Information Communication Technology Governance Approaches And Implementation Of Legal Case Management Project In Eldoret Law Courts In Kenya

Abstract

Legal case management (LCM) project is a project designed to assist the legal practitioners, courts and law firms in managing legal issues more effectively. The project was designed by judiciary department in partnership with the legal practitioners to manage and fast track issues in the courts hence reducing case backlog. LCM projects play an important role in the provision of timely and appropriate legal redress. Following the legal reforms in Kenya’s Judiciary, legal case management projects are being implemented in law courts in the 47 counties in Kenya. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of ICT governance approaches and implementation of legal case management project in Eldoret law courts in Uasin Gishu County. The research intend to find how ICT strategic alignment approach, ICT risk management approach, ICT performance measurement approach and ICT stakeholder management approach influence implementation of legal case management project in the judiciary. The study used cross-sectional design. The target population of this study consisted of 250 judicial officer, staff and law society of Kenya members in Eldoret law courts Uasin Gishu County from whom a population of 152 was sampled using Krejcie and Morgan table of estimation. Simple stratified random sampling was used. Questionnaire was used to collect the data from the sample. The data collected in the study was analysed by the use of descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The relationship between variable was tested using correlation and regression analysis. Quantitative data was presented using tables for ease of understanding and analysis. Descriptive statistics- mean and standard deviation were used to determine the extent to which information communication technology governance approaches influence implementation of LCM project. Inferential statistics - correlation and regression were done to determine the influence of ICT governance approaches on implementation of LCM project. Pearson Product-Moment Correlation analysis was carried out to examine the association between the variables. The study findings showed that there is a significance relationship between the ICT governance approach and implementation of LCM projects. Results showed moderately weak correlation between independent variable strategic alignment approach and the dependent variable implementation of LCM projects with r=0.653. From the findings the study revealed that on average a unit increase in strategic alignment approach increases implementation of LCM score by 0.940. Results showed a strong correlation between independent variable risk management and dependent variable implementation of LCM projects with r=0.701. From the findings the study revealed that on average a unit increase in risk management approach increases implementation of LCM score by 0.999. Results strong correlation between variables performance measurement and implementation of LCM projects r=0.641. From the findings the study revealed that on average a unit increase in performance measurement approach increases implementation of LCM score by 0.944. Results showed strong correlation between independent variables stakeholders management and implementation of LCM project variable with r=0.691. From the findings the study revealed that on average a unit increase in stakeholders management approach increases implementation of LCM score by 0.914. The results are expected to be useful to the judiciary management and staff in their implementation of legal case management projects and academicians in the field. The study concludes that strategic alignment approach influence implementation of LCM in the judiciary. Risk management approach alerts judiciary on how to handle and measures risk in the judiciary. Performance measures like quarterly and annual reviews encourage employees to perform or otherwise get poor results. Performance measurement allowed the judiciary to identify over ambitious targets and gaps in performance review. Stakeholders’ management encourage better management relations as well as fostering innovation and accountability. The study recommends continuous capacity building of staff on ICT governance as well as development of customized tools for universal purpose and fair evaluation. Therefore the study recommends LCM projects be rolled out in all counties