Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to assess and compare the current state of archival and records systems in two of ESARBICA member countries, namely South Africa and Botswana. Design/methodology/approach -The paper uses a qualitative research approach. To draw inferences and make recommendations, a survey was conducted in national and provincial archival institutions of both countries. Secondary data were derived from literature search and primary data from questionnaires. Findings -While archives and records services in both countries do have legislation, they are not being recognised and given status in the government and public arena. Archivists and records managers in either country are still marginalised by state administration. There is no political champion of archives and records management in either country. There is a shortage of funds and staff, accompanied by poor infrastructure and lack of vision by the leaders of archival institutions in both countries. In South Africa, the national archives have inherited a role from the previous dispensation and it still remains a subordinate functionary within the Department of Arts and Culture, rather than being relatively independent. In Botswana, the national archival system is centralised and is also a subordinate functionary within the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. Practical implications -The findings and recommendations will help in guiding national and provincial archival institutions in both countries to facilitate the effective management of records to determine those of archival value, to preserve them for posterity and to make them accessible to the public. Originality/value -This is the first comparative study on archival and reocrds management systems between Botswana and South Africa.
Audit reports issued by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) yearly indicate that poor record-keeping is one of the contributing factors to disclaimer audit opinions in the public sector. Despite this, records management is often not considered or used as an essential element to facilitate an effective auditing process in the public sector in South Africa. Utilizing the auditing process of AGSA as a conceptual framework, this study sought to develop a framework to embed records management practices into the auditing process in the public sector in South Africa, with a view to reduce findings on record-keeping in the audit reports. Literature review was conducted to demonstrate the relationship between records management and auditing. The study suggests a framework that can assist governmental bodies in managing records effectively throughout the application of an auditing process that includes records management at all stages and within specific contexts of the organization. It is hoped that such a framework will help governmental bodies in South Africa towards obtaining clean audit reports.
Purpose
This study aims to develop a framework for the management of medical records in support of health-care service delivery in the hospitals in the Limpopo province of South Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
The study was predominantly quantitative and has used the questionnaires, system analysis, document analysis and observation to collect data in 40 hospitals of Limpopo province. The sample of 49 per cent (306) records management officials were drawn out of 622 (100 per cent) total population. The response rate was 71 per cent (217) out of the entire sample.
Findings
The study discovered that a framework for management of medical records in the public hospitals is not in place because of several reasons and further demonstrates that public health-care institutions need an integrative framework for the proper management of medical records of all forms and in all media.
Originality/value
The study develops and suggests a framework to embed medical records management into the health-care service delivery workflow for effective records management and ease of access. It is hoped that such a framework will help hospitals in South Africa and elsewhere to improve their medical records management to support health-care service provision.
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