An effective records management programme is a major element of the governance of any organisation. However, despite this crucial role played by records management, there is a consensus amongst researchers that many organisations, including government departments, pay little attention to the management of records. In South Africa, government departments are under legislative obligations to adopt a systematic and organised approach to the management of records. For example, the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa Act (Act No. 43 of 1996) requires government departments to develop, implement and maintain proper records management systems. The purpose of this study was to explore records management trends in the Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) to establish if the Department was managing records according to legislative requirements. Data was collected through online questionnaires, physical observation and interviews with selected DPLG employees and analysed through an open source software. The key findings of the study revealed that an enormous benefit for the implementation of a records management programme is the commitment and support of top management. The study recommended that records management should be included in the performance contracts of all employees in the DPLG. The study concluded that a records management programme will only function effectively if it is developed as part of the strategic objective of the organisation. / Information Science / M.A. (Information Sxcience)

In the last decade, the deployment of Electronic Health Records has increased tremendously in many developed countries. This increasing trend intensifies the need for developing countries like South Africa to implement electronic health record systems in state owned hospitals to facilitate e-referral processes to improve health care delivery. The aim of this research was to investigate the current process of patient record keeping, management, and the referral process of patients within the same hospital and to other hospitals and based on the findings compile an Electronic Health Record (EHR) framework to facilitate e- referral processes. This research study was based on a qualitative case study approach. A multiple data collection technique was used which included group interviews, questionnaires, document analysis and informal discussions with the hospital workers. Data were analysed by categorization and thematic approach. The findings obtained from state hospitals indicated that there is no EHR system which accommodates patient health record systems to facilitate e-referral processes. These findings led to a compilation of the Limpopo Electronic Health Record System (LEHRS) to aid e-referral processes in state hospitals. The increasing need for accurate, reliable, available and accessible EHR will be addressed by the implementation of LEHRS as information will be stored in a central database in a useable format and will be easily accessed. / Computing / M. Tech. (Information Technology)

An effective records management programme is a major element of the governance of any organisation. However, despite this crucial role played by records management, there is a consensus amongst researchers that many organisations, including government departments, pay little attention to the management of records. In South Africa, government departments are under legislative obligations to adopt a systematic and organised approach to the management of records. For example, the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa Act (Act No. 43 of 1996) requires government departments to develop, implement and maintain proper records management systems. The purpose of this study was to explore records management trends in the Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) to establish if the Department was managing records according to legislative requirements. Data was collected through online questionnaires, physical observation and interviews with selected DPLG employees and analysed through an open source software. The key findings of the study revealed that an enormous benefit for the implementation of a records management programme is the commitment and support of top management. The study recommended that records management should be included in the performance contracts of all employees in the DPLG. The study concluded that a records management programme will only function effectively if it is developed as part of the strategic objective of the organisation. / Information Science / M.A. (Information Sxcience)

Proper records management plays a significant role in the auditing process, risk management and wider corporate governance. Despite this role, in South Africa, many governmental bodies are issued with disclaimer reports every year by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) due to a lack of supporting documentation. This problem is exacerbated by the exclusion of records management from the criteria for a sound financial management infrastructure in many governmental bodies. The other dilemma is that some records such as financial records, personnel records and electronic records usually fall outside the jurisdiction of the organisation’s records manager. Utilising the King Report III as a framework, this study sought to develop a framework to embed records management practices into the auditing process in the public sector of South Africa, with a view to entrench a culture of clean audits. The study relied on mixed methods research (MMR), with the quantitative study conducted first through informetrics analysis of audit reports, while the qualitative paradigm was used to substantiate numerical data. Data collection adopted a multi-approach with four key sources of data: a questionnaire, interviews, literature review and publicly available data from the consolidated general reports of AGSA. The study revealed that most governmental bodies have established internal audit units, audit committees and records management units, which did not work in unison. In most governmental bodies records management did not form part of the audit scope and records management professionals were not part of the audit committees. As a result, most governmental bodies continued to receive negative audit opinions from AGSA. The study recommends that records management community should utilise auditing and risk management as a springboard to propel records management to the new heights. A further empirical study on the role of auditing and risk management in records management that embraces both the private and public sectors is recommended. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

In the last decade, the deployment of Electronic Health Records has increased tremendously in many developed countries. This increasing trend intensifies the need for developing countries like South Africa to implement electronic health record systems in state owned hospitals to facilitate e-referral processes to improve health care delivery. The aim of this research was to investigate the current process of patient record keeping, management, and the referral process of patients within the same hospital and to other hospitals and based on the findings compile an Electronic Health Record (EHR) framework to facilitate e- referral processes. This research study was based on a qualitative case study approach. A multiple data collection technique was used which included group interviews, questionnaires, document analysis and informal discussions with the hospital workers. Data were analysed by categorization and thematic approach. The findings obtained from state hospitals indicated that there is no EHR system which accommodates patient health record systems to facilitate e-referral processes. These findings led to a compilation of the Limpopo Electronic Health Record System (LEHRS) to aid e-referral processes in state hospitals. The increasing need for accurate, reliable, available and accessible EHR will be addressed by the implementation of LEHRS as information will be stored in a central database in a useable format and will be easily accessed. / Computing / M. Tech. (Information Technology)

Evaluation determines the impact of social services as well as job performance and assures communities that social workers render effective services. Post audits are done as part of performance management at the Christian Social Councils in the Highveld Synodal Region. The purpose of this research is to look at the experiences of social workers that had a post audit to determine whether adjustments to improve the audit system are needed. A qualitative approach with an exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was followed. Participants were identified according to the purposive sampling method. Data was collected during semi-structured interviews. The data was analysed and verified according to the models of Tesch (in Creswell, 2003) and Guba (in Krefting, 1991), respectively, and processed in the research report. / Social Work / M. A. (Social Science)

Evaluation determines the impact of social services as well as job performance and assures communities that social workers render effective services. Post audits are done as part of performance management at the Christian Social Councils in the Highveld Synodal Region. The purpose of this research is to look at the experiences of social workers that had a post audit to determine whether adjustments to improve the audit system are needed. A qualitative approach with an exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was followed. Participants were identified according to the purposive sampling method. Data was collected during semi-structured interviews. The data was analysed and verified according to the models of Tesch (in Creswell, 2003) and Guba (in Krefting, 1991), respectively, and processed in the research report. / Social Work / M. A. (Social Science)