published_or_final_version / Management Studies / Master / Master of Business Administration

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health

This study aimed to investigate the role of academic libraries in Saudi higher education in supporting distance learning (DL) in the country. Two cases, known for their history of offering DL programmes in the country, were selected. These were Imam Mohammad Bin Saud Islamic University (IMBSIU) in Riyadh and King Abdul-Aziz University (KAU) in Jeddah. A mixed methodology, which included both qualitative and qualitative approaches, was used. Triangulation of data collections methods was achieved by implementing a document analysis, interviews and questionnaires. The results indicated that DL in the country is transforming traditional approaches into fully automated techniques through the implementation of e-learning via the Internet; the Saudi government is supporting this approach. However, the results also showed that policies of academic libraries lack rules which recognise DL stakeholders right to be served and supported. Little or no co-operation was found to exist between academic libraries and DL deanships in both case studies; this could hinder the efforts made by academic libraries to serve and support DL stakeholders. In addition, textbooks were found to be the main source of learning and teaching in DL, thus reducing the desire of DL stakeholders to use their academic library. The lack of DL guidelines was found to be responsible for making distance learners less likely to use information resources other than textbooks. Official interactions were weak between DL stakeholders, especially learners with their instructors, and with academic and non-academic support such as academic library services. This was found to be responsible for a lack of academic library support specifically designed for DL stakeholders, and many other factors relating to the existing condition of academic libraries were also found to be significant in failing to recognize the right of DL stakeholders to be served. However, overall, participants attitudes toward the importance of academic libraries in supporting DL stakeholders were positive. Moreover, participants expressed a desire to find solutions as soon as possible to overcome the current lack of information services designed for DL stakeholders. According to this study s results, several recommendations have been formulated related mainly to the importance of building co-operation between academic libraries and DL deanships in the country. It is concluded that there is an urgent need for DL stakeholders needs and rights to be recognised and supported by any means in order to improve the quality of DL. Hence, several models/solutions, which can be implemented in either the short or the long term, are proposed here in order to provide solutions for the current lack of information services being offered to DL stakeholders by both academic libraries and DL deanships.

The purpose of this research is to assess the function, form and content of knowledge sharing in communities of practice, social networks and the use of collaborative technologies in Third Sector community networks in the North East of England. This is a significant area worthy of detailed examination due to the acknowledged relationship between communities of practice, social networks and the use of collaborative technologies. These three domains have been examined separately by others and suggestions have been made as to relationships between them but few, if any, studies appear to have used case-based evidence to explore how these relationships add value to knowledge sharing. The research addresses the following research question: To what extent does the use of collaborative technologies in communities of practice and social networks, in the Third Sector of the North East region, add value to face- to-face knowledge sharing and how may this be measured? In order to answer the research question a qualitative holistic case study approach based upon three case studies in Newcastle upon Tyne, South Tyneside and Sunderland has been utilised and grounded theory is used to formulate theory from the observed and analysed practice of the case studies under investigation. The conclusion is drawn that when value is added to knowledge sharing it is relative to the strength of several key variables, including, reciprocity, trust, the strength of network ties and the ability to integrate the use of collaborative technologies into ongoing activities. To aid analysis of the presence and strength of these variables a working paradigm has been designed and developed. Case studies are analysed through this paradigm leading to the development of a theory of knowledge sharing in the Third Sector.

M.Com. (Business Management) / Since the dawn of democracy, South Africa has experienced continued service delivery protests. The extent to which these protests manifest themselves could be indicative of the communication gap that exists between local councillors and communities. In response, communities might use protests to serve as a medium of communication to highlight their unhappiness with service delivery. The e-participation programme is an intervention introduced by the German International Cooperation to explore the potential and assist municipalities with the implementation of a short message system-based, two-way channel for citizen-municipality communication. This study examined the level of readiness of municipalities with regard to the implementation and the sustainability of the e-participation programme. It used a mixed method approach to investigate a sample of municipalities. Findings and recommendations to government on considerations for implementation of the programme is discussed. The study concludes by highlighting earned benefits that can be enjoyed by all South African municipalities by employing the core pillars of various models used in other countries in implementing e-participation.

M.Com. (Computer Auditing) / Competence in information technology (IT) is crucial for the professional accountants and most importantly, for information systems (IS) auditors currently practising in the execution of IS audits. The increasing dependence of businesses on computerised information systems gives rise to the need for auditors who possess IT knowledge and skills. This study reports the results of a study that investigates the level of IT knowledge and skills required for an IS auditor in the specific context of audit work in South Africa. Results of this study are based on a literature analysis and on data collected from different IS auditor practitioners. The aim of this study is to: (i) examine the IT knowledge and key areas of expertise required from an IS auditor; (ii) determine the educational qualifications required of an IS auditor; and (iii) evaluate the soft skills required from an IS auditor. This research involves a two-stage empirical study. Firstly, the study carried out a literature survey of IT knowledge and skills. Secondly, structured interviews were conducted with a sample of IS audit practitioners. The findings from this study make three main contributions to the field of IS auditing practice and auditing education. Firstly, the study will help in contributing to a theoretical enhancement of the current level of knowledge in the limited existing literature on IS auditors and the type of knowledge and skills that is required from the professionals to perform their duties effectively and add value to the organisation. Secondly, findings from this study are significant to the standards setters regulating the audit profession, academia designing university courses, and audit practitioners evaluating their own IT knowledge. An important contribution of this study is that the findings would initiate discussion, debate and action that would lead to positive changes in the South African IS auditing profession to ensure that IS auditors are on par with the latest technologies around the world.

M.A. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

D.Litt. et Phil. / The practice of medicine changes constantly and rapidly. Consequently, it is difficult for clinicians to learn about innovations, given the vast quantity of information available. Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is the process by which practitioners turn clinical problems into questions, and then systematically integrate personal clinical expertise with the best available external evidence as the basis for clinical decisions. To practice EBM, the practitioner is required to search the literature for relevant material, and then to synthesise knowledge and apply findings to each patient. Clinicians require fast and specific access to multiple data sources, but the availability of electronic full text documents has substantially exacerbated the lack of time to read the clinical literature owing to the demands of clinical practice, and is further compounded by the fact that the Web contains much health-related misinformation. Clinicians therefore require a means of searching the literature that will enhance the retrieval of accurate and evaluated clinical data from ranked resources, whereby the most relevant information is retrieved first from the most likely source. Strong correlations exist between four primary steps in EBM, and the formula commonly used in search strategy design in the field of information seeking. The similarities inherent in these steps suggest that an evidence-based approach to information seeking might enable endusers in the health professions to enhance their searching skills and to translate the clinical question into an appropriate information-seeking strategy. A main problem and two sub-problems were investigated, namely whether: · a Web-based EBM information-seeking model could be designed to enhance the information-seeking skills of healthcare practitioners · it was possible to design an information-seeking model more closely aligned with the clinical decision-making model familiar to healthcare practitioners · it was possible to design such a model in a manner that could further enhance the translation of the clinical question into an appropriate information-seeking strategy. Various models in medicine and the domain of information seeking were investigated. It was found that the model of the clinical decision-making process accorded with all six phases of the information-seeking process (ISP), whereas other information-seeking models only addressed the ISP from the formulation of the problem onwards, thus ignoring prior stages of initiation, selection and exploration in the ISP. A Web-based EBM information-seeking model (Model C) was devised and tested for compatibility against a general Web-based information-seeking model, and was found to be valid. Model C was further empirically assessed against a Web site design methodology, and was again found to be compatible. A unique approach to EBM information seeking is thus offered by Model C, which incorporates all aspects of the clinical-decision-making metaphor, as well as the “PICO” EBM filters (Patient/Problem, Intervention, Comparative Intervention and Outcome), into a facet analysis template for the design of a clinical search strategy. Prior to selection of the EBM information resource, Model C further allows for the ranking of each resource and for the design of individual browsing and/or analytical search strategies, as appropriate, so as to enhance EBM information seeking amongst healthcare practitioners.

M.Comm. / An operational information model is adapted in this study to suit the current municipal applications. Problems arising from the current changing environment will have to be dealt with to ensure future success of municipalities. A control centre forms the basis of the model from where the relevant information can be supplied to employees in a robust form for outdoor use. The information is updated regularly and control measures are in place for issuing of the information. The effective management of the system will ensure that functions such as training, reporting, safety, labour relations, etc. are optimally implemented.

Promoting knowledge sharing has long been regarded as a very important aspect of the management of knowledge. However, knowledge sharing has its challenges due to the special nature of knowledge. Based on this, the researcher argues that it is knowledge seeking rather than knowledge sharing that plays a crucial role in knowledge management. However, there is no clear definition for knowledge seeking in existing literature. In the few studies of knowledge seeking research, knowledge has been viewed as a noun and as such knowledge seeking has been seen as no different to information seeking. The aim of this research has been to explore the knowledge seeking process in the workplace in order to conceptualise knowledge seeking by developing a theoretical model. A review of the literature concerning knowledge seeking has been conducted in order to clarify the concept of knowledge seeking. From the interpretivist’s perspective, a qualitative research approach has been taken, in which sense-making theory is employed as a methodological guide. Time-line interviews were carried out with construction engineers in China to collect primary data, and Template analysis was utilized. Based on the literature, this thesis defined knowledge seeking as a learning process, which consists of three major themes: experiential learning, information seeking and problem solving, based on which a preliminary framework was developed. Twenty six engineers were successfully interviewed. The findings from the data confirmed the links between the themes. Further codes were also identified to develop a final template, which evolved to a theoretical model illustrating the knowledge seeking process in the workplace. By promoting knowledge seeking rather than knowledge sharing, this research contributed innovatory insight into existing KM research. The new concept of knowledge seeking and the theoretical model developed thereafter contribute to knowledge by providing a theoretical framework for further research in this area. The specific combination of time-line interviews and template analysis has demonstrated good results in this research. Collecting primary data from China, this research applied Western theories onto engineers within a Chinese context, which has contributed to KM research in China. These contributions will result in many practical implications for KM practices.