Factors Influencing Uptake of Project Management Information Systems in Health Focused Community Based Organizations: a Case of Kasarani Sub-county, Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the factors that influence Management Information Systems adoption in health focused community based organizations in Kasarani Sub County in Nairobi. Management Information Systems use in Community Based Organizations for health-related programs is vital to foster and maintain health and relieving suffering. Health focused Community Based Organizations need Management Information Systems more critically because their activities affect health directly. The study objectives were: to establish how financial factors influence the uptake of project management information systems, to assess how technical factors influence the uptake of project management information systems, to establish how organizational leadership of Community Based Organizations influence uptake of project management information systems and to assess to what extent user knowledge influences the uptake of project management information systems in Community Based Organizations. The study focused on community health volunteers and Community Based Organization members. This study adopted the resource dependence theory, the social technical theory, the diffusion of innovation theory and the Unified Theory of acceptance and use of technology. It explains how the intentions of a user of technology influence the adoption of technology or lack of it thereof. Resource dependence theory explains how scarcity of resources among nonprofits leads to prioritization in spending. Social technical theory explains how the interplay between technical factors and humans influences the adoption of technology. Diffusion innovation theory explains how management of an organization can influence fast or slow uptake of new technology. The study adopted the survey research design. The target population was 240 Community Based Organization members and community health volunteers. A study sample of 148 Community Based Organization members was used. To identify the Community Based Organizations that were part of the study, the purposive sampling approach was used. Questionnaires were the preferred data collection method. The questionnaires designed for use by the study contained open and close ended questions. The questionnaire was be pilot tested by 12 people from Kiambu County and a reliability test score of 0.844 was achieved. The questionnaire return rate was 87.1%. The study found that the factors measured: financial, technical, organizational leadership and user attitude and knowledge affected uptake of management information systems. Data analysis included descriptive statistics presented in form of frequency distribution tables. The data was analyzed using SPSS 23. The study found that financial factors had the most significant influence on the uptake of project management information systems at a mean of 2.05. User attitude was the second most significant influence of management information systems uptake at a mean of 2.1. Organizational factors had a moderate influence on uptake of information systems at a mean of 2.76. The least important influence on uptake of management information systems was found to be technical factors at a mean of 2.96. The study suggested for further studies to be undertaken in other community based organizations in diverse fields of focus and in the rest of the country to determine the countrywide rate of information system uptake in community based organizations. The study recommended prioritization in allocation of project implementation funds, training of members in community based organizations on management information systems use, motivation of the management committee through proper training and ensuring that systems meet the user needs and expectations to increase Management Information Systems uptake.