The purpose of this research was to identify factors that impact on tablet PC usage in low-income communities. In order to determine and identify these factors a main research question and sub-research questions were formulated. The primary research question of this study was "What factors impact on tablet PC usage in low-income communities?" This main research question was answered by creating three sub-research questions followed by triangulating the results from these questions. The first sub-research question was aimed at determining whether prior exposure to touch screen technology impacts the user experience. In order to reach this objective an extensive literature review was conducted on the tablet PC landscape in South Africa. This literature review, coupled with the case study helped answer this first research question. The second sub-research question was concerned with determining whether existing user experience guidelines are relevant to South African users. A thorough literature review was conducted on user experience guidelines and related studies. This literature review, together with the results from the case study helped answer this second research question. The third sub-research question involved identifying specific factors which help improve the user experience of tablet PC users in a specific context. This research question was addressed in the case study. Each sub-research question provided results which were analysed in order to answer the main research question. The factors which impact on tablet PC usage were thus identified and recommendations were proposed.

This research studies normative pricing strategies for information technology (IT) used by suppliers to supplement an underlying primary good. Transactions with consumers and customer firms are considered. Characteristics of IT are divided into IT impacts on customers, and IT impacts on suppliers. IT impacts on customers include vertical differentiation or reduced turnover costs for the primary good, and positive IT adoption costs. IT impacts on suppliers include reduced production costs for the primary good, and the costs of IT. Optimal pricing for the IT and the primary good is modelled for monopoly, and Bertrand competition based on IT and the primary good is modelled for oligopoly. Two part tariffs are used for the IT and IT enhanced primary good. Results of pricing to consumers show that the fixed component of an optimal (or equilibrium) two part tariff can either be a net tax or a net subsidy, confirming the possibility of taxed or subsidized IT adoption. For the monopolist offering the IT and IT enhanced primary good only, the consumer's adoption/switching cost limits the possible subsidy. Consistent with previous economics research, in a duopoly where one supplier has IT, the IT supplier abandons the original primary good. Two suppliers with identical IT cannot attain a positive profit equilibrium. Analogous results obtain for a special case of pricing to customer firms. Empirical results support differential (premium) pricing for an IT enhanced primary good over an original good. / Business, Sauder School of / Operations and Logistics (OPLOG), Division of / Graduate

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Engineering 2019 / Successful adoption of new technologies is critical for the improvement of efficiency and the enhancement of health and safety in South African mining industry operations. However, the process of new digital technology adoption in the South African mining industry has been slow and difficult. This research is aimed at addressing some of the problems associated with the process. As part of this research, a new blueprint has been developed to guide the commissioning entity through the entire process of new digital technology adoption and installation. The new blueprint will provide capability to monitor the quality of the work during adoption, as well as assessment of the outcome of the adoption by measuring the level of compliance for every activity performed by the commissioning entity during the adoption. The reliability of the new blueprint was verified by assessing the performance of the Wits Mining Institute (WMI) in its installation project of the Schauenburg system. The outcome of the new blueprint verification reveals poor planning and inadequate preparation during the installation of this project. The outcome also indicates that application of the new blueprint will reduce the problems associated with the adoption and speed up new digital technology adoption and its installation for better functionality. / NG (2020)

by Chan Hoi-Chu. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 89-93). / Questionnaire also in Chinese. / Abstract --- p.iv / Table of Contents --- p.vi / List of Illustrations --- p.viii / List of Tables --- p.ix / Acknowledgements --- p.x / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Importance of Technology Development and Innovation --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Is Hong Kong Ready for the Future Challenge --- p.1 / Chapter 1.3 --- Objectives --- p.2 / Chapter 2. --- Literature Review --- p.3 / Chapter 2.1 --- What is Technology --- p.3 / Chapter 2.2 --- Technology Components and Technological Capabilities --- p.3 / Chapter 2.3 --- Government Policies --- p.4 / Chapter 2.4 --- Technological Infrastructure and Climate --- p.6 / Chapter 3. --- Methodology --- p.8 / Chapter 3.1 --- Research Framework --- p.8 / Chapter 3.2 --- Research Methodology --- p.9 / Chapter 4. --- Observations and Survey Results --- p.13 / Chapter 4.1 --- Technology Policy Framework - Policy Administrative Features --- p.13 / Chapter 4.2 --- Technology Policy Framework - Technology Development Considerations --- p.27 / Chapter 4.3 --- Technology Capacity Study - Technology Infrastructure Building --- p.37 / Chapter 4.4 --- Technology Capacity Study 一 Technology Climate Creation --- p.55 / Chapter 4.5 --- Others --- p.64 / Chapter 5. --- Survey Respondents' Demographics --- p.66 / Chapter 6. --- Recommendations --- p.68 / Chapter 6.1 --- Summary and Tactical Recommendations --- p.68 / Chapter 6.2 --- Overall Strategy --- p.70 / Chapter 7. --- Limitations --- p.72 / Chapter 7.1 --- Framework --- p.72 / Chapter 7.2 --- Observations and Survey --- p.72 / Chapter 7.3 --- Overall Research --- p.73 / Chapter 8. --- Conclusion --- p.74 / Appendix --- p.75 / Bibliography --- p.89 / Books --- p.89 / Periodicals --- p.90 / Reports --- p.90 / News --- p.92 / Web Sites --- p.92

New federal legislation proposes to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with biofuel production. To comply, existing corn ethanol plants will have to invest in new more carbon efficient production technology such as dry fractionation. However, this will be challenging for the industry given the present financial environment of surplus production, recent profit declines, numerous bankruptcies, and lender imposed covenants. This study examines a dry-mill ethanol firm's ability to invest in dry fractionation technology in the face of declining profitability and stringent lender cash flow repayment constraints. Firm level risk aversion also is considered when determining a firm's willingness to invest in dry fractionation technology. A Monte Carlo simulation model is constructed to estimate firm profits, cash flows, and changes in equity following new investment in fractionation to determine an optimal investment strategy. The addition of a lender-imposed sweep, whereby a percentage of free cash flow is used to pay off extra debt in high profit years, reduces the firm's ability to build equity and increases bankruptcy risk under investment. However, the sweep increases long-run equity because total financing costs are reduced with accelerated debt repayment. This thesis shows that while ethanol firm profits are uncertain, the lender's imposition of a sweep combined with increased profit from dry fractionation technology help the firm increase long-run financial resiliency.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A major trend from an information era towards a knowledge economy is currently being experienced, which can be ascribed to the growing importance of knowledge in various countries. The anatomy of the knowledge economy concerns an overall view from the perspective of the organisation. The knowledge economy is analysed in terms of what it involves, its effects on the workplace, the role of information and communication technology (lCT), and emergent key ethical issues. Production and exploitation of knowledge will become the main source of wealth in the knowledge economy. Knowledge can be regarded as value-added to data and information that can be located in organisations either explicitly or tacitly. Tacit knowledge is most prevalent and underutilised form in organisations, and can be exploited to its full extent in the form of intellectual property. A printing metaphor is used to illustrate the extent to which knowledge can become embedded in products, thus increasing intangibility levels within products. Knowledge, as a strategic asset for any organisation, can be generated by innovation and dissemination processes. Knowledge also results in more customised high-valued goods, for which clients are willing to pay more. In facilitating a favourable environment for knowledge development in organisations, governments have an essential role to play. This role includes establishing cultures of entrepreneurship, innovativeness and competitiveness through education, training and funding of appropriate organisations. In order to reap substantial benefits from the knowledge economy, various countries are transforming their economies accordingly. The United States of America, Sweden, Finland and Singapore are currently leading in this respect while others like Canada and the United Kingdom have committed themselves to the new economic order. The measurement of knowledge within organisations has not yet been resolved due to difficulties in isolating the value of knowledge at various levels within the organisation. The escalation and importance of information and knowledge in work processes have resulted in the emergence of knowledge workers at the expense of workers involved with the physical dimension of work. By defeating spatial and temporal limitations through virtualisation, ICT will offer organisations and their workers the necessary agility for survival in the knowledge economy. In response, management will have to change organisational structures and increase innovativeness. Technology, as in the past, will increase capabilities of people even more, for example in the form of supporting tools, automation, controlling devices and connectivity. ICT, being the core technology in the knowledge economy, will have a major role to play relating to knowledge development within organisations by means of the knowledge value chain. The Internet will become an important technology in the knowledge economy. Concerns about unethical and criminal practices in knowledge economies centre around the violation of rights in terms of privacy and freedom, protection of property rights, accountability and liability, reliability of systems and quality of life. To sustain a prosperous knowledge economy and just society will involve innovative stakeholders who participate actively in achieving and maintaining goals of common interest. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tans vind 'n belangrike neiging vanaf 'n inligtingsera na 'n kennisekonomie plaas, wat toegeskryf kan word aan die toenemende belangrikheid van kennis in verskeie lande. Die anatomie van 'n kennisekonomie behels 'n oorsig vanaf die perspektief van die organisasie. Die kennisekonomie word beskou in terme van wat dit impliseer, die effek op die werksplek, die rol van inligtings- en kommunikasietegnologie (lKT), en opkomende etiese aangeleenthede. Die produksie en benutting van kennis gaan die belangrikste bron van welvaart word in die kennisekonomie. Die verskynsel van kennis kan beskou word as waarde toevoeging tot data en inligting en is sigbaar in organisasies in die vorm van óf eksplisiete óf verskuilde kennis. Verskuilde kennis is die mees algemene, maar onbenutte vorm in organisasies kan tot sy volle potensiaal ontgin word as intellektuele eiendom. Die drukkuns word as metafoor gebruik om aan te dui tot watter mate kennis deel geword het van produkte, wat lei tot verhoging van die nie-tasbare komponent in produkte. Kennis, as 'n strategiese bate vir enige organisasie, word geskep deur middel van innovering en verspreiding. Kennis bied ook hoë-waarde aan goedere tot so 'n mate dat kliënte bereid is om daarvoor meer te betaal. Om 'n gunstige omgewing vir kennis ontwikkeling te verkry, het regerings 'n belangrike funksie met betrekking tot die daarstelling van kulture wat betref entrepreneurskap, innovering en mededingendheid deur middel van opvoeding, opleiding en befondsing van toepaslike organisasies. Verskeie land is besig om hul ekonomieë te omvorm om die beduidende voordele wat die kennisekonomie bied, te benut. Die Verenigde State van Amerika, Swede, Finland en Singapoer is tans leiers in dié verband, terwyl Kanada en die Verenigde Koninkryk hulself ook tot die nuwe ekonomie verbind het. Om kennis binne organisasies in finansiële terme te meet is nog nie uitgepluis nie, vanweë die probleme om waarde van kennis by verskeie vlakke binne die organisasie te isoleer. Die toename en belangrikheid van inligting en kennis in die werksplek het gelei tot die verskynsel van kenniswerkers, ten koste van diegene betrokke met die fisiese sy van werk. Deurdat die beperkinge van ruimte en tyd deur middel van virtualisasie opgehef is, maak IKT organisasies en sy werkers meer rats en lenig - eienskappe wat vir oorlewing in die kennisekonomie vereis word. In reaksie hierop, sal bestuur hul organisasie strukture moet aanpas en innoveringsvermoë moet opknap. Tegnologie, soos altyd, sal vermoëns van mense verder verhoog, byvoorbeeld in die vorm van ondersteunende hulpmiddele, outomatisering, beheermiddele en skakeling. IKT, as kerntegnologie in die kennisekonomie, gaan 'n sentrale posisie inneem in die ontwikkeling van kennis in organsasies met behulp van die kennis waardeketting. Die Internet gaan 'n sleutel tegnologie in die kennisekonomie word. Kommer oor onetiese en kriminele praktyke in die kennisekonomie hou verband met die oorskryding van regte in terme van privaatheid en vryheid, beskerming van eiendomsreg, aanspreeklikheid en verantwoordelikheid, betroubaarheid van IKT stelsels en lewensgehalte. Om 'n voorspoedige kennisekonomie terselfdertyd met 'n regverdige gemeenskap te handhaaf, beteken dat innoverende rolspelers aktief sal moet deelneem om gemeenskaplike doelwitte na te streef en te verseker.

published_or_final_version / abstract / China Development Studies / Master / Master of Arts

published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Master / Master of Social Sciences

The examination of the performance of Thailand's computer industry, and its contribution to the country's economic growth, are the two major objectives of my research. I study whether the computer industry in Thailand has acquired a comparative advantage. Then, I examine how investment in information technology (IT) has contributed to the growth of total factor productivity for the economy as a whole. The methodology I adopt for measuring the performance the computer industry is based on a number of indices including unit labor cost, revealed comparative advantage, net export index and labor productivity. Estimating the contribution of information technology to the growth of total factor productivity requires two estimation steps. First, I estimate the production function for Thailand where aggregate output depends on human capital, physical capital and labor. Total factor productivity then emerges as the residual of this production function regression. In the second stage, I estimate the effect of investment in IT on total factor productivity, after contributing for its other important determinants. The results suggest that the computer industry in Thailand has indeed acquired a comparative advantage recently. Moreover, an increase investment in information technology significantly influences the growth of total factor productivity in the economy. / Graduation date: 2000

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