a tool for promoting good governance is believed to have a significant impact for the public organizations in policy implementation and thereafter realization of goals and objectives.
This study aims at understanding the role or contribution of ICT as a management tool in promoting good governance in the public sector organizations. In this regard the study is set to fulfill the following objectives: i) To identify the role of ICT adoption and use in governance in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism; ii) To identify and assess the extent to which the available possibilities for employing ICT may improve governance in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and iii) To establish the relationship between quality of services and ICT use in the Ministry.
In the course of realizing the objectives of this study, the research employed questionnaires, observation and interview as the data collection methods. These methods were in line with the research design aimed at in this study. The research design which was seen as appropriate to this study was ‘a Case Study’. Thereafter the data and information collected was analyzed using computer Microsoft Excel Program.
The study revealed that despite having the legal and policy framework for ICT and appreciation of the role of ICT in the public sector organizations as a means for promoting good governance, still there are some challenges that limit the effectiveness of ICT in the course of promoting good governance in the public sector in Tanzania. Such challenges include inadequacy of well skilled technicians and/or computer system analysts, unreliable power supply (electricity cut-outs), lack of technical know-how, lack of modern equipments, spare parts and anti viruses, level of education of most employees (users), poor technological infrastructure, capital (cost of maintenance), and lack of priorities (readiness) as a result of political interference in technical and administrative matters.
Therefore, it is recommended that it is high time that the ideal of the legal and policy framework should be adequately reflected in the reality. That is the government should now give priority to ICT if it really means that it to be a tool for promoting good governance in the public sector.
