Importance of information sources to the information requirements of work activities in Nigerian government ministries

Abstract

Report on a study of the work situation and informa tion-seeking behaviour of civil servants in state government ministries in Nigena A framework for analysing the need for specific information sources as components of the information systems in organisations is descnbed. The framework was used to identify some of the important work activates undertaken in state government ministries in Nigena, the types of informa tion most often required for the activities, and the information sources considered by the civil servants to be best providers of the types of information

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It is recognised that under unusual circumstances (e.g., during activity or organisational emergencies), the relationships recognised and utilised by decision-makers among activities, types of information, and sources may deviate from the normal relationslups analysed with the framework.

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The five types of information are obviously not exhaustive, and may not be mutually exclusive. Indeed, other types of information (e.g., managenal, technical, etc.) could also be considered within the analytical framework.

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Respondents were asked to compare and rate on ordinal Likert scales the frequency with which each of the five types of information is required in their major work activity (defined as the most frequently performed work activity). In effect, each respondent provided comparative (and thus, dependent) ratings for the types of information. For such data types, Conover (1980) suggests the Fnedman test as the most appropnate inferential statistical method. Also, in Table 5, though tax administration and collection, and financial accounting and control were not onginally included in the questionnaire, a substantial number of respondents considered them to be their major activities; thus, the activities were included in the analyses.

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Of course, different recommendations may be indicated for particular ministries or units based on information about the activity-mix of each ministry or unit and the types of information most often required in the key activities of the ministry or unit

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Such barners may relate to physical accessibility, and social, economic, political and legal factors. One explanation for the finding in respect of newspapers and magazines may be that the information conveyed by such media is often highly politicised.