published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

Thesis (Masters Diploma (Technology))--Cape Technikon, Cape Town, 1995 / Most organisations are normally aware of the importance of effective internal and external communication. However, if organisations do not make use of modern communication technologies and train and motivate users to utilise these effectively, it could seriously hamper effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, a competitive edge and profitability. Although large organisations normally are cognisant of modern communication technologies and largely make use of these, it does not imply that these technologies are regularly acquired and/or used to the optimum. In contrast, smaller organisations as well those functioning from home, may never even be exposed to these technologies. When taking the above-mentioned aspects into consideration, it becomes clear that employees in offices in large, medium and small organisations may experience definite needs and frustrations which may lead to dissatisfaction. This study determined the importance of communication in organisations, types of communication technologies used by large, medium and small organisations as well as communication needs and frustrations within organisations. The study also, to a lesser degree, determined how the user is influenced by modern communication technologies, ego the answering machine and electronic mail, and whether resistance to the use of these is prevalent. A literature study concerning the importance of communication in general, but more specifically in the office environment, (as a basis for the eventual productive and cost-effective utilisation of the different communication technologies) was undertaken. The study included traditional, modern and the latest available communication technologies in use overseas and locally as well as the advantages and disadvantages attached to these.

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This dissertation describes partial requirements for the Plexsys Development Environment (DE) for developing and implementing Management Information Systems (MIS). A DE is a complete and unified set of concepts, techniques, and tools (methods) that aid in normative requirements analysis, elicitation and ideation of unique requirements, modeling, analyzing, and performing design transforms. A framework is proposed as an aid for evaluating existing MIS analysis and design methods, and for developing a complete DE. A MIS produces decision support information and performs the transaction processing task. Part of this dissertation is to formalize the analysis and modeling of transaction processing. As part of this process, a modeling language and processing requirements are proposed. A design transform is proposed that develops logical system requirements given a set of decision support and transaction processing information requirements. This transform uses a formalization of the output decomposition process. In order to automate the transform, functional data types are defined. Further, constant data processing requirements are defined. Using the Plexsys software base as a model, the concept of the Enterprise Software Development Library (ESDL) is proposed. This library contains software tools specifically for the extension of programming languages for the business data processing environment.

Computer-Support Cooperative Work (CSCW) reflects the change in emphasis from using computers to solve problems to using computers to facilitate human interactions. Most studies, however, have focused on the use of the technology rather than on the human-human interaction (HHI) in these environments due to: the varied perspectives of the investigators; and the lack of a consistent variables. Although numerous studies exist on a variety of products, only limited research has been conducted with the most prevalent of the technologies in the marketplace, Lotus Notes™. This field study, conducted using Lotus Notes™, operationalizes a model proposed, but not tested, for the study of group decision-making in CSCW environments put forth by Kraemer and Pinsonneault (1990). This study examines the use of CSCW in the group decision-making process, the participation rate for group decision-making in CSCW environments, and the criteria for determining quality in group decisions in CSCW environments. The study also proposes a new perspective for examining technology using the human context, recommends extensions for the group study framework and explores areas for future research.

M.Ed. (Educational Management) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

D.Litt. et Phil. / The main objective of this study is to determine the role of the communications manager in the changing South African business environment and the compilation of a contextual sensitive generic framework of the required outputs for communications managers in South African organisations. With this objective in view, a comprehensive theoretical study has been conducted to determine the role of public relations as a organisational sub-system, based on the principles of the systems approach. The main inward and outward public relations functions and xv the role of the communications manager as cosmopolitan on the border between the organisation and the environment has thereafter been discussed. As a result thereof, it became apparent that an integrated approach to communications is central to the effectiveness of public relations in a dynamic business environment. The validity and approaches of existing models of public relations have been evaluated as a basis for the development of an integrated public relations model. The integrated communication approach to public relations suggests that public relations cannot function in isolation of the other sub-systems in the organisation and that the public relations function is directly influenced hereby. With the integrated communication approach as basis, the influence of change and the socioeconomic implications thereof for public relations in South Africa have been determined. The implications of the intended standardisation in terms of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), the state of professionalisation of the public relations profession in South Africa and the requirements for competence in communication, have been determined by means of an in-depth theoretical inquiry and discussions with enlightened individuals and institutions. As a result, a generic framework for communications management in the South African business environment has been compiled with a view to contribute to the determination of the requirements for public relations in terms of the essential outputs as will be defined by the NQF. In the final section the proposed generic framework has been empirically tested on the basis of personal interviews conducted with communications managers of thirty of the Top 100 organisations in South Africa. After the results have been analysed and the implications discussed, the conclusion was reached that the proposed contextual sensitive generic framework has succeeded in expressing the essential outputs, as defined in the existing business environment. The framework was then interpreted in accordance with the levels of work and the implications for the state of public relations, as well as for research in this area, pointed out. The study illustrates the importance of the role of communications management in the South African business environment and presents a valuable contribution by creating an output model as basis for the suggested standardisation in terms of the NQF.