Edward Maluwa

  Data Curation: Organisational issues (Summary) Data curation and preservation involve the management, maintenance and long-term protection of digital resources to ensure their continued accessibility, authenticity and usability. Cox et al. (2023) observed that while technological challenges are often highlighted, organisational issues are equally critical as they influence the effectiveness and sustainability of preservation programs. Cox et al. (2023) identified lack of clear policies and strategic frameworks for digital preservation as a major organisational challenge that affects data curation and preservation. Many institutions collect and manage digital information without comprehensive guidelines that define preservation objectives, responsibilities, retention schedules and access requirements. Without formal policies, preservation activities may be inconsistent and dependent on individual efforts rather than institutional commitment (Corrado and Sandy, 2017). Digital...

  Data Curation and Preservation Issues (Threats to Digital Materials) Data curation and preservation are essential activities that ensure digital materials remain accessible, usable, authentic, and understandable over time (Abbott, 2008). Digital materials include electronic records, research datasets, digital photographs, videos, audio files, e-books, websites and institutional documents. Digital information faces numerous threats that can compromise its long-term preservation despite the numerous advantages. Organisations, libraries, archives and research institutions need to understand these threats as it is crucial in seeking to safeguard valuable digital resources (Harvey, 2012). Technological obsolescence is one major threat to digital materials as technology changes rapidly hence hardware, software and file formats can become outdated within a few years (Lavoie, 2014). For example, digital files stored on floppy disks or created using obsolete software may become inacces...

  Using and Reusing data-Summary Borgman (2015) defined using and reusing data as the process of applying collected information for decision-making, research, problem-solving, and innovation, while also allowing existing data to be used again for purposes different from the original intention. In modern organisations, academic institutions and governments, data is considered an important asset as it supports evidence-based planning hence improving efficiency. Data use involves analysing and interpreting information to meet specific objectives while data reuse involves accessing previously collected datasets for secondary analysis, validation of results, or new research studies (Johnson, 2017). The reuse of data has become increasingly important in research and information management because it helps save time, reduce research costs and avoid duplication of effort. Researchers can reuse data from earlier studies to compare findings, identify trends or answer new research questio...

Storing Data- Summary Data storage refers to the process of recording, preserving, and managing digital information for future use. In the modern digital era, organizations, governments, educational institutions, and individuals rely heavily on data storage systems to keep important information secure and accessible. Effective storage of data is essential because it supports communication, decision-making, business operations, research, and service delivery. According to Stair and Reynolds (2020), data storage technologies are fundamental components of information systems because they allow users to save and retrieve information efficiently. Primary storage refers to temporary memory that stores data currently being processed by a computer. RAM is a great example which allows quick access to active data and applications. RAM is volatile, meaning the stored data is lost when power is turned off (Shelly & Vermaat, 2018). Secondary storage provides permanent storage for data and inclu...

  Selection and Appraisal of Data- Summary Selection and appraisal of data are important processes in records management, digital curation, and research data management (UK Data Service,2019). The processes help organisations determine which data should be preserved, maintained, shared, or discarded. Institutions generate large volumes of digital and physical information daily hence it becomes impossible and expensive to retain all data permanently. Therefore, selection and appraisal ensure that only valuable, reliable, and relevant data are preserved for future use (Shepherd & Yeo, 2003). Data selection refers to the process of identifying and choosing data that are considered important for long-term retention or preservation (International Council on Archives, 2016). The main aim of data selection is to retain information that has administrative, legal, historical, cultural, or research value. Selection decisions are often based on specific criteria such as the uniqueness...

Data Collection and Repositories In the modern information-driven environment, organizations and research institutions rely heavily on data for decision-making, planning, and policy formulation. The processes of data collection and the use of data repositories are central to effective information management and governance. Data collection ensures that relevant and accurate information is gathered, while data repositories provide structured storage, preservation, and access to that information. They both form critical components of the data life-cycle and contribute to knowledge creation, transparency, and accountability in institutions such as universities and government organizations. Data collection refers to the systematic process of gathering, measuring, and recording information from various sources to answer research questions, support decision-making, or generate new knowledge (Creswell, 2014). It can be conducted using qualitative methods (such as interviews, observations,...