Integration and transformation of rural service delivery: The role of management information and decision support systems

Abstract

The paper deals with two main themes: 1) the integration and transformation of rural service delivery; and 2) role of management information and decision support systems in this process. Referring specifically to the types of rural areas, conditions, challenges and institutional environment in South Africa, the argument for the transformation of rural service delivery is largely based on Cook’s critique of the prevailing catch-up development philosophy (Cook, 2001). Instead of an urban-biased, capital project–focussed conception of service delivery priorities, a fundamental refocusing is needed which places greater emphasis on core rural realities such as poor accessibility, environmental sustainability and infrastructure maintenance. The second theme is introduced by an overview of different types of rural service delivery decisions and associated decision support requirements. Depending on the type of decision problem or mode of planning, there may be a need for MIS-type or DSS-type decision support systems. However, neither of these can be effectively deployed before achieving at least some degree of system inter-operability and information sharing – which is the main aim of the IDP Nerve Centre initiative. The paper briefly provides a brief case study review of this initiative, and provides some pointers about the extensions that are ideally required to provide a sufficiently integrated, “spatialised” perspective of different service delivery activities (i.e. the capital investment, operations and maintenance undertaken by different sectors), as well as the effective coverage, outcomes and sustainability thereof.