DEVELOPING AN E-RECORD READINESS MODEL FOR LABOUR ORGANISATIONS IN BOTSWANA By TRYWELL KALUSOPA (University of South Africa - UNISA ) (Student No ) Promoter: Prof. P. Ngulube

TOPICAL OUTLINE Background to the Study Research Problem Statement of the Problem Research Purpose, Objectives & Questions Justification for the Study Research Design and Methodology Preliminary Literature Review Concluding Remarks 2

Background Information Impact of ICTs on the management of records and recordkeeping practices in most organizations Redefinition of the record life cycle Several e-readiness initiatives have thus been launched over the past years to underscore depth of ICTs Recent labour studies have the centrality of information and records in their labour activities 3

Research Problem Literature on the penetration and depth of ICTs in Botswana shows varying levels in the various sectors. Studies for example by Keakopa (2006), Mutula (2005), have attempted to look at e-records in government, business and private sector in Botswana with little examination the impact of the ICT in non-governmental organization 4

Research Problem Other studies by Akotia (2002), Katuu (2004), Mutiti (2002) and Wamukoya & Mutula have focused on on building e-records management capacity and the need for e- records readiness as critical to an effective e-records management strategy in the region but: Do not go far enough to interrogate current e-record readiness models Do not particularly discuss how other key constituents such as the labour organizations could be integrated in promoting e-evironments 5

Research Problem Proliferation of e-records has introduced many challenges to labour organizations Various assessment tools that that been put in place to assess the depth of e- readiness all over the world. The tools have been criticized for “varying definitions for e-readiness and different methods for measurement” 6

Research Problem That the tools are general in nature, are highly quantitative in measurement The tools focus on government agencies and do not emphasise the question of e-recordness as key component to e-readiness The largely emphasise public sector and not labour organisation. This study will, therefore, focus on interrogating the usefulness of e-record readiness assessment tools that labour organizations in Botswana. 7

Purpose of the Study The purpose of the study is to assess the usefulness of e-record readiness assessment tools in the labour organizations in Botswana with a view to developing an integrated e- record readiness model or framework for such organisations. 8

Study Objectives 1. To review and interrogate the usefulness of existing e-record readiness assessment tools in the labour organizations in Botswana. 2. To establish the current record and information management practices in labour organizations in Botswana. 3. To assess the type, level of information management knowledge, skills and competences in the labour organizations in Botswana 9

Study Objectives 4. To assess national strategies in the integration of labour organizations in the e- government framework in Botswana 5. To ascertain the best-practice framework of the integration and managing e- records in the labour organizations in Botswana 6. To make recommendations that are necessary to improve the general management of records and information management in the labour organizations in Botswana. 10

Study Objectives 4. To assess national strategies in the integration of labour organizations in the e- government framework in Botswana 5. To ascertain the best-practice framework of the integration and managing e-records in the labour organizations in Botswana 6. To make recommendations that are necessary to improve the general management of records and information management in the labour organizations in Botswana. 11

Research Questions 1. How useful are existing e-record readiness assessment tools in measuring records and information management practices in the labour organisations in Botswana? 2. What are the current record and information management practices in labour organisations in Botswana? 3. What is the type, level of information management knowledge, skills and competences in the labour organizations in Botswana? 4. To what extent have national strategies on e- government involved labour organisations in Botswana? 12

Research Questions 5. To what extent are best practices used in integrating and management of e-records in labour organizations in Botswana? 6. What type of framework would be appropriate in measuring e-record readiness in labour organizations in Botswana? 7. What recommendations are necessary to improve the management of electronic records in the labour movement in Botswana? 13

Why the Study??? Need to have a clear framework for understanding the e-record readiness and the integration of the labour organizations in the e-environment in Botswana. Dearth of literature on e-record readiness assessment models or frameworks for records and information management in labour organizations 14

Methodology: Research Design Research Paradigm will be largely multi- method or a mixed method (both qualitative and quantitative) Some of the aspects to be investigated are both descriptive and normative in nature Survey approach will be used as well as some in-depth qualitative inquiry 15

Methodology: Population and Sample There are 50 registered labour organizations in Botswana that have varying sizes of membership In all the labour organizations, the core Executive members are elected representatives involved in daily and core management activities of the trade union work, constitute about 15 members. On average, (from the 50 registered labour organizations) these could amount to 750 and would constitute the target population for this study. 16

Methodology …Sampling This research will use stratified random sampling and stratified into public and private sector labour organizations The sample size for this study that was determined using the on-line Creative Research System and will be

Methodology …Data Collection Instruments Questionnaire Interviews Observations Document analysis 18

Data analysis & Presentation Analyses and interpretations of research findings in line with the study objectives and research questions will be presented Convert collected data into meaningful information by grouped all the responses, tables and charts will be used to determine the findings with the aid of statistical packages such as SPSS 19

Preliminary Literature Review E-readiness and E-Records Readiness Assessment Tools E-records readiness and Labour Organizations Challenges of E-records Readiness in Labour Organisations E-record Readiness in Labour Organizations in Southern Africa Summary 20