The adoption of digital administrative systems and practices at Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Wildlife

Abstract

This study examines adoption and usage of digital administrative systems and practices at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW) in order to suggest strategies for better utilisation of digital administrative systems and practices at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. This study will therefore attempt to improve focus on the administrative employees’ adoption and usage of implemented digital systems and practices, to improve organisational productivity. The researcher adopted a quantitative approach using online survey to collect data. Data were analysed using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. Target respondents were 160 administrative employees at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, as they are directly involved in the adoption and usage of digital administrative systems and practices. The researcher adopted a census of all 160 administrative employees in order to achieve the objectives of the study. This study revealed that even though the digital administrative systems at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife are adopted to a certain extent. Employees do not wholly adopt them. They mainly prioritise those systems related to their personal information, followed by those related to communicating and conducting meetings. Off concern, is the lack of training provided to employees as one of the factors inhibiting the adoption of digital administrative systems and practices. The study concludes that, it is highly critical that there is more focus placed on the adoption of digital administrative systems and practices. Furthermore, attention should be paid to factors of organisational and individual influence, that have been found in the study to impede the adoption of digital administrative systems and practices aimed at enhancing the productivity and efficiency in the administrative operations at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. This study argues that management needs to enhance communication to employees regarding the purpose and benefits of the digital administrative systems and practices to be used and adopted. In addition, management at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife should prioritise investing in connectivity, as it plays a crucial role in the adoption and usage of digital administrative systems and practices. It is further recommended that management should ensure that the information related to digital administrative systems and practices is easily accessible on the EKZNW website. This will help boost employee productivity and quality customer satisfaction post Covid-19 pandemic.