BUREAUCRATIC DECISION-MAKING: LEVERAGING STRATEGIC INFORMATION USE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between strategic information use and bureaucratic decision-making dynamics within Local Government Councils in Rivers State, Nigeria. Utilizing a descriptive correlational survey design, the research explores how the systematic acquisition and integration of information influence the speed and quality of administrative outputs. The study is anchored on Information Culture Theory, Decision-Making Theory, and Sociotechnical Systems Theory. Data were collected from a cross-section of administrative officers and directors across the 23 Local Government Areas in Rivers State. Findings reveal that dimensions of strategic information use, specifically data integration and information-seeking behavior, significantly predict decision timeliness and accuracy. The results underscore the critical role of robust information management systems in mediating bureaucratic processes, suggesting that the “administrative credibility gap” prevalent in local governance can be bridged through strategic digitalization and the cultivation of a data-driven organizational culture. Recommendations focus on institutionalizing evidence-based protocols and enhancing human capital development to facilitate agile governance at the grassroots level.