Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2010. / The company studied is a privately owned textile company, which is part of the CAP Germany Group of companies. It is one of the leading textile knitting mills in Southern Africa and has won several awards in this regard, whilst it has also been subject to quite a few changes over the last few years. The company recently appointed a new Chief Executive Officer to lead the textile mill into the technical market, and extend the range of the fashion apparel, which it focuses on as its main product. With the aim of keeping the company in the forefront of new development, it has become important to keep its management team well informed and for them to make strategic decisions with much focus on analysis of the information that is available to them. The textile mill has a SAP ERP system, which was implemented as to provide a source of information, hence management can analyse this information that is available to aid them in their decision-making.

Construction is a big role player in every economy, and the Site Management Process (SMP) occupies a strategic position in the construction process. Despite existence of appreciable research, technology diffusion in the construction industry is slow. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) implementation processes and products have not adequately and beneficially exploited ICT for improvement of the SMP. This is especially true in developing countries. Without increase in utilisation of ICT, potential benefits for the SMP remain untapped. The aim of the thesis was to ascertain the levels of utilisation of recent ICT developments for the SMP, and thereby gauge the benefits or lack thereof. The theoretical concept of the research is based on the technology transfer sub-concept of adaptation. A fundamentally positivistic view, with principles of objectivist approach was used for the enquiry. The approach included an extensive literature review, and a multi-stage investigation strategy, set in South Africa. Theory reviewed was in the main disciplines of construction science and technology, computer science and technology, and management science. Investigations involved case studies of construction sites, a global ICT survey, a national practitioner survey, and analysis of ICT products. Findings from literature assert the appreciable potential utility in recent ICT, thereby substantiating the adaptability of recent ICT. In addition ICT adoption in the SMP is inadequate and inexpedient, falling short of potential benefits for construction, both generally and in the local context. Furthermore there are challenges to ICT adoption, which could vary according to context. Field research results also point to underutilisation of innovations located in recent ICT. The main challenges in this regard include inadequate knowledge of potential utility of recent ICT, and lack of relevant support and effective approaches to technology integration, in the SMP. Moreover exploitation of the adaptability of recent ICT in the local SMP does not go beyond basic adoption. As such most diffusion occurs only for items requiring an adaptation of usage context or area of application. The results strongly indicate minimal innovativeness in this regard. Frameworks for possible adaptations of existing technologies were also derived, while propositions are made for approaches to improve the utility of recent ICT in the SMP. Through a customised approach, the thesis establishes foundational understanding towards a generic framework for adapting potential utility in ICT to uses in construction, especially in the SMP. Thus the research contributes strategic information to the fledgling CICT body of knowledge, especially in the local context.

The use of mobile computing on the construction site has been a well-researched area since the early 1990's, however, there still remains a lack of computing on the construction site. Where computers are utilised on the site this tends to be by knowledge workers utilising a laptop or PC in the site office with electronic data collection being the exception rather than the norm. The problems associated with paper-based documentation on the construction site have long been recognised (Baldwin, et al, 1994; McCullough, 1993) yet there still seems to be reluctance to replace this with electronic alternatives. Many reasons exist for this such as; low profit margins, perceived high cost; perceived lack of available hardware and perceived inability of the workforce. However, the benefits that can be gained from the successful implementation of IT on the construction site and the ability to re-use construction site data to improve company performance, whilst difficult to cost, are clearly visible. This thesis represents the development and implementation of a data capture system for the management of the construction of rotary bored piles (SHERPA). Operated by the site workforce, SHERPA comprises a wireless network, site-based server and webbased data capture using tablet computers. This research intends to show that mobile computing technologies can be implemented on the construction site and substantial benefits can be gained for the company from the re-use and integration of the captured site data.

Thesis (MTech (Tourism))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / This study investigated the role of ICT in the teaching, training and learning of hospitality students at The International Hotel School (IHS), and was conducted in the form of a case study based on the teaching, training and learning techniques used at the three campuses of The International Hotel School (IHS) in South Africa, and involved purposive and stratified random sampling. It was conducted over an 18 month period, using survey questionnaires, focus group discussions, and interviews. The researcher had, over a considerable period while in the classroom, observed a trend by students to increasingly use the internet to source information while studying, rather than spending time in a classroom being taught the required information. Based on observations of how students chose to learn, the researcher also deduced that there needed to be a shift from traditional face to face teaching and learning in a classroom environment, in order to accommodate the changing learning needs of students. The aim of the research was thus to define the role of ICT within hospitality studies at the IHS and gauge the impact of teaching, training and learning on the current hospitality curriculum, as well as the long- term initiatives within the hospitality field. A sub-objective was to enhance the learning process of students by making use of ICT to assist the learning process and make the learning material more interactive. This would assist both the student and the lecturer. The findings, based on the responses from students and academic staff at the Cape Town Campus of the IHS, and the interviews and focus group discussions with all IHS staff suggest the recognition for a move to the use of ICT’s in the formal educational process at the IHS. The results of the study lead to the recommendations for a change towards the role of ICT in the teaching and learning process.

This work is focused on the newly emerging field of Cloud computing and view of adoption of this technology in various industrial sectors. The first section explains the concept of cloud computing, its characteristics and individual models. The following part is a brief analysis of the size and development of the current market for cloud services. Next section focuses on the creation of industry categories acording to area of their business, together with their description. The actual categories are examined in part four, along with their expenditures on IT and state of Cloud's adoption, in addition with specific advantages and obstacles. Results from previous section are summarized in part five. In conclusion, the hypothesis is verified and the main findings summarized.

Despite the widespread adoption of Internet banking, no guidelines exist on what functionality the techno-savvy Generation-Y customer segment (20–37 years) expects from Internet banking websites. This research investigated the functionality that South African Generation-Y customers require from this transacting platform. A user-centred design philosophy with a mixed method research design was used. The technological characteristics of Generation-Y, abstracted from the literature, were aligned with functionality trends of future Internet banking websites to formulate an initial list of Internet banking functionality guidelines. These were evaluated using a survey and interviews, and were also used in a heuristic evaluation of the Internet banking platforms of five South African banks. The findings were integrated to synthesise functionality guidelines. A visual representation of these guidelines was constructed as wireframes for evaluation by Generation-Y users. This study makes a contribution by providing a validated list of Internet banking functionality guidelines for Generation-Y banking customers. / College of Engineering, Science & Technology / M. Tech. (Information Technology)

Thesis (MBA) -- Stellenbosch University, 2011. / The use of the web-based technology to conduct business has been growing in many industries globally, this has been the case in the tourism industry. The growing popularity of the web-based technology can be attributed to the benefits it brings to the tourism industry. The study has look into the overall benefits brought by the web-based technology in the tourism industry and how it can be further exploited to benefit the organizations. The application of the web-based technology has included the introduction of the website. The website has given companies exposure to the global market and has been a platform for conducting marketing activities. The website has been used extensively in the tourism industry as a source of information. The website has enabled travel consumers purchase tourism products and services. Having a website may not be sufficient in meeting an organisation’s intended objectives. Many companies in the tourism industry are making use of the website, hence the use of website in search engines has become competitive. Companies need to implement website optimisation techniques to benefit both the travel suppliers and travel consumers. To conduct the organisations marketing activities successfully, the websites needs maximum exposure to the target audience. This can be achieved through the website design aimed at ensuring that the website is highly ranked by search engines. Added features like video, up to date information and photos add value to travel consumers. Through these features travel consumers are able to understand tourism products and services, and hence make informed decisions. The study has looked at the application of the web-based technology in four sectors of the tourism industry in South Africa. These are attraction, accommodation, tour operators and transport. Suppliers in each sector were selected for analysis and they are: - in attraction, Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe Game Reserve; - in accommodation, Hilton hotel and Southern Sun hotel; - in tour operator, Thompson Holiday and Tourvest; and - in transport, Kulula, South African Airways, Avis and Europcar. Suppliers in the tourism industry in South Africa were found to use the website for the following reasons: - Provides information about the organisation and its products and services. - Used as a marketing tool: The website is used to facilitate communication between the travel supplier and the travel consumer. It is also a platform to sell tourism products and services. - Used to enhance collaboration in the industry. Collaboration through websites has resulted in a better supply chain. Customers have been able to buy one package including the airline ticket, accommodation and car hire using one website. - Used to conduct business transactions: Customers have been able to make bookings and reservations and payments through the website. - Used to attract customers to the organisation’s products and services. Attractive features such as photos and videos have been included in the website. The Safari Company is a tour operator in South Africa. Using web-based technology; the company has changed its business model to be able to serve its customers better. The company has developed a new website that adds value to both travel suppliers and travel consumers. Travel suppliers are able to market their services and products through the website. The website provides travel consumers with the latest information and expert advice in tourism products in the Southern and Eastern Africa. The Safari Company website has been a platform for the company to communicate its social responsibility with the global community. The Safari Company donates 10% of its revenue to an organization called Touch the Land. Touch the Land is a foundation that implements projects in Southern and Eastern Africa aimed at poverty alleviation.

We propose new theoretical models, which generalize the classical Avrami-Nakamura models. These models are suitable to describe the kinetics of nucleation and growth in transient regime, and/or with overlapping of nucleation and growth. Simulations and predictions were performed for lithium disilicate based on data reported in the literature. One re-examined the limitations of the models currently used to interpret DTA or DSC results, and to extract the relevant kinetic parameters. Glasses and glass-ceramics with molar formulation 0.45SiO2? (0.45-x)MgO?xK2O?0.1(3CaO.P2O5) (0?x?0.090) were prepared, crystallized and studied as potential materials for biomedical applications. Substitution of K+ for Mg2+ were used to prevent devritification on cooling, to adjust the kinetics of crystallization and to modify the in vitro behaviour of resulting biomaterials. The crystallization of the glass frits was studied by DTA, XRD and SEM. Exothermic peaks were detected corresponding to bulk crystallization of whitlockite-type phosphate, Ca9MgK(PO4)7, at approximately 900ºC, and surface crystallization of a predominant forsterite phase (Mg2SiO4) at higher temperatures. XRD also revealed the presence of diopside (CaMgSi2O6 in some samples. The predominant microstructure of the phosphate phase is of the plate-type, seemingly crystallizing by a 2-dimensional growth mechanism. Impedance spectroscopy revealed significant changes in electrical behaviour, associated to crystallization of the phosphate phase. This showed that electrical measurements can be used to study the kinetics of crystallization for cases when DTA or DSC experiments reveal limitations, and to extract estimates of relevant parameters from the dependence of crystallization peak temperature, and its width at half height. In vitro studies of glasses and glass-ceramics in acelular SBF media showed bioactivity and the development of apatite layers The morphology, composition and adhesion of the apatite layer could be changed by substitution of Mg2+ by K+. Apatite layers were deposited on the surface of glass-ceramics of the nominal compositions with x=0 and 0.09, in contact with SBF at 37ºC. The adhesion of the apatite layer was quantified by the scratch test technique, having been related with SBF?s immersion time, with composition and structure of the glass phase, and with the morphology of the crystalline phase of the glass-ceramics. The structure of three glasses (x=0, 0.045 and 0.090) were investigated by MAS-NMR ( 29Si and 31P), showing that the fraction of Q3 structural units increases with the contents of Mg, and that the structure of these glasses includes orthophosphate groups (PO43-) preferentially connected to Ca2+ ions. Mg2+ ions show preference towards the silicate network. Substitution of Mg2+ by K+ allowed one to change the bioactivity. FTIR data revealed octacalcium phosphate precipitation (Ca8H2(PO4)6.5H2O) in the glass without K, while the morphology of the layer acquires the shape of partially superimposed hemispheres, spread over the surface. The glasses with K present a layer of acicular hidroxyapatite, whose crystallinity and needles thickness tend to increase along with K content. / São propostos novos modelos teóricos, que generalizam o modelo clássico de Avrami-Nakamura, apropriados para a cinética de nucleação e de crescimento em regime transiente, e/ou com sobreposição entre o estágio de nucleação e o de crescimento. Foram efectuadas simulações com base em resultados da literatura, reportados para o dissilicato de lítio. Foram examinadas as limitações dos métodos correntemente usados para obter estimativas de parâmetros cinéticos, com base em resultados de ATD. Desenvolveram-se e investigaram-se vidros e materiais vitrocerâmicos susceptíveis de aplicação biomédica com a formulação molar 0.45SiO2?(0.45-x)MgO?xK2O?0.1(3CaO.P2O5) (0?x?0.090), preparados mediante a substituição de Mg2+ por K+. A cristalização das fritas de vidro foi estudada por ATD, DRX e SEM. Foram detectados picos exotérmicos correspondentes à cristalização de fosfato (cristalização em volume) do tipo whitlockite Ca9MgK(PO4)7 a aproximadamente 900ºC, e de forsterite (Mg2SiO4) acompanhada de alguma diopside (CaMgSi2O6; cristalização superficial) a temperaturas superiores. A microestrutura predominante da fase fosfato é do tipo placa, aparentando cristalizar por um mecanismo de crescimento bidimensional. Foi usada espectroscopia de impedâncias para monitorizar a cristalização em condições em que os ensaios de ATD ou de DSC revelam limitações, recorrendo a alterações significativas de propriedades eléctricas associadas à cristalização da fase de fosfato. Os vidros e vidros cerâmicos desenvolvidos revelaram bioactividade em meio acelular in vitro, desenvolvendo camadas apatíticas em SBF. A morfologia, composição e aderência da camada de apatite pôde ser modulada com base na substituição parcial de Mg2+ por K+. Foram depositadas camadas de apatite sobre vidros ceramizados (x=0 e 0.09), em SBF a 37ºC. A adesão da camada de apatite foi quantificada pela técnica de indentação deslizante tendo sido relacionada com o tempo de imersão em SBF, com a composição e estrutura da fase vítrea, e com a morfologia da fase cristalina dos vidros cerâmicos. Foi investigada a estrutura de três vidros (x=0, 0.045 e 0.090) por MAS-RMN (29Si e 31P), verificando-se que nos vidros mais ricos em Mg, a participação da unidade estrutural Q3 é mais significativa, e que a estrutura dos vidros inclui grupos ortofosfato (PO43-) mais próximos de iões Ca2+ do que dos iões Mg2+, sendo estes incorporados preferencialmente na rede de silicato. A substituição parcial de Mg2+ por K+ permitiu ajustar a cristalização dos materiais vitrocerâmicos e modular a bioactividade pretendida. Resultados de FTIR revelaram precipitação de fosfato octacálcico (Ca8H2(PO4)6.5H2O) no vidro sem K, enquanto que a morfologia da camada adquire a forma de hemisférios parcialmente sobrepostos, espalhados sobre a superfície. Os vidros com K apresentam uma camada de hidroxiapatite acicular, cuja cristalinidade e espessura de agulhas tende a aumentar com o teor de K.

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Thesis (MTech (Information Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012. / The wine industry is complex hence the farmers and emerging farmers who operate in it are faced with environmental, social and economic constraints. Even though various issues have been pointed out to be contributing to the slow uptake of ICT by emerging farmers (Cox, 1995), McCartney (2007) however pointed out that DSSs can enhance gains in economic, social and environmental benefits. This study investigates how wine farmers use ICTs to support decision making in order to assist emerging farmers adopt and use the ICTs for decision making. Decision making is crucial; it is one of the most important tasks of management in running a successful business (Dralega, 2007). Emerging farmers have to operate in a complex environment and ICT use can lead to the effective use of information to support decision making in the industry. Experienced farmers use ICT tools to support decision making and use information to make informed decisions in their operations. Emerging farmers are at a distinct disadvantage as they have no previous knowledge of farming and have to find their way on a day to day basis. This has the potential of reducing profitability and sustainability of the emerging farmers who have entered the industry. The main research question is: "how can emerging farmers utilise ICT for decision making in the wine industry in the Breede River Valley region in the Western Cape?" Interviews were done to gather primary data. In this case it is information about the technological and information needs of farmers which might help them in decision making. The literature is reviewed in this study to gather secondary data. The study took an inductive approach and the epistemological stance in this study is interpretivism. The case study was used as strategy for the study. The interviewees emphasised the importance of ICTs in their decision making; they mentioned that without the use of ICTs in decision their businesses will crumble. In order to prosper in their business, emerging farmers need to invest in ICTs as this will also assist in improving livelihoods of the farmers and their workers.