AN INVESTIGATION OF EFFECTIVE PAPER RECORDS MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN ENHANCING SERVICE DELIVERY AT BAGAMOYO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

This study investigated effective paper records management practices in enhancing service delivery at Bagamoyo Municipal Council, guided by three objectives: to identify existing records management practices, to examine the effectiveness of existing records management systems, and to establish the challenges facing effective records management at the Council. A mixed methods design was adopted, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. The target population was 27 administrative officers and department heads, from which a sample of 25 respondents was drawn using the Yamane formula, through simple random and purposive sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews and observation, and analysed using SPSS. Findings showed that records creation and registration, storage and filing, classification and indexing, retrieval and access, and disposal and archiving were the main practices applied, with creation and registration the most consistently practiced while classification, retrieval and disposal received less attention. Existing systems were only moderately effective, as delays in locating files and inconsistent filing reduced efficiency and accountability. Key challenges included lack of professional training, inadequate storage infrastructure, limited financial resources, absence of retention schedules, outdated filing systems, and weak policy implementation. The study concluded that the Council has not fully adopted a comprehensive records lifecycle approach, and recommends staff training, improved storage infrastructure, retention schedules, standardized filing systems, stronger compliance monitoring, and increased budget allocation.

Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Peer review

Not peer-reviewed

Licence

All rights reserved