Abstract
Around the globe, more emphasis is being placed on environmental sustainability and, as such, many organizations have started to embrace the idea of a paperless working environment, although it is still largely regarded as an idealistic dream. For this research study, the influence of a paperless working environment on the Master of the High Court (Master’s Office), in Cape Town, was investigated through the introduction of its Paperless Estate Administration System (PEAS) and its Paperless Estate Administration System for Trusts (PEAST). The main objective of this research study is to determine the influence of the PEAS and the PEAST on the holistic sustainability of the Master’s Office. A mixed methods approach was followed whereby both quantitative data and qualitative data were collected through means of disseminating questionnaires to employees based at the Master’s Office in Cape Town. Based on the findings made, the PEAS and the PEAST had a positive influence on the sustainability of the Master’s Office in Cape Town, as the time spent on and the expenditure incurred on administrative tasks decreased significantly. Notwithstanding the latter, it was found that the PEAS and the PEAST can still be further enhanced to optimize the sustainability of the Master’s Office in Cape Town. Keywords: paperless, work environment, high court, administration, office and management technology, Paperless Estate Administration System (PEAS), Paperless Estate Administration System for Trusts (PEAST). JEL Classification: M10
Highlights
Despite the popularity of paper in working environments, advancements made in technology, over the years, have encouraged many organizations, in recent times, to shift their focus towards a “paperless working environment” (Orantes-Jiménez et al, 2015)
All relevant findings and discussions are covered under the following headings below: 1) demographical information of respondents, 2) evaluation of the Paperless Estate Administration System (PEAS) and the Paperless Estate Administration System for Trusts (PEAST), and 3) respondents’ views of the PEAS and the PEAST
It was found that: 1) 78.13% of respondents were based in the Deceased Estate Department, while 21.88% of respondents were based in the Trust Department, 2) 78.13% of respondents made use of PEAS, while 21.88% of respondents made use of PEAST, and 3) 100% of respondents were employed at the Master’s Office for at least 6 months
Summary
Despite the popularity of paper in working environments, advancements made in technology, over the years, have encouraged many organizations, in recent times, to shift their focus towards a “paperless working environment” (Orantes-Jiménez et al, 2015). Albeit the latter, previous research studies (Gupta, 2015; Hill, 2015) make mention that a paperless working environment is still regarded as an idealistic dream. The PEAS and the PEAST have been reported to have a positive influence on service delivery and time management at the Masters’ Offices throughout South Africa (Department of Justice, 2013), a recent report shows that the relevant objectives set around these systems, by individual staff members, are not always achieved owing to. For the sake of clarity, the remainder of this research paper is demarcated under the following sections: 1) literature review, 2) research design and methodology, 3) findings and discussions, recommendations, and conclusion
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