In today’s society, much information is utilized and distributed through information and communication technology. However, even though IT or ICT has been introduced in the healthcare sector, paper documents are still in use. Studies show that this may create an inefficient healthcare, something pre-surgical medical personnel at a medical clinic in the southern part of Sweden, are well aware of.Their problem is that an increasing number of surgical procedures are cancelled as patients fail to comply with pre-surgery information; the information provided to patients before having surgery. Pre-surgical medical personnel believe that the root to this problem comes from the way patients are given access to the information itself. Currently, this is limited to paper document, a solution that worked in the past. However, a more diverse clientele has resulted in a greater need for information access and paper documents simply cannot support this in an effective manner.Pre-surgical medical personnel believe this could be improved if the information was also made accessible through an information system. And so, the focus of the master thesis was to explore the pre-surgical medical personnel’s perception on the requirements, usage and impact of a new IS that could, subsequently, generate improvements in the accessibility and understandability of pre-surgery information.The problematic situation was approached with an interpretative qualitative case study were data was collected through three different methods so that triangulation could take place. The master thesis then utilized a modified version of the Delone and McLean’s information system success model and a content analysis to approach, analyse and discuss the collected data.The findings of this analysis revealed that pre-surgical medical personnel perceived an information system where the technology used to support it, was less significant than the information system’s ability to provide patients with equal access to pre-surgery information. The analysis also revealed that the information system must be capable of presenting information as both text and narrated video, as well as in a language chosen by the patient. Lastly, the perceived effect of the information systems implementation and usage was a substantial reduction in the number of surgeries that were cancelled.

Masters in Public Administration - MPA / The essence of e-government is to link government activities with the advanced technology that the world is having today. This technology has already shown a remarkable job in bringing efficiency in private sector through e-business, e-banking, e-procurement etc.It is, therefore, recommended by this study that government and its agencies could utilize e-government initiatives to bring service delivery closer to citizens. By so doing government officials and citizens would become much closer and perform their duties well and efficiently.The experience from various countries shows that there are various Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and e-government initiatives even in poor countries. In rural areas of Tanzania where electricity has never been thought to reach where illiteracy rates are increasing and where poverty is high, people are using mobile phones for their activities. This is possible as the prices of mobile phones are low and networks are available in such rural part of the country. Tanzania enacted ICT policy in 2003 which, among other things, emphasizes the need to have success in e-government services. Experience on ground, though, reveals that this policy is often not implemented. What seems in the implementation of ICT policy in Tanzania difficult is the lack of political will and the will to agree to change.On the other hand, Tanzanian citizens have been for a long time ready for change. A good example may be advent of the mobile phone industry in the country. Many respondents in this research expressed the need to adopt ICT to advance ordinary people.These respondents recommended that government officials accept change with regard to ICT, to introduce developmental plans and be innovative and creative enough in establishing service delivery programmes. As borne out by this study, ICT can also be used to link the private sector, public sector and service delivery to citizens.Still though, poor countries, apart from having many priorities to contend with, have to acknowledge that the world is changing rapidly and in order to combat poverty more effectively, technology is useful as it makes people understand the trends and changes that the world is witnessing today. Indeed, Tanzania can use ICT to move ahead in e-government because it has a good telecommunication system, a factor that would allow for the success of online services.

This work analyses the structure and the progression of the ICT market in the Czech republic. The first part deal with czech ICT market segmentation with regards to different methods of particular institutions. The next chapter describes specific environment of the Czech republic, factors and conditions influencing the ICT market and companies progression. It is especially focused on macroeconomic development, policy in relation to ICT market, grant policy, flow of foreign direct investment, availability of labour force and relevant information technologies. The work also analyses market progression and related economic indicators such as a market volume measured by expenditures into ICT products and services and share of these expenditures in total GDP as well as expenditures per one employee. In addition it offers a view of progression of foreign trade with ICT products. The main part of this work deal with the structure of companies on the information a communication technology market in the Czech republic. The aim of this part is to analyze basic structural indicators such as number of active firms a its structure in accordance with their residence, legal entity and time of estabilishment, number of employees, revenues per employee or value added generated in ICT sector. The chapter also contains survey of firms from relevant ICT segments ordered by achieved annual turnover.

This thesis is devoted to recruitment and information technologies that support this process. The aim was to get recruitment process in concrete company more efective. The theoretical part deals with concepts and perspectives on the recruitment process as well as information technologies supporting HR field and webdesign innovations. In the practical part was analyzed the current status of the recruitment process and career sites, as the strongest source of candidates in a concrete company. There were identified weak points. Based on this analysis have been implemented new e-recruitment application and new career site that eliminate these weak points. The last part of thesis was based on real measurements evaluating the benefits of implemented changes.

Magister Commercii - MCom / The Internet is now facilitating the provision of an increasing number of services. Thus, technology has become a more integrated part of people‟s daily routine. Some of these technologies include electronic communication, online banking, and shopping as well as electronic learning - to name but a few. However, for various reasons, such as limited formal education (which is a key promoter of reading and writing skills), access and skills, not everyone has an equal opportunity to benefit from the use of these technologies. The unequal distribution of opportunities of such nature is often broadly referred to as the digital divide. That is the gap between those who have access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and those who do not. One noted challenge that influences the use of ICT consists of socioeconomic conditions, which together elicit high levels of poverty. An identified strategy for uplifting these areas was (and still is) entrepreneurship, notably small businesses. These small businesses however, generally have very short and mostly unsuccessful lives. As a result the government at all levels (national, provincial and local) has endeavoured to provide support to these businesses. Some of this support is provided through mediums, such as the Internet (here named “electronic support”) to assist these small businesses. This support, which comes from government, is however, not being fully utilised by the intended beneficiaries. Thus, the small businesses are not benefiting from the support provided. Consequently, many are still experiencing a short and unsuccessful existence. This research thus analyses the small businesses in areas of the greater Cape Town, which are characterised by high levels of poverty and unemployment. Previous studies in these areas have reported the lack of ICT related skills, also known as electronic skills (e-skills), as one of the reasons for the low uptake of electronic support (e-support). This e-support is provided by various levels of government through selected agencies (service providers). In essence, this study is aimed at investigating the influence of e-skills in the access and use of the provided e-support by owners of small businesses. Considering that the lack of adequate e-skills has been identified as influencing the use of e-support, the study also aims to identify the e-skills needed to fully utilise the provided e-support. The approach to this investigation included a review of pertinent literature and devising a conceptual model. This model was then tested in the empirical setting of this study. This setting included: (i) Providers of e-support (various specialised government agencies) and (ii) the intended beneficiaries of this esupport, i.e. small businesses in the previously disadvantaged areas (PDAs) of the greater Cape Town. Through the use of case study methodology and face to face interviews, it was found that many small business owners were not able to appropriately use the provided e-support. This was due to their lack of e-skills, which resulted in their inability to use ICT. Additionally, some were unaware of the existence of the e-support or the service providers. During the review of pertinent literature done as part of the study, an e-skills framework was designed. The framework identified the e-skills considered necessary in order for small business owners to effectively utilise the provided e-support and other technologies. The e-skills framework suggested by this study could be used as a tool to assist: (i) The providers of e-support to understand the usage of their services and enable (ii) a more informed understanding of the need for appropriate e-skills among small business owners, in relation to their use of the provided e-support. Additionally, (iii) small business owners should be in a better position to recognise the benefits of using technology, especially the Internet. The contribution of this study is seen as twofold. Firstly, it should assist the providers and users of e-support. This is done by addressing the practical side of the provision and usage of these services. Secondly, the study contributes an informative e-skills framework related to the effective use of esupport. This study also furthers academic knowledge in the area of the investigation, and suggests further directions for research. Considering, the limited small business sample (only participants from three PDAs), the generalisation of this study is limited. This limitation does not however, influence the validity of this research, or the credibility of the findings.

The aim of this study was to examine guidance counselors' experience of the transition to digital guidance counseling during the covid-19 pandemic. The guidance counselors attitude towards change, as well as contributing challenges are studied. Through semi-structured interviews and a thematic analysis the limitations and opportunities that the change entailed, are studied both on the basis of the guidance counselors' own perception, as well as the impact they feel it had on the students. The results were analyzed by using Cognitive information processing theory (CIP) and Pierre Bourdieu Theory of capital. The study shows that certain groups of students have been negatively affected by the change, and that body language and facial expressions are often lost during digital guidance counseling. The attitude has been important for the perceived challenges, and views on opportunities and limitations. The study shows that flexibility has been important during the transition to the use of ICT in guidance counseling. Guidance counselors have been forced to learn new digital tools during the pandemic and they can see the future benefits of using them. A combination of traditional and digital guidance counseling, so-called hybrid- guidance, is highlighted as a future way of working.

Both companies and individuals have observed positive effects after implementing working from home (WFH) practices as digital technology expands collaborative possibilities. As a result, the hybrid workplace has emerged as a sustainable possibility for future workplace solutions. In a hybrid workplace, the workforce is distributed between a co-located office and WFH to different extents, naturally inferring an intense use of collaborative technology in daily operations. However, despite reports of aforementioned positive effects, research show that the feeling of professional isolation (PI) is a reoccurring issue for knowledge workers WFH. And although the spread of the issue appears to be severe in literature, little is known about the effects that the collaborative technology actually has on the level of experienced PI.  Within the interdisciplinary research field of CSCW (Computer-Supported Cooperative Work), collaborative information technology systems are studied from both technological and social perspectives. Thus, in order to gain a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of professional isolation in relation to the use of collaborative information technology systems, this study aims to explore how knowledge workers currently WFH experience and perceive the support of CSCW systems for communication in relation to PI.  Based on a qualitative, focused ethnographic approach, nine knowledge workers from different companies and positions currently WFH were interviewed about their perceptions of CSCW systems for communication support in relation to PI. The empirical data that the interviews generated was subjected to a thematic analysis, from which five themes emerged and constituted the empirical findings. These themes were then analyzed in the light of the research questions and discussed with the concepts in the literature review as well as with a symbolic interactionist perspective.  The results of this master’s thesis research show that most of the participants do not experience professional isolation as defined in literature, however, they display a loss of connectedness to co-workers when using the CSCW systems for communication support when working from home. The connectedness in question is achieved with ‘social interaction’, however, the research findings of this master’s thesis illustrate that ‘social interaction’ is not symbolically connected to any of the CSCW systems for communication support for the participants. Based on these research findings, it is proposed that ‘social interaction’ is not included in the concept of ‘communication’ within the field of CSCW. Furthermore, it is suggested that organizations aspiring to implement working from home (WFH), or hybrid workplace practices may want to re-evaluate current and future social activities within the CSCW systems for communication support based on the insights provided by the master’s thesis research study.

This research aimed to design a support system to facilitate the decisionmaking process in terms of selecting the acceptance of Integrated ICT (Information and Communication Technology) Laboratory assistants using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) methods. The AHP method was used for the process of determining the weight of each criterion determined from the Integrated ICT Laboratory, Budi Luhur University, while the TOPSIS method was used to determine the ranking based on the calculated values. The method used in this research was the waterfall method consisting of 4 stages, including the needs analysis stage, design, testing and implementation. For testing, User Interface Testing was used which aimed to determine whether the functionality of interface elements such as buttons and hyperlinks contained on each page was working properly. In addition, validation testing was also carried out which aims to determine whether the validations in the system had been running well. The results showed that the decision support system designed using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method had been tested to determine the weight of each criterion needed in the assistant selection process, it was attendance with 0.284, Competence 0.143, Project 0.414, Hardware 0.089 and interview with 0.070. Meanwhile, the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was able to determine the ranking based on the results of calculating the criteria values for each assistant candidate and the 2 people who occupied the top rankings were declared to have passed the selection. The test results showed that all system elements functioned as designed.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / An analysis of South African school mathematics results indicates that one of the problem areas in the mathematical performance of learners is proof and proving. In an endeavour to improve the mathematical proving ability of first year students at UWC, the MAM 112 class (a first year elective mathematics course) was taught a course in elementary logic. In the initial part of the study, logic puzzles were utilized as a tool to teach students to make logical connections between and from mathematical statements using the rules of inference. Subsequently research was done to determine if knowledge and understanding of logic would translate into improved proving abilities of students. To put proof and proving into perspective the origins and functions of proof was explicated and proving in South African schools was investigated. Consequently reasons are advanced for the dismal high school mathematics results in terms of proof and possible solutions are discussed. Recent discoveries of neuroscience are utilized to delineate the brain structures and cognitive processes involved in learning so as to gain a better understanding of the learning of mathematics. The findings of neuroscience, cognitive psychology and educational psychology are employed to elucidate the influence of emotion, confidence, experience and practice on the learning of mathematics in order to determine which factors can be applied to improve the proving abilities of students. The findings of the study indicate that knowledge of logic does help to improve the ability of students to make logical connections (deductions) between and from statements. The results of the study, however, do not indicate that knowledge and understanding of logic translates into improved proving ability of mathematical statements by students.

[ES] Los sistemas de salud actuales están viendo cómo la cantidad de pacientes a atender y de servicios diferentes que han de prestar, es cada vez mayor, por lo que se cuestiona si serán sostenibles a largo plazo. Uno de los factores importantes de este aumento es el envejecimiento de la población, lo que implica un mayor número de pacientes crónicos y de personas dependientes. Al mismo tiempo, se genera la necesidad de abordar soluciones de prevención sobre la población general. Para hacer frente a estos problemas, se está recurriendo a la aplicación de las TIC en el ámbito de la salud, son los llamados sistemas de eSalud. En el desarrollo de sistemas de eSalud es necesario tener en cuenta que deben trabajar en entornos altamente heterogéneos y cambiantes. Además, han de ser capaces de adaptarse a las nuevas necesidades demandadas por la población, todo ello sin reducir la calidad de los servicios ya prestados y sin disparar los costes del sistema. Al desarrollar un sistema software, el modelo de arquitectura elegido marca qué características se van a potenciar. El paradigma de Arquitectura Orientada a Servicios (SOA) presenta entre sus principales beneficios una alta flexibilidad, reducción de costes y desarrollo rápido, así como permite la escalabilidad de sistemas. Por lo que puede ser un buen candidato a la hora de crear sistemas de eSalud. Existen diferentes formas de construir una arquitectura SOA, atendiendo a cómo se componen sus servicios y a cómo se aplican las directrices SOA. En esta tesis se propone el uso del paradigma de coreografía de procesos, siendo éste un modelo en el que se busca construir la arquitectura del sistema desde el punto de vista de los procesos de negocio de la organización. Este paradigma trabaja desde el concepto de un proceso único definido de forma distribuida, empleando coreografía de servicios para la composición. Es decir, no existe un elemento que centralice la toma de decisiones, donde cada servicio es consciente de qué debe realizar y cómo interactuar con el resto. En la coreografía de procesos se prioriza la eficiencia del sistema, aumentando el acoplamiento entre servicios, lo que puede reducir la flexibilidad del sistema SOA. Pero genera un sistema con mayor rendimiento y con una mejor alineación con los procesos de negocio. Además, la coreografía es más robusta que otros mecanismos de composición y ayuda con la integración de sistemas entre empresas. El objetivo de esta tesis es validar si el paradigma de coreografía de procesos es aplicable al desarrollo de sistemas de eSalud. Para ello se ha realizado la aplicación de este paradigma en tres escenarios de eSalud diferentes. En el primero de los escenarios, se creó un sistema para integrar y evaluar un dispositivo tecnológico puntero, las Google Glass. Esto demostró que se puede crear un sistema de eSalud basado en coreografía de procesos que integre dispositivos tecnológicos complejos. En el segundo de los escenarios, se validó el paradigma en un entorno real, creando un sistema distribuido de ejecución de modelos híbridos para la predicción y detección de diabetes tipo 2. El sistema permitió construir servicios para la ejecución de los modelos híbridos, integrando motores estadísticos externos y sistemas de terceros de acceso a datos clínicos. De esta forma se validó que la coreografía de procesos ayuda a la integración con sistemas externos, permitiendo un desarrollo rápido y la creación de sistemas distribuidos. En el tercero de los escenarios, se aplica el paradigma orientado al modelo de IoT integrando sensores portables para crear un sistema de eSalud. El sistema desarrollado integra un kit de sensores de eSalud para el seguimiento y monitorización remota de pacientes, comparando su rendimiento en un ordenador y en una Raspberry Pi. El resultado refrenda la hipótesis de que la coreografía de procesos permite aplicarse para crear fácilmente sistemas de eSalud orientados a IoT e integrar sensores portables de este ámbito. / [CA] Els sistemes de salut actuals estan veient com la quantitat de pacients a atendre i de servicis diferents que han de prestar, és cada vegada major, per la qual cosa es qüestiona si seran sostenibles a llarg termini. Un dels factors importants d'aquest augment és l'envelliment de la població, la qual cosa implica un major nombre de pacients crònics i de persones dependents. Al mateix temps, es genera la necessitat d'abordar solucions de prevenció sobre la població general. Per a fer front a aquests problemes, s'està recorrent a l'aplicació de les TIC en l'àmbit de la salut, són els cridats sistemes d'eSalut. En el desenvolupament de sistemes d'eSalut és necessari tindre en compte que han de treballar en entorns altament heterogenis i canviants. A més, han de ser capaços d'adaptar-se a les noves necessitats demandades per la població, tot això sense reduir la qualitat dels servicis ja prestats i sense disparar els costos del sistema. En desenvolupar un sistema programari, el model d'arquitectura triat marca quines característiques es potenciaran. El paradigma d'Arquitectura Orientada a Servicis (SOA) presenta entre els seus principals beneficis una alta flexibilitat, reducció de costos i desenrotllament ràpid, així com permet l'escalabilitat de sistemes. Pel que pot ser un bon candidat a l'hora de crear sistemes d'eSalut. Hi ha diferents formes de construir una arquitectura SOA, atenent a com es componen els seus servicis i a com s'apliquen les directrius SOA. En esta tesi es proposa l'ús del paradigma de coreografia de processos, sent aquest un model en el qual es busca construir l'arquitectura del sistema des del punt de vista dels processos de negoci de l'organització. Este paradigma treballa des del concepte d'un procés únic definit de forma distribuïda, emprant coreografia de servicis per a la composició. És a dir, no hi ha un element que centralitze la presa de decisions, on cada servici és conscient de què ha de realitzar i com interactuar amb la resta. En la coreografia de processos es prioritza l'eficiència del sistema, augmentant l'adaptament entre servicis, la qual cosa pot reduir la flexibilitat del sistema SOA. Però genera un sistema amb major rendiment i amb una millor alineació amb els processos de negoci. A més, la coreografia és més robusta que altres mecanismes de composició i ajuda amb la integració de sistemes entre empreses. L'objectiu d'aquesta tesi és validar si el paradigma de coreografia de processos és aplicable al desenrotllament de sistemes d'eSalut. Per a això s'ha realitzat l'aplicació d'aquest paradigma en tres escenaris d'eSalut diferents. En el primer dels escenaris, es va crear un sistema per a integrar i avaluar un dispositiu tecnològic punter, les Google Glass. Açò va demostrar que es pot crear un sistema d'eSalut basat en coreografia de processos que integre dispositius tecnològics complexos. En el segon dels escenaris, es va validar el paradigma en un entorn real, creant un sistema distribuït d'execució de models híbrids per a la predicció i detecció de diabetis tipus 2. El sistema va permetre construir servicis per a l'execució dels models híbrids, integrant motors estadístics externs i sistemes de tercers d'accés a dades clíniques. D'aquesta manera es va validar que la coreografia de processos ajuda amb la integració amb sistemes externs, permetent un desenrotllament ràpid i la creació de sistemes distribuïts. En el tercer dels escenaris, s'aplica el paradigma orientat al model d'IoT integrant sensors portables per a crear un sistema d'eSalut. El sistema desenrotllat integra un kit de sensors d'eSalut per al seguiment i monitorització remota de pacients, comparant el seu rendiment en un ordinador i en una Raspberry Pi. El resultat referenda la hipòtesi que la coreografia de processos permet aplicar-se per a crear fàcilment sistemes d'eSalut orientats a IoT i integrar sensors portables d'este àmbit. / [EN] Today's health systems are seeing an increasing number of patients to be cared for, as well as different services to be provided, raising questions as to whether they will be sustainable in the long term. One of the critical factors in this increase is the ageing of the population, which implies a more significant number of chronic patients and dependents. At the same time, there is a need to address prevention solutions in the general population. To address these problems, the application of ICTs in the health field, the so-called eHealth systems, is being used. In the development of eHealth systems, it is necessary to consider that they have to work in highly heterogeneous and changing environments. Moreover, they must be able to adapt to the new needs demanded by the population, without reducing the quality of the services already provided and without increasing the costs of the system. When developing a software system, the architecture model chosen determines which characteristics are to be enhanced. The Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) paradigm has among its main benefits high flexibility, cost reduction and rapid development, as well as allowing the scalability of systems. Therefore, it can be a good candidate when creating eHealth systems. There are different ways to build an SOA architecture, depending on how its services are composed and how SOA guidelines are applied. This thesis proposes the use of the process choreography paradigm, which is a model that seeks to build the architecture of the system from the point of view of the organisation's business processes. This paradigm works from the concept of a single process defined in a distributed way, using service choreography for the composition. In other words, there is no centralised decision-making element, where each service is aware of what it must do and how to interact with the rest. Process choreography prioritises system efficiency by increasing coupling between services, which can reduce the flexibility of the SOA system. But it generates a system with higher performance and better alignment with business processes. In addition, choreography is more robust than other composition mechanisms and helps with cross-company system integration. The aim of this thesis is to validate whether the process choreography paradigm is applicable to the development of eHealth systems. To this end, the application of this paradigm has been carried out in three different eHealth scenarios. In the first scenario, a system was created to integrate and evaluate a cutting-edge technological device, Google Glass. This demonstrated that it is possible to create an eHealth system based on process choreography that integrates complex technological devices. In the second scenario, the paradigm was validated in a real environment, creating a distributed hybrid model execution system for the prediction and detection of type 2 diabetes. The system allowed building services for hybrid model execution, integrating external statistical engines and third-party services to access clinical data. This scenario validated that the process choreography aids integration with external systems, enabling rapid development and the creation of distributed systems. In the third scenario, the paradigm is applied to the IoT model by integrating wearable sensors to create an eHealth system. The developed system integrates an eHealth sensor kit for remote patient tracking and monitoring, comparing its performance on a computer and a Raspberry Pi. The result supports the hypothesis that process choreography can be applied to easily create IoT-oriented eHealth systems and integrate IoT wearable sensors. / Bayo Montón, JL. (2023). Propuesta de uso del paradigma de coreografía de procesos para crear sistemas de eSalud en entornos heterogéneos [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/192822