This diploma thesis is focused on information education and using electronic information sources in Czech Language and Literature classes at Czech secondary schools. It consists of three parts. The first, theoretical part addresses information literacy in the Czech Republic, national information education policy and contemporary trends in using modern information and communication technologies in the classroom. The second part includes an overview of open online information sources for Czech Language and Literature classes which could be used in the classroom. The thesis also includes an inquiry into the use of electronic information sources in Czech Language and Literature classes at secondary schools. The research was conducted at two general secondary education schools - Jiráskovo gymnázium in Náchod and Gymnázium Broumov. Keywors electronic information resources, online information resources, internet, information literacy, information education, Czech language, literature, high schools

The escalating number of cash-in-transit robberies in South Africa is of major concern and this requires information in South African electronic newspaper articles as a source of intelligence. The aim of this study is to determine if newspaper articles on Cash-in-transit robbery can be a source of intelligence. The researcher identified sources which can be used for data collection that could be turned into intelligence. Electronic newspaper articles were explored and turned into informative documents in terms of information that can be gathered about cash-in-transit robberies. The researcher discussed the available sources of intelligence and intelligence that can be gathered through newspaper articles. The researcher conducted the study with the purpose of exploring, describing, and empowering. Exploring existing method used to gather intelligence on crime and CIT robberies, exploring and the topic under investigation the by consulting national and international sources and local newspaper articles, in order to obtain new knowledge on the problem, exploring if newspaper articles could provide intelligence on CIT robberies, by examining existing literature to gather information about the sources of intelligence. Furthermore, the researcher also wanted to describe how newspaper articles can be used in the investigation of CIT robberies. Lastly, to ensure that this research is made available to other researchers who have an interest in exploring the sources of information and the crime intelligence-gathering process. To accomplish this, the researcher examined national and international literature found in textbooks, research articles; master’s dissertations and PhD theses; newspaper articles (online); and searched the internet with the intention of finding data that could answer the research questions. / Police Practice / M.A. (Criminal Justice)

Ph. D. (Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / The use of technology in supply chain management has increased over the years. Procurement is one of the primary supply chain management areas where the use of technology has gained momentum. This has been realised through the use of e-procurement systems. However, the adoption and implementation of e-procurement can be achieved more effectively if available models of technology adoption are taken into consideration. This study tested a conceptual framework integrating the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Unified Theory of the Acceptance and use of Technology (UTAUT) in the implementation of e-procurement practices in the South African public sector. Although there are several studies that have focused on procurement in the public sector in South Africa, there is no evidence of studies that extended the use of the TAM and the UTAUT within the public sector in South Africa. This study was conducted to fill this gap by proposing a framework combining the TAM and UTAUT and modelling their role in the adoption of e-procurement in the public sector. The study adopted a survey design and a quantitative research approach was used to evaluate relationships between different variables. The final sample for this study consists of 263 supply chain management (SCM) practitioners drawn from the public sector in the Gauteng Province, South Africa. A self-completion survey questionnaire was used to gather data to measure the eight constructs of the TAM and UTAUT. An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) procedure was performed to assess the factor structure of the data collected in the study. Descriptive statistics were applied to examine the demographic profile of respondents and the perceptions of respondents towards the research constructs. Pearson correlations were used to test relationships and regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses. In the EFA, two new factors, labelled as Personal Competence and External Assistance, were identified. The results of the hypotheses tests showed that five factors, namely: perceived use, self-efficacy, facilitating conditions, personal competence and external assistance significantly predicted attitudes towards the use of e-procurement systems. However, perceived ease of use was statistically insignificant. The results further show that attitudes towards system use significantly predict behavioural intention, which in turn significantly influences actual e-procurement system use. The theoretical framework fusing the TAM and UTAUT models provides useful insights for other researchers and adds valuable knowledge to the factors that might contribute to the adoption of e-procurement in the South African public sector. The study further makes significant contributions to SCM professionals in the public sector. It reiterates the challenges faced in SCM in the public sector and then demonstrates how the adoption of e-procurement could improve the system, while reducing service delivery inequality. By indicating the factors either promoting or impeding the adoption of e-procurement in the public sector, the study provides practitioners and other decision makers in SCM with suggestions on how to facilitate more rapid adoption and circumvent the influence of irrelevant factors. Among other things, the study recommends that to improve the adoption and continued use of e-procurement systems in the public sector in the Gauteng Province, it is necessary to customise the e-procurement system to ensure that it responds to the needs of users. In addition, it is important to increase the confidence and competence of users of the systems, providing the relevant technical infrastructure and support to users in order to positively influence their attitudes and behavioural intention towards the use of e-procurement systems.

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The primary purpose of this research is to establish to what extent, if any Zimbabwean companies proactively align their IT strategy with the business strategy as a way of building and sustaining business competitive advantage. The research seeks to provide further insights into the business performance implications of the alignment between IT and business strategies. It also seeks to determine if there are any linkages between strategic alignment, IT managerial resources and IT effectiveness. Last but not least, it examines whether alignment directly leads to increased business performance which Sabherwal & Chan (2001) terms ‘perceived business performance’. / Graduate School of Business Leadership / MBL

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to develop a model for knowledge management within project management, as applied to the implementation of information technology systems in the manufacturing industry. The reason for creating models is to create an abstraction of the knowledge processes within a certain context. This model enhances the model builder's understanding of the context being studied and eases the articulation process of describing the context to other practitioners. In an economic climate where knowledge is becoming the differentiating factor for sustainable growth in shareholder value, it is critical to understand and manage knowledge. In doing so. the practically, proven benefits of knowledge management are avoidance of costly mistakes, faster problem-solving, faster development times, improved customer solutions, gaining new business. enhanced customer service and reduction of risk (Skyrme, 1999: 66-67). The model developed in this research was based on, and is an extension to Nonaka and Takeuchi's (1995) knowledge conversion model. The initiating phases of the project see the creation of a new organizational entity, the project team, formed from two originating organizations namely the supplier and the client organizations. At its inception huge amounts of knowledge is transferred to this project team. Tacit knowledge is externalized from various stakeholders and transferred as explicit knowledge into the project team. The project team at start-up also has access to tacit knowledge from the team members. During the initiating phases of the project the process is started to internalize all the knowledge acquired by the project team. The most prominent knowledge processes in action during this phase is; knowledge acquisition and knowledge transfer. The control and execution phases of the project between the initiating and close-out phases, includes phases from design, to development, to commissioning. During these phases the process of internalizing all the knowledge flowing into the project team is continued, and through the team interaction in reaching its goal, the process is taken further to socialize this knowledge. The most dominant knowledge processes taking place during this part of the project life cycle, are those of knowledge creation and knowledge retention. Knowledge creation occurs as the team strives to create a new and unique solution for the client. The project team grows and shrinks during this phase and knowledge retention within the project team becomes of paramount importance. During the close-out phases of the project, the knowledge within the project team must be externalized, and transferred out of the project tearn back into the originating organizations. The knowledge transferred out of the project team must be retained within the supplier organizations, and captured in knowledge repositories for future use. The externalized knowledge must again be internalized into the operation of the supplier organization and client organization. The knowledge transferred into the supplier organization differs from the knowledge transferred into the client organization. The most prominent knowledge processes during this phase are those of knowledge transfer and knowledge retention. This model provides a framework to understand the interaction between knowledge management, and project management concepts in this specific environment. However, this model must still be tested against other environments to determine if the application of the model is generic across industries. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om 'n model te ontwikkel om kennisbestuur binne die projekbestuurdissipline, soos toegepas in die implementering van inligtingstelsels in die vervaardigingsbedryf, te beskryf. Die rede waarom 'n model gebou word, is om 'n abstraksie van die kennisprosesse binne 'n sekere konteks voor te stel. Dit versterk die modelbouer se begrip van die konteks wat bestudeer word en vergemaklik die artikulasieproses om hierdie begrip aan ander oor te dra. In 'n ekonomiese klimaat waar kennis dikwels die onderskeidende faktor vir aanhoudende groei in aandeelhouerwaarde is, is dit krities dat die konsep van kennis se waarde verstaan en bestuur kan word. Die praktiese voordele van kennisbestuur is die vermyding van duur foute, beter probleemoplossing, verkorting van ontwikkelingstyd, beter klientoplossings, verkryging van nuwe besigheid, verbetering van klientediens en vermindering van risiko (Skynne, 1999: 66-67). Die model wat in hierdie navorsingstuk ontwikkel word, is gebaseer op en is 'n uitbreiding van Nonaka and Takeuchi (1995) se kennis-omskakelingsmodel. Gedurende die inisieringsfase van die projek word 'n nuwe entiteit gevorm. Hierdie entitieit is die projekspan wat uit personeel vanaf die klient- en verskaffer-organisasies saamgestel word. Met die ontstaan van die projekspan word groot hoeveelhede kennis na die span oorgedra. Die onderskeie rolspelers moet onuitgesproke kennis ekstemaliseer en na die projekspan oordra as eksplisiete kennis. Die projekspan het ook toe gang tot onuitgesproke kennis deur die individue wat deel van die span vorm. Die proses om al die kennis wat die span bymekaar maak, te internaliseer, begin gedurende die inisieringsfase van die projek. Die mees prominente kennisprosesse in aksie gedurende hierdie projekfase, is die van kennisverkryging en kennisoordrag. Die beheer-en-uitvoeringsfase, tussen die inisierings- en finaliseringsfase van die projek, omvat die sub-fases vanaf ontwerp tot ontwikkeling tot implementering. Gedurende hierdie fase word die proses om kennis wat in die span invloei te internaliseer, voortgesit. Soos die span met mekaar en die klient interaksie het in die nastrewe van die projek se doelwit, word die proses voortgesit om kennis in die span te sosialiseer. Die mees prominente kennisprosesse in hierdie fase is die van kennisskepping en kennisbehouding. Kennis word geskep soos die span probeer om 'n nuwe en unieke oplossing vir die klient te ontwikkel. Die projekspan groei en krimp deur sy leeftyd en as gevolg hiervan word kennisbehouding 'n hoogs belangrike taak vir die projekspan. Gedurende die finaliseringsfase van die projek, moet die projekspan se kennis geeksternaliseer word en uit die span terug na die oorspronklike organisasies oorgedra word. Die kennis wat vanaf die span na die verskaffer-organisasie oorgedra word, moet vasgevang en in 'n kennisstoor vir toekomstige gebruik gestoor word. Die kennis wat vanaf die projekspan ge-eksternaliseer word, moet dan in die klient- en verskaffer-organisasies se daaglikse werking ge-internaliseer word. Die kennis wat na die verskaffer-organisasie oorgedra word, verskil van die kennis wat na die klient-organisasie oorgedra word. Die mees prominente kennisprosesse gedurende hierdie fase is die van kennisoordrag en kennisbehouding. Hierdie model stel 'n struktuur voor waarbinne die interaksie tussen kennisbestuur en projekbestuur in 'n spesifieke konteks vestaan kan word. Hierdie model moet egter nog binne ander omgewings getoets word om te bepaal of die model generies oor industriee toegepas kan word.

Information Technology (IT) is often viewed as a resource that is capable of enhancing organizational performance. However, it is difficult for organizations to measure the actual contribution of IT investments. Despite an abundance of literature, there is an insufficiency of generally applicable frameworks and instruments to help organizations definitively assess the relationship among organizational performance, IT-business alignment, and IT governance. Previous studies have emphasized IT-business alignment as an important enabler of organizational effectiveness; however, the direct and indirect effects of IT governance have not been incorporated into these studies. The purpose of this study was (1) to propose a new model that defines the relationships among IT governance, IT-business alignment, and organizational performance, (2) to develop and validate measures for the IT governance and IT-business alignment constructs, and (3) to test this IT Governance-Alignment-Performance or "IT GAP" model. This study made some novel contributions to the understanding of the factors affecting organizational performance. The quest for IT-business alignment in the MIS literature has been based on the presumption that IT contributes directly to organizational performance. However, this study found that although IT-business alignment does contribute to organizational performance, IT governance is an important antecedent of both IT-business alignment and organizational performance. The major contributions of this work are the development and validation of uni-dimensional scales for both IT-business alignment and IT governance, and the confirmation of the validity of the IT GAP model to explain the hypothesized relationships among the three constructs. Future studies may improve upon this research by using different organizations settings, industries, and stakeholders. This study indicates that in order for organizations to improve the value, contribution, and alignment of IT investments they first need to improve the ways in which they govern their IT activities and the processes and mechanisms by which IT decisions are made.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. / The purpose of this thesis is to discuss the new features and enhancements of Windows Server 2003. Windows NT and Windows 2000 were known to have numerous security vulnerabilities; hence Microsoft focused on improving security by making Windows Server 2003 "secure by design, secure by default, secure in deployment." This thesis examines the differences between the five unique editions of the Windows Server 2003 family. Some of the pros and cons of migrating to Windows Server 2003 are highlighted. The author hopes this study will assist information technology professionals with their decision on whether or not to upgrade to this latest version of Microsoft's flagship network operating system. / Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy

M.Tech. (Operations Management) / The South African manufacturing sector is considered the main driver of economic growth, but is falling behind in adopting and adequately using information and communication technology (ICT) to improve productivity and competitiveness. This is creating a constraint that hinders the manufacturing sector, adversely affecting its ability to access the global market and produce high value-added goods, and also to compete globally. Thus, the main objective of this dissertation is to gain an in-depth understanding of the impact of ICT on service design and operations to address barriers to manufacturing sector growth and to improve productivity and competitiveness. This study proposes an ICT-based service design model to increase productivity and competitiveness in the South African manufacturing sectors. It argues that the challenges faced can be addressed and that some of the solutions lie in the integration of ICT into service design and operations processes. The research adopted an interpretive approach through qualitative methods and, was carried out as a single case study using ArcelorMittal South Africa for which a purposive sampling technique was considered appropriate. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and tape recorded and analysed through descriptive procedures. The findings suggest that ICT diffuses rapidly, creating opportunities and challenges for manufacturing companies. In addition it was found out that the adoption and adequate use of ICT depends on the implementation phase. This is when most challenges and impacts are experienced: for example, technological capability, technical skills, resources and ICT infrastructure capabilities. In addition, the findings suggest that a more educated workforce possesses the capability to acquire the necessary skills, in the form of self-education to overcome any challenges encountered. Evidence also shows that companies are facing challenges in relation to the selection and integration of the right technologies due to lack of ICT expertise. Therefore, this research proposes an ICT-based service design model to increase productivity and global competitiveness in the manufacturing sectors in South Africa.

This thesis strives to explore the PhD students’ information behavior (information needs, information search strat-egies and information management) to see how information literacy (use of information services and resources as well asinformation accessibility and intermediation) can evolve through increased access to information, resources and ideas. The theoretical foundation of the study is Carol C. Kuhlthau’s model of the information search process (ISP-model). Two different surveys were used, first a participant observation and then interviews, with a user group consisting of six postgraduates. The postgraduates were all from different disciplines within the same collage, in the middle of their dissertation and highly motivated by regular information seeking sessions. The study shows that postgraduate students’ knowledge of information behavior and information literacy is inadequate, something that graduate students are largely aware of and wish to change. In conclusion, PhD students need support to maintain, adapt and expand their knowledge. The study indicates that there are many areas where postgraduates’ information literacy can be developed and that there is much to be gained by enhancing the knowledge transfer between information specialists (librarians) and users. This thesis is a two years’ Master’s thesis in Archive, Library and Museum studies.