On title page: Master of Philosophy (Decision Making, Knowledge Dynamics and Values). / Thesis (MPhil) Stellenbosch University, 2005 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Knowledge based organisations must continually create, share, and capture knowledge in order to improve performance. This demand for performance improvement has now also reached the public sector. The Parliamentary Service responded to this demand by contracting consultants to design systems, policies and strategies in areas such as performance management, information technology, human resource management, financial resource management, training and development. Against this background, a case study was conducted within the Parliamentary Service to explore how organizational knowledge is created and transferred in practice. The theoretical lens for this case study is Nonaka's knowledge spiral, which puts emphasis on the creation, codification and diffusion of knowledge. The study explores processes and mechanisms of creating, transferring and capturing knowledge. This is done through the examination of strategies and systems for codifying tacit knowledge and storing that codified knowledge. Thereafter technological, cultural and organizational barriers that inhibit these efforts at sharing and storage of knowledge are identified. In the light of the above, implications for managing organizational knowledge are outlined. Lastly recommendations are made on how tacit and explicit knowledge could be efficiently managed within the sections and divisions of the Parliamentary Service. Data was gathered through interviews, observation and an analysis of organizational documents. These demonstrate that through the contracting of consultants and the involvement of internal stakeholders, parliamentary service has made remarkable progress in creating, sharing, and codifying knowledge of the performance management system at individual, group and organizational levels. This progress was made as the result of the institutionalization of a performance management forum, the use of workshops, the training of trainers and staff, the publications of newsletters, the development of manuals and the writing and submission of reports. However, it was also found that there are certain technological, cultural and organizational barriers to effective knowledge management. These include the lack of electronic databases, a culture of hoarding knowledge and the fact that knowledge management roles are not assigned. Based on the analysis of these technological, cultural and organizational barriers the -- study makes six recommendations for the management of organizational knowledge within the parliamentary service. These recommendations deal with the following issues: The codification of tacit knowledge, the creation of a knowledge repository, the promotion of a knowledge sharing culture, the institutionalization of knowledge sharing incentives, the establishment of a knowledge management unit, and the appointment of a chief knowledge officer. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kennisgebaseerde orgamsas1es moet aaneenlopend kennis skep, deel en kodifiseer om kompeterend te bly. Kennisgebaseerde prestasie-verbetering word toenemend 'n prioriteit in die openbare sektor. Die Parlementere Diensafdeling het, in 'n poging om prestasie te verbeter, konsultante gekontrakteer om sisteme, beleide en strategiee te ontwerp in areas soos prestasie-bestuur, informasie tegnologie, menslike hulpbronbestuur, finansiele bestuur, en opleiding en ontwikkeling. 'n Gevallestudie in die Parlementere Diensafdeling is teen hierdie agtergrond geloods om uit te vind hoe organisatoriese kennis in die praktyk geskep en oorgedra word. Die teoretiese lens vir hierdie gevallestudie is N onaka se kennis-spiraal, wat die skep, kodifiseer en deel van kennis benadruk. Die studie verken die prosesse en meganismes vir die skep en oordrag van kennis. Dit word gedoen deur die strategiee en sisteme vir die kodifisering van verswee kennis (tacit knowledge) en die stoor van die eksplisiete kennis (explicit knowledge) te ondersoek. Daama word die tegnologiese, kulturele en organisatoriese hindemisse wat die pogings tot die skep en deel van kennis frustreer gei"dentifiseer. In die lig van bogenoemde word implikasies vir die bestuur van kennis uitgestippel. Laastens word voorstelle gemaak vir die bestuur van kennis in spesifiek die Parlementere Diensafdeling. Data vir die studie is verkry deur onderhoude, observasie en die analise van organisatoriese dokumente. Hierdie demonstreer dat die Parlementere Diensafdeling, deur die kontraktering van konsultante en die betrek van interne belangehebbers, wel daarin geslaag het om kennis rondom die prestasiebesuurstelsel te skep, te deel en te kodifiseer op individuele, groep en organisasie vlak. Dit is hoofsaaklik toe te skryf aan die institusionalisering van 'n prestasiebestuursforum, die gebruik van werkswinkels, die opleiding van personeel, die publikasie van nuusbriewe, die ontwikkeling van handboeke en die skryf en indiening van verslae. Dit is egter ook gevind dat daar sekere tegnologiese, kulturele en organisatoriese hindemisse tot effektiewe kennisbestuur in die Parlementere Diensafdeling is. Hierdie sluit in die gebrek aan 'n elektroniese databasis, 'n kultuur van kennis-opgaarding, en die feit dat kennisbestuursrolle nie toegeken word nie. Die studie maak dan ses voorstelle vir die bestuur van organisatoriese kennis binne die Parlementere Diensafdeling gebaseer op die analise van hierdie tegnologiese, kulturele en organisatoriese faktore. Hierdie voorstelle gaan oor die volgende kwessies: Die kodifisering van verswee kennis (tacit knowledge), die skep van 'n kennis poel (knowledge repository), die bevordering van 'n kultuur van kennis deel, die institusionalisering van kennis insentiewe, die vestiging van 'n kennisbestuursafdeling, en die aanstelling van 'n Hoof Kennis Beampte (Chief Knowledge Officer).

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is a strong pressure for organizations to attaining, maintaining and improving knowledge standards for sustained competitive strategic advantage. This assignment examines the status of knowledge and knowledge management (KM) practices at the Provincial Library Services (PLIS). I approached the topic by collecting data relevant to the management of information and knowledge and benefits of the KM activities using the following methods: A review of literature and research: - addressing the paucity of literature and research that is both current and directly relevant to libraries was one of the motivating factors behind the study; analysis of key documents and information systems; a questionnaire was distributed to the PUS personnel; informal interviews and observations. The results seem to indicate that PLIS has a knowledge infrastructure and a technology infrastructure. This is apparent in its knowledge programmes, e-mail system, web page, library management system (PROLIB), and limited access to the Internet. Staff has some fairly basic knowledge and information needs that must be addressed. Few knowledge contents should be established. The baseline information provides a foundation for more coordination; recognition of the importance and enhancement of its KM related activities. KM activities should focus on individual capabilities. Recommendations are articulated in terms of a proposed KM strategy. It became evident that success of knowledge management depends on an environment, which is conducive to conversion of individual knowledge to organizational knowledge, the value to which employees place on knowledge and their attitude towards KM. Moreover, indicators of success and evidence of effectiveness should take the measuring criteria beyond a checklist of policies and strategies, procedures and processes, systems, activities but professional competence, commitment, benchmarking and adoption of best practices for attainment of KM goals. Important to note, is the reality that a KM activity for PLIS has to take broader transformation imperatives into account. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar word sterk druk geplaas op organisasies om kennis te bekom, te behou en te verbeter vir volgehoue mededingende strategiese voorsprong. Hierdie werstuk ondersoek die status van kennis en kennisbestuur- (Knowledge Management, KM) praktyke van die Provinsiale Biblioteekdiens. Ek het die- onderwerp benader deur data te versamel wat relevant is tot die bestuur van inligting en kennis sowel as die voordele van KM aktiwiteite deur die volgende metodes te gebruik: 'n Oorsig van literatuur en navorsing: - een van die faktore wat die studie gemotiveer het is om die beperkte beskikbare literatuur en navorsing wat op datum sowel as relevant tot biblioteke is aan te spreek; 'n ontleding van die kern dokumente en inligtingsisteme; 'n vraelys wat versprei is onder die personeel van die Provinsiale Biblioteekdiens; informele onderhoude en waarnemings. Die resultate dui daarop dat die Provinsiale Biblioteekdiens 'n kennis en tegnologiese infrastruktuur het. Dit blyk uit die kennisprogram, die e-pos sisteem, die Webtuiste, die biblioteekbestuursisteem (Prolib), en beperkte toegang tot die Internet. Personeel het basiese kennis en inligtingsbehoeftes wat aangespreek moet word. Kennisinhoude moet daargestel word. Die basislyn inligting voorsien 'n grondslag vir meer koôrdinasie; besef van die belangrikheid en die verbetering van die KM verwante aktiwiteite. KM aktiwiteite moet fokus op individuele vermoëns. Aanbevelings word uitgedruk in terme van 'n voorgestelde KM strategie. Dit het duidelik geword dat die sukses van kennisbestuur afhang van 'n omgewing wat bevorderlik is vir die omskakeling van kennis van die individu na organisatoriese kennis, die waarde wat personeel heg aan kennis en hulle houding teenoor kennis bestuur. Aanwysings van sukses en bewys van effektiwiteit moet meetbare kriteria verder neem as 'n lys van beleide en strategieë, prosedures en prosesse, sisteme en aktiwiteite maar moet professionele vermoëns toewyding "benchmarking" en gebruik van die beste praktyke vir die bereiking van KM doelwitte toepas. Dit is belangrik om te let op die realiteit dat 'n KM aktiwiteit van die Provinsiale Biblioteekdiens wyer transformerende imperatiewe in ag moet neem.

Thesis (MPhil (Information Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The past decade has seen a huge increase in the implementation and use of Electronic document and records management systems (EDRMS) in many public spheres. The South African government, in this case the Presidency, has now also adopted this system to comply with current legislation requiring government institutions to replace paper with electronic media as the preferred way of conducting their official business. In general, and as is evident from the available literature, it seems that Government organisations have been lagging behind in this regard. The failure to reap the expected benefits from this step by government institutions such as the Presidency forms the basis for this investigation, which examines the failures and successes in the implementation of an EDRMS and the factors affecting this process. The study used triangulation approach in order to arrive at a more reliable conclusion. Literature research has been used as a main data collection method for this study. It also serves as a basis for the approaches to subject matter that have been adopted. Data was also collected by conducting semi –structured interviews with government institutions, including the subject of this research, that have implemented EDRMS. The critical factors that have had an effect on the implementation of EDRMS were found to be of a strategic, social and technical nature. The study also found similarities in the factors affecting EDRMS implementation within government and identifies the need for further research focusing on how these factors differ between various types of organisations. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die afgelope dekade was daar ‘n ontsaglike toename in die instelling en toepassing van elektroniese dokument- en rekordbestuurstelsels (EDRMS) op talle openbare terreine. Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering, in hierdie geval die kantoor van die Staatspresident, het nou ook hierdie stelsel aangeneem om te voldoen aan huidige wetgewing wat staatsinstellings verplig om papier te vervang met elektroniese media as die aanbevole manier om hulle amptelike besigheid te bedryf. Oor die algemeen, en soos dit ook blyk uit die beskikbare bronne, lyk dit egter asof regeringsinstansies agter geraak het wat dit betref. Die feit dat die verwagte voordele van hierdie stap nie deur staatsinstansies soos die Presidensie benut is nie, vorm die grondslag vir hierdie ondersoek, wat die prestasies en weiering wat gepaard gaan met die instelling van `n EDRMS en die faktore wat hierdie proses affekteer van nader beskou. Navorsing van die literatuur is gebruik as die belangrikse datainsamelingmetode vir hierdie ondersoek. Dit dien ook as die basis vir die manier waarop die onderwerpmateriaal benader is. Data is ook ingesamel van staatsinstansies wat `n EDRMS ingestel het, soos die instansie wat hier bestudeer word. Die kritiese faktore wat ‘n invloed gehad het op die instel van `n EDRMS het geblyk van `n strategiese, sosiale en tegnies aard te wees. Die ondersoek het ook ooreenkomste gevind in die faktore wat die instel van `n EDRMS in die regering affekteer en indentifiseer ook die behoefte aan verdere navorsing wat gerig is op hoe hierdie faktore van organisasie tot organisasie verskil.

The study sought to investigate the viability of digital records management in the Office of the Premier (OTP) in the Eastern Cape Province. The objectives of the study were to establish the current status of digital records management in the OTP, determine the compliance with the legal framework, identify the requisite infrastructure for digital records management (DRM), describe the security and preservation measures for DRM, and the challenges of managing digital records. Purposive sampling was used to select 40 participants. A questionnaire was used to collect data. The study revealed that the OTP has taken a number of initiatives aimed at establishing records management practices. However, the study found that the OTP is faced with a number of challenges in trying to use the Electronic Document and Records Management System (EDRMS). The majority of the employees did not have any qualification in records management. This lack of skills and competencies affects the implementation of the new system. The findings of the study showed that most of the employees were resisting using the new system because they were not comfortable with it. The study recommends that the department should encourage its staff to get training to be knowledgeable in the use of EDRMS which generates records; the staff should work closer with the consultancy in order to gain skills and knowledge to facilitate the change process, and the security and preservation of digital records should be enhanced.

The primary purpose of this research is to establish to what extent, if any Zimbabwean companies proactively align their IT strategy with the business strategy as a way of building and sustaining business competitive advantage. The research seeks to provide further insights into the business performance implications of the alignment between IT and business strategies. It also seeks to determine if there are any linkages between strategic alignment, IT managerial resources and IT effectiveness. Last but not least, it examines whether alignment directly leads to increased business performance which Sabherwal & Chan (2001) terms ‘perceived business performance’. / Graduate School of Business Leadership / MBL

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Technology: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY in the Faculty of Informatics and Design at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2013 / Governments throughout the world are increasingly under pressure to transform in response to rapid changes in the global economy. They are faced with new and challenging situations as the social world, the economy, demography and technology keep changing. While literature reports some degree of success towards e-government implementation in the developed world, there is lack of empirical research on successes of e-government and information sharing practices of government agencies in developing countries. Designers of e-government solutions in all countries face challenges that are unique to their specific sociocultural, economic, geographic, environmental, political, and technical context. However, the peculiarity of e-government challenges is more evident in developing countries than in developed ones. This research is motivated by the need to investigate an e-government phenomenon in a developing country context like Zimbabwe which is characterised by complex dynamics rooted in politics, economy and social setting. Emphasis is placed on the political nature and the complex institutional environments in which e-government develops and recognition is given to the key concepts of e-government which involve the technological and social aspects. This study has been scoped empirically to explore e-government implementation efforts at government level then a case study of the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality’s e-Administration dimension of e-government, with focus on information sharing. Tourism is an example that e-government’s parameters do not stop at the boundaries of the public sector. The research first conducted a document study of all policies and programmes initiated by the government of Zimbabwe towards public sector modernisation using ICTs. Secondly, in order to identify the status of e-government and information sharing as well as government’s vision in the same, interviews were conducted with the Ministry of ICT’s administration. Thirdly, a case study of the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality was conducted to establish the extent and tools of information sharing between the ministry and other line ministries, departments and other institutions nationally and internationally. Data from the case were analysed using the Activity-Driven Needs Analysis (ADNA). Research findings from all activities have been discussed and further developed in two solutions-oriented focus group meetings with senior managers at both ministries of ICT and tourism in the area of cross-government information sharing, and in feedback sessions with research participants. Literature review, analysis of ICT policy documents and case study analysis were insights which underpinned the development of an e-government framework for developing countries. The emphasis of the framework is for e-government designers to place importance on political and institutional factors ahead of any other determinant. Consistent with ADNA and the critical realist perspective, the aim is not to influence these political and institutional factors, but to understand their modus operandi and hence to construct an e-government solution which recognizes the dictates of all stakeholders.

Thesis (MTech (Information Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2015. / In a quest to offer better services to both citizens and businesses throughout Africa, efforts to adopt e-government projects are gaining momentum. As a result of this, there is a need for effective measurement of delivery and quality of such e-services. Currently, there are several metrics applied to measure and rank the e-readiness of various African countries. However, while these measures have provided a source of comparative analysis between different e-government projects, they are far from being perfect. For example, most of these measures are diverse and difficult to compare, since they assume ‘one size fits all’ and ignore differing environmental, cultural and contextual factors of various countries. Further criticisms of these measures are that they are ‘first generation metrics’ designed for developed countries, as opposed to developing countries. Thus, the crux of the research problem was that there are no suitable evaluation strategies for understanding and measuring the effectiveness of e-government services in order to improve the management thereof, and thereby attain the best possible value for citizens. The objective of this study was to develop a framework, for evaluating the effectiveness of e-government services in a typical developing country. Tanzania’s mainland was chosen as the context for this study: as a typical developing African country, its early phase of e-government development provided an optimal case for this study concerned with the useful and effective evaluation of e-government services. I have chosen a qualitative research method paradigm, underpinned by an interpretive approach, to facilitate both research objectives: developing an evaluation framework after determining the necessary evaluation parameters. Empirical evidence was gathered via interviews with e-government practitioners in Tanzania and via focus groups with selected citizens. Other sources of data included government documentation (policies and strategies) and government websites. The data was analysed through the combined application of an adapted grounded theory method and interpretation. Using the latter analytical processes several effectiveness dimensions of e-government services were derived. Through further analysis these were synthesised into the main output of the study viz. an e-government citizen satisfaction framework (ECSF). This framework, a unique contribution to the existing body of knowledge, demonstrates how citizen and government imperatives should be amalgamated to evaluate the effectiveness of e-government services. The findings further support and advance Information Technology management within government, as this is the first comprehensive framework to ensure an integrated approach for monitoring and evaluating e-government programmes. This study also combines important ideas from two existing domains—service management and IS evaluation—to generate new foundations leading to further work by researchers.

Submitted by Josimara Dias Brumatti (bcgtese@ndc.uff.br) on 2017-01-11T14:44:58Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_Sergio_Martins.pdf: 5122055 bytes, checksum: dfb8de5e735e4146052ffe1f11cca2e2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Josimara Dias Brumatti (bcgtese@ndc.uff.br) on 2017-01-11T14:45:53Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_Sergio_Martins.pdf: 5122055 bytes, checksum: dfb8de5e735e4146052ffe1f11cca2e2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-11T14:45:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_Sergio_Martins.pdf: 5122055 bytes, checksum: dfb8de5e735e4146052ffe1f11cca2e2 (MD5) / O presente estudo consiste em uma análise comparativa de modelos de Gestão da Informação (GI) sob a perspectiva integrativa dos recursos de informação. As bases teóricas para este estudo são a literatura das áreas de Ciência da Informação e Administração no que se referem à temática da Gestão da Informação e o campo empírico são quatro modelos de GI de autores consagrados nesta temática, a saber, o modelo de McGee e Prusak, o modelo de Davenport, o modelo de Choo e o modelo de Marchand, Kettinger e Rollins. Utilizou com metodologia a Análise de Conteúdo para padronização dos discursos e a Análise Comparativa para o estabelecimento de padrões, similaridades e diferenças entre os modelos. Buscou-se também verificar o atendimento dos modelos aos requisitos estabelecidos como representações de aspectos dos recursos de informação. A análise dos resultados demonstrou que os modelos de Gestão da Informação, baseados em processos do fluxo informacional, atenderam de maneira satisfatória às exigências dos critérios, todos demonstrando capacidade de suporte e tratamento dos recursos informacionais de maneira integrada. Alguns apontamentos são feitos na direção de um modelo de Gestão da Informação que leve em conta as mudanças na atualidade. / This study consists of a comparative analysis of models of Information Management (IM) under the integrative perspective of information resources. The theoretical basis for this study are the literature in the areas of Information Science and Management as they relate to the theme of Information Management. The empirical field are four models of IM from renowned authors on this subject, namely, the model of McGee and Prusak, Davenport’s model, Choo’s model and Marchand, Kettinger and Rollins model. The methodology used was the content analysis of speeches for standardization and comparative analysis for the establishment of standards, similarities and differences between the models. An attempt was also verify compliance to the requirements of the models as representations of aspects of information resources. The results showed that the models of Information Management, based on the information flow processes, satisfactorily met the requirements of the criteria, all demonstrating ability to support and treatment of information resources in an integrated manner. Some notes are made toward a model of Information Management that takes into account today's changes.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Information and Communications Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017. / The selection of an appropriate vendor from a set of competing vendors in information technology outsourcing is an essential decision for the effective and efficient management of supply chain management in a fiercely competitive environment. Given the growing and intensive applications of information technology resources to improve process efficiency, achieve growth, foster innovation and transform service delivery, the need arises to outsource the major information technology operations of an organisation, as a strategy for organisations to concentrate on their core businesses. Information technology outsourcing is an important constituent in supply chain management, because it demands effective selection of an appropriate vendor, based on multiple conflicting criteria. Supply chain management places strong emphasis on effective evaluation and selection of vendors against usually conflicting multiple criteria, rather than on cost as a single criterion upon which to base a decision. Multiple criteria generally include both qualitative and quantitative attributes, some of which can be fuzzy in nature. The overarching purpose of this research is to screen the most important criteria of information technology outsourcing for vendor selection based on expert opinions. The experts are from institutions of higher education, health, inspection and testing, property, shipping, state own enterprise, local government and transportation, who share their views regarding criteria that influence their vendor selection decision. Since the vendor selection decision is characterised by a high degree of subjectivity, interdependency and conflicting criteria, the analytic hierarchy process is applied to determine the weights of the identified criteria, evaluate and rank the potential vendors that provide information technology outsourcing services to the sampled institutions. The sample size for this research comprises 16 respondents and the 11 criteria which are cost, quality, commitment, additional resources, additional expertise, prior work, contract terms, confidentiality, location, on supplier database and black economic empowerment. Results show that quality of product is the most important attribute for vendor selection in information technology outsourcing. In addition, the study found that the sampled institutions can categorise their information technology outsourcing vendors more effectively and select a more effective supply chain partner. Moreover, the sampled institutions can provide unsatisfactory vendors with valuable feedback that will help them improve and become good partners in the future. / M

M.A. / The evolution of the Internet has led to the establishment of various value-adding products and services such as Internet banking (IB). Internet banking has changed the formal banking landscape forever. Some may argue that Internet banking has positively affected the lives of many, through providing services in a more convenient, efficient and effective manner, 365 days a year. However, the growth of the Internet has lead to the increase of various Information Technology (IT) problems and challenges. Today, individuals and organisations are faced with an increasing number of attacks via computer and Internet viruses, phishing scams and Internet hackers. Individuals and organisations must place greater emphasis on ensuring that their financial well-being is protected. The investment in adequate software and hardware has become critical to conduct financial transactions securely via the Internet. The level of security awareness should also be increased and established at various levels through comprehensive educational programmes. Extensive Internet banking awareness campaigns have been launched, but the level to which these campaigns are successful is uncertain. The main focus of this dissertation is to understand Internet banking customers’ perceptions on information protection when using Internet banking services and products, as various factors influence the perceptions of trust with regards to Internet banking. Trust is formed through a variety of factors from the influence of others on our own beliefs and values, to the experiences gained by using specific technology or processes over a particular period of time. An in-depth literature review forms the basic framework for the dissertation and is followed by an empirical component. The main goal of the literature review is to provide a solid theoretical framework and basis from which to conduct the empirical research. Chapters 2 to 4 delve into the evolution and development of the Internet and provide a perspective on the South African banking landscape. The various challenges the Internet banking domain is faced with, is explored, and the various opportunities that exist are extensively discussed. Trust, the major factor influencing the adoption of Internet banking services and products, is explored, and the factors that shape and diminish trust are discussed. The empirical study consisted of a close-ended questionnaire that was completed by a sample of University of Johannesburg (UJ) alumni. The study included 138 individuals who completed the close-ended questionnaire and the results were analysed by Statistical Consultation Services (StatCon), a statistical research unit within UJ. The results indicate that more should be done to ensure that individuals and businesses are well-versed on issues pertaining to Internet banking security and safety. The results further highlight that the quality of most of the individuals’ relationships with their formal bank branch diminished due to Internet banking. An interesting finding was that 80.7% of the respondents indicated that they would make use of Internet banking services and products, even though they are aware of fraudulent activities that take place via this Internet medium. The research findings provide financial institutions with valuable guidelines on how to plan and implement effective and efficient Internet banking education and awareness strategies.