Performance and IT investment intensity in RSA e-Governmental departments : a pilot study

Abstract

This article considers if a link exists between performance and Information Technology (IT) intensity in the Republic of South Africa (RSA) Governmental departments practising e-Government. The authors used a questionnaire to collect data. The answers to the research questions note that in top performing e-Government Departments; (i) IT costs as proportions of operating costs were higher; (ii) IT costs as a proportion of income was lower, than in weak performing e-Government Departments; and (iii) that a positive correlation exists between the Computerisation Index (CI) and the Operating Costs ratio. The investigation also reveals that Heads of Departments expect additional output while planning e-Government operations and keeping IT budgets constant. Evidence is presented that e-Government Departments performance is linked to the level of IT investment intensity in the sample of Governmental Departments investigated, even though more output was expected from the IT Department.