Communication Tools to Fight Bureaucratic Corruption in Iraqi Kurdistan: A Case Study

• Main Author: Ahmed Omar Bali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2018-11-01
• Series: SAGE Open
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018811185

This study investigates the most important technological tools and techniques that have been introduced in some organizations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and compares those tools and techniques with that of the departments that still rely on a manual system. The research claims that technology, aside from its role in facilitating communication between employees and clients, is a potent force for fighting bureaucratic inefficiency and corruption and contributes to reassuring employees and clients. Theoretically, this research relies on an interdisciplinary approach which represents the connection between technology and human behavior, convenience, facilitation, and productivity within the administration communication systems. This research has adopted mixed-method approaches such as semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and surveys ( n = 422) as data collection tools, and it also analyzes data collected by thematic analysis as the main method of ethnographic study. The research finds that the communication tools can significantly contribute to administrative services and fight corruption, although such techniques have not been applied in Iraqi Kurdistan. The majority of the respondents recommended expanding technology tools in all organizations as there are no significant obstacles to introducing them even among the organizations that do not have requisite technology skills.