Explore publications.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) altered how institutions and people interact and operate in various contexts. Technological advancements through e-government have resulted in more responsible, transparent, effective, and efficient governance and service delivery in Lesotho. The adoption of e-government and its influence on service delivery in Lesotho are examined in this study using a systematic scoping review process guided by the PRISMA 2020 framework. Using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as its theoretical lens, the study argues that citizen adoption is dependent on perceived usefulness and ease of use, both of which are significantly hindered by local constraints. The evaluation acknowledges gains made through programmes such as the 2013 e-Government Infrastructure Project, which has increased efficiency and transparency, particularly in metropolitan areas such as Maseru. Nevertheless, it also draws attention to a notable implementation gap, with a sizable urban-rural digital divide that marginalises rural residents due to inadequate infrastructure, expensive ICT, and restricted coverage. Serious accessibility issues are also exacerbated by inadequate digital literacy and the predominance of English over Sesotho on government websites. According to the study, resolving these problems calls for a multifaceted strategy. Investing in rural digital infrastructure, lowering access fees, requiring multilingual and accessible digital content, and starting national digital literacy initiatives are all part of this strategy to transform e-government into a tool for equitable service delivery and inclusive development for all Basotho.

The incorporation of generative artificial intelligence in governance, political knowledge, electoral, and democratic processes is essential as the world transitions to a digital paradigm. Numerous nations have adopted Generative AI (GenAI), a disruptive technology that compels electoral bodies to advocate for the integration of such tools into governance, electoral, and democratic processes. Nevertheless, these technologies do not ensure effortless integration or efficient usage owing to intricate socio-cultural and human dynamics. Certain African jurisdictions are ill-prepared for the adoption of these technologies due to factors including underdevelopment, insufficient electrical supply, lack of technology literacy, reluctance to change, and the goals of governing parties. This study examines generative artificial intelligence as a disruptive technology for enhancing governance, political knowledge, electoral processes, and democracy. A mixed-method approach was employed, incorporating surveys and in-person interviews. The analysis of data, debates, and interpretation of findings were grounded in postdigital theory and theme analysis employing an abductive reasoning technique, in alignment with the tenets of critical realism. The study demonstrated that GENAI can influence political knowledge, election processes, and enhance efficiency in government and democracy. Moreover, GENAI, including ChatGPT, can either exacerbate or mitigate societal tendencies that contribute to human division, facilitate the dissemination of misinformation, perpetuate echo chambers, and undermine social and political trust, as well as polarise disparate groups or sets of viewpoints or beliefs. AI offers substantial opportunities but also poses many obstacles, including technical constraints, ethical dilemmas, and social ramifications. The swift progression of AI may disrupt labour markets by automating tasks conventionally executed by people, resulting in job displacement. Implementing AI necessitates significant upskilling and proficiency with digital tools; therefore, governments and organisations must adequately train their personnel to reconcile the disparity between AI's capabilities and users' comprehension. Additionally, there is a requisite for governmental oversight, regulation, and monitoring of AI adoption and utilisation across all facets of its implementation.

Over the years public institutions have faced problems relating to the unprofessional property asset management due the continued usage of the archaic paper-based property management systems which have compromised the pristine property management efforts of public institutions. It is against this backdrop that the study examines the key drivers as well as the prospects for adopting the IEPMS in public sector property management institutions in Zimbabwe’s Harare province. The study being qualitative, relied on the interpretivism research philosophy was hinged on the Information Systems Success model as its theoretical framework. The study established that the public sector in the Harare province relies on the paper based, traditionalized property management practice that is fragmented. The absence of an up-to-date property asset register for all state properties, the need to address corruption, state property theft and embezzlement of state funds as well as the need to adhere with international best practices were the key drivers for the need to adopt the IEPMS. This enhances dependability, saves time, money and improves on professional property management and service delivery. The study recommends the need to seriously embrace digitalization through the adoption and operationalization of an IEPMS which is efficient and enhances accountability and transparency.

This study was motivated by the need to shift from the illusory perception of longing for e-Governance to be declared a new paradigm of Public Administration. Public Administration is said to be static, but yet dynamic. Implying that the dynamics of Public Administration can incorporate electronic governance (e-Governance) to improve matters of governance, public service delivery, accountability and transparency in public affairs. However, even with an incongruous adoption and implementation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) within the South African government, this study shed light on the empirical and systematic evidence and analytical distinction between e-Governance and public administration. The analysis suggests that the complexity and implication of e-Governance via the use of ICTs may enhance government efficacy. Still, it cannot be entirely trusted in maintaining administration and government-businesses-citizens interaction partly due to its rapid technological changes and the various conditions of its implementation within different nations including South Africa. With the aid of qualitative research methods, which heavily relied on secondary data gathered from scholarly journals, academic books, trusted databases and websites, this study reveal that there is scant evidence to support research in incorporating e-Governance as a new paradigm of Public Administration due to the imbalance, network failures, inadequate ICTs infrastructure to govern in a democratic manner which include all citizens. This study concludes that e-Governance is already analysed from a public administration dynamic and complementary perspective implying that it is an analytically and structurally incomplete reform to take its full form as a new Public Administration paradigm due to its rapid technological changes.

Service delivery protests in the recent past demonstrate the dire state of local government in South Africa. The absence of public sector innovation can be linked to service delivery backlogs hence embracing digital innovations (Internet of Things (IoT), Big data and analytics, cloud, Biometrics, computers, mobile applications, 3D machines) in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is strategic for enhancing municipal service provision and uplifting the living standards of citizens in communities.  The study utilised an explorative qualitative case study design premised on an extensive literature and document review analysis to examine the barriers facing the City of Tshwane from adopting digital innovations in the 4IR. The analysis of documents revealed digital hesitancy, leadership void, lack of innovative research culture, weak municipal preparedness, and digital divide in adopting digital innovations are barriers to digital innovation adoption to enhance service delivery. The paper observes further the lack of systematic and evaluative studies to inform public sector innovation, or growth in digital innovations often led to implementation challenges in the City of Tshwane. Conclusions drawn for the article revealed that adopting digital innovations can be the panacea to accelerating urban service delivery in the City of Tshwane; hence institutional readiness, improved revenue streams, including a stable regulatory and policy environment, are imperatives in achieving a digitalised local government in the 4IR.