No abstract available.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Timesharing is one of the sectors of the tourism industry that has grown at a tremendous rate in the recent past. In South Africa, after adverse publicity and severe internal conflict in the early years, the timeshare industry is growing as this way of holidaying becomes more popular. Much is also expected of the tourism industry as a major contributor towards improving the socio-economic situation in this country. It is therefore essential that geographers and more specifically geographical information system specialists get involved in research on timeshare and related topics. This thesis investigates the potential use of geographical information systems (GIS) in the timeshare industry in South Africa. The main focus of the research is on the development of a timeshare information system (TIS). The TIS was developed by using the ArcView GIS programme and Avenue programming language and it incorporates the points system as the most popular timeshare type in South Africa. The main aim of the TIS is to find possible holiday resort destinations within South Africa that will satisfy the timeshare owner's holiday needs, at the touch of a button. To produce these results the user is asked a series of questions and he/she is expected to make some selections. This information is then processed to make it possible for the scripts that have been compiled to extract the correct results from the destination database. This comprehensive database has been compiled from existing sources. The final results are then shown to the user on regional maps of South Africa. These maps have been compiled beforehand for use during the programming phase, but also for the purpose of doing location and spatial analysis. In conclusion, the results have been tested by means of a case example. The results produced by the TIS have been verified as being correct. Although the TIS is not ready for the timeshare market at this stage it could, with slight adjustments, be of use and is a positive step in the right direction and is in line with modem trends in the industry. Keywords ArcView / Avenue / Exchange companies / Geographical information systems (GIS) / Graphical user interface / Points system / Resort Condominium International (RCI) / South Africa / Timeshare destination database / Timeshare industry / Timeshare owners / Timeshare resort facilities / Timeshare resorts / Timesharing / Tourism geography / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Eiendomstyddeling is een van die sektore van die toerisme-industrie wat tans wêreldwyd die meeste groei toon. In Suid-Afrika waar eiendomstyddeling aanvanklik gekniehalter is deur swak publisiteit en interne konflik, toon die bedryf besondere groei soos dié manier van vakansie hou, meer gewild raak. Baie word van die toerismebedryf verwag om 'n beduidende bydrae te maak tot die verbetering van sosio-ekonomiese toestande in die land. Juis hierom is navorsing oor tyddeling en verwante onderwerpe besonder belangrik. Geograwe en meer spesifiek geografiese inligtingstelselspesialiste kan in dié opsig belangrike rolspelers wees. Hierdie navorsingsverhandeling speur die gebruiksmoontlikhede van geografiese inligtingstelsels (GIS) in die tyddeelindustrie in Suid-Afrika na. Die hoof fokus van die navorsing val op die ontwikkeling van 'n tyddeelinligtingstelsel (TIS) met behulp van ArcView GIS programmatuur en Avenue programmeertaal. Hierdie TIS poog om die keuse van 'n geskikte vakansiebestemming in Suid-Afrika vir die tyddeeleienaar en potensiële koper te vergemaklik en inkorporeer in die proses die puntestelsel as tyddeeltipe. Die program stel aan die gebruiker 'n reeks vrae en seleksie opsies, waaruit dan 'n resultaat van oorde wat aan sy/haar vakansiebehoeftes voldoen, aan hom/haar voorgehou word. Hierdie resultate word getrek uit 'n omvattende tyddeelbestemmingsdatabasis wat uit bestaande bronne saamgestel is. Hierdie databasis word op verskeie stadiums deur die loop van die gebruiksproses deur die opgestelde programkode ondervrae. Tesame hiermee word die resultate ruimtelik en nie-ruimtelik aan die gebruiker vertoon. Hierdie ruimtelike komponent hang nou saam met die kartering van die tyddeeloorde in Suid-Afrika, 'n proses waartydens die ligging en verspreiding van hierdie oorde ook aandag kry. Ter afsluiting word die resultate aan die hand van 'n toetsvoorbeeld geverifieer. Die TIS lewer bevredigende resultate en hoewel dit nie in sy huidige formaat gereed is vir die tyddeelmark nie, is dit 'n positiewe stap en in lyn met moderne neigings in die industrie. Trefwoorde ArcView / Avenue / Blybeurtbedryf / Geografiese inligtingstelsels (GIS) / Grafiese koppelvlak / Puntestelsel / Resort Condominium International (RCI) / Suid-Afrika / Toerismegeografie / Tyddeelbelang / Tyddeelbestemmingsdatabasis / Tyddeeleienaars / Tyddeelindustrie / Tyddeeloorde / Tyddeeloordfasiliteite / Tyddeling / Uitruilondernemings

Assignment (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In terms of the Higher Education Act, 1997 (Act No. 101 of 1997: Notice no: 1700), the Cape Technikon and the Peninsula Technikon will merge on 1 January 2005 to become a single institution known as the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. This merger is part of the South African government’s effort to streamline education spending priorities, whilst evening out the differences between historically white and historically black institutions. During the apartheid era the Peninsula Technikon was established mainly for black (i.e. Coloured and African) students and the Cape Technikon for white students. There are a number of problems and challenges that can be expected by these institutions before, during and after the merger. These include, among others, identity crises that might result from the clash of different cultures because of the different backgrounds of these two institutions. If the merger is not handled properly, especially where human and cultural issues are concerned, it might not be successful. Higher education institutions are recognized as being in the knowledge business, and libraries play a central role in this regard. Academic librarians specifically have a significant knowledge management role to play in their institutions. In the case of the Cape Technikon and Peninsula Technikon libraries, it would thus be very important to understand each institution’s culture and what their existing knowledge management practices are, so that by the time of the actual merger they will know how to cooperate productively and effectively. Given the complexity of mergers and their wide ranging ramifications, as well as potential problems that might hamper the smooth operations of the institutions, the aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge management practices of the libraries of these two institutions. Thereafter recommendations were made, based on the findings, as to how to apply knowledge management practices to increase the capabilities of the two institutions’ libraries and enhance their operational efficiency. The methods of investigation were qualitative in nature and comprised questionnaires which were filled in by the librarians of both institutions as well as in-depth interviews with senior staff members of both libraries. The study also made other observations which related to the feel of the environments and people’s attitude which were also quite revealing. Although both libraries displayed knowledge management practices, the Cape Technikon was found to be more advanced in some regards than the Peninsula Technikon. Finally, recommendations were made on how to apply certain specific knowledge management practices successfully after the merger. These included a recommendation that both institutions ensure that there are processes in place to ensure that knowledge is recorded on an ongoing basis. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In terme van die Wet op Hoër Onderwys, 1997 (Wet Nr 101 van 1997: Kennisgewing Nr: 1700), sal die Kaapse Technikon en die Skiereiland Technikon op 1 Januarie 2005 saamsmelt om ’n enkele instelling te word, naamlik die Kaapse Skiereiland Universiteit van Tegnologie. Hierdie samesmelting is deel van die Suid-Afrikaanse regering se poging om die prioriteite op opleidingsuitgawes te stroomlyn, terwyl die verskille tussen wat histories wit en swart instellings was, uitgestryk word. Gedurende die Apartheid era was die Skiereiland Technikon veral vir swart studente (m.a.w. Gekleurdes en Afrikane), en die Kaapse Technikon vir wit studente. Daar is talle probleme en uitdagings wat verwag kan word by hierdie instellings voor, gedurende en na die samesmelting. Hierdie sluit in, onder andere, identiteitskrisisse wat dalk kan opduik as gevolg van die verskillende agtergronde van hierdie twee instellings. As die samesmelting nie behoorlik hanteer word nie, veral wat menslike en kulturele kwessies betref, kan dit onsuksesvol wees. Instellings vir hoër onderwys word erken as in die besigheid van kennis, en biblioteke speel ‘n sentrale rol in hierdie opsig. Spesifiek akademiese bibliotekarisse het ’n rol om te speel in die behandeling, of bestuur, van kennis. In die geval van die Kaapse Technikon en Skiereiland Technikon se biblioteke, sou dit dus baie belangrik wees om elke instelling se kultuur te verstaan, en om hulle huidige metodes van kennisbestuur te ken, sodat dit teen die tyd van die samesmelting moontlik is om produktief en effektief saam te werk. Aangesien samesmeltings kompleks is met verreikende vertakkings, sowel as potensiële probleme wat dalk die gladde werking van die instellings kan verhinder, is die doel van hierdie studie om die praktyke van kennisbestuur in die biblioteke van hierdie twee instellings te ondersoek. Daarna, gebaseer op die bevindings, is voorstelle gemaak met verwysing na die toepassing van kennisbestuurspraktyke, sodat die twee instellings se biblioteke se bekwaamhede kan vermeerder en hul doeltreffendheid verhoog kan word. Die metodes van ondersoek is kwalitatief en bestaan uit vraelyste, ingevul deur senior personeellede van albei instellings. Die studie het ook ander waarnemings gemaak in verband met die atmosfeer of gevoel van die omgewings en mense se houdings, wat ook veelseggend was. Alhoewel beide instellings kennisbestuurspraktyke getoon het, is bevind dat die Kaapse Technikon in sekere opsigte meer gevorderd as die Skiereiland Technikon is. Ten laaste is voorstelle gemaak met verwysing na hoe om sekere spesifieke kennisbestuurspraktyke na die samwsmelting toe te pas. Hierdie het ’n aanbeveling ingesluit dat albei instellings seker moet maak dat prosesse onderweg is om op ’n voortdurende basis boek te hou van kennis.

Thesis (MPhil (Information Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / This thesis explores the notion of communities of practice, and in particular how they make sense of their environment in order to create knowledge and enable learning. Traditionally communities of practice are viewed as stewards of expert knowledge, but this thesis argues that they are better understood as sensemaking phenomena. Chapter one introduces the theory of sensemaking as developed by Karl Weick. This chapter introduces the seven properties of sensemaking. It also explores organisational sensemaking by taking the intersubjective and generic subjective levels of sensemaking into account. Chapter two focuses on the literature on communities of practice as self-organising knowledge structures. Three structural aspects of communities of this kind are introduced, namely domain, community and practice. Following Etienne Wenger two additional aspects of communities of practice—namely meaning and identity—are analyzed as these provide the basis for a link to sensemaking theory. In the final part of this chapter the downside of communities of practice is reviewed as they do not only present opportunities but also unique challenges for organisations. Chapter three combines the conclusions from the previous two chapters by interpreting communities of practice from a sensemaking perspective. The seven properties of sensemaking are applied to communities of practice and the role of meaning in communities of practice is viewed through the lens of sensemaking. Furthermore the role communities of practice might play in enhancing the phases of organisational sensemaking is indicated. Chapter four concludes that communities of practice indeed function as sensemaking phenomena in their environments. It is argued that nurturing communities of practice as centres of sensemaking could be advantageous to organisations and recommendations are made on how to best achieve this.

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal Fluminense. Departamento de Ciência da Informação, 2012. / Bibliografia: f. 125-138.

The transformation of a manual paper-based moderation process into an electronic moderation (eModeration) process poses unique challenges. These challenges concern academic processes, people and the user experience of interactive systems. eModeration can improve the user experience of assessment processes while lowering the risk of delaying the process or losing scripts. Despite the benefits associated with optimising assessment procedures, particularly examination procedures, the use of eModeration in South Africa is limited. There are several possible reasons for a lack of eModeration adoption ranging from infrastructure and technical issues through to organisational and human factors. The focus of this study is on the human factors involved in eModeration. Since no User Experience Evaluation Framework for eModeration existed at the time of this research, an in-depth study was conducted based on the experiences of eModeration users in the context of private higher education institutions. The study focused on identifying the most important user experience constructs for the evaluation of an eModerate system within the context of private higher education institutions in South Africa towards proposing a framework. The study was based in the fields of Information Systems and Human-Computer Interaction with eModeration being the application domain. The research used a Design Science Research methodology, which involved the development and testing of a User Experience Evaluation Framework for eModeration. The data generation methods included interviews with deans, eModerators and management, as well as a survey that included responses from both moderators and deans. The research was conducted at Midrand Graduate Institute and evaluated at Monash University. The study makes a validated contribution towards identifying the most important user experience constructs. The identified constructs were utilised in the design and development of the User Experience Evaluation Framework for eModeration, which can be used along with the evaluation criteria tool to evaluate eModerate systems. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Systems)

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)

Today, librarians are confronted with new roles during the execution of their work. The emerging roles require practical and technical skills, professional competencies and ability to perform and to constantly be in touch with those emerging technologies to stay afloat. The purpose of this research was to investigate the changing roles of academic librarians at the University of Nairobi (UoN) and its constituent college libraries in the current information age so that challenges can be established and measures put in place to overcome them. The current study employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study was descriptive in nature and a survey research method was adopted. Purposive sampling was used to select respondents from each of the 13 libraries. Data was collected using a questionnaire and an interview schedule. A population of 70 respondents was to be surveyed but only 54 of them responded to the questionnaire. Quantitative data was descriptively analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) while qualitative data was analysed using content analysis. The study revealed that the role of librarians at the UoN has not necessarily changed in terms of duties, responsibilities, functions and processes, but what has changed is the intensity and manner of conducting the role. The main challenge remains that of re-training of staff in the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs). Therefore the study recommended training of staff in the use of ICTs, acquiring powerful servers to increase bandwidth connectivity and allocating more funds towards various activities. The study recommends that a similar research be replicated using different groups of librarians, for example those who started working when the services were already automated to find out whether they are also as challenged as their counterparts. A further research should also be carried out to investigate current jobs that exist elsewhere in the profession, such as knowledge management, ICT management in libraries, research data management and data curation. / Information Science / M.A. (Information Science)

The main objective of this work was through the analysis of supply and demand for tourism services to define the role of tourism for the site. Secondary objectives were to the impacts of tourism on local development. Further highlight the importance of registration destination on the list of UNESCO and to suggest ways to increase traffic to destination. The paper presents proposals to improve the supply of, and practical application of one of the proposals. The conclusion summarizes the results and the objectives of the work.

Thesis (MTech(Education)--Cape Technikon, Cape Town, 2001 / This study presents a theoretical evaluative framework for information literacy initiatives. The evaluative framework is based on a holistic behavioural taxonomic approach incorporating affective, cognitive, and physical domains. In this study the behavioural taxonomic approach was applied to the evaluation of a historical information literacy initiative, the IFYE (Integrated First Year Experience), developed by the Cape T echnikon in 1997, South Africa. The motivating factor behind the evaluation was to determine whether it would be suitable as an implementable initiative at other institutions in the Western Cape. This coincided with the aims of Infolit, who had invited institutions of Higher Education to submit pilot projects on information literacy in a drive to promote information literacy throughout the Western Cape. Although the IFYE initiative may not have realised its full potential, information literacy has drawn continued interest and other initiatives have since been developed. Application of two eXlsttng taxonomles, demonstrated distinct limitations in their application and a new taxonomy was developed within the South African educational context. The new taxonomy was applied to the theoretical evaluation of an innovative elearning information literacy initiative developed by the Cape Technikon in 2000, which has been accepted by Infolit for wider implementation throughout the Western Cape. The final section of the study presents recommendations based on the evaluation of the elearning initiative, information literacy initiatives in general, and structural changes to the developed taxonomy. Areas for further research are also discussed.