Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of the Master of Information Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017. / The assignment of identifying Critical Success Factors (CSFs) for the successful implementation of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems has become an important problem in the information system (IS) research. The necessity to identify CSFs becomes perceptible because of the failure often associated with the ERP system implementation in corporate organisations. The investigation and identification of CSFs will help cut costs of implementing ERP systems in organisations by giving higher precedence to the most critical factors. Literature has indicated that some factors of ERP system implementation labelled as critical are, in most cases, not critical for achieving success in the ERP system implementation. It can be argued that the inherent prediction error in the identification of CSFs is associated with the method employed for identifying criticality. Certain researchers have asserted that many of the studies on CSFs have based their findings on the use of content analysis method to identify and classify implementation factors of ERP systems as critical or not, rather than empirical findings. This intrinsic drawback has led researchers to suggest the use of sound scientific methods such as the structural equation modelling technique to identify CSFs to help guide the implementation of ERP systems in organizations. However, because of the limitations of the existing findings, the expectation is still much higher in effectively resolving the problem of identifying CSFs, in general. The overarching aim of this study was to determine those factors that are deemed critical for the successful implementation of the on-line registration system as an archetype of ERP system at HEIs. It was necessary to, firstly, identify common factors that have a significant impact on ERP system implementation and, secondly, to ascertain whether the identified factors are applicable in HEI settings, particularly to the on-line registration system. This study plans an in-depth exploration of the implementation of an on-line registration system with the identified factors forming the precursor to unearth those factors that are critical for the success of implementing on-line registration systems. The study has adopted a post-positivism mixed methods approach to identify and verify CSFs of the on-line registration system implementation, taking into consideration higher-order relationships between the factors. Data gathering took place using expert judgement with the involvement of role players in the implementation of on-line registration systems. The ADVIAN classification method provides the analytic tool for identifying factors that are deemed critical for successful implementation of on-line registration systems. The results reveal the existence of various dimensions of criticality with organisational culture and ERP strategy and implementation methodology emerging as critical factors, while the driving factors for implementation include ERP vendor support and guidance, senior and top management support, project plan with agreed objectives and goals, project management to implement project plan and project leader. It is established that the driven factors that should be observed when intervention measures are implemented include change management, post-implementation evaluation, software testing and troubleshooting, user training and user involvement. It is hoped that the CSFs discovered in this study will contribute towards the under-researched area of ERP and pragmatically aid the improvement of a process area that is in desperate need of business process re-engineering at HEIs. / M

<p>With the increasing prevalence of chronic disease throughout the world, electronic Personal Health Records (ePHRs) have been suggested as a way to improve chronic disease self-management. However, ePHRs are not yet widely used by consumers. Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) has been successfully used to explain health related behaviours among chronic disease patients. In addition, Information Systems (IS) theories such as Task Technology Fit (TTF) have been successfully used to explain information technology adoption. This study combines PMT with Perceived Task Technology Fit (PTTF) and the health self-management readiness concept of the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) to propose a research model which will aid in the understanding of ePHR adoption by chronic disease patients. The role of educational interventions on various elements of the proposed model is also examined. A survey-based study of 230 participants is used to empirically validate the proposed model via structural equation modeling techniques. Results reveal that the PMT constructs, as well as PTTF and PAM all have significant direct or indirect effects on the intention to adopt an ePHR. In addition, the educational intervention analysis indicates that the provision of advanced ePHR education positively influences various constructs in the model, while the use of fear appeals through Diabetes complication education does not have an effect.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Technology Degree in Information Technology, Durban University of Technology Durban, South Africa, 2013. / This study reports on the development of a model for the improvement of understanding the extent of Enterprise Resource Planning system usage at the Durban University of Technology. Previous research revealed that university ERP systems are not fully utilized by end-users, resulting in low usage and institutional inefficiencies. Consequently this leads to stakeholders (particularly students and government) pressurizing universities to improve their efficiency and performance. To address the problem, this study developed a research model by adapting the TAM2 theoretical model with additional IT usage factors of training, management support, perceived behavioural control and technical support. A dataset of 312 full time academics was generated by a survey method. Partial Least Square (PLS) technique was used to determine the predictive power of the developed research model which was then compared to other adoption and usage models to determine its superiority. The model was empirically tested and the findings demonstrated an improvement on the model predictive power as a result of the additional IT usage factors and the interaction effect of gender, age and experience. The predictive power comparison shows that the research model better explained 23% of the variability in ERP system usage compared to the original TAM2 model of 3.6% and the original TPB model of 5.2%. With the exception of management support, the additional IT usage factors of training, technical support and perceived behavioural control were found to have a significant relationship with ERP system usage. The test of gender, experience and age interaction effect revealed that gender and experience moderated the relationship between the independent factors of technical support and management support on the dependent factor of ERP system usage. In addition gender moderated the effect of perceived behavioural control on ERP system usage but not the effect of training which was however moderated by experience. Age did not moderate the relationship between the additional IT usage factors and ERP system usage. Consequently, the Durban University of Technology will have to address these additional IT usage factors and gender and experience interaction effect more precisely in its attempt to improve ERP system usage.

Theses (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The business of telecommunication companies is growing rapidly worldwide. The number of customers and services offered to them are increasing accordingly. One of the challenges of this fast growing field is to provide world-class technical support for the internal information systems used by customer facing staff. Business requirements for these business critical information systems are strict and encompass data integrity, availability, performance and security. Revenue from support systems is difficult to measure and hence the financial focus on cost savings, productivity and efficiency. The current information system, used by Telkom S.A. for service activation and assurance of al non-voice services, was analysed and proposals made for all identified problem areas. Although the solutions are specific to this particular system, the concepts remain the same for any large-scale distributed information system. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die besigheid van kommunikasie maatskappye groei wêreldwyd baie vinnig. Die aantal kliënte en dienste wat aan hulle gebied word groei ooreenkomstig. Een van die uitdagings van hierdie vinnig groeiende veld is die voorsiening van wêreldklas tegniese bystand vir die interne informasie stelsels wat gebruik word deur werkers wat direk met kliënte skakel. Besigheidsvereistes vir hierdie besigheids kritiese informasie stelsels is streng en strek oor 'n wye veld; data integriteit, stelsel beskikbaarheid, reaksietyd en sekuriteit. Omdat die inkomste wat besigheids ondersteunings stelsels genereer, moeilik bepaalbaar is, word daar vanuit 'n finansiële oogpunt gefokus op koste besparings, produktiwiteit en doeltreffendheid. 'n Analise is gedoen van die informasie stelsel, wat tans deur Telkom S.A. gebruik word vir diens aktivering en diens versekering, vir alle nie-spraak dienste wat aangebied word. Voorstelle is gemaak vir die probleem-areas wat geïdentifiseer is. Alhoewel die oplossings wat aangebied word spesifiek vir hierdie stelsel is, bly die konsepte dieselfde vir enige groot geografies verspreide inligting stelsel.

By triangulation of three longitudinal case studies with change leader practitioner survey, this research identified the following seven generative Employee Relationship Planning (ERPII) management strategies: 1. People Strategy 2. Capital Strategy 3. Information Strategy 4. Experience Strategy 5. Opportunity Strategy 6. Crisis Strategy 7. Result/Reward Strategy ERPII management strategies may facilitate development of organisational cultures where management enables employees to become aware of relevant capital, information, experience, opportunity and crisis situations to attain the result/reward of their collaboration and participation in business process reengineering activities for continuous improvements. These ERPI management strategies may facilitate practical application of current approaches in positive leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Spiritual Intelligence, Appreciative Inquiry and Kaizen.

Previous research into website and e-business acceptance and usage has not been completely successful in establishing how this links with factors related to culture. Furthermore, most new technologies have originated within a developed cultural context—namely the United States and Western Europe. Consequently, when new technology transfers to different cultural settings we can predict some sort of cultural gap because of their technology acceptance modes. Most studies have focused on technology transfer into the developed countries with an a priori assumption about the fit of that technology without taking into consideration cultural values that would make impact its ultimate uptake and acceptance. Few of these studies have tried to investigate how Arab cultural values could influence general acceptance and use of e-business websites. The aim of this study is to explain the influence of culture on a user's acceptance behaviour and to develop a new website acceptance model that includes cultural variables. The researcher reviewed the existing literature related to culture, technology acceptance theories, Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and e-business. A Culturally- Sensitive Technology Acceptance Model (CTAM) was devised and a pilot study conducted to test the cultural variables considered relevant. Along with Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Cultural Variables and Website Quality, these variables affect user Intention to Use e-business websites. The research combines both qualitative and quantitative methods to reflect the nature of the research problem and to determine whether any relationships between variables can be identified to determine behavioural patterns. A random sample consisting of 623 respondents was drawn from Arab and UK tourists visiting Jordanian tourist sites. A survey questionnaire and semi-structured interview were employed to obtain data from the selected sample. Questions contained in the questionnaire were derived from existing literature and were piloted to enhance its reliability and validity. Statistical methods were used to analyse the data in three main phases. The first phase aimed to establish that there were differences between the Arab and UK samples in terms of e-business website acceptance. This was found to be the case. The second phase aimed to establish that these differences were directly related to culture. Again, the results confirmed that there was a significant relationship between cultural variables and ebusiness website acceptance. In the third phase, a multiple regression analysis was applied to find the relationship between the independent variables (Website Quality, Cultural Variables, Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use) and the dependent variable (Intension to Use). The results show that some of the cultural variables are not significant for either sample. Within the Arab sample, Trust, Tangibility, Power Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance and Individualism were found to be significant but Subjective Norms and Masculinity were not. For the UK sample Trust, Power Distance and Individualism were significant but Tangibility, Subjective Norms, Masculinity and Uncertainty Avoidance were not. Hence, the results show that cultural variables have a significant impact on user acceptance of e-business websites and Davies’ 1989 original and general Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was found to be moderately applicable in an Arab milieu. However, not only do the Arab and UK groups have different preferences in website quality (such as website design, content, etc), but there are also differences in the acceptance process. For the UK, acceptance is routed through design preferences, usefulness and attitude of satisfaction. However, for the Arabs, it seems to be determined by ease of use. The results also indicate that factors such as tangibility and trust are playing an important role in determining website acceptance in Arab countries.

Thesis (MBA) -- Stellenbosch University, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Management within Local Government are increasingly required to report on the various spatially related projects and initiatives within their jurisdiction. As Information Technology develops, various electronic systems are implemented within the organisations, not only assist in the reporting. but also to fulfil the data requirements in relation to maintenance, capturing and storing of data. In order to fully adhere to the reporting needs, systems are also increasingly required to integrate, and in so doing, provide access to more data in the organisation. But as the reporting requirements are often clear, the cost in implementing the required systems elude implementers. One of the reasons for costs being unclear stems from a need for integrated systems to help implementers to understand the cost factors which drive costs, and in so doing, enabling them to manage costs incurred in projects better. By means of a literature review, the spatial information needs within Local Governments are investigated, fol1owed by the investigation of solutions to address the spatial needs. As a solution, an Integrated Spatial Management Information System (ISMlS) is discussed. Seven primary cost fac tors are identified and discussed to assist in the better understanding of the relevant cost factors. These cost factors include data, software, hardware, training requirements, customisation, maintenance and time constraints. Each cost factor is discussed in detail, and the potential impact it might have on the total cost of a project investigated. A method measuring the success of a project is also discussed, whereby the total cost 10 implementing an ISMlS is related to the number of active users as expressed in cost-per-seat. The relationship between the different types of users within a local municipality, their function and the impact the cost factors can have on the use and cost-per-seat calculation are also discussed. To illustrate the impact, three different scenarios are discussed. each with variable cost factors. It is found. that the management of cost factors can greatly increase the use of a system, and thereby make the implementation of the system more cost .. effective. Finally the concept of cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is also discussed, providing a concept whereby the costs can be measured against benefits, where the aim is to implement an ISMIS where the benefits outweigh the costs. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: DaaT word al hoe meer van die bestuur in pJaaslike owerhede verlang. om verslag te lewer oor verskeie ruimtelike projekte en inisiatiewe in hul owerheidsgebied. Met die ontwikkeling van Informasie Tegnologie word verskeie clcktroniese stelsels ge-implementeer om nie net aan die versJaggewingbehoeftes te voldoen nie, maar oak die instandhouding. datavaslegging en stoor van data te ondersteun. Om ten volle aan die verslagewingbehocftes te lean voldoen, word daar ook al hoe meer van stelsels verlang om te integreer, om sodoende toegang tot meer datastelle in die organisasie te gee. Maar terwyl die versJaggewingbehoeftes gewoonlik duidelik is, is die kostcs om relevante stelsels te integreer gewoonlik onduidelik. 'n Rede waarom kostcs onduidelik mag wees, spruit uit die behoefte vir implimenteerders van gelntegreerde stelsels am faktore wat kostes dryf te begryp, en sodoende kostes beter te lean bestuur. Deur middel van 'n literatuurstudie is die ruirntelike behoeftes binne plaaslike regenng ondersoek, gevolg deur 'n ondersoek na moontlike oplossings om die ruimtelike behoeftes aan tc spreek. As 'n opiossmg, word 'n Gclntegreerde Ruimtelike Bestuursinligting Stelsel (GRBS) bespreek. Sewe primere kostefaktore word geldentifiseer en bespreek om 'n beter begrip te ontwikkel van die relevante kostefaktore. Hierdie kostefaktore sluit data, prograrnmatuur, apparatuur, opleidingsbehoeftes, doelgemaakte programmatuur, instandhouding en tydsbepcrkings in. Elke kostefaktor word in detail bespreek, en die potensiele impak wat dit op die totale koste van 'n projek mag he, word ondcrsoek. 'n Metode om die sukses van 'n projek te meet, word ook bespreek, waarvolgens die totale koste om 'n GRBS te implementeer gemeet word teen die totale aantal aktiewe gebruikcrs van die stelsel, soos uitgedruk in koste-per-gebruiker. Die verwantskap tussen die verskillende gcbruikers in 'n plaaslike munisipaliteit, hul funksics en die irnpak wat die kostefaktore kan he op die gebruik en koste-per-gebruiker-berekening word oak bespreek. Om die impak te illustrcer, word drie verskillende voorbeelde bespreek, elk met veranderende kostefaktore. Daar is gevind dat die bestuur van kostefaktore die gebruik van die stelsel grootliks laat toeneem, wat sodoende die implementering van die GRBS meeT koste effektief maak. Laastens word "koste-voordeel analise" as konsep bespreek, waarby koste teenoor voordeel gemeet kao word, om sodoende '0 GRBS te ontwikkel waar die voordele die kostes cortref.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: DeLone and McLeans information system success model was used to evaluate Psiteks information system. The literature helped establish the required status of a successful information system. The literature helped to identify the current status of Psiteks information system by contributing to a set of questions that would provide answers as to the current status of the information system. The current status of Psiteks information system was compared to the required status of a successful information system. This comparison highlighted gaps and to bridge the gaps in the future certain recommendations were made. The recommendations were as follows: the inclusion of users into information system discussions and decisions, training and documentation, process and procedure implementation and information system technical design review. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: DeLone en McLean se informasie sisteem sukses model was gebruik om Psitek se informasie sisteem te evalueer. Die literatuur het gehelp om vas te stel wat die gewenste status van ‘n suksesvolle informasie sisteem is. Die literatuur het ook gehelp met die identifisering van Psitek se informasie sisteem se huidige status deur aanleiding te gee tot ‘n stel vrae wat gebruik kon word om informasie in te win oor die huidige status van die informasie sisteem. Die huidige status van Psitek se informasie sisteem was vergelyk met die gewenste status van ‘n suksesvolle informasie sisteem. Hierdie vergelyking het sekere gapings uitgelig en om hierdie gapings in die toekoms te oorbrug is sekere aanbevelings gemaak. Die aanbevelings was soos volg: die betrokkenheid van gebruikers in die informasie sisteem besprekings en besluite, opleiding en dokumentasie, implementering van prosesse en prosedures en hersiening van die informasie sisteem se tegniese ontwerp.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Please see fulltext for abstract / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sien asb volteks vir opsomming

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Sishen Iron Ore Mine produced 24,5 million tons of iron ore during 2000/2001 of which 20 million tons was exported to clients overseas and the rest locally supplied. This production is a mere 2,5% of the world iron ore production. Sishen Iron Ore Mine is planning to produce 26,5 million tons during 2001/2002. The target is to produce more than 30 million tons in the near future. Information technology can only make a positive impact on reaching these goals, when the information technology strategy is aligned with that of the business and the information technology is managed well. This study will indicate red lights in that, if Sishen Iron Ore Mine continues to manage information technology as it has done in the past, the possibility exists that Sishen Iron Ore Mine will not reach the goals agreed upon. This study has, after a thorough investigation, shown where the shortcomings are and how to go about addressing these shortcomings. This study, furthermore, makes certain recommendations towards ensuring that information technology makes a positive impact in assisting Sishen Iron Ore Mine to reach the goals agreed upon. This study has shortly come to the conclusion that there is currently restricted alignment between the information technology strategy and the business strategy, and that the management of information technology does not follow best practice. Research was done and the results gathered pointed to specific shortcomings that needed to be addressed. These shortcomings could be summarised as follows: • Information technology strategy, with specific reference to the questions - Does information technology add value to the business? - Does information technology address business needs? - Why is development costs for information technology solutions so high? • Management of information technology, with regard to - Personnel - Information technology solution priorities - New information technologies - Information technology project management and planning - Management and user awareness and education - Management and user involvement After a thorough investigation of the applicable literature, it is recommended that Sishen Iron Ore mine take certain steps to align the information technology strategy with that of the business, and furthermore, that information technology will be satisfactorily managed. Short conclusions of the recommendations are as follows. • Information technology strategy - To develop a measurement mechanism that will determine the value added by information technology. - To develop thorough user specifications that will address business needs. - To further investigate initiatives to lower development costs for information technology solutions. • Management of information technology - The extension of the current information management organisation to address business needs. - To develop a priority matrix that will prioritise information technology solutions. - To construct forums to ensure that all parties are involved when investigating new information technologies. - To implement a thorough project management and planning environment for information technology projects. - To develop an awareness and education program of information technology for users and managers. - To develop a mechanism that will ensure that users and managers are involved during and after implementing information technology solutions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Sishen Ysterertsmyn het gedurende 2000/2001 24,5 miljoen ton ystererts geproduseer waarvan ongeveer 20 miljoen ton uitgevoer is na oorsese kliënte en die res plaaslik geabsorbeer is. Hierdie produksie is maar 'n skamele 2,5% van die wêreld se totale ysterertsproduksie. Die Sishen Ysterertsmyn beplan dan ook om gedurende 2001/2002 26,5 miljoen ton te produseer en binne die nabye toekoms meer as 30 miljoen ton. Inligtingstegnologie kan 'n positiewe bydrae maak tot nastrewing van hierdie doelwitte, indien die strategie daarvan gesinchroniseer is met die Sishen Ysterertsmyn se strategie asook die manier waarop inligtingstegnologie bestuur word. Hierdie studie het ten doeI om met rooi gevaarligte te identifiseer indien die Sishen Ysterertsmyn voortgaan met die bestaande bestuurswyse van inligtingstegnologie wat daartoe kan lei dat die Sishen Ysterertsmyn nie die ooreengekomde doelwitte gaan bereik nie. Hierdie studie het na 'n deeglike ondersoek uitgewys waar die leemtes lê en hoe 'n mens te werk moet gaan om die leemtes aan te spreek. Hierdie studie maak verder aanbevelings om te verseker dat inligtingstegnologie 'n positiewe bydrae kan maak om te verseker dat die Sishen Ysterertsmyn wel die ooreengekomde doelwitte bereik. Hierdie studie het kortliks tot die slotsom gekom dat daar tans beperkte sinchronisering is tussen die strategie vir inligtingstegnologie en die Sishen Ysterertsmyn se strategie en dat die bestuur van inligtingstegnologie nie beste praktyke nastreef nie. Navorsing omtrent die aangeleenthede is gedoen en het uitgewys dat daar spesifieke leemtes is wat aangespreek moet word. Hierdie leemtes behels die volgende: • Strategie vir inligtingstegnologie, met spesifieke verwysing na -of inligtingstegnologie waarde toevoeg tot die Sishen Ysterertsmyn; - of inligtingstegnologie voldoen aan die Sishen Ysterertsmyn se behoeftes; - of die ontwikkelingskoste vir die oplossing van inligtingstegnologie leemtes nie te hoog is nie. • Bestuur van inligtingstegnologie, met verwysing na - personeel; - prioriteite vir oplossing van inligtingstegnologie leemtes; - nuwe inligtingstegnologie; - projekbestuur en beplanning van inligtingstegnologie; - bewusmaking en opvoeding vir bestuur en gebruikers; - bestuur en gebruikers se betrokkenheid. Na 'n deeglike ondersoek met verwysings na verwante literatuur word daar aanbeveel dat die Sishen Ysterertsmyn die nodige stappe moet neem om sinchronisering te verseker tussen die strategie vir inligtingstegnologie en die Sishen Ysterertsmyn se strategie en dat die nodige goeie bestuur van inligtingstegnologie plaasvind. Vervolgens 'n kort samevatting van die aanbevelings met betrekking tot die volgende aspekte • Strategie vir inligtingstegnologie die daarstel van metingsmeganismes om waardetoevoeging van inligtingstegnologie te bepaal; - die opstel van deeglike gebruikerspesifikasies vir die bevrediging van die Sishen Ysterertsmyn se behoeftes; - die ondersoek na inisiatiewe om die ontwikkelingskoste vir die oplossing van inligtingstegnologie gebreke te verlaag. • Bestuur van inligtingstegnologie - die uitbreiding van die bestaande Bestuursinligtingsorganisasie om die Sishen Ysterertsmyn se behoeftes te bevredig; - die daarstelling van prioriteitsmatrikse om oplossing van inligtingstegnologie gebreke te prioritiseer; die daarstelling van forums sodat alle partye betrokke is by die ondersoek na nuwe inligtingstegnologie; - die daarstelling van deeglike projekbestuur en projekbeplanning vir inligtingstegnologie projekte; opvoedingsprogram oor inligtingstegnologie vir bestuur en gebruikers; - die daarstelling van 'n meganisme wat sal verseker dat bestuur en gebruikers meer betrokke raak en bly by die implementering van inligtingstegnologie.