Browsing by Author "Samson, Marwa"

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    Factors influencing the usability of information systems and user performance in academic institutions in Tanzania
    (Unversity of Dar es Salaam, 2014) Samson, Marwa
    In this study, factors influencing the usability of information systems and user performance in academic institutions in Tanzania were assessed. The study used the case of Academic Registration Information System (ARIS), an information system used at the University of Dar es Salaam whereby sixty seven system users out of a hundred who were intended for data collection in this study, filled and returned the questionnaires. Respondents to this study were instructors and examination officers at the University of Dar es Salaam. Apart from questionnaires, the researcher conducted interviews to key ARIS officers for more findings and the data analysis tool used was Multiple Regression Analysis. Accessibility, reliability and efficiency of information system were cited as key factors which influence the usability of information systems and user performance in academic institutions in Tanzania. The findings show that there is a positive relationship between user performance and accessibility, reliability and efficiency of information systems in academic institutions. This implies that if accessibility, reliability and efficiency of information system are increased, user performance will also increase. Apart from unsatisfactory efficiency of information systems in academic institutions, the study found out other challenges facing information systems in academic institutions. The challenges were (i) user resistance from using information systems, (ii) lack of technical skills from users, (iii) understaffing of information systems officers and (iv) poor management of information systems. The research concluded that for satisfactory usability of information system and user performance, academic institutions should employ strategies to improve efficiency of the system, to reduce user resistance of the systems, to increase the level of technical skills among the users of the systems, to reduce the level of understaffing of information systems officers and to provide better management of the systems. The most recommended strategy for the above mentioned findings is to hire more qualified IT personnel responsible for providing technical skills to users of the system and providing better management of the system