Challenges Facing E-Recruitment in Tanzania Public Service: A Sociotechnical Perspective

Abstract

Tanzania is enhancing the quality of human resources in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals through e-recruitment. Amongst the added value is increasing efficiency, transparency and accountability. Despite notable and perceived attainments, there are encountered challenges which even extant studies do not explain comprehensively. Hence, this study applied the sociotechnical perspective to explain the challenges facing the e-recruitment in the Public Services Recruitment Secretariat.   This research adopts a qualitative approach, utilizing a case study design. A purposive and convenient sampling strategy was employed, with 17 key informants selected. Five individuals participated in interviews, while 12 others were involved in three Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). The study identifies several social and technical challenges impacting e-recruitment in Tanzania's public services. Social challenges include the forgery of information, ICT illiteracy, resistance to change, human errors, delays in submitting employment permits, and delays in candidate applications. Technical challenges encompass poor internet connectivity, system abnormalities, budget constraints, and limited system integration and interoperability. The study explains the intersection of social and technical challenges in Tanzania's public service recruitment secretariat. Through primary data, the gap was addressed. The study implies that the analysis and discussion of e-government challenges encountered in Tanzania should be comprehensive to address all key aspects of e-government recruitment. Appropriate choice of models, theories and principles for e-government studies would enrich decision-making, provide genuine insights to practitioners and provide and add a framework of analysis to researchers.