A multi-methods study exploring the role of stakeholders in the digital preservation environment. The case of Ghana
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-02-2017-0032 |
| Published date | 06 August 2018 |
| Pages | 650-664 |
| Date | 06 August 2018 |
| Author | Kofi Koranteng Adu |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information & communications technology,Internet |
A multi-methods study exploring
the role of stakeholders in the
digital preservation environment
The case of Ghana
Kofi Koranteng Adu
Department of Information Technology Studies, University of Professional Studies,
Ghana and Department of Information Science, University of South Africa,
South Africa
Abstract
Purpose –This study aims to examine the role of stakeholders in the digital preservation under the
following key research questions:What are the levels of awareness of the volumes of digital material? What
are the contributoryfactors for the growth of digital records and the types of information and communication
technologyproducts?
Design/methodology/approach –With the convergence of questionnaire, documentary evidence,
observation, interviewand questionnaire, this paper aims to examinethe state and role of stakeholders in the
digital preservation environment. The adoption of the multi-methods approach to the study offered a
panoramic view of the inquiry where thequantitative paradigm became the emphasis or the priority for the
study, whilethe qualitative data set provided a secondary or supportive role.
Findings –The study underscor ed the adoption of collaborative and part icipatory opportunities in the
digital preservation environment and reinforced the concept of Open Data, which thrives on citizen’strust,
participation and collaboration (UN e-government survey, 2014). It further revealed lac k of knowledge
about the likely growt h of digital material acr oss the ministries and a gencies and confirmed that
government legislations have contributed to the increased demand for information and the growth of
digital records.
Originality/value –The study underlined two mutually exclusive concepts (collaboration and
participation) as part of the strategies to ameliorate the digital preservation conundrum confronted by
memory institutions in Ghana. The applications of these concepts as solutions to the digital preservation
problems are novel and currently gaining prominenceand acceptance within the archival community Their
adoption in this studycould not have come at a better time, particularlywhen public sector organizations are
confrontedwith the challenge of preserving digital records.
Keywords Ghana, Government, Data storage, Archives management, Preservation,
Born digital materials
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The field of archival science has in recent years experienced rapid advances in
technology because technologies such as digital preservation, digitization, database
applications and various preservation software tools have undoubtedly changed the
phase of archival science. Such advances in technology demand that the capacity of
record professionals are properly developed to equip them to manage, preserve and make
public records in digital form available (International Council for Archives, 2016). The
twenty-first-century archivist ought to sustain these concurrent advances in technology
EL
36,4
650
Received8 February 2017
Revised21 June 2017
30October 2017
Accepted4 December 2017
TheElectronic Library
Vol.36 No. 4, 2018
pp. 650-664
© Emerald Publishing Limited
0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/EL-02-2017-0032
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