Assessing the Impact of Digital Transformation on Employee Performance in the Public Sector: A Case Study of Zambia's Ministry of Health Headquarters (2017-2022)

Abstract

sustainable development goals. Abstract: Public sectors worldwide have faced a performance crisis, with public employees being stereotyped as lethargic and bureaucratic and public agencies being seen as large, wasteful and inefficient. This has increased the demand for efficiency, leading to the adoption of Digital Transformation (DT) approaches from outside the public sector. DT is considered a path to efficiency, fostering innovation, inclusivity, and sustainable growth. However, human effort and accumulated knowledge drive the use of digital tools for organisations and nations to adapt to change. This paper aims to assess the impact of DT on employee performance in Zambia’s Ministry of Health Headquarters by establishing whether key technologies in DT have been implemented at the Ministry, their effect on employee performance and subsequent constraints and challenges. The study used a mixed-method approach; quantitative data were collected from 41 employees using questionnaires and qualitative data were collected from two key informants (managers) using interview guides. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software and qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. The study findings revealed that the key technologies were implemented in the Ministry though in phases as the process was still underway. The digital tools implemented positively influenced employee performance in terms of tasks, adaptability and contextual but there were challenges and constraints such as connectivity issues, limited access to digital tools in isolated cases, inadequate resources and training. Hence the recommendation that since digital tools positively impact employee performance, there is need for government to provide the necessary tools, skills, resources, stable connectivity and training of employees in using digital tools.