TITLE:               

A Strategic Framework for Implementing E-Services in Higher Educational Institutions of Ethiopia

AUTHORS:     

Dereje Tekaleng , Priya Swaminarayan

DOI:  10.5110/77. 1043                 Page:   51-73             Vol: 18    Issue: 09   Year: 2023

ABSTRACT

Higher education e-services constitute a paradigm change in this age of rapid technology. Modernization and efficiency depend on E-services in Ethiopian colleges. This change demands a strategic framework that balances technical developments with Ethiopia’s unique socio-cultural and infrastructural setting. This research presents an Ethiopian-contextualized strategic framework for higher education E-service integration. The framework model for implementing electronic services in higher education institutions was developed using the Design Science research approach (DSR), enhanced by integrating systemic-holistic and socio-technical perspectives, including the soft systems methodology (SSM), and visualized using Visual Paradigm version 17, a prototyping tool, to create an attractive and user-friendly representation. The result shows a comprehensive Ethiopian higher education E-services implementation framework. Before implementation, institutional framework, operational standards, workflow processes, network infrastructure, human capabilities, and information flow are evaluated. Addressing significant issues aligns policy and prepares for future stages improvement-focused implementation research. Electronic service efficiency, performance, and usefulness improve with complete checks. Steps include modification identification, prioritizing, requirement analysis, design and development, rigorous testing, smooth deployment, user training, and continual monitoring and assessment. Completeness guarantees the electronic service satisfies user needs, improving efficiency and satisfaction. After implementation, the software application undergoes operation, system performance monitoring, problem resolution, post-modification testing, and system fine-tuning. This process continues until the system is shut down. Research emphasizes ongoing assessment and monitoring to identify development areas and demonstrate technology integration. Research suggests periodic legal, fitness for purpose, and policy and procedure compliance reviews, monitoring, and evaluations.

Keywords:

Electronic Service, Higher Institution, Strategic Framework, Ethiopia

Received:  05 October 2023

Accepted: 21 October 2023

Published:  01 November  2023