Effective Service Delivery Research Articles

Capacity-building practices for librarians' effective service delivery in federal university libraries in Nigeria

PurposeThe study examined capacity-building practices for librarians' effective library service delivery in Federal University Libraries in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThe design for this paper was a descriptive survey research design. Data was collected using a questionnaire from a total number of 178 respondents. Collected data were analyzed using mean scores and standard deviation.FindingsThe findings reveal that learning capacity-building practices such as rotating members of staff for wider experience exist in these libraries. Learning capacity-building practices contributes to effective service delivery by enhancing various library services. Results also show that there are challenges confronting learning capacity-building practices which include inadequate funding. For these libraries to perform to their highest potentials, their learning capacity needs to be built and developed.Research limitations/implicationsThe major limitation of this study is the tendency of the respondents to fake their responses which may arise from their personal biases.Practical implicationsTherefore, university library management and university administrators should as a matter of urgency develop policies that will ensure that capacities are built for better service delivery or risk users losing interest in the library.Originality/valueThe study examined a vital dimension of capacity build, which is learning capacity building. The findings will help university administrators and library management to know the different learning capacity-building practices that exist in the various libraries and the extent to which these practices are important and relevant for effective service delivery. This will assist them in adopting relevant and adequate learning capacity-building strategies and guiding them in formulating effective capacity-building policies.

Methods for a population-based Comprehensive Eye care Workload Assessment (CEWA) study in Southern India.

Eye care programs, in developing countries, are often planned using the prevalence of blindness and visual impairment, often estimated from Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) surveys. A limitation of this planning approach is that it ignores the annual overall eye care requirements for a given population. Moreover, targets set are arbitrary, often influenced by capacity rather than need. To address this lacunae, we implemented a novel study design to estimate the annual need for comprehensive eye care in a 1.2 million populations. We conducted a population-based longitudinal study in Theni district, Tamil Nadu, India. All permanent residents of all ages were included. We conducted the study in three phases, (i) household-level enumeration and enrollment, (ii) basic eye examination (BEE) at household one-year post-enrollment, and (iii) assessment of eye care utilization and full eye examination (FEE) at central locations. All people aged 40 years and above were invited to the FEE. Those aged <40 years were invited to the FEE if indicated. In the main study, we enrolled 24,327 subjects (58% aged below 40 years and 42% aged 40 years and above). Of those less than 40 years, 72% completed the BEE, of whom 20% were referred for FEE at central location. Of the people aged ≥40 years, 70% underwent FEE. Our study design provides insights for appropriate long-term public health intervention planning, resource allocation, effective service delivery, and designing of eye care services for resource-limited settings.

Digital Literacy and E-Governance Adoption for Service Delivery in Cross River State Civil Service

The study used a case study technique to investigate why the implementation of e-governance and ICT in government service provisioning has not resulted in a commensurate improvement in service delivery in Cross River State, Nigeria. It specifically investigates the effect of in-service training on civil servants' digital literacy, the consequent impact of e-governance implementation, and service delivery. The study finds that there was inadequate in-service training, which was partly caused by the cognitive disposition of civil servants who did not fully cooperate with the implementation of the e-governance reform. The study aligns with existing theories of institutional and organisational change which requires that organisational change requires realignment of beliefs and behavioral norms of organization members. The study recommends that the implementation of e-governance can only yield better results in effective service delivery if the civil servants are made to accept the reform and their digital literacy levels are significantly enhanced through appropriate in-service training.

THE MODERATING ROLE OF PROCUREMENT GOVERNANCE ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUPPLY CHAIN AGILITY AND SERVICE DELIVERY OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH CARE SECTOR IN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENTS OF WESTERN REGION, KENYA.

Supply Chain Management is a crucial activity that entails overseeing the movement of materials form the source, throughput, to the end consumer. However, in this endeavour, there are increased instances of uncertainties i.e. speeds of delivery, flexibility and environmental factors that affect the services rendered to the end consumer. This drives the concept of supply chain agility which focuses on the speeds of response to any changes in the consumer demands. The healthcare sector has undergone significant changes within the past decades. Amidst these changes, attaining efficient and effective healthcare service delivery remains a distant prospect among multiple nations. This study therefore sought to find out the moderating role of procurement governance on the relationship between supply chain agility and service delivery in the Public health care sector in the county governments of the western region. The hypothesis for the study was: - Procurement Governance has no significant influence on the relationship between Supply Chain Agility and Service Delivery of the Public Health care sector in the County Governments of Western Region The study was anchored on three theories, theory of Human Service Delivery, Dynamic Capability Perspectives and Institutional Theory. The study adopted a Positivist research philosophy and a descriptive survey research design and the target population was 284 respondents of the four level 5 county hospitals in the western region. Questionnaires and interview schedules were used for data collection and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Data was presented using tables, scree plots and scatter plots. The study is of value to researchers and academicians, County government authorities and residents of the four counties. 258 respondents participated in the study and preliminary data checking, screening and cleaning was done. Validity and reliability statistics were done and they indicated that the research instruments were adequate for their purpose. Diagnostic tests were also conducted and none of the variables violated these assumptions. Regression analysis was done for the Supply Chain Agility and service delivery. Supply chain agility accounted for 44.5% of the changes in Service Delivery, but with the introduction of procurement governance as a moderator, the R2 value rose to 59.4% with p˂0.05. This indicated that Procurement Governance was a significant moderator of the relationship. The study recommended that hospitals to should pay attention to three main aspects of procurement governance. First, they should set rules and policies that describe the authoritative position regarding the standards, principles, and objectives of the procurement process. Such standards include transparency and Accountability.

The Implementation of Bantu Warga Apps and Metabase for Spatial Data Processing In Surabaya

Civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) is known as an essential supporting system for effective policy-making and service delivery. Its primary purpose is establishing an individual's legal identity and vital events to ensure all citizens get their rights well. Furthermore, an advanced level of CRVS is equipped with a forecasting system to serve more useful data. This paper discusses the potential benefits and challenges of using Metabase and Bantu Warga as civil ministry support systems. The spatial data visualization system using open-source Metabase ran well and resulted in many visualization geospatial maps like birth, marriage and divorce, education, and employment. The forecasting autoregression model configuration and cumulative sum dataset reach the best error result in 1056618. The other aspects, like the self-isolation management system, civil documents classification system, and OCR system, have a good result.

Transforming Uganda’s Security Sector: The Need for a Gender Sensitive Approach

The recognition that gender matters in security has shaken the Westphalian security model that prioritized state over human security. Indeed, concerns related to the security of individuals and communities have diluted earlier assumptions that a secure state automatically translates into a safe population. Gender has moved hand-in-hand with human security but consistently struggled to gain its own space in security discussions in the post-Cold War period where dependability between security and development is loudly pronounced. This paper argues that although state-centric security practices are non-dismissible, in transforming Uganda’s security sector, a gender-sensitive approach is critical for ensuring effective security service delivery and responsiveness to unique women, men, girls’ and boys’ security needs. The paper relied on secondary sources of data such as the National Gender Policy, Security Sector Development Plan; Ministerial reports; Development Community’s reports such as UNDP and OECD and literature related to gender and security by different authors. Throughout the review of the literature, the task was three-fold; a) to explain why gender has been negated in security; b) to appreciate the need to shift from security sector reform to security sector transformation and c) to advance the need for transforming Uganda’s security sector through a gendered lens. Keywords: Gender, Security sector, Security sector transformation, Uganda

Creating a high-performing school management team: bringing talent to the table for effective service delivery

The primary goal of this article is to help members of School Management Teams (SMT) in developing their abilities, which will lead to successful service delivery in secondary schools. The study used a qualitative research technique with an exploratory research design with a structured interview questionnaire to determine if SMTs had certain competences, knowledge, or attributes that increase their abilities and to provide recommendations for enhanced service delivery. The research enlisted the help of n = 12 participants from four different secondary schools to get first-hand experience of the phenomena under inquiry. Participants were specifically picked for their expertise, knowledge, and talents. Data were collected from participants via interviews, and the data were evaluated using content analysis. Atlas-ti (Version 8.2) was used to evaluate data collected from participants. The researcher used a qualitative research approach, namely a phenomenological strategy based on constructivism. With no data modification, this technique was adopted to understand the viewpoints of the SMT inside the selected schools. According to the research results, SMTs have competences, knowledge, and characteristics that increase their abilities, and strengthening these talents leads to efficient service delivery. Leadership, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities were among the talents assessed. Understanding school legislation and regulations, curriculum creation, and teaching strategies were all part of the expertise. Among the characteristics were flexibility, resilience, inventiveness, and enthusiasm. The research advises that SMTs be provided opportunity to develop their abilities via training and mentoring programs based on the results. Several of the duties that School Management Teams (SMTs) are in charge of include procuring teaching and learning resources, updating physical buildings, coordinating community support for funding, and utilizing communication channels. The provision of inclusive learning support in schools is strongly related to these responsibilities. The study determined a certain set of talents and characteristics needed by SMTs, such as interpersonal skills, managerial skills, emotional intelligence, effective communication, and team-building skills. These qualities are essential for SMTs to carry out their duties and contribute to better service delivery. The future improvement of service delivery focus on three critical areas: strengthening academic performance, advancing social justice education, and raising student achievement. It is recommended that, by addressing these issues, service delivery within the educational system will be considerably improved in the future.

Exploring the barriers and enablers of diabetes care in a remote Australian context: A qualitative study.

This qualitative study explored the current barriers and enablers of diabetes care in the Indian Ocean Territories (IOT). A constructivist grounded theory approach that incorporated semi-structured telephone interviews was employed. Initial analysis of the interview transcripts used a line-by-line approach, to identify recurring themes, connections, and patterns, before they were re-labelled and categorised. This was followed by axial coding, categorisation refinement, and mapping of diabetes triggers in the IOT. The IOT, consisting of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, are some of the most remote areas in Australia. When compared with mainland Australia, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the IOT is disproportionately higher. There were no known cases of type 1 diabetes at the time of the study. Like other remote communities, these communities experience difficulties in accessing health services to prevent and manage diabetes. Twenty health care professionals and health service administrators in the IOT took part in semi-structured telephone interviews held during April-June 2020. Participants included GPs, nurses, dietitians, social and community services workers, school principals, and administrators. The interview questions focused on their perceptions of the current diabetes care in place in the IOT and their views on the challenges of providing diabetes care in the IOT. We identified four main barriers and two main enabling factors to the provision of effective diabetes care in the IOT. The barriers were: (i) societal influences; (ii) family; (iii) changing availability of food; (v) sustainability and communication. The two main enablers were: (i) tailoring interventions to meet local and cultural needs and values; and (ii) proactive compliance with the medical model of care. Due to the cultural and linguistic diversity within the IOT, many of the identified barriers and enablers are unique to this community and need to be considered and incorporated into routine diabetes care to ensure successful and effective delivery of services in a remote context.

Assessing Training Needs of Library and Information Professionals in Tanzania

Training needs assessment is an essential aspect in identifying and filling the knowledge and skill gaps among employees. This study was conducted to assess the training needs of library and information professionals in Tanzania. Specifically, the study intended to ascertain the types of training needs and the mode of delivering them. A descriptive research design was applied to conduct the present study. The online survey method was used to collect data from 92 LIS professionals who conveniently provided qualitative and quantitative data on training needs and delivery modes. Quantitative data were analyzed by using Statistical Product for Service Solutions (SPPS-Version 22). The qualitative data from open-ended responses were used to contextualize survey responses. The study reveals LIS professionals require managerial, technical, professional, and research training needs. In specific, the training needs in the aspect of technology appear to dominate. Besides, the study suggests generic training needs are less preferred. Regarding time for training, the findings suggest a one-week training session is adequate to accommodate both the theoretical and practical of a given topic. On training location, the study informs training conducted outside their institutions and regions enhances trainees’ participation. Effective and reliable library and information services delivery rely on the competencies library and information professionals have. Professional and generic competencies empower LIS professionals working to achieve the twenty first century’s demands. The study recommends inclusive planning and implementation of training programmes, diverse training, and participation in online tutorials and other distance learning programmes.

Effect of Integrated Financial Management Information Revenue Systems on Financial Management in County Governments, Kenya

There have been significant improvements in Kenya's legal and institutional frameworks for public finance management (PFM) during the last six years, but the country's public finance management domain is still facing several problems that are at odds with sound PFM practices. The researchers set out to learn how much of an impact the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) had on county governments' use of Financial Management in Kenya. The research set out to determine how the IFMIS revenue system has influenced financial management in Kenya's county administrations. Descriptive and causal research methods were used. A total of 302 workers from the Treasury Departments of the County Governments of Kakamega, Busia, Vihiga, Trans Nzoia, and Bungoma were surveyed. This included 44 Procurement officers, 46 internal auditors, 89 Accountants, 87 Finance officers, and 42 Revenue officers. The 172 participants were chosen by stratified random selection. Questionnaires were used to gather the primary data. Content and construct validity were established via the pilot research, and reliability was calculated using the Cronbach Alpha statistic. Data was summarized using frequencies, means, standard deviations, and percentages using descriptive analysis, while correlation and multiple linear regression were employed using SPSS 26.0 for inferential analysis. At the 5% threshold of significance, hypotheses were examined. Models were developed and data was tabulated. The results showed that the County Governments in Western Kenya's financial management varied greatly (R2 = 0.443, P 0.0001) depending on the revenue method they used. At a significance threshold of P&lt;0.05, the regression coefficient for IFMIS revenue system was 0.670, indicating that a one-unit shift in the IFMIS revenue system would lead to a 0.670-unit shift in financial management in the County governments in Western Kenya. Therefore, the research indicated that the IFMIS revenue system had a considerable impact on the budgetary practices of Kenya's county governments. To guarantee sustainable accomplishment and effective service delivery to the communities, the report suggests that county governments ought to digitize all tax collecting platforms.

Epilepsi ve Aile Hekimliği

Family physicians are specialist physicians trained in line with the principles of the discipline. Essentially, they are personal physicians responsible for providing comprehensive and ongoing service to every individual seeking medical care, regardless of age, gender, or condition. Being able to manage the first contact with patients by dealing with unselected problems, deal with all health conditions, provide coordinated service with other staff and other specialists in primary care, provide effective and appropriate healthcare delivery and use of healthcare services, make appropriate services within the healthcare system accessible to the patient, advocate for the patient includes the ability to be Family physicians are also the first point of contact for patients with epilepsy. In addition, being in contact with the people registered to them when they are healthy or their illness is stable, being easily accessible, having the chance to see the patients in their own environment/home are advantages that family physicians can use in the care of patients with epilepsy. Therefore, family physicians should be able to recognize and manage a patient with epilepsy and deal with all health problems.

Strategic Plan Implementation Challenges and Organisational Performance of Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority and Malawi Posts Corporation, 2016-2021

The objective of the article is to discuss strategic plan implementation challenges and performance of Malawi’s public organisations, with reference to Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) and Malawi Posts Corporation (MPC). Following the introduction of public sector reforms in Malawi, government instituted policy directives for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to develop strategic plans. The philosophy behind the directive was that by introducing strategic plans in public organisations there will be efficient and effective service delivery and that consumers will get public value from improved services. Evidence suggests that public organisations continue to register dismal performance even with strategic plans due to a variety of challenges. The article adopts principal-agent and public value theories as well as PESTEL methods to identify strategic plan implementation challenges and to analyse performance of MACRA and MPC during 2016-2021. It finds that these Malawian public organisations performed dismally despite having strategic plans, because of political, economic, sociological, technological, legal and environmental challenges. The article recommends that there should be both incentives and penalties for public organisations as well as a comprehensive legal enforcement mechanism for strategic plans in order to ensure that they perform efficiently and effectively to the satisfaction of their principal, government. Keywords: Public Sector Reforms, Strategic Plans, Organisational Performance, Service Delivery and Malawi

Barriers and facilitators influencing access to and utilization of primary healthcare services in Kurdistan-region, Iraq: a cross-sectional study.

This was a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire-based survey was used for data collection. Totally, 2400 individuals have been selected in 6 different districts and the centre of Erbil through the multi-cluster random sampling method. The χ2 test was used for categorical variables, and a one-way ANOVA was used for numerical variables. A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The main reason for utilizing PHC centres was preventive purpose (68.1%), then poverty was the second reason (11.33%), and the participants reported that during the presence of urgent cases when they cannot use other health facilities, they use PHC centres (9%). In terms of barriers for utilizing and visiting PHC centres, the participated people stated that most of them, due to inadequate services, did not use and visit PHC centres (83.21%); the second reason was the presence of chronic diseases such as hypertension, which makes them visit private clinics (7.79%) and generally, (31.4%) of the participants were satisfied with the health services nearby. In conclusion, it appears that many people visit PHC facilities, but most of them only do so as a preventative measure, and very few go there to obtain basic medical treatment. Most patients go to private clinics and/or hospitals since those facilities have better access to specialists, better quality and quantity of medications, and laboratory testing. Additionally, combining and strengthening service quality aspects that prioritize a patient-centred environment and an effective service delivery system is a key strategy for the health sector to increase patient satisfaction.

English

Lack of inter-professional collaboration and practice among Health care professionals could impede effective HIV health services delivery leading to poor health outcomes in people living with HIV. Adopting Inter-professional Education by using innovative teaching methods such as the jigsaw technique could foster collaboration among health care professional. The School of Nursing Sciences at the University of Zambia in Lusaka implemented the Strengthening Interprofessional Education for HIV project whose purpose was to integrate innovative approaches that will systematically leverage and strengthen HIV training and professional networks targeted at improving outcomes for people living with HIV. An interactive case based training workshop was conducted with 61 final year undergraduate students from different health professional disciplines at the University of Zambia and Lusaka Apex Medical University in accordance with the jigsaw technique based on cooperate learning. A pre and post-test were administered and data obtained were evaluated using descriptive statistics. From the first training, an improvement was recorded in knowledge scores from 60.5% on pretest to 81.3% on posttest, while an average of 31% improvement was recorded on clinical confidence and inter-professional education. The Jigsaw technique appears to improve knowledge and self-confidence among health care professionals in HIV care. Therefore, inter professional education using the Jigsaw technique could be promoted and in cooperated into the preservice curricular of health care professionals&nbsp; in order to have strong HIV management teams that could achieve better patient outcomes. Key words: Inter-professional Education, Impact, HIV course, Jigsaw technique.

Supply Chain Management Practices and Quality Performance of Butaro Level II Teaching Hospital

This study aimed to evaluate Butaro Hospital's supply chain management practices and quality performance. Study's goals were to evaluate the impact of procurement of health commodities processes on quality performance, to assess the effects of storage and distribution of health commodities processes on quality performance and to determine the role of electronic logistics management information system (e-LMIS) on quality performance of Butaro Hospital. A descriptive research design carried out, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data, study's design directed the data collection, analysis, and interpretation processes. Sample size of the study made up with 62 respondents were selected by using a census sampling method from the five different departments which are concerned with hospital supply chain management practices and quality performance of Butaro Hospital. Collected data were analyzed by SPSS version 22.0 for descriptive analysis and inferential statistics analysis, thematic analysis was applied to data captured from interviews. Findings shows that procurement of health commodities and quality performance are positively correlated, as shown by a positive coefficient; this relationship is statistically significant (p=0.0220.05). One-unit increase in the procurement of health commodities will result in a quality performance score of (0.119). Probability is (p=0.440.05), which indicated that there is a positive correlation between distribution and storage of health commodities on quality performance. (e-LMIS) has a statistically significant positive correlation on quality performance, with a probability of (p=0.0000.05) and a contribution to quality performance of (0.807). Quality performance of Butaro Hospital changes by 0.109 due to an increase of one unit. Study concluded that supply chain management practices have a positive impact on quality performance of Butaro hospital, by ensuring the availability of medicines at the dispensing points, ensuring the effective services delivery and promotes Hospital’s performance in general. It recommended that Butaro Hospital should improve internet connectivity availability in order to provide better services delivery and to be able to navigate and efficiently use (e-LMIS) system in health supply chain cycle. And that the Hospital should invest in the storage facilities and have a required enough storage space together with required materials and equipment to promote a good storage practice (GSP). Keywords: Supply chain management, Quality performance, Butaro Level II Teaching Hospital, Healthcare logistics, Inventory management.

Examining the efficacy of Electronic Document Management System and Employees’ Perceptions of its Usefulness at Sokoine University of Agriculture

This study was conducted at the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) to assess the efficacy of Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) in the accessibility and use of records at the Sokoine University of Agriculture. Specifically, the study sought to assess employees’ perceptions of the use of the Electronic Document Management System at the Sokoine University of Agriculture and identify the challenges facing employees in accessing and using EDMS at the Sokoine University of Agriculture. The study used a cross-section research design whereby the data were collected at one time based on two approaches which are qualitative and quantitative. The study involved 100 SUA staff. These were selected from a population of 1308 SUA staff by using purposive, sampling simple random, and systematic random sampling techniques. Results indicate that the majority of the respondents agreed that the use of SUA–EDMS fostered efficiency in management decisions, and perceive that the use of SUA–EDMS increases accountability. Among all the independent variables, duration at work and rating on effectiveness were found to have a unique contribution to a variation in the perceived usefulness of EDMS. It was concluded that the use of EDMS is very essential for the well-functioning of the organization in terms of faster access to records and which spearheads effective and efficient delivery of services to customers in the organization. The study recommends improving internet speed as one measure to improve the EDMS.

Digitalization in Healthcare - Mobile Health (M-Health) Applications

Nowadays, the rapid and effective delivery of health services is a very important issue. The integration of health services into technology-based systems has ensured the integration of the health field with an innovative style. With the development of technology and the diversification of technological tools, important steps have been taken in the digitalization of health services. These steps are taken for the digitalization of health services offer great opportunities for the health sector. The fact that health institutions follow the digitalization process closely and adapt quickly to this process has brought many advantages. This process provides great convenience in terms of providing better health services for both individuals who want to benefit from health services and all other stakeholders, as well as health personnel working in private or public institutions. Moreover, the concept of digital health, which has gained importance with the digitalization of health services, has many applications in itself. These are wearable technologies, virtual reality technologies, tele-medicine, e-health, 3d printers and m-health applications. Among these applications, mobile health technology makes a significant contribution to the delivery of health services. İndividuals witness new developments in technology day by day and adapt easily to these developments. İncreasing demand for smartphones/devices is a result of these developments. Therefore, mobile health applications that enable remote access and can be easily downloaded to smart devices are actively used by many users. İt is possible to say that mobile health applications have positive effects as well as negative effects, especially on privacy and trust. Examples of these mobile health applications developed by the Turkey Ministry of Health are applications such as “Hayat Eve Sigar”, “Korona Onlem”, “E-Nabız”, “MHRS (Central Physician Appointment System)” which have been popular recently. İn this study, it is aimed to examine the positive and negative effects on health services by giving information about mobile health applications developed by the Turkey Ministry of Health for both citizens and health personnel.

Librarians as change agents for sustainable library and information service delivery in a digital society

This paper investigates the role of Librarians as change agents for sustainable library and information service delivery in a digital society. The purpose of the study were: to ascertain the types of Library and information service delivery; to investigate Librarians’ role as change agents for sustainable library and information service delivery; to find out the challenges librarians face as change agents for sustainable library and information service delivery; and to proffer solution to enhance librarians’ role as change agents towards the sustainable library and information service delivery in a digital society. The study adopts a conceptual review based on previous research. It was recommended that Librarians as change agents should re-examine and reconfigure their job roles in library and information service delivery for relevance in their field, there is a need to meet up with their multi-dimensional job roles to sustain library and information service delivery in a digital society. More so, adequate funding, training and retraining, tooling, and retooling to avoid phobia for loss of job/ insecurity should be provided for librarians/libraries to keep up with effective service delivery. The study concludes that sustainable library and information service delivery in libraries generally and for librarians in particular will enhance their multi-dimensional job roles today and tomorrow to know what has changed in a digital society.

Librarians’ ICT skills and service delivery in private universities in Nigeria

This paper examined the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills of librarians for service delivery in private universities with particular reference to Southern Nigeria. The study adopted the survey research method. Forty-five (45) private university libraries in Southern Nigeria and their librarians constituted the sample size for the study. The study’s samples consisted of 181 librarians in the private universities, hence, total enumeration was adopted. Questionnaire was used for data collection from the respondents. Out of the 181 copies of the questionnaire distributed, 173 were returned and found valid for analysis. Data gathered was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 21 and the results were presented in frequency count, percentage, mean and chart. Findings of the study revealed that librarians in private universities in Southern Nigeria delivered various library services to their users. The librarians have acquired basic ICT skills and were versatile in its application for Internet searches, information retrieval, social communication and Microsoft-office related activities with the exception of programming skills. Majority of the librarians acquired their ICT skills through self-learning. The finding revealed that the acquisition of ICT skills by librarians in Southern Nigeria private universities is relevant to their delivery of improved library services. The paper recommended that regular acquisition of relevant ICT skills is essential for librarians and university management should support librarians’ ICT capacity development at national and international levels as this would enhance their relevance and get them abreast of the latest development for effective service delivery.

Performance Management Systems (PMS): Challenges and Opportunities in the Public Sector

In many scholars' public institutions should have effective and efficient Performance Management Systems (PMS) in place to promote and develop the performance of civil servants. In the public sector, good management of staff performance is fundamental for efficient service delivery. The mandate of public institutions is to offer quality and effective service delivery to the public; as a result, public institutions' performance is scrutinized by the public, who have higher expectations from the government. These expectations are based on the votes cast and the taxes paid by the public. Thus, public institutions should monitor and enhance each employee's performance and productivity to ensure efficient provision of public services. This article seeks to analyse the challenges encountered by the public sector in executing PMS and suggest the strategies the public sector can use to enhance staff performance.