Devolution of State Personnel Management in Cameroon: An Analysis of the Impact of new Information Technologies on the Quality of Public Services

Abstract

The objective of this article is to study the impact of new technologies on the quality of public services within the Cameroon Public Administration, a system put in place through the project of devolution of the management of State personnel and payroll, of which SIGIPES constitutes its IT base. To carry out this study, we used the qualitative method of analysis of the sociology of organisations and in particular the strategic analysis of Crozier (1979) through the theory of the strategic actor. An interview guide was administered to the various stakeholders, i.e. staff and users. The results of this work show that, although the speed of files processing has increased substantially, the technology has not fundamentally improved the quality of public services within the Cameroon Public Administration. It is no less cumbersome, burdensome, inefficient and corrupt. It continues to be plagued by ills that undermine it and prevent it from increasing its performance and providing quality services. It is a reflection of its public officials who develop behaviours resistant to change and strategies aimed at preserving their particular interests at the expense of the general interest.