A model to integrate ICT into the risk management process in the Public Sector: the Department of Water and Sanitation case study

Abstract

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can be defined as a form of technology that provides access to information through platforms of telecommunication. Risk management is a process of identifying, assessing, and managing the risks within an institution. The purpose of this dissertation was to determine the role played by ICT and how it influenced the effectiveness of risk management in the public sector. The literature review reveals that some of the contributing factors were the availability and access to ICT resources, which result in the organisation’s ability to measure the influence of ICT. There were limited studies to prove the impact of ICT in implementing risk management in the public sector. Employing the right approach to integrate ICT into risk management could assist an organisation in managing its risks effectively. The objective of this dissertation was to determine whether the use of ICT to implement risk management has an impact on the effectiveness of risk management. Furthermore, this study intended to propose a model to integrate ICT into risk management processes in the public sector. A qualitative method using an online survey and a case study using in-depth interviews was followed, in the form of an inductive approach with a cross-sectional time horizon. Data collected were analysed using thematic analysis whereby key themes were identified. The findings indicated that ICT plays a critical role in the effectiveness of risk management. Yet there are various challenges around the use and accessibility of ICT. A formal model to integrate ICT into risk management was proposed for implementation in the public sector. Additionally, this study provided recommendations to address the ICT challenges identified.