Business Commons^™

His Standardization In Developing Countries: Use Of Boundary Objects To Enable Multiple Translations, Edwin E. Nyella Mr., Honest Kimaro Dr.

The African Journal of Information Systems

Standardization and integration of Health Information Systems (HIS) in most developing countries has been reported as a complex undertaking due to poverty, multiplicity of diseases and diverse actors working in various initiatives within the healthcare context. The need for collaborative investments in HIS strengthening is highlighted by major actors such as WHO, as significant to achieve an integrated HIS. However, despite the fact that involvement of multiple partners is desirable as a vehicle to attain an integrated HIS, entailed challenges should be understood and well managed. By drawing on the concept of translation from actor network theory supplemented by the …

A Use Intention Model For Location-Based Mobile Advertising, Moses M. Thiga, Joseph Siror, Jason Githeko, Kageni Njagi

The African Journal of Information Systems

The use of location-based mobile advertising to deliver context specific information from businesses to clients has the potential to help them increase revenues, personalize offerings and reduce marketing costs. However, there is a lack of adoption of this emergent mode of advertising among micro-enterprises. This study examined the underlying reasons for this lack of adoption using an exploratory factor analytic study based on an adaptation of the Technology Acceptance Model with the choice of technology as an additional factor. Data was collected in a survey involving 304 micro-enterprises by means of structured questionnaires and interview schedules. A majority of micro-enterprises …

Factors Influencing Perceptions And Attitudes Of Nurses Towards The Use Of Ict In Patient Care In Kwazulu Natal Province, South Africa, Stephen M. Mutula

The African Journal of Information Systems

This paper presents the results of a study to determine factors influencing perceptions and attitudes of nurses towards the use of ICT in 16 hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, South Africa. Data were collected through a survey questionnaire and factor analysis performed to extract relevant variables. Overall, results revealed positive dispositions of nurses towards the use of ICT. Results further revealed self-efficacy, adoption of computers to improve nursing care, confidence in using computers; usefulness; interactability and knowledgeability were major factors influencing perceptions and attitudes of nurses towards use of ICT at the work place. Findings may inform institutional and provincial …

A Study On Information Technology Consumerization: Intentions To Use And Recognize Use Behaviors, Lorraine A. Lamb

Doctor of Business Administration Dissertations

The paper examines the influences of users’ beliefs, attitudes, social norms, and perceived control on IT Consumerization use in the technology industry. It was expected to find significant influences leading to intention to use and actual use of the consumerization service. By identifying key drivers that lead to actual use, more was understood as to how to successfully position the service within an organization in such a way so as to connect the employee’s interest to using an IT Consumerization service. In addition, the academic field of research is expanded by leveraging a well-grounded theoretical framework and an exploration of …

Factors Influencing The Use Of M-Banking By Academics: Case Study Sms-Based M-Banking, Gbolahan Olasina

The African Journal of Information Systems

There are several advantages with m-banking. Several related studies have shown that m-banking and indeed SMS-based mobile banking applications have become popular in many countries in Europe and America. The phenomenon remains not widely used in many others such as Nigeria. This study identified and investigated the factors that influence academics in Nigeria to use m- banking with focus on the evaluation of SMS-based mobile banking. The research model was adopted from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model (UTAUT). A survey questionnaire was administered to collect data from 150 academic staff and 350 university students of …

A Context-Aware Model To Improve Usability Of Information Display On Smartphone Apps For Emerging Users, Felix F. Ntawanga, Andre P. Calitz, Lynette Barnard

The African Journal of Information Systems

Smartphones have become a reliable technology for accessing information and services in rural communities. Mobile applications, such as social media and news apps running on smartphones, are no longer exclusively utilised by users in developed communities. Mobile applications are accessed in highly contextualised environments. This paper discusses a context-aware model that was implemented to improve the usability of information presented on smartphone applications for emerging users. User evaluation was conducted within a remote area in South Africa with a sample of users, most of whom did not have prior experience in using computer applications. The results of the evaluation present …

Investigating South African Vendors’ Cloud Computing Value Proposition To Small, Medium And Micro Enterprises: A Case Of The City Of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Lucas N. Gumbi, Ernest Mnkandla

The African Journal of Information Systems

While Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) are known to contribute significantly to economic growth and reduction of unemployment worldwide, South Africa experiences high failure rate, stagnation and limited growth of SMMEs. Cloud computing, which promises cost efficiencies for SMMEs through its unique outsourcing based business model, is emerging as a viable solution and an excellent value proposition to SMMEs. This study investigated the value proposition of cloud computing vendors to South African SMMEs. The problems addressed in this research are:

- investigating whether the concept of cloud computing and its related key terms are being comprehended by South African …

Managing Challenges Of Multicultural Information Systems Project Teams In South Africa, Udo Richard Averweg, Tom Addison

The African Journal of Information Systems

Information Systems (IS) project teams in South Africa need to be led by individuals whose skills include managing cultural diversity. A three phase Delphi study was used to collect and rank the methods used to manage culturally diverse IS project teams in the Johannesburg area of South Africa. The ‘top’ fifteen methods were selected and are presented in the report. The leading method found was to appoint project managers or team leaders who are aware of diversity issues, followed by the placing of increased emphasis on goals, objectives, boundaries and tasks. The paper’s principal contribution is that the study is …

Updating A Research Tradition By Examining The Effect Of New High Tech Channels On Consumer Search And Integrated Marketing: A Framework For Teaching, Deborah Fain, Mary Long

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

As computers became more powerful in the late 80s and early 90s, large marketers began to try to push what became known as customer relationship management . Specifically, they began to evaluate various channels and how consumers navigated among them when making purchase decisions. Most of the examples at that time were anecdotal, and obviously considered traditional channels, both retail and direct. These included retail, direct mail, print, television, radio, telephone, early email, and a small amount of Internet. The impact of the Internet on new ways consumers navigate among the channels to collect information and make purchase decisions was …

Progressive Trust Formation Within The South African Fresh Produce Industry Through The Use Of Self-Service Technologies, Justy Range, Awie C. Leonard Phd

The African Journal of Information Systems

When using self-service solutions to deliver services the challenge is to retain the trust of the end user. This is specifically the case when dealing with end users in the fresh produce market environment. This sector has not seen the adoption of self-service technologies specifically in southern Africa. In this paper we propose a model to enhance our understanding of trust formation using self-service technologies. A qualitative research approach, based on a case study was followed to create the model. This case study offers insight into how the dynamics of the product, supporting services and the technology shapes trust forming …

Usage Of Mobile Technology In Women Entrepreneurs: A Case Study Of Uganda, Mary -. Komunte

The African Journal of Information Systems

This study was motivated by the fact that despite Uganda having mobile phone service penetration of as much as 80% of its population, studies of mobile phone usage among women entrepreneurs in developing countries are still rare. Relatively little is known about women’s entrepreneurship and the mobile phone usage. Grounded in Habermas’ Critical Social Theory (CST), this paper applies the theory of emancipation to understand the usage of mobile phones among women entrepreneurs in urban and rural areas of Uganda. To select participants in the study, multi-stage and purposive sampling were used. Data was collected through questionnaire and focus group …

Ict Investment Effectiveness In The South African Post Office: Reconsidering The Approaches Of The Past 20 Years, Jan A. Meyer Phd (Pr.M), Sam Lubbe Phd, Matshwenyego T. Seabelo, Rembrandt Klopper Phd

The African Journal of Information Systems

Organisations have invested and continue to invest considerable resources in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Much of this investment is made on the basis of guarantee than an expected return will occur. This study presents the results of an empirical study of the impact of ICT investment on performance at the South African Post office (SAPO). Six years of historical data, from 2005 to 2010, were obtained from the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the SAPO and analysed. This included appropriate IT data and financial data from the organisation’s financial statements and balance sheet. ICT investments were tested against financial …

Intuition And Its Impact On Information Systems Success, Robecca Quammen

Doctor of Business Administration Dissertations

The concept of Intuition is not new to management and behavioral sciences. However, defining Intuition has been anything but intuitive even in these heavily studied domains. This research seeks to expand current Intuition research into the information systems (IS) domain. Given the velocity of change in contemporary IS, researchers and practitioners are seeking richer explanations and success measurements to better understand and promote effective use of IS. A preliminary content analysis of select proceedings from the Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), designed to assess the investigation and interest in the concept of Intuition as a contemporary IS research topic, …

An Examination Of Fit And The Use Of Mobile Devices For Performing Tasks, Carole L. Hollingsworth

Doctor of Business Administration Dissertations

This research seeks to better understand an individual’s use of mobile devices and the matching fit between type of mobile device and activity. As mobile devices swiftly progress and alter individuals’ ways of interacting with technology, a more comprehensive understanding of how tasks are impacted may help ensure appropriate device selection. The ability for more targeted device selection may increase use and help mobile device users and designers avoid the pitfalls of pre-existing, traditional technology.

Building on identified antecedents of success from the DeLone & McLean Information Systems Success Model and focusing on the measurement of hedonic and utilitarian tasks …

A Practical Transition Of Employees Towards Information Systems Adoption: A Public Service Perspective, Johan Rossouw Mr, Trish Alexander

The African Journal of Information Systems

This paper is a case study which studies change management in the pilot study phase of the implementation of an ERP system. This system, when rolled out in its entirety, will affect all parts of the public service and all state departments of an unnamed African country. Amongst the challenges faced is the matrix structure of the public sector, with one department seen as the driver of this change. This wide scope means that particularly skillful change management is required. Nine factors that had previously been identified from research literature on change management, IS adoption models, and different people-centric approaches …

Promoting Ict Careers Using A South African Ict Career Portal, Andre Calitz, Candice Evert, Margaret Cullen

The African Journal of Information Systems

South Africa is experiencing an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills shortage and a limited number of scholars and students are pursuing ICT careers. The provision of a web-based ICT career information platform as an effective solution to the growing demand for skilled ICT employees is the focus of this study. The study is grounded in the network theory of social capital. The aim of the development of an ICT career portal was to provide ICT career information to scholars, students and the ICT industry. Scholars can obtain information about ICT career opportunities and determine if they qualify for specific …

Multi-Stakeholder Assessment Of A Mobile And Temporarily Interconnected Systems Prototype: People-First Tourism, Fay Cobb Payton, Duarte Morais, Ernie Heath

The African Journal of Information Systems

While tourism has often been proposed as a mechanism for equitable and sustainable development in developing countries, most destination communities remain relegated to the role of passive “tourees” who are unable to participate in economic opportunities often controlled by tourism retail monopolies. Guided by information systems (IS) research on mobile and temporarily interconnected systems (MTIS), this work examines the ubiquitous nature of information services for users on the move. That is, users that are largely dependent on mobile telephones and temporary tourism services. Stakeholder interviews included local South African micro-entrepreneurs from under-resourced rural and peri-urban communities and other national and …

Knowledge Management And The Nigerian Culture – A Round Peg In A Square Hole?, Adeola Bamgboje-Ayodele, Leonie Ellis

The African Journal of Information Systems

Knowledge Management (KM) is a key strategy which many organizations have been leveraging upon because of its potential in achieving competitive advantage. However, factors such as the national culture can impact the efficacy of this strategy. Hence, the aim of this paper is to provide insight into how Nigerian culture influences organizational culture, which in turn influences KM practices in Nigerian organizations. Based on a post-positivist stance, this research employs a descriptive survey approach for the data collection and analysis while also incorporating Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. The findings suggest that the hierarchical nature of the society in Nigeria supports centralized …