Abstract:
In many organisations, information governance (IG) is implemented in fragmented silos
and does not add value. After realising this, South African Council for Social Service
Professions (SACSSP), embarked on digital transformation process to modernise the
organisation by implementing an information governance system. The SACSSP was
experiencing challenges due to the lack of a cogent information technology (IT) system
design and the disparaged registration, finance and external verification systems inherited
that are not compatible with new system innovations to ensure effective and efficient
operations. This study utilised the Control Objective for Information and Related
Technology (COBIT) to develop an information governance system at SACSSP, with a
view for entrenching a culture of good corporate governance.
This critical emancipatory study used qualitative data collected through interviews, focus
groups, observation, system and document analysis in response to research questions.
The study was a participatory action research project that involved collaboration between
the researcher and study participants in defining and solving the problem through needs
assessment exercise. In order to address bias, the research findings were reviewed by
peers to identify things that might have been missed or gaps that were not addressed. All
three phases of participatory action research were followed, namely the ‘look phase’:
getting to know stakeholders so that the problem is defined on their terms and the problem
definition is reflective of the community context; the ‘think phase’: interpretation and
analysis of what was learned in the ‘look phase’; and the ‘act phase’: planning,
implementing, and evaluating, based on information collected and interpreted in the first
two phases. Data was analysed thematically with the use of Atlas Ti 9 and presented in
text, figures, pictures and diagrams. The key findings report on the processes taken by
the SACSSP in identifying and implementing the IG system implementation, that is records management, information technology, content management, data governance,
information security, data privacy, risk management, litigation readiness, regulatory
compliance, long-term digital preservation, and even business intelligence.
The results of the analysis suggest that integrated online system implementation,
including system architecture can be used to address issues associated with information
integrity in the present and near term, with proper IG policy and information &
communication technology (ICT) infrastructure in place. It does not, however, guarantee
reliability of information in the first place, and would have several limitations as a long term solution for maintaining digital records.
The study established that there were no underlying technologies for the implementation
of innovation technologies such as, artificial intelligence (AI). Core services of the
organisation for social service professionals is dealing with registration related services
such: as requirements for registrations; Foreign applications; Registrations fees;
Restoration, Banking details. However, the SACSSP was on the right track towards digital
transformation of the organisation.
The study suggests a framework for information governance to assist professional
organisations and board members to adopt a tailored governance system that would be
designed according to their needs. It can be concluded that a successful IG system can
be attained through adoption of principles and related accountabilities with a clear
strategic direction that is supported by organisational business units. The study
recommends that organisations need to make an emphasis of a holistic approach to IG
in order to empower a board to coordinate and integrate decision making across the
organisation.
