Thesis (M.M. (Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Business Administration, 2013. / This research study analyses a conceptual model investigating the effect of firms’ choice of effectuation or causation processes in strategy formation and firm performance, the effect of firms’ technology orientation in firm performance, and the relationship between effectuation and technology orientation. The study employed a quantitative approach, surveying data from 73 firms in the renewable energy sector of South Africa, using measurement instruments extracted from prior research. By means of multiple regression analysis, the study found that of the effectuation processes, the use of pre-commitments is significantly and positively associated with firm performance. Furthermore, it was found that a pioneering technology orientation is significantly and positively associated with firm performance. The study also found evidence to support the hypothesis that effectuation is closely linked with pioneering. The study contributes to the field of effectuation research by continuing to move the field towards an intermediate phase, by providing valuable insight into the practicalities of the quantitative analysis of effectuation and the problems that arise therein, in particular, issues surrounding measurement aspects. Moreover, by examining performance differentials, this study seeks to increase the relevance of effectuation theory and expand it from a theory of mere description of entrepreneurial behaviour to a theory that identifies performance-enhancing measures. For practitioners and policy makers, this research provides valuable insight into the drivers of entrepreneurial success and the fostering of entrepreneurial activity both in start-ups and existing corporations to spur innovation, productivity, and growth in the economy.

No description available.

Students' use of technology for the purpose of academic and leisure pursuits is ever increasing. Technology access, and its subsequent use for the many varied forms of digital reading, is particularly timely and relevant for high school aged students that will likely interact with digital reading for years to come. The relationship between academic technology use, non-academic technology use, and students' scores on the 2009 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) supplemental Digital Reading Assessment (DRA) as they related to gross domestic product (GDP) were explored in this study. Research questions were answered using extant data collected from the DRA and Information Communication Technology (ICT) survey portions of the 2009 PISA. Results indicated that academic and non-academic technology use ICT survey items were moderately correlated, however the academic and non-academic survey items were only weakly correlated to the DRA score. Moreover, the non-academic mean score was significantly higher than the academic mean score survey items. Finally, a regression analysis showed that GDP accounted for 3.28% of the variance; the non-academic survey explained 0.27% of the variance, while the academic technology use survey items only accounted for .05% of variance in the DRA. The relationship between academic and non-academic technology use as well as countries' overall DRA and GDP is further explored in the discussion.

Illegible written prescriptions and “Doctor’s handwriting” may have been synonymous, but this stereotype has begun to change with the gradual uptake of e-prescriptions. These eprescriptions are electronically captured and delivered prescriptions, and are touted as the solution to the many medical risks caused by written prescriptions. Whilst there is published support for the benefits of e-prescriptions, the uptake of e-prescribing has been too gradual for all patients to enjoy these benefits. The inadequate research into physicians’ adoption of e-prescribing systems presents a need for further study in this area, in an effort to improve the general use of these systems. Based on a review of literature, this study proposes six factors which may explain physicians’ intentions to use e-prescribing systems. These factors are based upon the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). This model is extended in this study by Social Dominance Theory, Commitment-Trust Theory and the Product Evaluation Model. Quantitative data was collected to test the proposed hypotheses. This data was gathered from physicians who have had some exposure to an e-prescription system. 72 usable responses were obtained for this study. The results of the study suggest that Performance Expectancy and Price Value have the highest influence on Behavioural Intention. Effort Expectancy and Social Influence had no direct influence on Behavioural Intention when in the presence of other variables, but they, along with Trust, had an indirect effect on Behavioural Intention through Performance Expectancy. Surprisingly, Social Dominance Orientation was not found to have an influence on Behavioural Intention. Implications, contributions and further research are discussed.

The topic was inspired by my obsession for service excellence. Having served the retail industry as a photographic salesman and ultimately as director of a chain of retail stores, I was startled by some of the blasphemous remarks made to the insurance industry. Furthermore, I was personally subjected to poor customer service by some of the large insurance companies. In my current tenure as a life assurance consultant, I have made it my mission to harness good quality, good values and provide excellent service to the countless patrons of the insurance industry. The purpose of this study was to analyse service quality at Sage Life Insurance Company. Particular attention was paid to the five dimensions of service quality and consumer behaviour. To provide a background to the evaluation, a brief history of the life assurance industry and companies was explored. The evolution of new legislations and the governing bodies was put into perspective. The findings of the study showed that clients' perception of service quality at Sage favoured some dimensions more strongly. Recommendations were made to improve the gaps in customer-relations and a model for Sage Life's customer relationship management was suggested. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

With the knowledge age evolving, colleges and universities should be ever vigilant to assure that the pedagogies practiced are adequately preparing future workers with skills required to keep pace (Scardamalia & Bereiter, 2006). Business managers have identified self-direction and technology use as increasingly important in the 21st century (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2006), yet a gap in research of pedagogies that advance self-directedness and promote technology use has been found. To help identify new pedagogies, the purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between self-directed learning (SDL) and technology use of people entering the workplace. A sample of 572 recent university graduates represented the new workforce entrants. Based on the Personal Responsibility Orientation (PRO)-Model of SDL (Brockett & Hiemstra, 1991), factors of self-direction were identified and measured by the Personal Responsibility Orientation -Self Directed Learning Scale (PRO-SDLS) (Stockdale, 2003). Attitudinal factors of technology use were measured by the Computer Technology Use Scale (CTUS) (Conrad & Munro, 2008). Results of this study indicated that while significant relationships between SDL and technology use were found, the effect size of the model tested is low (less than .03). Hierarchical regression indicated the factors of SDL as predictors of computer self-efficacy, attitudes toward technology use and computer anxiety are significant in some cases but account for less than 7% of the variance for any one factor. Additionally, both instruments used in this study are relatively new. While reliability for the PRO-SDLS was found to be consistent with previous research, this study indicates that caution should be taken in using the CTUS. Based on these results, this study includes implications for practice as well as recommendations for future research.

The purpose of this study was to examine factors related to information technology (IT) implementation in the curriculum. The focus was on Malaysian Ministry of Education Polytechnic (MoEP) faculty members' attitudes toward IT, as well as IT availability and IT use in teaching. The response rate from the 332 surveys sent to the MoEP was 75.9%. Faculty members as a whole appeared to have readiness for adoption of changes related to IT use in teaching despite the lack of IT use in general. The use of selected IT items was skewed greatly in the direction of non-use. Faculty attitudes toward the use of IT in their teaching were very positive. The overall professional development experiences in IT that respondents had were greatly skewed toward non-participation. Results for items associated with supports services showed that they were available for faculty use. Sixty-nine percent of the respondents reported to face barriers to the use IT in their teaching. The extent of IT use in general for male respondents and female respondents showed a significant difference among gender. ANOVA revealed no difference between MoEP membership and IT use in general. Analysis of department membership and IT use in general revealed no difference between the two. Highest level of education had a low significant correlation with extent of IT use in general. A low negative correlation was shown between highest level of education and other demographic variables. Age had a moderate positive correlation with years served for the MoEP and a high correlation with years served for the MoE. Years served for the MoEP also has a moderate correlation with years served for the MoE. There were no significant correlations among variables except for online discussion and teaching load. Highest level of education showed a low correlation with email, WWW, and scanner. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine what variables were the best predictors of IT use. Results revealed an R2 of 0.04. Highest level of education contributed significantly to the variance. Adoption proneness proved to be a predictor for IT use in teaching, while other selected demographic variables were not significant predictors. / Ph. D.

Thesis (M.M. (ICT Policy and Regulation))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Public and Development Management, 2013. / This study examined different elements within the classroom, school and environment in order to establish their influence on technology implementation in schools. A review of the literature suggests that the integration of computers in schools is influenced by a number of separate but inter-related factors. If technology implementations in schools are to achieve the desired objectives as outlined in the e- Education White Paper, it is important that such efforts are cognizant of the unique characteristics of each school setting. Eight schools in Polokwane (Limpopo, South Africa) were chosen for this study, which was intended to evaluate current technology integration efforts against existing policy; and to see what policy lessons may be drawn from this.

No description available.

A number of studies have explored the impact of multitasking on specific cognitive skills, primarily with regard to non-media multitasking activities. While briefly addressing technology, its use in the modern era regarding media multitasking and its associated cognitive declines has not been extensively examined. Forty-nine participants were required to complete a series of cognitive tasks including the Stroop Color and Word Test and the Trail Making Test. Data were also collected for how often participants media multitask, the amount of technology they use, as well as other demographic variables. The goal of this study was to empirically examine the role of technology use and media multitasking on cognitive processes such as selective attention and task switching. It was hypothesized that those grouped as high media-multitaskers would predict a faster reaction time on the Stroop task, in line with previous literature by Cain & Mitroff (2011). Results showed a significant relationship exhibiting a negative correlation between the two factors, thereby accepting the hypothesis. Findings conclude with considerations for both the use and design of technological interfaces and devices as they apply to a variety of operational settings and high-tech environments.