Impact of Information Control Culture and Supervisory Competence on Personnel Records Management in Tanzania's Local Government Authorities

Abstract

Proper personnel record management enhances the efficiency, integrity, and governance of
the government sector. However, local government authorities (LGAs) in Tanzania
continue to face significant challenges in this area, including inaccurate personnel
information, improper filing, missing records, and inadequate file indexing. Therefore, this
study examined the dynamic interplay between office supervisor competence, information
control culture practices, and personnel records management within local government
authorities in Tanzania mainland. A quantitative research approach was employed, with
data collected from 179 office supervisors using structured surveys. The data were
analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to
evaluate the hypothesised relationships. The findings revealed that information control
culture had a significant positive influence on personnel records management (β = 0.332, p
= 0.001). Furthermore, office supervisor competence significantly moderated this
relationship (β = 0.133, p = 0.049). The results emphasise the importance of leadership
and robust information governance in enhancing organisational efficiency and regulatory
compliance. The study recommends implementing targeted leadership training and
enhancing information control strategies to improve personnel records management in
Tanzania’s local government authorities.