An Investigation into Data Management as an Information Tool and its Importance With in the Durban University of Technology
Ramani Francis
Journal of Information & Systems Management, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2014.
DOI: 
Link: http://www.dline.info/jism/fulltext/v4n2/1.pdf
Abstract:
This purpose of this case study was to investigate data management as an information tool and its importance within the Durban University of Technology. The problem revolved around, inter alia, data management and data accuracy as structured interventions impacting on monitoring, analysis and decision making. The research design adopted a quantitative methodological approach that used precoded self administered questionnaire for collecting data. The empirical component involved a survey method as this was an in-house investigation with a target population equating to only 174 respondents. A significant response rate of 74% was obtained using the personal method for the data collection. Several hypotheses were formulated relating to data quality initiatives, data owners and their responsibility and frequency of data analysis in order to determine accuracy. These were tested using the Pearson chi-square test as well as data that was analyzed to determine frequencies and percentages of responses. The data was analyzed using the computerized Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program. A highly significant finding was that 95.31% of the respondents strongly agreed that data management and integrity is of utmost importance at the Durban University of Technology. One of the recommendations suggest that an imperative for the Durban University of Technology to manage its data as an asset, a policy on data integrity and integration policy should be developed and implemented. Another recommendation highlighted and staff should strive to attain proper classification on the database, considering that this directly impacts on the accuracy of the HEMIS submissions to the Ministry of Education for the state allocated subsidy. The study concludes with directions for further research as well.