The fragmented nature of modern health care provision makes it increasingly difficult to achieve continuity of care. This is equally true in the context of the South African healthcare landscape. This results in a strong emphasis on the informational dimension of continuity of care which highlights the importance of the continuity of medical records. Paper-based methods of record keeping are inadequate to support informational continuity of care which leads to an increased interest in electronic methods of record keeping through the adoption of various Health Information Technologies (HITs). This research project investigates the role that various HITs such as Personal Health Records (PHRs), Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), and Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) can play in improving informational continuity of care resulting in the development of a standards-based technological model for the South African healthcare sector. This technological model employs appropriate HITs to address the problem of informational continuity of care in the South African healthcare landscape The benefits that are possible through the adoption of the proposed technological model can only be realized if the proposed HITs are used in a meaningful manner once adopted and implemented. The Delphi method is employed to identify factors that need to be addressed to encourage the adoption and meaningful use of such HITs in the South African healthcare landscape. Lastly, guidelines are formulated to encourage the adoption and meaningful use of HITs in the South African healthcare landscape to improve the continuity of care. The guidelines address both the technological requirements on a high level, as well as the factors that need to be addressed to encourage the adoption and meaningful use of the technological components suggested. These guidelines will play a significant role in raising awareness of the factors that need to be addressed to create an environment conducive to the adoption and meaningful use of appropriate HITs in order to improve the continuity of care in the South African healthcare landscape.

Society’s reliance on Information Technology (IT) has increased tremendously in the last few decades. Unfortunately, the growth of the IT sector has occurred at the expense of the environment. The adverse environmental impact of IT operations is partly due to the production and disposal of IT equipment, which can result in harmful pollution and toxic materials being released into the environment. Furthermore, IT equipment consumes large amounts of electricity, and this results in significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) being released into the atmosphere. Since CO2 is classified as a greenhouse gas, it contributes to the phenomenon of climate change. Organisations are socially and ethically required to minimise the environmental impact of their IT operations. However, in addition to fulfilling their responsibility towards environmental sustainability, organisations can gain a competitive advantage through adopting green IT practices. In order to reap the benefits of green IT and to fulfil their social and ethical responsibilities, organisations need to formulate and implement a comprehensive green IT strategy. When formulating strategic decisions, the use of a clear decision process enhances the effectiveness of such decisions. As a result, top IT management require a model or framework which could guide their thinking and allow for a clear decision process when formulating green IT strategy. However, after an extensive search of the literature had been conducted, a research gap was identified for the definition of a model which deals specifically with the formulation and execution of green IT strategy. As a result, this treatise sets out to answer the question of what organisations should consider when formulating and implementing green IT strategy. To answer the research question, the treatise defines a model for green IT strategy. The model was defined by conducting a content analysis of the literature on green IT. The content-analysis ABSTRACT iii research technique was utilised to identify the underlying concepts within the literature related to green IT strategy formulation and execution. The resulting model indicates that green IT strategy formulation requires holistic thinking, since several forces affect green IT strategy. As a result, these forces should be considered when a green IT strategy is to be formulated. However, even if a strategy is formulated by considering all the forces at play, it is of little use if it is not implemented effectively. The model indicates that green IT strategy should be implemented though a series of practices. These practices are not limited to IT practices alone, but include, in addition, several business practices. This indicates that green IT adoption extends far beyond the mere implementation of green technology.

National Centre for Nano-Structured Materials (NCNSM), one of the National Department of Science and Technology’s nanotech innovation centres houses a characterisation facility which provides a wide array of high-tech materials characterization techniques used in nanotechnology research, to any researchers from any part of South Africa, whether from higher education institutions, government institutions or private firms. In this study the operational review was conducted to identify if the NCNSM Characterisation Facility is delivering on its implementation intent. With operational review organisations are able to explore their internal operations and seek recommendations as to how they can manage and operate more economically, efficiently and effectively. Given that they perform appropriately, allocating their resources properly, and performing within time frame set and using cost-effective measures. BPR was used as a framework to conduct the operational review. BPR is a framework for analysis and design of workflows and process within an organisation. It is an improvement initiative that provides radical change of the business processes in an organizational process. The findings of this study indicated that the NCNSM-CF did not entirely meet its implementation intent but it is striving towards the intention. One of the main reasons for the facility not to meet its intended implementation was the difficulty of the researchers/clients to get access to the facility. The current booking system process contributed significantly to the access problem.

It is the 21st Century and the world is a global village. The development of technology like Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has thus become the dominant means of communication. Education has not been left out of this wave of change. In many countries Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has a clear impact in the development of educational curriculum. This cannot be said about South Africa where huge disparities in terms of ICT related resources still exist. There is a range of uses of ICT in South African schools and it varies according to the economic and social conditions where that school is located. For example, the former Model C schools are well-resourced in terms of computers and access to internet whilst township schools lack these resources. In township schools very few students are exposed to computers due to the limited number of computers and lack of properly qualified educators in the field of ICT. In the Nelson Mandela Bay area township schools only offer CAT (Computer Applications Technology) as an ICT related subject whilst the former Model C schools offer CAT and IT (Information Technology).This treatise attempts to show the digital divide that still exists between a former Model C school and a township school, and the impact it has in quality of education in these schools.

The well-known concept of a Project Manager managing an I.T. project in relative isolation is no longer a viable option for organisations that are running numerous projects simultaneously. Due to the enormous costs and risks involved in many of these projects, there needs to be a means to ensure success. This has led to the establishment of the concept of a Project Management Office (PMO). An autonomous business unit that is responsible for managing all projects within an organisation. The need for a Project Management Office (PMO) to effectively manage multiple projects is becoming more and more accepted worldwide. The benefits of a PMO are well documented, but whether these benefits will apply to organisations within the NMM area needed to be investigated. A detailed analysis of the benefits of Project Management and in particular a PMO, have been investigated by means of a literature study. An investigation into the effectiveness of PMO’s in South Africa in general, was conducted by means of a survey targeted at a group of I.T. Project Managers located in all the major centres. A further survey was conducted among local I.T. managers to determine their current level of success and their expectations for the future. When reviewing the expectations of local I.T. management against the performance of Project Managers that are currently operating within PMOs, it is clear that organisations within the NMM area are in need of PMO’s and would certainly benefit from their establishment.

The development of technologies and structures providing energy for household use in South Africa have for many years been dominated by the needs of "white" households. While these needs have been comprehensively met through cheap and efficient energy supplies, the needs of those in the "homelands" and townships have effectively been ignored. Thus, for roughly two-thirds of the population in South Africa, the struggle to meet basic energy needs for cooking, water heating, space heating and lighting is time consuming and expensive. The planning of a national energy strategy for the future can no longer overlook the energy needs of underdeveloped areas. While the immense task of building institutions and techniques for providing all with adequate and affordable energy supplies will require substantial technical intervention and a large amount of capital, ignoring these problems will incur even greater political, social and environmental costs. Interest in the field of energy for underdeveloped areas has been increasing in recent years, and has led to research on various appropriate energy technologies and the highlighting of energy problems in various locations. However, there has been no overview of experience to date, nor any comparative assessment of these technologies and their potential role in an energy supply strategy. By drawing together the body of research into one publication, this thesis hopes to provide an overview, to allow different energy technologies and supply options to be assessed and compared, and to provide a starting point for debate on suitable energy strategies for underdeveloped areas.

A research report submitted to the Wits School of Education, Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education by combination of coursework and research Johannesburg, 2017 / Modern-day open and distance learning (ODL) educators are increasingly being called upon to apply different forms of knowledge to integrate web-based learning management systems (LMSs) effectively for teaching and learning. To test this assumption, this study set out to develop and validate a new reliable instrument for assessing ODL educators’ perceived learning management system technological pedagogical content knowledge (LMS-TPACK). Past empirical studies grounded in Mishra and Koehler’s TPACK framework (2006) were examined to construct the self-report survey. Quantitative data were collected from 332 educators. Descriptive analysis, exploratory factor analysis and internal consistency reliability using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were computed. The findings reveal key LMS-TPACK constructs that have proven to be both valid and reliable. Six out of the seven subscales used to assess LMS-TPACK were found to be significant, i.e. LMS knowledge (LMS-K), pedagogical knowledge (PK), content knowledge (CK), pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), LMS pedagogical knowledge (LMS-PK) and LMS-TPACK, while LMS-CK failed to emerge in the factor structure. Several possible reasons are proposed for the lack or absence of LMS-CK. The resulting Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the different constructs as well as the overall instrument scale provide compelling evidence for stable internal consistency reliability. Alpha for the entire LMS-TPACK survey was found to be excellent (α = .931). Recommendations are made for improvements to the instrument and directions for future research are highlighted. / MT2018

Thesis (M.Ed.) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / The aim of this study was to investigate the availability and potential utilisation of educational technology in the teaching and learning of Geography in Grade 12 in Mankweng Circuit, in the under resourced area of Limpopo Province. The researcher used the constructivist theory with an emphasis upon constructivism as a theoretical framework. A qualitative research approach and a case study design were adopted for this study. Furthermore a purposive sampling strategy was used to sample seven teachers and four principals. In this study all the Secondary Schools fall under Quintile one-the Department of Basic Education’s classification category for no fee paying schools. There are no private or independent high schools that are privately owned, governed or funded in the Circuit. Government has made several attempts to improve the results by providing policies, resources such as infra-structure like classrooms and books, extended additional training of teachers and in some cases, schools took learners to camps for further studies. However, despite these efforts, the problem of the declining of results continues unabated. Data was collected through three methods, namely interviews, observation and document review. Data was analysed through the use of thematic content analysis method. The study came up with three major findings on availability and the use of computers in Grade 12 Geography, namely: (a) inadequate supply of and access to computers in schools and lack of security,(b) Lack of skill on the use of computers by teachers and (c) intermittent power interruptions at these schools influence the performance of learners negatively. These findings have major implications for the use of computers in the teaching of Geography in schools. Firstly, there is an urgent need to supply schools with computers if teachers and learners are to use them to enhance their teaching and learning of Geography and other subjects. Secondly, there is a need to train teachers in the use of computers in the teaching of subjects like Geography otherwise the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution will overtake these schools and performance of learners will not improve. Thirdly, principals should attend training workshops to learn about their responsibility as ICT leaders at schools moreover there is a need to tighten security at schools in order to safeguard computers and other valuable equipment that support teaching and learning

Public libraries, globally, are adopting the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in order to improve services to the users. ICTs in public libraries are enhancing services to the users by ensuring that services are available to them quickly and efficiently. ICTs in public libraries include computers and their Internet-based facilities, printers, photocopiers, laminators, faxes, telephones, televisions, compact discs, (CDs) and digital video discs (DVDs). This study focussed on the utilisation of ICTs in public libraries at Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM). The general aim of the study was to assess the utilisation of ICTs at EMM public libraries by the users. Both qualitative and quantitative research approaches through a survey research method were deployed. The study targeted all public libraries at Ekurhuleni and within the libraries; library users and control librarians (librarians in charge of libraries at Ekurhuleni) were targeted. Control librarians participated in the study as key informants. The researcher needed to find out if they would corroborate what users said. There is a total of 43 public libraries at Ekurhuleni and eight were included in this study. These eight libraries were selected through stratified sampling. Out of 24033 registered users at Ekurhuleni libraries, 332 were randomly selected to take part in the study. All eight control librarians of participating libraries were included in the study. The total response rate for the targeted library users was 51% (170). The findings of this study indicate that although ICTs in EMM libraries are highly utilised, staff attitudes, cost of ICTs services, users’ lack of ICTs knowledge and skills, slowness of ICTs and power failure, make it difficult for users to maximise the full benefits offered by ICTs. The study recommended that the cost of ICTs services be reduced, customer care workshops and ICTs training be prioritised for staff, structured ICTs training programmes be developed for library users, users’ access time to Internet be extended, subscription to online databases be prioritised, Internet bandwidth be increased, uninterrupted power supply be installed in libraries and that positions be created for librarians specialising on ICTs. / Information Science / MA (Information Science)

Thesis (MScFor)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Grobbelaar, F.R. 2000. A methodology to aid in appropriate technology decision-making for developing countries. M.Sc thesis. University of Stellenbosch. In the process of selecting what we believe to be suitable technology for timber harvesting and transport, economics are usually the determining factor, whether in the form of capital investment or personnel cost. Internationally we see a move towards mechanisation in forestry for various reasons: e.g., high wages, labour shortage, and occupational safety. The realities of South Africa highlights other issues requiring attention: e.g., high unemployment, skills' shortage, global competition, rampant AIDS pandemic, and a poor safety and security record. This should focus our attention on finding local solutions to the problem of finding suitable or appropriate technology to support South Africa's quest for sustainable development. This thesis attempts to establish a methodology for the objective evaluation of alternative technologies for a specific timber harvesting situation, considering the economic, social and environmental implications. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Grobbelaar, F.R. 2000. A methodology to aid in appropriate technology decisionmaking for developing countries. M.Sc tesis. Universiteit van Stellenbosch. Tydens die keuse van sogenaamde toepaslike tegnologie vir houtinoesting en -vervoer is ekonomie meestal die deurslaggewende faktor, hetsy verteenwoordig deur kapitaal belegging of personeelkoste. Internasionaal is daar tans In neiging na meganisasie in bosbou vir In verskeidenheid redes: bv., hoë arbeidskoste, arbeidtekort, en beroepsveiligheid. Die werklikhede van Suid-Afrika beklemtoon egter ander sake wat daadwerklike optrede vereis: nl., hoë werkloosheid, gebrek aan vaardighede, internasionale mededinging, ernstige VIGS pandemie, en In swak veiligheid-en sekuriteit rekord. Dit behoort ons aandag te fokus op die vind van plaaslike oplossings tot die probleem met die keuse van geskikte of toepaslike tegnologie ter bevordering van Suid Afrika se strewe na volhoubare ontwikkeling. Hierdie tesis poog om In metodiek te ontwikkel vir die objektiewe beoordeling van alternatiewe tegnologieë vir houtinoesting binne bepaalde omstandighede, met inagneming van ekonomiese, sosiale en omgewings implikasies.