ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF ICT ON REVENUE COLLECTION ON THE SIERRA LEONE ECONOMY: A CASE STUDY OF THE NATIONAL REVENUE AUTHORITY
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background To The Study
Many Developing countries have seen the need for the adoption of ICT and the planned implementation of national ICT strategy as a significant component in the success of ICT efforts to foster rapid national development through greater productivity. The term ICT refers to Information and communication technology which consist of electronic technologies which facilitate access to information such as the Internet, wireless networks, and cellular phones (WEF, 2012).
The effective adoptions of ICT enable the governments to propel rapid productivity gains through different economic sectors in the nation. The government now view Information and communication technologies as a strategy to enhance rapid national development through ICT-driven productivity gains (Masanet & Matthews, 2010).Consequently the coordinated effort of government is required in this direction to adopt and implement a more robust and integrated ICT platform for an effective system of service delivery. (IDB, 2009). It is important to note that sirrea-lone requires an integrated ICT agenda to sustain its national developmental expectations (WEF, 2012). The benefit of ICT adoption permeates public sector workplace productivity (Masanet & Matthews, 2010). Public sector workplace productivity therefore impacts on business efficiencies resulting in resource efficiency, enhanced customer interface and revenue collection, cost control mechanisms, energy savings, and reducing negative environmental effects through using ICT applications (Masanet & Matthews, 2010).Borisov and Barbulescu (2012) postulated the adoption of the term electronic government which he stated consist of ICT tools and systems which is used to access and efficiently deliver public services to all stakeholders . (Bannister & Wilson, 2011).The adoption of ICT has facilitated easy access and interaction between government and its citizens .Also the development of mobile technologies, new web browsers, social media applications and sites, has provided the government with new tools to enhance the needs of e-government, which facilitate the development of an efficient system to manage public services geared at improving public’s confidence in government services (Borisov & Barbulescu, 2012).
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The need for the adoption of ICT and the planned implementation of national ICT strategy as a significant component in the success of ICT efforts to foster rapid national development through greater productivity in revenue collection cannot be over emphasized. Borisov and Barbulescu (2012) postulated the adoption of the term electronic government which he stated consist of ICT tools and systems which is used to access and efficiently deliver public services to all stakeholders . (Bannister & Wilson, 2011).The adoption of ICT has facilitated easy access and interaction between government and its citizens .Also the development of mobile technologies, new web browsers, social media applications and sites, has provided the government with new tools to enhance the needs of e-government, which facilitate the development of an efficient system to manage public services of collecting revenues geared at improving public’s confidence in government services. Consequently the coordinated effort of government is required in this direction to adopt and implement a robust and integrated ICT platform for an effective system of service delivery. (IDB, 2009). It is important to note that sirrea- lone requires an integrated ICT agenda to sustain its national developmental expectations (WEF, 2012).Consequently the problem confronting the research is to determine the impact of ICT on revenue collection on the sierra Leone economy (A case study of the National Revenue Authority)
1.3 Objectives of the Study
To determine the impact of ICT on revenue collection on the Sierra Leone economy (A case study of the National Revenue Authority)
1.4 Research Questions
What is the impact of ICT on revenue collection on the Sierra Leone Economy?
What is the impact of revenue collection in the National Revenue Authority?
1.5 Significance of the Study
The research seek to assess the impact of ICT on revenue collection on the Sierra Leone economy .A case study of the National Revenue Authority
The effective adoptions of ICT enable the governments to propel rapid productivity gains through different economic sectors in the nation. The government now view Information and communication technologies as a strategy to enhance rapid national development through ICT-driven productivity gains (Masanet & Matthews, 2010).Consequently the coordinated effort of government is required in this direction to adopt and implement a more robust and integrated ICT platform for an effective system of service delivery. (IDB, 2009). It is important to note that sirrea-lone requires an integrated ICT agenda to sustain its national developmental expectations (WEF, 2012). The benefit of ICT adoption permeates public sector workplace productivity (Masanet & Matthews, 2010). Public sector workplace productivity therefore impacts on business efficiencies resulting in resource efficiency, enhanced customer interface and revenue collection, cost control mechanisms, energy savings, and reducing negative environmental effects through using ICT applications
1.6 Research Hypothesis
Ho The impact of ICT on revenue collection in National Revenue Authority is low
Hi The impact of ICT on revenue collection in National Revenue Authority is high
1.7 Scope of the Study
The research focuses on the appraisal of the impact of ICT on revenue collection on the Sierra Leone economy (A case study of the National Revenue Authority)
1.8 Limitations of the Study
The research was confronted by some constraint including logistics and geographical factors.
1.9 Definition of Terms
ICT: ICT refers to Information and communication technology which consist of electronic technologies which facilitate access to information such as the Internet, wireless networks, and cellular phones (WEF, 2012). The development of mobile technologies, new web browsers, social media applications and sites, has provided the government with new tools to enhance the needs of e-government, which facilitate the development of an efficient system to manage public services geared at improving public’s confidence in government services (Borisov & Barbulescu, 2012).
REFERNCES
Borisov, D., & Barbulescu, G. (2012, September). A statistical outlook on theDevelopment of E-government and digital divide in Romania. ManagementResearch and Practice, 4(3), 46-56.
Georgescu, M. (2012). E-government: New perspectives on the future of government digitization. Annales Universitatis Apulensis: Series Oeconomica, 14(2), 369-384.