Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree
Doctor of Technology : Office Management & Technology
in the Faculty of Business
at the Cape Peninsula University Of Technology
2007 / In this research all references to technikons relate to the present Universities
of Technology. Since this study was conducted relating only to courses that
offer an experiential leaming component, it is to be noted that these courses
are offered mainly by the previous Technikon sector, prior to the
amalgamation of technikons with certain universities and colleges.
The specific research problem is defined and the background to this problem
explained. Both the research problem and objectives are formulated.
No efficient Management Information System for co-operative education
based on web-technology currently exists in South Africa. By means of a
study based on the present needs of co-operative education practitioners in South
Africa, and comparing the latter to certain existing management information
systems for co-operative education internationally, the objectives of the research
are addressed. Initially some critical activities are identified and used to map out
possible sub-systems.
Literature is reviewed relating to technologies relevant to this research, such as
the Web, Internet and lntranets. It outlines some information technologies
available to organisations and the educational environment. The literature also
highlights most of the processes within a management information system.
Furthermore, it summarises the initial considerations needed to develop a
management information system in this context. To focus more pertinently on the
problem a management information system relating to education is investigated.
Various existing management information systems in education in the UK, USA
and RSA are reviewed. Specific reference is made to management information
systems in general education in Australian schools. These investigations then
focus on one element of education, namely co-operative education. Possible cooperative
education sub-systems are mapped out from identified critical activities.
These sub-systems were instrumental in developing the pilot study and the final
questionnaire.
The research methodology and the techniques applied to address the research
objective, are discussed. Aspects such as reliability, validity, quantitative vs
qualitative research, the final measuring instrument, target population,
administering the questionnaire and data capturing, are addressed. The
development of the questionnaires and a two-dimensional matrix of the measuring
instrument are explained.
The responses to the various elements on each of the questionnaires are reported
on and the data is interpreted and grouped to form a synthesis. From the
synthesis, conclusions and recommendations relating to all three sub-systems
(students, employers and short courses), are listed.
These results of the questions as reported on and the interpretations recorded are
analysed. These relate to each question as well as to all the literature reviewed.
The conclusions and recommendations are supported by detailed crossreferences
to each chapter.
Some comparison of local (South African) and international preferences is
included.
The main objective of this study was to develop a scientifically-established model
of an adequate management information system for co-operative education, which
will comply with the needs of the South African Co-operative Education.
In summary then :
• A survey was undertaken of good international practice, from which a set of
desirable "elements", "components" or "sub-systems" was established.
Hereafter they are referred to as "sub-systems".
• These sub-systems were taken as the foundation for a questionnaire, where
in respondents were asked to consider the importance and detail of the subsystems.
• The questionnaire was reviewed for its effectiveness and completeness,
refined, and then deployed to 325 respondents nationally. Internationally 77
delegates responded.
• An analysis of their responses was used to develop a set of desirable
characteristics of a co-operative education management information system
in South Africa.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:cput/oai:localhost:20.500.11838/1698 |
| Date | January 2007 |
| Creators | Koch, Aneen |
| Publisher | Cape Peninsula University of Technology |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/za/ |
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