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The project is concerned with the effectiveness of the Independent Living Program (ILP) in assessing the effectiveness of preparing youth for emancipation from the foster care system. Specifically, the project focused on ILP participants' preparedness to live independently as determined by: education, housing, employment/career, and money management skills attained.

The goal of San Bernardino County Medical Information Resource is to develop, coordinate, and implement a centralized information and referral database that contains information about health and human services provided by public and private entities throughtout the county of San Bernardino and is accessible to the public via the Internet.

The purpose of the project was to examine the current situation of B2C e-commerce in Japan, consumers' online purchasing behavior, and attributes affecting online purchases. Since many companies are interested in starting or have started B2C e-commerce businesses, this study would aid companies in developing marketing strategies that would grow their businesses and build loyalty among consumers.

The diploma thesis deals with the issue of borrowing and information services in different types of libraries in the Pilsen region, extended of a preview about the current state of borrowing and information services in selected libraries abroad. Next topic of the theoretical part of the thesis is human resource management in libraries in Czech republic. The research part of the thesis compares borrowing and information services and human resources management in different types of libraries in Pilsen region. The aim of the analysis was to find problematic areas of the providing direct services in libraries in terms of organization and management of human resources. The research was carried out by semi- structured interviews with managers responsible for direct library services. Key words Libraries, public library and information services, library laws, management, Pilsen Region

The scarcity of financial resources often poses challenges for organisations in both the private and the public sector, which require productive (tangible) resources, in order to thrive. Organisations are developing innovative and cost-effective methods to secure productive resources that are needed to drive performance. Special libraries in the public sector face the same pressures that resulted in some of them being overwhelmed by poor resources. The purpose of the study is to determine the levels of resources available to the libraries in the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) and the extent to which tangible resources can predict information service provision in GPG libraries. The theory of the firm and the resource-based view (RBV) theory were used as theoretical framework to support the study. The study addresses the identified gap of resource adequacy in special libraries by measuring adequacy from the perspective of those responsible for exploiting the resources, instead of the library services (the output) and library users. This approach differs from those in similar studies, which measured adequacy from the perspective of consumers. The study adopted a positivist philosophical assumption, using a quantitative research approach, with questionnaires and interviews as the data collection tools. The population of the study involves all the library officials of the libraries in Gauteng Provincial Government departments, including management. Due to the nature and size of the target population, there was no need for sampling. A total of 30 respondents for both quantitative and qualitative data, participated in the study. In order to achieve acceptable levels of validity of collected and analysed data, the face validity method was used, whereas the representative reliability method was used to ensure reliability and consistency of the measuring instruments. Mean and standard deviation, multiple regression and Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient analyses on quantitative data was conducted by using the data analysis tool Statistical Software for Social Sciences (SPSS). Atlas Ti was used to analyse the qualitative data collected. No major limitations were identified. The study found the level of physical, financial, ICT-based resources and staff development and training in the GPG libraries to be low, similarly the level of information services provided was found to be low. The resources were found to have predictive value on one another, but not on information services. Furthermore, the study did find a positive and strong relationship between resources and services at GPG libraries. The study recommended a resourcing model that is based on the collaborative consumption/sharing economy concept and principles. / Information Science / D. Phil (Information Science)

Thesis (M. Com. (Business Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Information and communication technologies (ICT) and its impact in the economic, social and personal development has become an important object of scientific research in recent decades. Theoretical and empirical studies have demonstrated the necessity to gain and exploit positive outcomes such as productivity growth, organisation expansion, efficiency, effectiveness, competitiveness and so on of ICT adoption and implementation in various organisations. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to investigate the determinants of ICT adoption by SMEs for improved performance. The study utilised the quantitative research approach whereby a survey was conducted using convenience and snowball sampling methods. Data was tested for reliability using the Cronbach’ Alpha. Furthermore, descriptive analysis was conducted as well as correlation and regression tests. The questionnaire was developed from the empirical literature review. The determinants of ICT adoption were represented by perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, entrepreneurial orientation, entrepreneurial passion, personal factors, business characteristics and performance. Based on the results, SMEs should seek to adopt ICT using the determinants which were assessed as they show how effective a business can improve performance if these determinants are used to adopt ICT. Furthermore, more should be done by government to give support and awareness to SMEs on various aspects that can improve their businesses such as ICT. Keywords: ICT, SMEs, Determinants, Adoption, Performance

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Self-Help Information Service (SIS) and to obtain information necessary for the improvement of the service. The study also described the development and operation of SIS and assessed the use and effect of the service. The evaluation of SIS was based on initial global utilization data and the results of participant satisfaction surveys targeted at four distinct groups: (1) Self-Help Project staff, (2) Tri-County Information and Referral Service staff, (3) self-help groups, and (4) callers of the service (potential members of self-help groups). The Self-Help Project and Tri-County I & R staffs represent staff samples; the self-help groups and potential members represent consumer samples.

Academic library services have now significantly developed and are applying some knowledge management (KM) principles in the provision of library services. KM is about enhancing the use of organizational knowledge through sound practices of KM and organizational learning. KM practices encompass the capture and/ or acquisition of knowledge, its retention and organization, its dissemination and re-use, and responsiveness to the new knowledge. The focus of this research was on KM principles and practices that may be in place in the Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) library. The objective was to find out how knowledge was identified, captured, organized and retained in order to enhance performance and improve the quality of service in the library. There is uncertainty about whether the use of KM principles and tools could partly solve the library‟s approach to improving its quality of service to its community in the modern information environment. KM has been implemented in commercial and business environments towards operational advantages and financial gains and its survival principles and tools may help the library to improve performance and fulfil its mandate. A mixed methods research methodology encompassing a questionnaire, observation, interviews, and use of institutional documents was used with an action research design for generating new knowledge and understanding of library concerns. The findings of this study indicate that KM concepts were not universally understood at MCNY, and that collaboration of librarians and faculty in creating an educational environment meaningful and relevant for the study programmes offered by the College was essential. The MCNY library practices were not deliberately based on KM but the study established that they were amenable to KM practice. It was making efforts to share know-how so as to reduce duplication of effort, relying on library staff to identify, integrate, acquire, organize internal and external knowledge for the benefit of the whole College. The recommendation was to perform a knowledge inventory. This could help develop appropriate institution-wide policies and practices for proper and well organized methods of integrating work processes, collaborating and sharing (including the efficient use of Web 2.0 platforms), and developing an enabling institutional culture. / Information Science / D.Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Technology Degree in Information Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2014. / This study aimed to explore user factors that may influence attitude and behaviour where technology acceptance is concerned. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) Framework was used as a tool to map this degree of acceptance in relation to the design of the current Encyclopaedia of South African Arts, Culture and Heritage (ESAACH). ESAACH is an encyclopaedia intended to address the dearth of reference material in South African arts, culture and heritage studies (ESAACH.org.za). The encyclopaedia is divided into broader areas of research such as: verbal arts, performing arts, visual arts, and heritage. It was originally established as a tool to provide support for education in arts, culture and heritage. There has been an increase in interest in the ESAACH online resource platform. This has resulted in the need to capture user perceptions and attitudes on the site in order to provide guidelines on the improvement of the site and to make usage of the encyclopaedia easier and less frustrating. The researcher investigates English Language Proficiency, Perceived Ease of Use and Perceived Usefulness and Computer Self-Efficacy as factors that influence an online user’s attitude towards intention to use and acceptance of an online encyclopaedia. There have been concerns expressed by website designers that because users may not be fully acquainted or familiar with using the Internet in general when accessing information, they anticipate some resistance or reluctance to make full use of available online content. The study included the administration of an online survey to a sample of 149 students from the Arts and Design and Library Information Studies departments whereby their demographics, antecedents and precedent constructs of the TAM were tested for co-relationships of user’s intention regarding usage and acceptance of the website. The TAM model was used as a tool to determine: whether a positive confidence in the students’ English language proficiency would affect intention to use the encyclopaedia and to predict whether positive Computer Self-Efficacy is an indicator for a positive effect regarding Ease of Use and/or Perceived Usefulness. Results confirmed that users perceived Computer Self-Efficacy as a positive contributor to the usefulness of the ESAACH online encyclopaedia. Although no significant relationship between English Language Proficiency and Perceived Ease of Use was demonstrated, the need for a design which caters for sensitivity to the language of users was identified.