The challenges of organisational leadership in managing management information systems in the Directorate of Water Development in Uganda

Abstract

Leadership in DWD still faced several challenges, despite implementing MIS for several years. Data irregularities, lack of resources and poor maintenance of the storage software were earlier reported on. This case study intended to establish the challenges of organisational leadership in management of MIS in the DWD. Specifically, the study intended to find out the effects of employment characteristics on management of MIS; to investigate leadership skills and behaviours in management of MIS; to investigate the influence of organisational leadership environment on challenges in management of MIS and to suggest measures in addressing organisational leadership challenges in management of MIS. Using the path-goal leadership theoretical framework a qualitative study was undertaken. Purposive sampling targeted specific employees in DWD. Data was collected using questionnaire, interviews, observations and literature review and presented using quantitative and qualitative approaches with a sample of 52 individuals of111eligible officers. The study found out that DWD’s leadership was challenged in several ways. DWD paid minimum attention to the leadership function regarding management of MIS and this affected the outputs of MIS. Also, bi-lateral leadership affected data collection activities; ambiguous leadership structure on activities regarding information management affected management of MIS, lack of institutional policy to guide operations, and low leadership collaboration within and without the organisation affects harmonisation of information management. The study recommended that DWD should prioritize the function of leadership in management of MIS; enhance leadership skills for multi-skilling employees, establish encompassing leadership structures in management of MIS, strengthen mechanisms of collaborations locally and with lead agencies as well as establish the policy to guide MIS. Future studies should be undertaken in the areas of leadership and policy formulation in management of MIS, organisational leadership and directing non core tasks, the impact of poor data on strategic leadership, building teams in management of MIS in organisation, effectiveness of bi-lateral leadership and organisational leadership in prioritising information systems in organisation among others.