Local government websites in South Africa are evolving unlocking their potential for serving their citizenry and as a catalyst towards service delivery of electronic government services. Usability testing is an invaluable tool for evaluating interfaces. In this review article, a discussion is made of a recent usability pilot survey for a selected local government website (eThekwini Municipality’s website at www.durban.gov.za) and from an information systems (IS) practitioner based inquiry perspective, discusses this exploratory research. Inquiry that is practice-based is an essential tool for an IS practitioner when undertaking research in his workplace environment. This generates ‘practical’ and meaningful practitioner based knowledge for the organisation. When reflecting on a survey of a municipality website, the article concludes that knowledge has become an integral part of the professional IS practitioner’s research strategies through active involvement in the generation of knowledge.

Information systems practitioner, Practitioner-based research inquiry, Reflective practitioner, Website usability research.

Udo Richard Averweg.Reflecting on a survey of a municipality website using practitioner based inquiry. International Journal of Advanced Technology and Engineering Exploration. 2017;4(33):130-135. DOI:10.19101/IJATEE.2017.432004