Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study project investigates the implementation of a Management Information System (MIS) in Telkom S.A. Ltd. With any implementation process, the affected company and its employees go through a change process. This report discusses knowledge management theory and the transfer of best practices theory, and how the implementation of these principles can improve the acceptance and use of the new software system. Following is a description and explanation of the structure and content of the report. Chapter 1 defines the research problem in detail. It also defines and briefly discusses the terms Management Information System, knowledge management and change management. Chapter 2, the literature review, consists of five sections. The five sections discuss; knowledge management concepts, knowledge management models, the comparison between models, knowledge management technology and the implementation of knowledge management. Section one, knowledge management concepts, discusses the basic theory on knowledge and learning. It looks at the basic differences between Western and Eastern philosophy and theories about learning. Concepts such as tacit knowledge, explicit knowledge and intellectual capital are introduced. A brief explanation of the start of knowledge management is offered. The four models that are discussed in section two are; The Knowledge Spiral, Best Practices Transfer, The Four Elements of Knowledge Management and The Tactical and Strategic Activities in Knowledge Management. The models discuss methods of identifying and capturing knowledge, ways in which innovation takes place in an organisation as well as identifying where a company is heading and finding ways to invest in intellectual capital to prepare for the future needs of the company. Section three compares all of the models discussed in section two. A comparison is made between the different approaches and the main focus of each model is highlighted. Technology, information management and knowledge management cannot be separated. Section four discusses the importance of technology in knowledge management, the technology backbone and applications of knowledge management. The reality of the implementation of knowledge management is discussed in section 5. The effect of knowledge management on the organisation as a whole, change management and knowledge management enablers are the topics discussed. Chapter three discusses the implementation environment, that is the business units affected by the implementation. It also gives an explanation of the design and workings of the MIS that was implemented. It is possible to read the study without reading chapter three and without background on the implementation environment and the product. The implementation of the MIS was reviewed one month and again two months after implementation. Chapter four discusses the review procedure and the main findings of the reviews. Chapter five ends the report with an evaluation on the implementation of the MIS and knowledge management practices. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studieprojek ondersoek die implementering van 'n Bestuurs Informasiestelsel in Telkom S.A. Bpk. Gedurende die implementeringsproses van enige nuwe stelsel, gaan die personeel, asook die maatskappy deur 'n veranderingsproses. Hierdie verslag bespreek kennisbestuur teorie, oordrag van beste praktyke teorie, en hoe die implementering van hierdie beginsels , die aanvaarding en gebruik van die nuwe sagtewaresisteem kan bevorder. Vervolgens 'n beskrywing van die struktuur en die inhoud van die verslag. Hoofstuk 1 definieer die probleemstelling in meer besonderhede. Die terme, Bestuurs Informasiestelsel, kennisbestuur en die bestuur van verandering word gedefineer en kortiks bespreek. Hoofstuk 2 bevat die literatuurstudie en bestaan uit 5 seksies. Die 5 seksies bespreek; kennisbestuur konsepte, kennisbestuur modelle, 'n vergelyking tussend die modelle, kennisbestuur-tegnologie asook die implementering van kennisbestuur. Die eerste seksie wat handel oor kennisbestuur konsepte, bespreek die basies begrippe van kennis en die leerporses. Die seksie kyk onder andere na die verskillende sienswyses tussen die Westerse en Oosterse filisofie oor kennis en die leerproses. Die konsepte, interne/eie-kennis, ekplisiete/eksterne kennis en intellektuelekapitaal word bespreek. Die seksie eindig met 'n kort weergawe van die ontstaan van kennisbestuur. Die vier kennisbestuurmodelle wat in die tweede seksie bespreek word is; "The Knowledge Spiral", "Best Practices Transfer", "The Four Elements of Knowledge Management" en "The Tactical and Strategic Activities in Knowledge Management". Verskillende metodes hoe om kennis vas te vang, maniere hoe innovasie plaasvind in maatskappy verband, asook vroegtydige identifisering van die maatskappy se toekomstige intellektuelekapitaalbehoeftes word deur die verskillende modelle voorgestel. Die modelle wat in seksie twee bespreek is, word vergelyk in die derde seksie. Die modelle word bespreek op grond van die verskille tussen die modelle, asook die hooffokus van elke model. Informasiebestuur, kennisbestuur en tegnologie kan nie van mekaar geskei word nie. Die vierde seksie bespreek die belangrikheid van tegnolgie in kennisbestuur, asook die toepassings as boublokke op die tegnologiebasis in kennisbestuur. Die realiteit wanneer kennisbestuur geimplementeer word, word bespreek in seksie 5. Daar word gekyk na die effek wat die implementering van kennisbestuur op die organisasie het. Faktore wat die implementering van kennisbestuur en verandering vergemaklik, word bespreek. Hoofstuk 3 verskaf inliging oor die omgewing waar die sagteware geimplementeer is. Agtergrond word verskaf oor die besigheidseenheid, asook die verskillende Iynseksies. Die Bestuursinligtingsprogram wat geimplementeer is, word in meer detail bespreek. Dit is moontlik om die studieprojek te lees sonder die agtergrond wat in hoofstuk 3 bespreek word. 'n Evaluasie is gehou 1 maand en weer 2 maande na die implementering van die sagteware. Die evalusieprosedure, asook die belangrikste gevolgtrekkings word bespreek in hoofstuk 4. Die verslag einding met 'n bespreking van die implementering van die sagteware asook kennisbestuur praktyke in hoofstuk 5.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: With the advent of low priced and easy to use computing capability, information systems have become more accessible to smaller business. Despite the increased availability and affordability, the perception exists that many small businesses are reluctant to adopt technology that might enhance their operations. Besides the opportunities brought about by information systems, this exposes businesses to additional risks and confusions. The purpose of this study was to identify the state of use of various information systems, the perception held about the business value of information systems and the factors that influence the adoption of these systems by small businesses in the Western Cape. Based on previous research in information systems adoption and theories from the technological innovation literature, ten variables under the four broad categories of decision-maker characteristics, organisational characteristics, information systems characteristics and external influences were specified as primary determinants of adoption. These variables are the decision makers' innovativeness, information systems knowledge and computer self-efficacy, the business size, the availability of slack financial resources, employees' information systems knowledge, the importance of information to the business, the perceived relative advantage of using information systems, the social expectations about information systems use, and competitive pressure. A distinction was made between the initial adoption decision and the extent of adoption. Data for the study was collected by means of a survey of 89 small businesses with less than 60 employees. Discriminant analysis was used to identify determinants for the initial decision to adopt information systems, while structural equation modelling was used to identify the factors that influence the extent of adoption. The findings in this study suggest that the computer self-efficacy, information systems knowledge and innovativeness of the decisionmaker, business size, perceived relative advantage and competition are important determinants of the decision to adopt information systems. Once adopted, the decisionmaker's innovativeness, business size, employee's information systems knowledge and competition were found to further influence the extent of adoption. Although small businesses generally have a very positive view about the advantages of using information systems, there is still scope for growth in information systems use in this sector. The most common use for information systems is at an operational level. Very few small businesses make strategic use of information systems. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die ontwikkeling van relatief goedkoop en gebruikersvriendelike rekenaartegnologie het inligtingstelsels meer toeganklik vir kleinsakeondernemings gemaak. Ten spyte hiervan, bestaan 'n persepsie dat klein besighede traag is met die ingebruikneming van inligtingstelsels om hulle operasionele metodes te verbeter. Inligtingstelsels ontwikkel nuwe geleenthede vir kleinsakeondernemings, maar dit veroorsaak ook addisionele risikos en verwarring. Hierdie studie poog om die omvang van inligtingstelselgebruik, die persepsies omtrent die gebruik daarvan, en die faktore wat die ingebruikneming van inligtingstelsels in kleinsakeondernemings beïnvloed in die Wes Kaap te ondersoek. 'n Model wat gebaseer is op vorige studies van inligtingstelsel gebruik in kleinsakeondernemings, asook die teorie van tegnologiese innovasie, word opgestel en getoets. Die model identifiseer en omskryf tien veranderlikes in vier kategorieë wat die ingebruikneming van inligtingstelsels beïnvloed. Die vier kategorieë is die eienskappe van die besluitnemer in die onderneming, eienskappe van die onderneming, eienskappe van die inligtingstelsels self en eksterne faktore. Die besluitnemereienskappe wat ondersoek is, is innovasie, kennis van inligtingstelsels, en rekenaarselfvertroue. Vier sakeondernemingseienskappe, te wete grootte, beskikbaarheid van spaar finansiële bronne, inligtingstelselkennis van personeel en die belangrikheid van inligting vir die onderneming, is ondersoek. Onder die inligtingstelseleienskappe is die persepsie van die relatiewe voordeel wat inligtingstelsels aan kleinsakeondernemings bied gemeet, en die eksterne faktore wat ondersoek is, was die status wat geassosieer word met die gebruik van inligtingstelsels asook druk as gevolg van kompetisie. Onderskeid is getref tussen die besluit om inligtingstelsels te gebruik en die vlak van penetrasie van inligtingstelsels in die kleinsakeonderneming nadat die aanvanklike besluit geneem is. Data is ingesamel deur middel van 'n vraelys, wat deur 89 klein besighede voltooi is. Die grootte van die kleinsakeondernemings het gewissel tussen eenmansake en sakeondernemings met maksimaal sestig werknemers. Multiveranderlike statistiese metodes is gebruik om die data te ontleed. Daar is bevind dat die besluitnemer se rekenaarselfvertroue, sy inligtingstelselkennis, sy innovasie, die grootte van die sakeonderneming, relatiewe voordeel, en kompetisie belangrike invloede is ten opsigte van die besluit om inligtingstelsels aan te neem. Nadat die besluit geneem is om wel inligtingstelsels te gebruik, word die mate van gebruik bepaal deur die innovasie van die besluitnemer, die grootte van die sakeonderneming, die werknemers se kennisvlak van inligtingstelsels en kompetisie. Oor die algemeen beskou kleinsakeondernemings inligtingstelsels as voordelig, maar dit lei nie noodwendig tot die ingebruikneming daarvan nie. Daar is steeds heelwat moontlikhede vir groei in die gebruik van inligtingstelsels in hierdie bepaalde sektor. Kleinsakeondernemings maak hoofsaaklik gebruik van stelsels om hulle bedryf te verbeter maar wend dit selde strategies aan.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Research into Business and IT alignment and the critical success factors is quite vast and diverse. Many studies have been carried out on specific industries and companies of a certain size. Other studies have dissected strategic IT alignment into different dimensions, intellectual and social. Yet other studies have taken different approaches, such as process-oriented, cognitive approaches, and resource-based approaches. All these were done in the quest to find the factors that influence the attainment of strategic alignment in organisations. There has, however, not been a study that sought to bring all these different factors together and provide one collective view on them, which this study seeks to do. There also have been some studies on how to measure alignment. Several different approaches were made in an effort to discern the way in which alignment can be measured and what criteria should be used. These efforts have been varied and no particular study has tried to bring them all together to assist practitioners in their attempts to determine the level of alignment in organisations. The purpose of this literature review is to collect all the different critical success factors as well as all the common success measures, and formulate a collated list for both. This research report seeks to give an integrated view of the factors required to bring about alignment as well as the measures practitioners–use to determine the level of alignment once these factors are in place. The findings show that there are commonalities among the factors that influence alignment. These have been tabulated into one list, bringing together all common factors from the pertinent literature to date. They were grouped into seven main categories based on similarity, which are shared knowledge, planning processes, executive commitment, communication, clarity of business goals, prior success of IT, and user involvement. These common factors are presented in Table 4.1. The measures for success are more varied and a separate list for the common success measures was also tabulated. The common measures of alignment had a total of 15 criteria, which are shown in Table 4.1.These lists can be used by the practitioner who needs guidance on which factors are important for the realisation of strategic alignment and which criteria to measure once the factors have been implemented.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) software applications are designed to facilitate the GRC process. GRC software inherently faces the same implementation challenges as any other Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. The design and usability of GRC software contribute substantially to how much value is added to the GRC process and as GRC is still in its infancy; it is likely to keep evolving as this process matures. Due to the inconstant nature of the GRC process, GRC software applications require a large amount of customisation to meet the special requirements of each organisation. The objective of this research was to establish the extent to which GRC software applications add value to the GRC process. The researcher also tried to establish whether organisations, that are currently using GRC software applications, gain more value from the GRC process than before they implemented GRC software applications. He conducted the research by presenting research questions, in the form of a questionnaire, to the risk executives of three Western Cape companies. The author of this research paper collected the responses from each company by conducting one-on-one interviews with each of the executives concerned and then reviewed and analysed the interview results of each company. Finally, the author completed a cross case analysis, by comparing GRC software application dimensions and characteristic ratings across the three companies concerned. The research indicated that there is not a great difference in importance between the five GRC design dimensions because they all received high performance ratings. There were some differences, however, in the perceived performance of each dimension, when analysing the dimension characteristics ratings. The research showed that the greatest benefit, of the use of GRC software applications, is the ability to add structure and consistency to the GRC process.

Thesis (PhD (Civil Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The primary goal of this thesis is to indicate how systems theory and engineering process modelling can be applied to provide models for consulting engineering service business enterprises. The typical management systems used for these businesses are investigated to determine the application of systems and process models. The motivation for this study is based on the fact that integrated management systems for consulting engineering practices are presently based on selective business analysis and process modelling that has evolved over time, as reported in a survey and study by Smit [110]. Furthermore, current engineering management systems are simply computer implementations of management procedures based on techniques that were developed to solve problems in the absence of the computational capabilities of the modern computer. To rectify this, a fundamental approach to analyse the business and management functions using systems theory and engineering process modelling techniques is required, which has not been attempted to date. This study develops and demonstrates the application of fundamental analysis in consulting engineering enterprise management and reviews advantages that can be obtained from using this approach. It is shown that the mathematical Algebra of Relations and associated Graph Theory provide the mathematical basis on which management problems can be treated systematically. Since these fields of mathematics are well developed and very broad, the essential parts of the theories are identified. Thereupon, the application of the very abstract mathematical concepts to two important and typical engineering management problems are developed, which represents the core contribution of the dissertation. The study is developed and presented in two parts and an addendum: 1. The first part provides an overview of the necessary mathematical theory required to support development of business models. 2. Management systems theory and relation- and graph theory-based engineering process modelling techniques are applied in this part to build generic enterprise models and data processing models. These models provide inputs for the management processes of professional service business enterprises. The outcome of the modelling and analysis is a set of database models with reporting functionality, to be used in the management process. A demonstration of technology available for development of the models and techniques, described in the previous part, is undertaken in this part. Generic implementations of database models and reporting techniques for systems which deal with management data in a consulting engineering business are developed, described and demonstrated. 3. In the addendum to the study, typical models and system functionality needed to support the management functions of the consulting engineering service business are identified. These management functions include: • Business strategy and long term planning • Marketing and promotion • Finance, including bookkeeping and auditing • Personnel • Facilities management and document management • Logistics, i.e., management of resources required for the business to operate • Knowledge management • Production management, i.e., management of the execution of project work • Administration • Risk management Production management can use the engineering process model approach, modelling the management of tasks, persons, datasets and tools as these are applied to the consulting engineering business. Sample subsystems to support selected management functions are identified and analysed. The integration of these systems with commercially available systems to support accounting and management reporting can follow from this analysis. The study contributes to the body of knowledge in the field of engineering management by providing insights into the application of a specific branch of mathematics to provide fundamental solutions to engineering management problems. It also shows how these solutions are mapped to the computer, and describes available information techniques and technology to support the mapping. The outcome is a document setting out the theory required to develop robust enterprise management systems, the development and demonstration of technology required to do this and, as an addendum, a high level specification of business and management system functionality required for the professional engineering service business.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the six decades since organisations rst adopted computer machinery to support their operations this form of technology has undergone rapid evolution. This evolution is characterised by both the advancement of the machines themselves and the expansion of their application in the organisational domain through the development of increasingly advanced software. A particularly in uential development for large enterprises has been the introduction of computerised Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERPs) and the popularisation of proprietary ERP packages. By integrating the feature sets of an increasingly wide range of business software applications ERPs enable organisations to satisfy a large part of their information processing requirements by adopting a single software artefact. This approach o ers numerous bene ts to adopters as it ensures the integration of information processing activities across organisational functions. However, the realisation of these bene ts depends upon the organisation's ability to achieve congruence between its own structures and those embedded in proprietary ERP packages. This includes, on one level, the management of the processes of adaptation through which organisational actors become accustomed to a new technology and, on another level, the con guration and alignment of the artefact with the organisation's operating procedures. Despite the popularity of ERP adoption the achievement of congruence in information systems is an illusive ideal for many organisations. Accordingly, many Information Systems (IS) scholars have researched the organisational, technical and social factors which obstruct congruence and the interventions proposed to counter these. A key nding following from these investigations is that, notwithstanding the implementation of countering interventions, organisations often need to continue operations while experiencing some degree of incongruence or mis t in their information systems. The research performed in this study advances knowledge about this phenomenon by investigating the implications of incongruence for the behaviour of users of proprietary ERPs in organisations. Weickean Sensemaking Theory is adopted as conceptual framework to enable the investigation of instances of incongruence as events experienced by users in the context of their work environments. The theory dictates that users, rather than passively adopting the impositions of software artefacts, en- act information systems in unpredictable ways based on subjective and shared processes of sensemaking. An empirical investigation is performed and takes the form of a single, cross-sectional case study in which a variety of data collection techniques are utilised. The data sources are analysed and triangulated to trace the relationship between experiences of incongruence and patterns of information systems enactment among the user community. The ndings of the study reveal that experiences of incongruence cultivate knowledge sharing among a user community, a process which aligns their beliefs about the nature, role and use of a technology in an organisation. Furthermore, experiences of incongruence encourage users to augment designed technologies through the development informal information processing activities and alternative work ows. These forms of behaviour, while resolving users' experiences incongruence, lead to variance between the designed technology and the enacted technology creating various risks for the integrity of the organisation's business processes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die ses dekades sedert organisasies rekenaar masjinerie begin toepas het om hul bedrywighede te ondersteun, het hierdie vorm van tegnologie dramatiese ontwikkeling ondergaan. Hierdie ontwikkeling word gekenmerk deur beide die bevordering van die masjiene self, asook die uitbreiding van hul toepassings in die organisatoriese domein deur die ontwikkeling van meer gevorderde sagteware. 'n Besonder invloedryke ontwikkeling vir groot ondernemings was die bekendstelling van gerekenariseerde Enterprise Resource Plan- ning Systems (ERPs) en die popularisering van kommersiële ERP pakkette. Deur die integrasie van 'n toenemend wye verskeidenheid funksionaliteit stel ERPs organisasies in staat om 'n groot deel van hul inligting verwerking vereistes deur die aanneming van 'n enkele sagteware produk te dek - 'n benadering wat talle voordele bied aangesien dit die integrasie van inligting verwerking tussen organisatoriese funksies verseker. Die verwesenliking van hierdie voordele is egter afhanklik van die organisasie se vermoë om kongruensie tussen sy eie strukture en die van ERP pakkette te bewerkstelling. Dit sluit die bestuur van prosesse waartydens organisatoriese akteurs aanpas by 'n nuwe tegnologie in, asook die kon gurasie van die pakket om belyning met die organisasie se operasionele prosedures te verseker. Ten spyte van die gewildheid van ERPs is die bereiking van kongruensie in inligtingstelsels 'n ontwykende ideaal vir baie organisasies. Gevolglik word die organisatoriese, tegniese en sosiale faktore wat kongruensie belemmer gereeld deur Information Systems (IS) akademici ondersoek. 'n Prominenete bevinding wat uit hierdie navorsing voortspruit is dat organisasies dikwels hul werk moet voortsit ten spyte van inkongruensie in hul inligtingstelsels. In hierdie studie word die bovermelde fenomeen verder ondersoek deur die implikasies van inkongruensie vir die gedrag van gebruikers van kommersiële ERP pakkette te ondersoek. Weick se Sensemaking teorie word toegepas as konseptuele raamwerk om gevalle van inkongruensie as gebeure wat deur gebruikers ervaar word te ondersoek. Die teorie bepaal dat die gebruikers nie bloot rekenaarstelsels aanvaar nie, maar dit op onvoorspelbare maniere enact op grond van subjektiewe en gedeelde prosesse van singewing. 'n Gevallestudie word uitgevoer waarin 'n verskeidenheid data-insamelingstegnieke gebruik word. Die databronne word ontleed en kruisvalidasie word gedoen om die verhouding tussen ervarings van inkongruensie en patrone van gedrag binne inligtingstelsels te beskryf. Die bevindinge van die studie dui daarop dat ervarings van inkongruensie die deel van kennis binne 'n gebruikersgemeenskap tot gevolg het. Hierdie proses belyn gebruikers se verwysingsraamwerke oor die aard, rol en gebruik van 'n tegnologie in 'n organisasie. Verder word bevind dat gebruikers, agv ervarings van inkongruensie, 'n tegnologie uitbrei dmv die ontwikkeling van informele inligting verwerkingstegnieke en alternatiewe werksprosesse. Hierdie gedrag stel gebruikers in staat om inkongruensie te oorkom, maar lei tot variansie tussen die ontwerpte tegnologie en die toepassing daarvan binne die organisasie. Dit hou verskeie risiko's vir die integriteit van die organisasie se besigheidsprosesse in.

Thesis (MEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis focuses on information systems for project management in the South African Government with special attention to the Consolidated Municipal Infrastructure Programme. Project data exchange standards and the suitability of these standards for project information management in the South African Government is reviewed. Information system technologies applicable to project management, with reference to computer programming languages, markup languages, communication technologies, Internet technologies, database technologies and document manipulation tools are discussed. Project information management forms are then discussed, followed by an overview of the flow of project information during the lifecycle of a project. The standards development organisation, ActionIt, and the project information management models developed by it are highlighted. A description of applications and a system that was implemented to illustrate the work covered in this thesis is provided with examples of the applications and the system. Hierna tesis fokus op inligting sisteme vir projekbestuur in die Suid Afrikaanse Regering met spesifieke verwysing na die Gekonsolideerde Munisipale Infrastruktuur Program. Standaarde vir die uitruil van projek inligting sowel as die toepaslikheid van hierdie standaarde vir die bestuur van projek inligting in die Suid Afrikaanse Regering word bespreek. Informasie sisteem tegnologiee wat van toepassing is op die bestuur van projek inligting word behandel en sluit in: rekenaar programerings tale, 'markup' tale, kommunikasie tegnologiee, Internet tegnologiee, databasis tegnologiee en gereedskap om dokumente te manipuleer. Verskillende projek vorms word behandel gevolg deur 'n beskrywing van die vloei van data gedurende 'n projek se leeftyd. "n Beskrywing van ActionIT, 'n organisasie vir die neerle van standaarde vir gebruik in die Suid Afrikaanse regering, sowel as die modelle wat deur ActionIT ontwikkel is vir die bestuur van projek inligting word gegee. Die toepassings en sisteem wat geimplimenteer is om die werk wat in hierdie tesis behandel is te demonstreer word gegee met voorbeelde van die toepassings en sisteem. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: geen opsomming

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Science in Information Technology in Education

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration