The effectiveness of revenue collection systems in local government authorities in Tanzania: the case of Mbeya city council.

This research falls under the information systems development. In particular the study deals with how advanced data visualization tools can be developed and implemented for use in the health sector. The context of this study is Zanzibar, Tanzania. The research aimed at developing in-depth understanding on how Open Source Geographic Information System technologies can be used to provide solutions for data visualization in health sector of Zanzibar. The research focuses on studying the reporting and data visualization tools of the existing Health Information System (HIS), identifying problems related to system and propose and implement solutions for the purpose of improving it. The Business Intelligence and Report Tools (BIRT) viewer and Key Indicator Data System (KIDS) were used. BIRT viewer used to develop web-based reports while (KIDS) was used to develop a GIS based reports. The study also entails a technology shift from Microsoft to Open Source technologies. The developed tools facilitate data integration between the DHIS versions (1.4 which is Microsoft based and 2.0 which is platform independent) and hence serve as gateway solution during the transition period. Qualitative methods were used for data collection. These involve interviews, questionnaires, participant observations, document reviews and software analysis. Implementation challenges were identified including outdated spatial data, for example coordinates for some new health facilities were missing. Also key users such as program managers, district officers and health unit staff were reluctant in coping with the new GIS technologies.