by Tsui Kwan Lit, Cyril. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 45-46). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / The Definition of Electronic Commerce --- p.2 / The Scope of Electronic Commerce --- p.3 / The Benefits of Electronic Commerce --- p.4 / Chapter II. --- ELECTRONIC COMMERCE AND THE INTERNET --- p.7 / The Development of the Internet --- p.7 / Issues of the Internet and Realising Electronic Commerce --- p.8 / Chapter III. --- ISSUES OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE --- p.10 / Standardisation issues --- p.11 / Information and Technology Standards --- p.12 / International Legal Standards --- p.13 / Security Issues --- p.14 / Social Issues --- p.22 / Chapter IV. --- FUTURE OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE --- p.25 / Chapter V. --- IMPLICATIONS TO HONG KONG --- p.29 / APPENDIX --- p.37 / REFERENCE --- p.45

University of Macau / Faculty of Law

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has evolved into a pervasive commodity in modern enterprises. ICT enables enterprises, regardless of sector, to achieve their strategic objectives. Similarly, ICT is regarded as a critical enabler in South African municipalities to reach their objectives and ultimately deliver sustainable services to their communities. This dependence on ICT, therefore, necessitates a resilient ICT environment where minimal disruption to ICT is a primary goal. Unfortunately, as reported by the Auditor-General of South Africa, the majority of South African municipalities are neglecting to address the continuity of their ICT services. Failing to implement adequate ICT continuity controls restrict these municipalities from achieving their strategic goals and, as a result, fulfilling their constitutional mandate of service delivery. It is, therefore, the objective of this study to devise a method, consisting of a theoretical foundation and a supporting tool-set, to assist municipalities in addressing a real-world ICT continuity problem. This method aims to be scalable and usable within different municipalities, and be simplistic and comprehensible enough to implement. The theoretical foundation will introduce the concept of ICT Readiness for Business Continuity, based on the recommendations of international best practices and standards, for example, the ISO 27031 (2011) standard. Furthermore, by considering various challenges within local government, the tool-set will ultimately help municipalities to help themselves in this regard.

Information Communication Technology (ICT) has become an integral part of conducting business within enterprises including the local government. Local government relies on the use of ICT to ensure that its objectives and goals are accomplished. The effective use of ICT within the context of local government is fundamental for the support, sustainability and growth of municipalities. Benefits associated with the effective use of ICT in local government include but are not limited to accelerated service delivery, efficiency and accountability. While these benefits cannot be disputed, it is important to realise that the use of ICT presents potential risks. Thus, good governance of ICT should be addressed in local government. However, in recent years, the Auditor-General of South Africa (AG) has identified lack of good governance of ICT in local government. Various issues have been identified as emanating from the lack of good governance of ICT and lack of adequate ICT risk assessment is a case in point. In an attempt to address the good governance of ICT local government, various documents have been formulated. However, none of these address how effective management of ICT risks can be achieved. As such, local government lacks the means to effectively address the management of ICT risk which is core to the good governance of ICT. Local government still requires urgent intervention with regard to addressing the activities of managing ICT risks, particularly ICT risk assessment. Moreover, it was revealed that the lack of adequate ICT skills and financial resources in local government elevates this problem. The above-mentioned problem is what has motivated this research study. This dissertation aims to produce an artefact in the form of an approach for ICT risk assessment in local government. It is believed that a customised approach to ICT risk assessment in local government will contribute towards solving the identified problem.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: E-commerce developed as a direct result of the Internet and it has impacted the way South African businesses conduct its operations and consumers receive their information. It is impossible to quantify the e-commerce phenomenon locally - this research study aims to cover most of the important areas impacted bye-commerce in South Africa. There are some barriers slowing the development of e-commerce in this country. The goal of this study is to determine if the local market is ready to accept e-commerce technologies that are already widely used in global markets. This research study examines the history of the Internet in South Africa and also raises the question whether the market was affected by the global dot com crash (also known as the dot bomb crash) experienced in 2000. The study also aims to identify the barriers hindering effective e-commerce in South Africa. It further highlights the importance of other areas of online commerce, such as mobile commerce (m-commerce), to bring the power of technology to consumers and collaboration commerce (c-commerce), to streamline business operations. Lastly, the study aims to explore the South African government's initiatives to effectively formulate a policy for e-commerce to protect the consumers' rights. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: E-handel het ontwikkel as gevolg van die Internet. Dit beïnvloed die manier waarop Suid-Afrikaanse besighede werk, en verbruikers kommunikasie ontvang. Dit is onmoontlik om die omvang van e-handel in Suid-Afrika te kwantifiseer - hierdie navorsingstudie se doel is om te fokus op die belangrikste areas wat deur e-handel beïnvloed is. Daar is hindernisse wat die ontwikkeling van e-handel in Suid-Afrika belemmer. Die doel van hierdie studie is om vas te stelof die plaaslike mark gereed is om e-handeltegnologie, wat alreeds in internasionale markte in gebruik is, te aanvaar. Die navorsingstudie ondersoek die geskiedenis van die Internet in Suid-Afrika en vra ook of die mark beïnvloed was deur die internasionale dot com ineenstorting van 2000 (dit word ook die dot bom ineenstorting genoem). Die studie kyk ook na wat effektiewe e-handel in Suid-Afrika keer. Dit fokus op die belangrikheid van ander areas van e-handel, soos mobiele elektroniese handel (m-handel), wat tegnologie op verbruikers se voorstoepe plaas, en saamwerk elektroniese handel (s-handel), wat besighede meer vaartbelyn maak. Laastens ondersoek die studie die Suid-Afrikaanse regering se pogings om 'n effektiewe beleid op te stel wat die verbruiker se regte te beskerm.

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