FACTORS INFLUENCING IMPLEMENTATION OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS IN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES IN KENYA
FACTORS INFLUENCING IMPLEMENTATION OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS IN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES IN KENYA
Haron Kipkosgei Kertich - Student, Master of Science, Information Communication and Technology Management, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Godfrey Makau - Lecturer, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Thomas Mose - Lecturer, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
ABSTRACT
This purpose of the study was to establish the factors influencing implementation of ICT projects in the National Government Ministries in Kenya with a focus on ICT infrastructure, organization structure, financial resources allocated to ICT projects and ICT expertise capacity. Such comprehensive analysis of factors influencing implementation of government ICT projects in one study is rare and information on the four dimensions factors is scarce. Yet, National government ministries in Kenya have continued with ICT projects implementation over the years under the e-Government master plan framework with mixed performance outcomes. Several studies conducted on implementation of ICT projects have concurred that implementation of ICT projects in national government ministries in Kenya fail in different stages due to numerous reasons. This study apply a combination of ICT diffusion and adoption theories and was conceived to highlight the most critical ICT, organizational, financial and ICT expertise capacity factors requiring attention of ICT project implementers in Kenyan public sector context. The specific objectives of this study therefore included: to establish the influence of ICT infrastructure; organization structure; financial resources allocated to ICT projects and ICT expertise capacity on implementation of ICT projects in the National Government Ministries in Kenya. The target population of the study included all officers from Administration, Finance, Central Planning, Procurement, ICT, Human Resource Management and Development (HRM&D), Accounts and a Technical Department involved on ICT projects management in all the 21 National Government Ministries in Kenya. Purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 189 respondents from the eight departments of the 21 National Government Ministries so as to only include those who are involved and hence have experiences in ICT project implementation processes. Data was collected by use of both closed and open ended questionnaires. A pilot test of the questionnaire was administered to in one of the ministries to establish the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. The collected data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented in both descriptive and inferential statistical outcomes. In the end, the study established that each of the four factors was critical in influencing implementation of ICT projects in government. Further scrutiny revealed that ICT infrastructure and financial resources allocation were the most critical and significant factors influencing implementation of ICT projects in government. The study findings are deemed very important for not only the government ICT project implementers, but also other stakeholders and academia community. The government and key stakeholder will immensely benefits from the findings by being informed on the critical ICT, organizational, financial and ICT expertise capacity factors requiring their attention for the success of ICT project implementation in the public sector. The knowledge exuded in this study will definitely enhance decision making, financial resource allocation and successful implementation of ICT projects in the National Government Ministries and County Governments in Kenya. The study findings will also extend the various theoretical models applied in it to extend frontiers of knowledge in the areas of ICT project management, diffusion and adoption of ICT innovations theory and in establishing specific areas for further research which are outside the scope of the study.
