The adoption of ICT in immigration management and operational activities at entry points

The study assessed the adoption of ICT in immigration management and operational activities as entry points in Tanzania. A structured questionnaire was used as the main data collection instrument from a sample of 40 respondents based at the Tunduma Border. Data were analysed with the help of Statistical Package for Social Services (SPSS). The study identified the factors that influence the adoption and use of ICT among immigration departments as organisational readiness, resources, managerial styles, employees’ skills and knowledge, managers ICT knowledge and expertise, and ICT policies. The technical factors affecting the effective adoption of ICT in the Immigration Department in its management and operational activities include, lack of expertise, unreliable power supply, lack of connectivity, and generally poor technical support. Additionally, ICTs have adopted and used differently in various immigration management and operational activities. Some of these management and operational activities are fully automated while others are partially automated and a few of them have not been automated. To a great extent many of the immigration management an operational activities remain un-automated, hence undermining the department efforts to modernise and hence its management operational function. The study concludes that both technical and organisational factors are important in ensuring the effective adoption and use of ICT among immigration department. As many of the management and operational activities of the immigration Department have yet to be automated, the government should work towards improving the ICT infrastructure in the immigration to ensure the management and operations of the Department are in the sync with the digital age and demands.