AN INVESTIGATION ON RECORDS MANAGEMENT IN EVIDENCE BASED DECISION MAKING IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS: A CASE STUDY OF BAGAMOYO DISTRICT COURT

ABSTRACT The study focused on investigating records management in evidence-based decision making in public institutions, whereby the study was conducted at Bagamoyo District Court. The study involved a sample size of 30 respondents who were selected through purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected through interviews and questionnaires. The findings of the study revealed that majority of respondents indicated that records management was considered as a fundamental part of the judicial decision-making process. The findings of the study implied that records management contributed significantly to the development of court operations as it supported timely and fair decisions through proper record-keeping practices. The findings revealed that the number of case files retrieved, completeness of case records, accessibility of evidence, and timely availability of court documents were the types of records management evidence collected and used in the court. The findings revealed that lack of staff skills, as many court staff lacked adequate training on using information technology in managing court records, presented a wide variety of technological challenges to making these records useful in supporting judicial decision making. Also, lack of supportive policies was identified, as most of the court records management practices operated without clearly implemented policies that act as blueprint statements. The findings also showed lack of budget and lack of infrastructures, as the court had suffered severe budget cuts from the government in recent years, forcing it to cut down on qualified personnel, infrastructures and motivations that were supportive in managing court records information.

Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Peer review

Not peer-reviewed

Licence

All rights reserved