The purpose of the research was to improve the use of electronic human resource management in South African businesses by investigating that there is a positive impact when implementing e-HRM on the human resource management function. The research was carried out within a South African business, whose parent business concern is based overseas and has branches operating within South Africa The research was significant as it shaped the researcher’s concern as to whether electronic human resource would be beneficial to a South African business if the business superiors decide to implement e-HRM within their business opinion and what impact it would have. The methodological components that guided the research were a structured questionnaire that was distributed by using a combination of convenience, snowball, and judgemental sampling techniques. Certain aspects highlighted in the literature review were used as the framework for the development of a questionnaire to assess how people perceive the implementation of e-HR on their working environment and if e-HR has helped the business run more efficiently and effectively. Six hypotheses were tested and all were accepted. The potential for generalisations of the findings are that given the potential that e-HRM has for the transformation of human resource, it is reasonable to expect that the sizeable changes required, both in organisation and mindset, are likely to provoke resistance from various end users. What was learned was that HR is often hindered by a multitude of manual, paper based processes and transactions, such as tax, payroll and benefits information, that are costly, prone to errors and time-consuming to manage. This makes it difficult for HR organisations to focus on higher value business in initiatives that may help to drive the profitability and efficiency of the organisations. The implication of the findings about the impact of the implementation of e-HR on the Human Resource Management function was that firms need to figure out how to make technology feasible and industrious, as managers and Human Resource professionals are responsible for redefining how work at their firms or business flow as they need to keep ahead of the information curve and therefore learn how to influence information for business results to be more efficient and effective. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed and recommendations based on these findings are provided.

Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) is an emerging research area that is concerned with the beneficial applications of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to achieve developmental goals. ICT4D is thus concerned with designing and developing innovative technologies for resource-constrained environments for applications in key areas of social development such as health, agriculture and education. The ICT4D initiatives, therefore, are driving three main tasks, namely developing the required infrastructure (connectivity, electricity and computing devices) sustainably, building the required ICT human capacity, and providing access to digital content and services. Each of these three main thrusts necessitates innovation. This study addresses the evident lack of delivery mechanisms to facilitate access to digital content and services to end-users through the technologies that these end-users already possess. This lack of innovative delivery mechanisms is both an impediment to achieving equitable access to digital content and service and an opportunity to innovate. Therefore, drawing from the theoretical background of ICT4D, this study develops a set of technical and socio-technical requirements that the missing delivery mechanisms should satisfy. The study also explores the Service Delivery Platform (SDP) concept as a technically viable basis for the required delivery mechanisms. The study then develops a conceptual model of an Access-Technology-Agnostic Delivery Mechanism as a possible delivery mechanism that facilitates equitable access to digital content and services within an ICT4D context. The relevance of the conceptual model is established and, through a prototype implementation, the technical feasibility and utility of the conceptual model is demonstrated. The conceptual model is demonstrated through a proof of concept implementation using standards-based open source technologies. The proof of concept clearly demonstrates that the access-technology-agnostic delivery of digital content and services is achievable, thus making the same service accessible through different access technologies. In developing the Access-Technology-Agnostic Delivery Mechanism, this study contributes through innovation to providing access to digital content and services in an access-technology-agnostic manner.

Print newspapers in South Africa are the oldest formal mode of news and information dissemination but which has come under tremendous pressure with the advent and spread of technological innovation involving information communication infrastructure and processes, but specifically the internet. The main challenge facing print newspapers in terms of circulation growth of print and advertising revenue is speed to market. The internet has not only provided a new avenue for news and information dissemination but has the distinct advantage of tremendous speed to deliver news and information to readers. Meanwhile, print newspapers whose production is still almost entirely dependent on traditional structures, processes and physical mode of delivery are battling to stay afloat as the chase for readers' attention is gaining more ground on digital platforms. This new competition landscape has now cast focus fully on traditional print media‟s production processes competency levels as well as their suitability for the nature of competition posed by digital news platforms. The processes involved in the production of a print newspaper can be described as hybrid (Davis and Heineke. 2005: 220) in that they involve different types of processes at different stages to produce the final product. The focus of this study at Avusa Media (Port Elizabeth) was on the post production processes involving the printing and distribution of printed newspapers with the objective of gaining an understanding of the extent and impact of the information technology advancement in the post production phase of printed newspapers. v In pursuing the goal, the case study research followed a phenomenological paradigm involving exploratory and descriptive research processes as described by Yin (1994) in Collis and Hussey (2003: 69) and Clifford Geertz (1973) in Babbie and Mouton (2005: 272) The research found that the traditional business structure for printed newspapers is increasingly becoming unviable due to poverty of technological innovation in critical parts of the production value chain; namely post production processes that encompass printing and distribution of printed newspapers. The research established and revealed that while there are some technological innovations and advances in the print newspaper publishing industry value chain worldwide, they are not only severely limited and disjointed but are also seemingly moving apart rather than towards consolidation in terms of the speed to market need faced by print newspaper publishers.

This study analyses the adoption of some innovations by Okanagan Valley orchardists. Comparisons were made with findings on the adoption of innovations by American farmers. Also included in the study is an evaluation of the 1964 televised chautauqua produced by the Horticultural Branch of the British Columbia Department of Agriculture. This style of chautauqua (which may be defined as an assembly for educational purposes, lectures, entertainment, etc.) replaced an earlier version held in district halls throughout the Okanagan Valley. The data were gathered by interviewing a sample of Okanagan Valley orchardists from the population of orchardists in the area served by the 1964 T.V. Chautauqua and who were also included in the 1960 Orchard Survey of the Okanagan Valley. Generally, adoption theory, as developed from studies in other countries, can be applied to a specific Canadian setting. Earlier adopters of innovations were more active educationally, had been in orcharding longer, had larger and more valuable orchards, and sold more orchard products than later adopters. These results coincide with past studies. However, the vast majority of the early adopters were full-time orchardists, while other studies have found part-time farmers to be the most innovative. Also, this study found complete ownership of the farm to be a characteristic of the later adopters while other studies have found this characteristic of early adopters. Two differences with previous studies were found in the use of sources of information. Agricultural agencies increased in importance between the awareness and interest stages in the adoption process. Also unique to this study was less use of mass media and agricultural agencies by the earlier adopters than the later ones. Evidence of a two-step concept of the diffusion of technological innovations was found with innovations flowing from their place of origin to the earlier adopters and from them to the later adopters. Innovativeness was found to be a general characteristic of certain respondents in that they adopted most innovations. The T.V. Chautauqua was more valuable than its predecessor in one respect; more of the laggards (who use fewer agricultural agencies than most orchardists) watched the televised program than attended the district hall chautauqua. This study is limited by the use of a sample to gather data, the use of an incomplete population list for sampling and inconsistencies in the interpretation of questions and answers by the interviewers. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

Educators need access to a technology-based instructional model that provides opportunities for students to develop an expanded set of skills, accommodates students' unique learning styles and rates, and which allows teachers flexibility in adapting the model to their own instructional styles. The thesis presents a concise operational definition of Technology Enhancement as it applies to instruction in secondary school classrooms. The definition of Technology Enhancement then forms the basis for developing criteria that can be used to establish and evaluate Technology Enhanced Instruction (TEI) programs in secondary schools. These criteria will also enable educators to ensure the longevity and continuity of the program in their schools, thus maximizing the educational benefits afforded by technology, while minimizing the potential capital costs. Technology will continue to pervade all aspects of educational institutions; educators are faced with the challenge of making effective use of technology and helping students to develop life-long learning skills without discarding established, effective educational strategies. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

M.Tech. (Computer Science) / The Signal Distribution department of the SABC does planning regarding the signal distribution or broadcasting network of the SABC. In order to do effective planning a tool had to be developed to assist in the planning of the broadcasting network. The Rand Afrikaans University was asked to supply a student to analyze the problems surrounding the development of such a tool and supply the SABC with a solution to the problems. The problems surrounding the development of a broadcast network planning model were the availability and accuracy of the information needed for planning. The data needed was spread throughout the country with only manual means to transport the data. The solution to the problem would be to develop a system to cope with the decentralized database and to gather the data in order to supply valuable planning information. To provide a framework for the solution of the planning problem, a broadcasting network was compared with a computer network. The comparison revealed a number of parallels between a broadcasting and a computer network. As a result of the resemblance between the two types of networks, a foundation for the development of a planning model for a broadcasting network could be identified. The ISO IS OSI approach was used as a foundation for the development of the model. The principles of the seven layers along with the three network management models The broadcasting network model was developed using the principles of the OSI approach, object orientation, geographical information systems and graphical user interfaces. A "package" was defined to assist in the logical data flow of the model. The package contains the specific data used in a calculation. A package containing information can be split or combined according to strict rules. The effective management of the package is a central issue in the development of the planning model. A prototype system was developed on PC-Arc/Info, a PC based GIS. The prototype's aim was to prove that the principles used in the model could be implemented successfully. As the developed system was intended to serve as a prototype, it did not implement the full functionality of the model, but only the functions necessary to prove the viability of the model.

The statement that the stable and developed world known to us no longer exists seems to be particularly relevant to the way in which organisations conduct their business and reposition themselves in the communication age. Organisations, as the context within which public relations functions, are threatened by increased competition and changes in key elements of market relationships as a result of global information technology developments and the mobility of organisations and people. The emergence of new information technology has lead to fundamental shifts in the relationships between corporations, individuals and society. An historical overview of the developing stages of public relations in terms of the dominant business approach and dominant public relations approach points to a definite relation to and subsequent influence of changing business paradigms in the practice of public relations. How business perceives communication is believed to impact significantly on the public relations philosophy, the public relations model and the definition of public relations. The fact that public relations has been a part of organisational life which, in turn, forms part of a larger environmental system explains this interdependency/relationship between dominant business approaches and dominant public relations approaches. The emergence of a new model of business is typical of the changes in the business environment and the impact on the context of public relations. Although public relations has evolved from one-way imbalanced communication to two-way balanced communication and professional recognition, it is evident that the paradigm shift in the business environment demands yet another paradigm shift in public relations. Increased interactivity and the need for customised communication form the heart of this paradigm shift and a new approach to public relations, namely an integrated communication approach, has been proposed as a solution to these demands posed by the changing face of business. Such an integrated approach has as its main focus the integration of all the activities of the organisation. It is maintained that this trend towards integration calls for consistency of communication activities of the organisation and co-ordination of its communication strategies. It is evident that the technology already in use by marketing for relationship management can be applied successfully in public relations. New technology impacts firstly on the practice and profession of public relations at a strategic level in aspects such as disintermediation, democratisation of communication access, levelling of organisational structures and the need for customised communication (personalised communication), and secondly on the application opportunities at technical level. Although various business applications of available technologies are applied in various disciplines and at different levels in the organisation, the value for public relations lies in the application of these technologies for the facilitation of communication with key constituents. The ultimate objective is building and maintaining beneficial relationships, and support given to business processes. The organisation will, among other things, require the public relations practitioner to be aware of new communication media and technology and to use it. This points to a new role for public relations in terms of the adaptability of this profession to changes in the new media environment and shifts in economic, social and business paradigms and it is maintained that the future of public relations depends on the acceptance of this role. This study followed a qualitative approach. The first step was a detailed literature study resulting in a number of postulates which were tested by means of an empirical investigation. The focus of this study falls on the investigation into factors driving the new paradigm shift in business, as context within which public relations functions, and the subsequent impact on the practice of public relations. It has provided new insights into technology usage in South Africa and the changes technology has brought about in this profession. / Prof. Sonja Verwey

Amid increased competition associated with globalisation, the South African manufacturing sector has come under increased pressure in recent times, with an associated decline in competitiveness. There has been a strong drive by organisations to invest in innovations in the form of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMTs) in an effort to improve their technological status and performance. While investment in AMTs often has a positive impact on performance, numerous accounts of the AMT not meeting expected benefits have been reported. Inability to effectively extract intended benefits from the AMT is often a result of the complex nature of the process, which requires technological considerations and a strategic approach. The objective of this research was to identify the critical organisational factors that impact AMT implementation and establish the relative importance of the factors to provide a guide to managers implementing AMTs to prepare their organisations for the new technology and extract the intended benefits. The research took the form of a quantitative study guided by a self-developed survey and was carried out on manufacturing organisations operating in South Africa. The survey put forward a set of four critical factors that impact AMT implementation, each defined by a proposed set of sub-factors that were validated as accurate definitions in the research. The research established the importance of the proposed factors in contributing to effective AMT implementation, with top management ability and training and education ranked highest, followed by organisational ability a level below and incentives and rewards occupying the lowest level of importance. The importance of these factors was validated through a correlation established between AMT implementation success and the degree to which the organisational factors are evident within an organisation. Organisational readiness of manufacturing companies in South Africa to effectively implement AMTs was also assessed. AMT Considerations related to the size of the organisation and the type of AMT being implemented are also presented along with a summary of key benefits targeted from AMT implementations. Findings were used to develop a model that presents a guide to highlight areas that need attention within an organisation to assist in the allocation of resources during AMT implementations. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lmgibs2015 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

Due to the ever-changing environment that businesses operate in, there is a need to manage people differently to equip firms to avoid extinction. This need means that firms must identify and leverage sources management innovation. This research study investigated management innovation on an individual level by examining eight predetermined characteristics of an individual (age, total employment tenure, organisational tenure, functional role, innovation momentum, management training, educational level and gender) as possible factors that could predispose him/her to being a source of management innovation. Data was collected using nonprobability sampling and employed a self-administered survey. The findings indicated that all factors with the exception of management training are associated with an individual being a source of management innovation. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lmgibs2015 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / Unrestricted

Orientador: Antônio Márcio Buainain / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Economia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-26T23:29:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mendes_CassiaIsabelCosta_D.pdf: 6277726 bytes, checksum: 6cb09a9b38c14b6aca578742e8782af1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: A contribuição da Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa) para a evolução da produção e da produtividade agrícola no Brasil é inegável. No período mais recente, face às profundas transformações estruturais que marcaram o setor, o Brasil e a economia mundial, a empresa tem sido pressionada ¿ e questionada ¿ a demonstrar que seu trabalho tem impactos positivos para a agricultura. Essa realidade trouxe a necessidade de refletir sobre a missão dos institutos públicos de pesquisa agrícola, sobre o papel e o alcance da transferência de tecnologia para garantir que os resultados da pesquisa alcancem seus potenciais beneficiários. A tese se situa neste contexto e teve como objetivo geral investigar os fatores condicionantes, exógenos e endógenos à Embrapa, que contribuem ou inibem a transferência de suas tecnologias para a agricultura brasileira. Os procedimentos metodológicos utilizados foram a revisão bibliográfica do marco teórico neo-schumpeteriano, consulta documental de políticas da Embrapa, análise de dados de Censo Agropecuário e entrevistas com 57 especialistas em inovação agrícola, transferência de tecnologia e agroinformática, de organizações públicas e privadas, nacionais e internacionais. Os resultados apontam para um conjunto de condicionantes externos, que influenciam internamente na empresa, como a falta da definição no País do papel da C&T enquanto indutora de desenvolvimento econômico e social; a dinâmica da ciência, cada vez mais baseada em redes colaborativas; a hierarquia de comando de cadeias produtivas agrícolas que interfere na decisão da tecnologia a ser adotada; a subordinação do agricultor às estruturas das cadeias produtivas; o fortalecimento da iniciativa privada na pesquisa agrícola e o deslocamento da pesquisa pública; a visão dicotômica ¿ agricultura familiar e empresarial ¿ que permeia políticas públicas; a heterogeneidade produtiva, de infraestrutura e socioeconômica dos agricultores; a elevada taxa de analfabetismo no meio rural; o alto grau de aversão ao risco do produtor rural na aquisição de nova tecnologia; a ausência de assistência técnica e extensão rural; a dualidade política de ministérios ligados ao mundo rural; a alta rotatividade de dirigentes da agricultura que reflete na indefinição de uma política agrícola de longo prazo. Os resultados indicam como condicionantes internos à Embrapa a sua estrutura organizacional fragmentada e rígida; a prevalência da visão linear que dificulta a visão sistêmica e de complementaridade; o planejamento estratégico esporádico; o sistema de inteligência que carece de pluralidade; a trajetória institucional da empresa que necessita ser alinhada ao contexto das mudanças da agricultura; a pouca autonomia das unidades descentralizadas; as dificuldades em celebrar parcerias com a iniciativa privada; a comunicação social pouco direcionada ao mercado; a valorização da produção científica em detrimento da tecnológica e o modelo mental de que o trabalho da pesquisa termina na publicação. As conclusões assinalam a necessidade da Embrapa se reposicionar no sistema de ciência, tecnologia e inovação. Para tanto, a empresa necessita operar com competências que vão além da pesquisa, intensificar suas interações com instituições que detém competências de mercado não associadas apenas à C&T e à P&D e engendrar um modelo organizacional sistêmico e horizontal que se reflita numa governança transversal da pesquisa / Abstract: The contribution of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) to the development of production and agricultural productivity in Brazil is well known and undeniable. In recent year doubts have been raised regarding the company current contribution to Brazilian rural producers, notably to small family farmers. Moreover, in the wake of deep structural changes in agricultural markets, the company has been under pressure to deliver positive results to the immediate benefit of Brazilian agriculture. This reality has brought the need to reflect about the mission of public agricultural research institutes and particularly on the role and scope of technology transfer to ensure research results reach its potential beneficiaries. The thesis deals with this issue and aimed to investigate the factors, endogenous and exogenous to Embrapa, which conditions, either contributing to or inhibiting, the transfer of its technologies for Brazilian agriculture. The methodological procedures used were: literature review of the neo-Schumpeterian theoretical framework, review of Embrapa¿s policy documents, Agricultural Census data analysis as well interviews with fifty seven experts in agricultural innovation, technology transfer and agro informatics, public and private, national and international organizations. Some exogenous factors are endogeneized and do exert influence on Embrapa¿s activities: the dubious role of S & T in the country development strategy; production of science increasingly based on collaborative networks; role of agricultural production chains on producer¿s decisions regarding adoption of alternative technology; subordination of farmers to supply chains¿ strategies; strengthening of private enterprises in agricultural research and displacement of public research; polarization of public policies between family and commercial agriculture; heterogeneity of Brazilian agriculture regarding production, infrastructure and socioeconomic indicators; high rate of illiteracy in rural areas; high degree of risk aversion of farmers; lack of technical assistance and rural extension services; political division between two ministries linked to the rural sector; high turnover of agricultural Ministers which reflects on the uncertainty of a long-term agricultural policy. The results point to a set of endogenous factors, such as Embrapa¿s fragmented and rigid organizational structure; prevalence of a linear view regarding that difficults the systemic vision and complementarity; sporadic strategic planning; lacking of plurality in the intelligence system; institutional trajectory of the company; limited autonomy of decentralized units; difficulties in establishing partnerships with private enterprises; limited focus of social communication targeted to markets; emphasis on scientific results rather than on technology itself technological and mental model which favors research and publications rather than its technological products. The results indicate the need for a repositioning of Embrapa in the system of science, technology and innovation. Therefore, the company must go beyond research, and enhance its interactions with institutions which have market skills and reorganize to a new systemic organizational model that reflects a cross-cutting governance research / Doutorado / Desenvolvimento Economico, Espaço e Meio Ambiente / Doutora em Desenvolvimento Econômico