Magister Commercii M.comm (Information Technology)

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https://hdl.handle.net/10566/12622

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Transforming distance learning in South Africa with emerging technologies: the academic view
(University of the Western Cape, 2008) Erasmus, Margaretha; Whyte, Grafton; Mansfield, GIen
Within a context of rapid technological change and shifting market conditions, the South African education system is challenged with providing increased education opportunities without increased budgets. Many educational institutions are answering the challenge without increased budgets. Several educational institutions are answering the challenge by developing distance education programs through information technology, but in the case of one institution, strategic intentions involving information technology and distance learning have not been fulfilled. At its most basic level, distance education takes place when a teacher and student(s) are separated by physical distance. Technology, often in combination with face-to-face communication, can be used to bridge instructional gaps. It can be argued that modes of teaching and learning are changing, and we must redefine what is meant by the word "student". For example: what should we really call an adult involved in lifelong learning? The term "student" seems inappropriate. These types of programs can provide adults with a second chance at tertiary education, reach those disadvantaged by limited time, distance or physical disability, and update the knowledge base of workers at their places of employment. The aim of this research is to determine and understand the growing role of information technology in promoting quality assurance in higher education, and in expanding the education opportunities and workplace learning through the use of distance learning. This work investigates how distance learning can be improved by making use of IT with particular regard to the underprivileged, and the potential contribution to national transformation. This is summarized in the research question: "How can we improve distance learning in South Africa with emerging technologies?" A review of the literature, interviews with experts, and reviews of conference papers provided the principle inputs. The academic literatures were supplemented by studies of papers from the Department of Education and other non-academic sources. Based on the reading of the literature, and the views of experts, questionnaires and field experiments were designed and applied to a statistically significant population of respondents. A combination of statistical analysis and content analysis of open questions from the questionnaires lead to comparative evidence about different learning styles and different communities of learners, and the extent to which different learning styles are effective for the different kinds of learners.
An investigation into the factors that contribute to the retention of information technology specialists in financial institutions
(2011) Plaatjies, Francois Chessley; Mitrovic, Zoran
Many financial organisations are working hard to design a skills management strategy that reflects the overarching national skills need for an institution, in the process of attracting highly skilled Information Technology (IT) specialists. But there are many organisations that are less concerned about mobility across nations and more concerned about the need to retain highly skilled IT staff. The pace and ubiquity of the information technologies’ (IT) progress means that organisations need to improve on their technologies, and so the skills needed to operate and utilise these technologies. The need for a highly IT skilled workforce is rising and, therefore, organisations will have to move beyond their traditional policies and practices to retain highly skilled IT staff.Organisations are employing and utilising various models, frameworks and strategies to nurture and address the retention of skilled IT staff. Even though these methods are well implemented and coordinated within organisations, skilled IT staff still leave organisations and minimises the level of retaining skilled IT staff. This is a functional shortfall at a management level, since a coherent lack to monitor the impact of external factors on retention strategies are overlooked. The same holds for the financial sector in South Africa. Therefore the aim of this research was to propose effective retention strategies for employers within the financial environment, to retain their skilled IT workforce. In order to fulfil the objectives of this study, the literature review had been performed followed by the empirical field research. The field data were gathered by using twofold data collection technique: disseminating a questionnaire and interviewing participants in this study. The fieldwork followed the University of the Western Cape guidelines on research ethics.The outcomes of the study showed that there is a strong correlation between having good HR retention policies and procedures, and the management of these policies and procedures. The findings suggested the importance of involving employees at all employment levels to provide input on the development of these policies and procedures so that the retention process is well understood across the firm Apart from contributing to the existing academic knowledge area, the study outcomes can beneficially contribute to organisations’ advantage and ability to retain skilled IT staff on a long-term basis.From a financial services sector perspective, this study will possibly contribute to the existing body of knowledge in the field of Staff Retention especially the area of Information Technology.
Impact of data quality on utilisation and usefulness of integrated Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS)
(University of Western Cape, 2012) Dlamini, Khulekani Enock; Njenga, James Kariuki
Impact of data quality on utilisation and perceived usefulness of integrated Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS). Integrated HR Information systems have become prevalent in modern organisations. These systems promise operational efficiencies and competitive advantage. In order to deliver these benefits, the systems should be effectively utilised and perceived as a useful business tools. The utilisation and perceived usefulness of the HRIS could be influenced by quality of data it produces. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of data quality on the utilisation and usefulness of the HRIS. The aim was to ensure that organisations realise their investments in HRIS. This would be achieved by improving qualities that ensures effective utilisation of HRIS. Moreover, the study sought to enhance the body of academic knowledge in HRIS as far data quality is concerned. Mixed research method was used to meet the objectives of the study. Survey research and qualitative interviews techniques were employed. Statistical and deductive analysis was applied to raw data in order to draw conclusions. The study found that data quality positively influence utilisation and usefulness of HRIS. Moreover, findings revealed that the HRIS was predominantly used for operational, rather than strategic tasks. HRIS data is also not generally perceived to be of poor quality. HR practitioners emphasise accuracy over other quality dimensions. Organisations that seek to maximise their investment in HRIS should implement data quality improvement initiatives. This will ensure that the system is effectively utilised and produces high quality information for decision-making. This could lead to competitive advantage. Further research could be undertaken to understand; success factors for HRIS data quality initiatives, determinants of HRIS user satisfaction, drivers for dedicated HRIS management roles and the impact of having HRIS manager among others.
The role of electronic healthcare systems (EHS) for patient recordkeeping in the Western Cape
(University of Western Cape, 2019) Davids, Kaashiefah; van den Berg, Carolien
Information and communication technologies (ICT) have changed the way healthcare processes are being documented. This results in better quality and ethical vigilance to ensure a more accurate form of data recordkeeping (Stevenson, Nilsson, Petersson & Johansson, 2010). Health care in South Africa, is facing major issues relating to patient care, such as delays in patients receiving medical care. According to the national Department of Health, the improvement of public healthcare facilities is crucial (McIntyre & Ataguba, 2017). Information and communication technology (ICT) has the ability to significantly alter the status of healthcare services in the Western Cape, which can be achieved through the role of an electronic healthcare record (EHR).
The readiness and perceptions of public health dentists on electronic health records: Case of Cape town south Africa
(University of Western Cape, 2020) de Vries, Heinca; van den Berg, Carolien
This study aimed to understand the readiness and perceptions of Electronic Health Record (EHR) adoption among dentists in the public service of the Western Cape. A qualitative study design was chosen due to a lack of understanding of the phenomena. Additionally, the research sought to identify the factors that would potentially influence readiness and perceptions in order to identify how these factors could potentially influence EHR adoption among dentists.
Evaluating the quality of electronic health system at helene franz hospital in Limpopo province
(University of the Western Cape, 2023) Agnes, Ngoasheng Choene; Jokonya, Osden
The healthcare facilities are faced with the challenge of promoting, maintaining, restoring, and improving the quality of healthcare services for the citizens of South Africa and neighbouring states which result in a healthy society. This is as a result of changing patterns of diseases, and high demand resulting from free services as well as high mortality and morbidity. This requires the Electronic Health System that is effective and efficient in providing healthcare service. The systems should be able to provide decision-makers with real time information for planning, budgeting, resources allocation, development of programmes etc
Factors affecting the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in the supply chain and logistics lndustry
(University of the Western Cape, 2023) Molopa, Tshwarelo; Jokonya, Osden
This study explores factors affecting the adoption of Artificial Intelligence in the Supply Chain and Logistics Industry in the Rpublic of South Africa. The study followed these objectives: to explore technological factors affecting the adoption of Artificial Intelligence in supply chain and logistics industry’. To explore organisational factors that affect the adoption of Artificial Intelligence in the supply chain and logistics industry and to explore environmental factors that affect the adoption of Artificial Intelligence in the supply chain and logistics industry. The study selected a quantitative approach with a convenient sampling of 200 employees in the South African supply chain and logistics sector. Data was gathered using a self-managed, online questionnaire. The return rate of the questionnaire was 24%. Reliability and validity tests were conducted on the data, demonstrating that the concept measures produced consistent, repeatable results and faithfully captured the constructs they were designed to evaluate. The findings were that business units are committed to providing staff with the necessary training to support AI projects, with the majority of partcipants strongly agreeing with the sentiment. Besides, the majority of respondents agree that security is an important factor in the business when it comes to new technology adoption. A significant number of respondents think that AI can be difficult to deploy due to its various interdependencies, with half of the respondents believing that top managers are likely to invest in AI. The study further reveals that machine learning was the most popular algorithm implemented in the supply chain and logistics industry. The paper provides the expanding body of knowledge about AI adoption by leveraging factors from the T-O-E framework to explain adoption in the Supply Chain and Logistics industry.
Remedies to reduce user susceptibility to phishing attacks
(University of the Western Cape, 2023) Maseko, Ashley Eventhia; Chigada, Joel
Organisations have been compelled to embrace digitisation, increasing their dependence on the internet and computer systems rather than on in-person interactions. These organisations have had to adjust to new societal norms of teleworking and social distancing. The new adjustments were because of the total nationwide lockdown enacted in response to the global Corona Virus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Many organisations have adopted teleworking to become more agile, but in the face of escalating cybercrime, it has also exposed them to increased security vulnerabilities. The study's ultimate purpose was to report phishing attacks on financial institutions and offer remedial solutions that can be implemented to reduce user susceptibility. To answer the study's main objectives, a qualitative approach was adopted. Semi-structured interviews and interview schedules were used for data collection. The research discussed the two main theories governing the study: Routine activity and Rational choice theories. The rational choice theory describes the reasoning and motivations that underlie the choices made by offenders, whereas the routine activities theory explains the necessary conditions that must be present for a crime to happen. Thematic analysis was used to better understand the data by using codes to uncover commonalities or themes in the responses of the participants. Additionally, thematic data analysis enabled the researcher to report on solutions that met the objectives of the study. The patterns that emerged laid the groundwork for the discussion and allowed the researcher to make references and substantiate with literature from existing studies. The study revealed that users tend to disregard established protocols when engaging with systems, leading to an increased likelihood of organisations being successfully phished. Based on the findings, the recommendations focused on human centric approaches to effectively reducing the success rate of phishing attacks through coordinated efforts with close engagement between employees and Information Technology personnel.
Development of a learning analytics approach to identify at-risk students in higher education
(University of the Western Cape, 2023) Jongile, Sonwabo; Breytenbach, Johan
Learning Analytics (LA) has emerged as a study domain within higher education, combining elements of Business Intelligence (BI) and education-focused analytics. It implies principles and processes similar to BI in the business field. LA primarily focuses on analysing student-institution interactions, student success factors, and the effectiveness of teaching and learning approaches such as traditional face-to-face, online, and blended learning. Like in the business field, LA relies on quality data inputs, which vary in their accuracy and completeness. Over the past two decades, higher education institutions (HEIs) have experienced significant changes related to the adoption of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs). These changes aimed to improve operational efficiency, enhance management effectiveness, and increase competitiveness. Operational efficiency involved automating information-based processes, while management effectiveness included the implementation of Institutional Management Systems (IMS) such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Student Information Systems (SIS). To improved competitiveness, HEIs implemented strategic information systems, shifted to online learning, and utilised blended learning practices through integrated Learning Management Systems (LMS) and Marks Administration (MAS).
Design of ethics to enhance privacy, security, and safety in e-logistics internet of things.
(University of the Western Cape, 2023) Crown, Caitlyn; Breytenbach, Johan
Purpose: This study focuses on making Internet of Things (IoT) implementations in the e-logistics industry private, secure, and safe. This is achieved through meeting the following objectives: creating an operational definition of ethics, identifying how ethics can be incorporated into the design of IoT, identifying whether ethics can be employed to ensure privacy, security, and safety, and documenting recommendations on how ethics by design can be used to improve the privacy, safety, and security of IoT e-logistics devices. Methodology/Design: This study utilises the theoretical framework detailed by Van Aken describing the main pillars of system design, namely object design, process design, and realization design. This framework guided the data collection and data analysis of the study by providing a context to inform further categorisation of the data for better insights. The data collection method used was a questionnaire to a single case study of 15 respondents using the philosophy of interpretivism to identify and understand the embarkment of knowledge during a study. Research Limitations: This study collected and used data from a single case study in South Africa – an IoT device manufacturer and software development organization focused on retail distribution IoT devices. This data collection from the case study limited the scope of the study to a specific sample that did not cater to the full spectrum of Logistics devices and their private, secure, and safe implementation.
The impact of information technology on reverse logistics of blood in public healthcare facilities in the Gauteng department of health
(University of the Western Cape, 2023) Sello, Patrick; Njenga, James
The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) estimates that over 900,000 blood units are collected yearly from 1% of the population of South Africa (SA) actively donating blood, but 40% of the donated blood is estimated to be wasted across public healthcare facilities. As a result, surgical procedures have been cancelled or postponed, putting patients' lives at risk. This waste has been attributed to poor logistics of blood products between South African National Blood Services (SANBS) and hospitals, lack of technology to facilitate the logistics of blood products, and poor infrastructure to support the return of unused blood within the regulated period. Furthermore, blood products such as red blood cells (RBC) are prone to high wastage due to patient passing before blood transfusion, patients discharged with blood already ordered and delivered, patients refusing blood transfusion due to religious affiliation, change in Hb levels before transfusion, and poor coordination between health workers that results in limited communication during delivery of medical services. This study maps the reverse logistics (RL) process for blood products in public healthcare facilities (PHF) to identify barriers to implementing the RL process in PHF and the key factors driving the waste of blood products and recommends implementing a technological solution and reverse logistics processes for the logistics of blood products to reduce blood waste. Transporting blood in brown bags and mapping current logistical processes for blood products in on-site and remote blood bank hospitals reveal gaps that prevent returning unused blood products to blood banks. This study focuses on medical professionals, where various blood products (red blood cells (RBC), fresh frozen plasma, and platelets) were identified for the research. A quantitative applied research approach was chosen as the preferred methodology, and a stratified random sampling method was used to select participants, stratify the population, and collect data from each subgroup. The key findings point to a 51% waste of RBC units in the four selected hospitals, attributed to poor infrastructure to support the return of unused blood products, unstandardised processes across the similar level of care hospitals, poor logistics processes for blood products, and inefficient communication between doctors and nurses responsible for delivering medical services. The study identifies inaccurate information because of manual processes and poor monitoring of policies and guidelines as barriers to the reverse logistics of blood products. Technology and logistics methods are suggested as mitigating effects to address the above findings and reduce blood waste during medical service delivery. The findings add to the body of academic knowledge, technology, and logistics as factors to improve the delivery of healthcare services in the public health context. They also support the recommendation that PHF uses technology to automate business processes while integrating logistics methods and models for delivering and handling blood products.

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