A strategic framework for digital preservation in the context of e-government in Botswana public service

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the digital preservation capability maturity readiness in the context of e-government in Botswana Public Service with a view to developing a strategic framework that ensures digital continuity. The study adopted a pragmatic paradigm and case study which were deployed in each of the six selected ministries as a unit of analysis. The target population was 102 respondents from six key purposively sampled ministries. Seventy-nine questionnaires were distributed, of which 55 were completed and returned. Interviews were conducted with 21 staff being senior managers, managers for human resources and administration, heads of divisions for records management units, archives unit, ICT managers and senior records managers. Formal participatory observations of documents were conducted. The study’s findings showed that the Botswana public service has no unified national information systems to manage public sector records, which led to some ministries adopting their own electronic records management systems. Currently, few ministries have implemented the electronic records management system and most digital records are not preserved due to lack of preservation guidelines and strategies. In that regard, the study developed a strategic framework to safeguard digital continuity and make sure that e-government is sustained for the benefit of an open government and increased participatory citizenry.