OpenUCT :: Browsing by Author "Brown, Irwin"

Browsing by Author "Brown, Irwin"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 47

Open Access
Accessibility of E-government Services for Persons with Disabilities in Developing Countries- The Case of Ghana
(2020) Agangiba, Millicent Akotam; Kabanda, Salah; Brown, Irwin
Several benefits have been attributed to E-government, including the potential to promote independence and belongingness for persons with disabilities (PWD) by enhancing participatory and inclusive governance. Hitherto, government services that required several and long journeys followed by long queues waiting for service at government offices can now be accessed online irrespective of the geographical location via E-government services. As a result, developing countries like Ghana continue to commit resources to the implementation of E-government to harness the associated benefits. Accessibility has been acknowledged, by both practitioners and those in academia, as a key consideration to prevent disparities among citizens which may put PWD at risk of exclusion. However, providing solutions to accessibility challenges for PWD has consistently proven difficult in most E-government implementation projects in developing countries. Therefore, this study investigates the accessibility of Egovernment services for PWD in Ghana with the aim of identifying how key E-government stakeholders perceive accessibility and the contextual drivers that lead to the exclusion of PWD in the development of E-government services. Also, this study seeks to understand if and how these stakeholders and contextual drivers reinforce the exclusionary process. The study employed an interpretive, inductive approach, with sensitising concepts from Egovernment accessibility literature, and the social exclusion framework. Multiple data collection methods were used, namely; observations as a preliminary step to obtaining a better understanding of how the visually impaired use ICTs; interviews as the primary data collection technique from 37 participants; and document analysis. The study involved 3 groups of participants: the visually impaired, E-government web developers and government officers. Data analysis was carried out in two phases- firstly thematic analysis was used to report on perceptions of government officers and developers on accessibility and the experiences of PWD. Contextual drivers impeding accessibility and affecting accessibility experience of PWD were also derived from the thematic analysis. Secondly, E-government and disability policy documents mentioned in interview discussions were analysed using content analysis. The findings of the content analysis were used to validate, clarify and to conduct post-interview checking. The findings show that government officers and developers play a key role in the development of E-government services. Whilst Government officers and developers were identified as powerful agents whose practices determined the accessibility of services that were developed; PWD were side-lined and not involved in the E-government development project. Also, perceptions of government officers and developers on accessibility vary from those of PWD. While government officers and developers believe that with little assistance from third parties PWD can access E-government services, PWD perceive accessibility should offer them the independence to retrieve government information and engage in electronic transactions of their choice. Evidently, accessibility perceptions of E-government implementers differ from that of PWD. Further, the findings show that exclusion of PWD from E-government services is as a result of the intertwining of several contextual drivers, including political, socio-cultural, technological and personal. Political, socio-cultural and technological drivers influence the perceptions and practices of government officers and developers and determine their responses to the accessibility needs of PWD. Personal drivers limit the capabilities of PWD to access Egovernment services and impact on their accessibility experiences. Contextual drivers independently facilitate the exclusion of PWD; however, their interactions with government officers and developers shape their perceptions and constitute crucial exclusionary forces. These exclusionary forces when fed into the development of E-government services reinforce the exclusion of PWD. Given that personal drivers limit the capabilities of PWD, their inabilities to act as change agents reinforce their exclusion. Moreover, power differentials among stakeholders play a vital role in the exclusionary process. The study contributes to better understanding of influences on the E-government development process, how services become inaccessible and the accessibility challenges PWD face. Practically, the study has several implications on the development and implementation of E-government services in developing countries like Ghana. For example, the findings are useful to inform the political leadership on policies and structures to put in place to enhance the accessibility of Egovernment services for PWD.
Open Access
Acquired status in free and open source software user groups
(2010) Matavire, Rangarirai; Brown, Irwin
This study represents a seamless weaving of new and previously seemingly unrelated concepts on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) participation into an integrated substantive framework. The research demonstrates how patterns of behaviour amongst FOSS participants serve as currency for the acquisition of status. Stages of the Basic Social Process (BSP) that lead to the resolution of the status concern are proposed. The core elements of the BSP are found to be Joining, Learning, Locating, Cultivating and Consolidating. These constructs represent the non-linear stages which the members of the community encountered in their FOSS journey towards acquiring status. The conditions for variation of the constructs are also addressed in this study.
Open Access
Analysis of designed and emergent consequences of mobile banking usage by SME’s in Kenya using ethnographic decision tree modeling
(2014) Mwangi, James Boniface; Brown, Irwin
Evaluating the impact of Information and Communications Technologies for Development (ICT4D) has been a challenge both in terms of theoretical and methodological approaches. It has been pointed out in extant literature that ICT4D impact studies are few compared to those that investigate determinants of adoption. Knowledge of this scarcity and the theoretical and methodological limitations led to the conception of this study. This study set out to investigate the decision criteria evaluated by Kenyan micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) when making the initial mobile banking adoption and usage decisions with a view to unearth the designed and emergent consequences. Ethnographic decision tree modelling (EDTM) which is a cognitive research methodology was feasibly employed to obtain the adoption and usage decision criteria from which quantifiable and non-quantifiable consequences were then inferred. Structuration theory was used as a theoretical lens to view the complex context in which mobile banking is embedded and adopted by MSMEs. The analysis of the empirical data obtained from the MSMEs led to the construction and testing of three decision models from which the study’s theory was developed. The derived theory demonstrates the existence of structurational interactions among decision criteria, antecedents of technology adoption, behavioural intention to adopt, and the designed and emergent consequences of actual usage. The study further reveals that contrary to popular belief and argument that adoption of mobile banking technology lowers financial services cost, Kenyan MSMEs adopt the technology not because of its affordability but because of other factors such as perceived usefulness, accessibility, safe custody of daily income, limited organizational capabilities, perceived ease of use, social capital and trust structures. The derived explanatory-predictive theory provides findings that may have significant implications for fiscal and monetary policymakers, development experts and mobile banking technology designers.
Open Access
Antecdents and conequences of consumer internet of things security self efficiency
(2023) Behardien, Raeesa; Brown, Irwin
The Internet of Things (IoT) is defined as the next great era of communication and comes with the promise of massive transformations to society and the way the internet works. The growth and demand of IoT devices has led to the increased production of unsecure connected devices that have managed to enter the physical world with many distinct applications. Consumer IoT devices are increasingly available and adopted in all its various forms. Consumer IoT devices can connect to any environment using an internet connection, so it becomes important to secure them against vulnerabilities and security threats. Users of Consumer IoT may be aware of and understand the information security threats they face; however, their self-efficacy affects their ability to protect themselves. The consumers self-efficacy represents the ability to carry out responsive behaviours and the belief that the applied responsive behaviour will have the desired impact. It has been determined to affect their ability to secure Consumer IoT devices and their ability to appropriately respond to the various threats. This research study contributes to the information security area of knowledge by means of a quantitative study with 230 South African respondents. Here, the focus is on the antecedents and consequences of consumer IoT security self-efficacy while evaluating the constructs: IoT Security Behavioural Practices, Behavioural Intention, IoT Security Technology Practices, IoT Security Self-Efficacy, IoT Device Knowledge, IoT Device Experience, IoT Security Breach Incidents, and Consumer IoT General Controllability. The findings from this study show that the consumer IoT device knowledge and consumer IoT general controllability of the user are the antecedents of consumer IoT security self-efficacy. The consequences of consumer IoT security self-efficacy are IoT security technology practices, behavioural intention and IoT security behavioural practices. Similarly, the findings show that there is a positive relationship between the consumers behavioural intention and the IoT security behavioural practices that they carry out.
Open Access
Antecedents to the effectiveness of game-based learning environments for the Net generation: A game task fit and flow perspective
(2017) Mosiane, Segomotso; Brown, Irwin
Purpose: There is a general consensus that games are effective as learning tools. There is however, a lack of knowledge regarding what makes games effective as a learning tool. The purpose of this study is therefore to answer the question: what are the antecedents of an effective game-based learning environment for the Net generation? The Net generation comprises individuals who prefer to learn using games as a tool. Aim: The aim of this dissertation is to develop a conceptual framework that reflects the antecedents of an effective game-based learning environment for the Net generation. The conceptual framework combines the IS Success Model, and the Task-Technology Fit and Flow theory. Method: The study used a quantitative method. Data was collected using an online instrument. The study used 125 participants from mainly the United Kingdom, United States and South Africa. The model was validated using confirmatory factor analysis and tested using multiple regression analysis. Key Findings: The identified antecedents of effectiveness are Game-Task Fit and Flow, where Flow consists of Clear Goals, Feedback and Concentration. Additionally, the Use factor in the model is replaced by Perceived Usefulness. The Conceptual Framework can be used as an evaluation tool for effective game-based learning environments for the Net generation.
Open Access
Artificial Intelligence Affordances for Organisational Change: Perspectives from South African Artificial Intelligence Practitioners
(2023) Achmat, Luqman; Brown, Irwin
Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have been in use for several decades, but have seen substantial growth and commercialisation in the last decade, largely due to the available and growing ubiquitous access to more affordable computing resources. While some organisations have adopted these technologies fairly quickly, others grapple with understanding how these technologies would strategically benefit the organisation. The purpose of this research is to address this gap by theorising how AI could be positioned to influence strategic organisational change. It does so by delineating the AI features and drawing on affordance theory to explicitly identify the affordances, the types of organisational change and the constraining conditions under which such AI-related affordances may influence organisational change. This qualitative study adopts an interpretive epistemology, while lending itself towards a constructivist ontology. By adopting a qualitative interview strategy for data collection, and a thematic analysis to analyse the data, this study abductively theorises how AI affords organisational change from the perspective of the AI practitioner. It uses the Trajectory of Affordances as the underpinning lens to explore this phenomenon. Eight key affordances are identified: (i) Analysing risk, (ii) analysing needs, (iii) forecasting, (iv) assessing efficiency and effectiveness, (v) providing prediction criteria, (vi) translating information, (vii) tailoring information, and (viii) improving predictability as an affordance that results from an outcome or organisational change influenced by one or more of the other affordances.
Open Access
Artificial Intelligence Affordances for Organisational Change: Perspectives from South African Artificial Intelligence Practitioners
(2024) Achmat, Luqman; Brown, Irwin
Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have been in use for several decades, but have seen substantial growth and commercialisation in the last decade, largely due to the available and growing ubiquitous access to more affordable computing resources. While some organisations have adopted these technologies fairly quickly, others grapple with understanding how these technologies would strategically benefit the organisation. The purpose of this research is to address this gap by theorising how AI could be positioned to influence strategic organisational change. It does so by delineating the AI features and drawing on affordance theory to explicitly identify the affordances, the types of organisational change and the constraining conditions under which such AI-related affordances may influence organisational change. This qualitative study adopts an interpretive epistemology, while lending itself towards a constructivist ontology. By adopting a qualitative interview strategy for data collection, and a thematic analysis to analyse the data, this study abductively theorises how AI affords organisational change from the perspective of the AI practitioner. It uses the Trajectory of Affordances as the underpinning lens to explore this phenomenon. Eight key affordances are identified: (i) Analysing risk, (ii) analysing needs, (iii) forecasting, (iv) assessing efficiency and effectiveness, (v) providing prediction criteria, (vi) translating information, (vii) tailoring information, and (viii) improving predictability as an affordance that results from an outcome or organisational change influenced by one or more of the other affordances.
Open Access
Balancing Migration: Overcoming the challenge to SaaS provisioning for core business activities: A South African case study
(2017) Manjo, Sherwin; Brown, Irwin
Cloud computing provides shared information and communication technology (ICT) resources to individuals and organisations, including hardware and software resources that were previously too costly for an individual organisation to manage and own. Cloud computing makes vast amounts of ICT resources available to business organisations, resources that can improve business processes and allow business organisations to leverage ICT in ways that were previously impossible. The correct implementation, adoption and usage of ICT within a business organisation can lead to enhancements in productivity, innovation, and new products and services, as well as the reduction of production costs. Recent literature has attested to the fact that the adoption of cloud computing has been much lower than expected. Business organisations that have adopted cloud computing have done so mainly in products and services that can be categorised as support or non-core activities, such as HR, accounting, and marketing. In order to understand why the adoption pattern of cloud computing in business organisations has focused mainly on non-core activities, this study aims to identify the core challenge facing cloud service providers (CSPs) that provision cloud solutions to business organisations in the investment management industry. These would include cloud solutions that investment managers can use in their core business activities. Furthermore, the aim of this dissertation is to identify how CSPs overcome the core challenge faced. A case study was performed on a single CSP that provisions a SaaS solution to the investment management sector in South Africa. The case study identified migration as the core challenge experienced by CSPs. Classical grounded theory was used to generate the theory of “Balancing Migration” being the resolution to the core challenge identified. The results of the study point to the fact that investment management organisations have processes and systems that have become entrenched in their business over many years. Migrating an established system to the cloud is more than just substituting software. Migration to the cloud requires investment managers to migrate both business processes and operating strategy, and to migrate the actual software products and infrastructure. A CSP provisioning a SaaS solution for a core business activity needs to migrate the products that they offer as well as their business strategy. The theory of “Balancing Migration” proposes that these four categories of migration challenges need to be addressed simultaneously and holistically. In summary, “Migration” is the core concern to a CSP provisioning a SaaS solution for a core business activity, and “balancing migration” is how this core concern is resolved.
Open Access
Critical success factors, mechanisms, and information technology project success: a case study of a data migration project in a large South African organisation
(2020) Krakri, Akhona; Brown, Irwin
Background: There are numerous studies in the Information Technology (IT) field on IT project success and/or failure and reasons thereof. There is much discussion about what constitutes IT project success and the main determinants are generally a subjective matter. Several studies address critical success factors and some address success criteria about IT projects. However, the combination of mechanisms, success criteria, and critical success factors has not been adequately researched or widely addressed and hence the need to conduct this study which seeks to examine the aforementioned relationships and propose a modified model to explain the links among them. Objectives: The main objectives of this study are: 1) To identify and discuss the role played by success factors (input variables) in an IT project; 2) To identify and discuss the role played by success criteria (output variables) in an IT project; 3) To identify and discuss the role played by mechanisms (mediating variables) and impact thereof on an IT project; and 4) To identify, investigate and explore the interrelationships between the aforementioned constructs and how they impact the success of an IT project. Research Methodology/Approach: A modified model of the Black Box of IS Project Success Mechanisms was utilised to guide the data collection process. The model was based on three fundamental constructs developed from various sources of literature viz. success criteria, critical success factors, and mechanisms. The study made use of a single case study based on a data migration project which one of the major corporates in South Africa executed. The data migration project provides for a distinct type of IT project suitable to meet the study objectives. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews, and a thematic analysis was conducted to identify success factors, mechanisms, and IT project success criteria. Findings: The findings revealed that there are several success criteria measures viz. the traditional project management triangle (cost, scope and time), non-functional requirements, customer satisfaction, other stakeholders' requirements, quality assurance, organisational benefits, and learning and growth. Further, there are several critical success factors including project management factors, team-related factors, organisational factors, business process factors, and governance and risk factors. There are core mechanisms that are pivotal to the success of the IT project which includes project visibility, teamwork, and effective communication.
Open Access
Cultivating recognition: A classic grounded theory of e-learning providers working in East Africa
(2012) Tossy, Titus; Brown, Irwin
The purpose of this thesis is to identify and examine the main concern amongst e-learning providers tasked with e-learning activities (design, delivery, implementation, etc) in East Africa, including Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. In this study the Classic Grounded Theory research methodology was used in order to identify the main concern of e-learning providers in these countries. In the course of repeated encounters with e-learning providers, this study found the concept of ""Cultivating Recognition"" to emerge as the main concern or core variable amongst these e-learning providers. The core variable within the Classic Grounded Theory research method is the main entity that accounts for most of the variation in the data. . The e-learning providers were shown to be continually striving to resolve the issue of how to cultivate recognition from those who sponsor and monitor the projects with which they are tasked. Without proper recognition from their various stakeholders, the e-learning providers were unable to successfully deliver e-learning programs to the targeted learners. The research discovered that there were two key sub-core variables that enabled the ""Cultivation of Recognition"": ""Legitimizing"" and ""Credentializing"". The process of ""Legitimizing"" involves convincing the e-learning stakeholders that the e-learning programs and projects will be delivered in a timely, valid and sustainable manner. ""Credentializing"" aims to enhance the stakeholders' belief in the e-learning provider's competence prior to the start of the e-learning project, given that sponsors and stakeholders would be unwilling to commission a project if they believe an e-learning professional's ability to deliver in terms of both financial and operational quality parameters is in question. In addition to the findings, two main implications emerged from the research. Firstly, for those working within the context of e-learning delivery within East African countries, it is not sufficient for e-learning providers simply to possess or demonstrate a high level of technical competence. They need also to be trained and mentored in how to cultivate the recognition of potential stakeholders before they canvas for e-learning projects. Secondly the possibility exists for career academics in any discipline to enhance their own research funding prospects by mastering the process of Cultivating Recognition.
Open Access
The development and institutionalisation of an integrated health care waste information system
(2012) Delcarme, Brian; Roode, JD; Brown, Irwin
Waste management generally in South Africa is poorly defined and practised, and the inadequate management of health care waste (HCW) has been recognised by the South African government as a significant environmental and public health risk. The literature revealed that an integrated health care waste information system (IHCWIS) serves as an important intervention to address the issue of poor health care waste management (HCWM). The overall key research question which this research asked was: "How does an IHCWIS develop and become institutionalised among health care waste generators?" The aim of the research was to gather empirical data to understand how the development and institutionalisation of an IHCWIS contributes to effective HCWM.
Open Access
Digital Business Strategising in the context of Regulatory Uncertainty - the case of a Financial Services Provider in South Africa
(2020) Brown, Nancy; Brown, Irwin
With the rise of digital technologies that have disrupted standard business models and created a new level of competition in the market, the need for digital business strategising that shapes the future of organisations and achieves digital transformation is high on the agenda of most firms. The added complexity of uncertainty in the regulatory environment regarding financial products and services, regulation of digital platforms and ongoing financial regulatory changes based on macro-economic turbulence, makes for a complex external environment within which businesses need to effectively compete and achieve performance targets. A qualitative, interpretive case study of a South African based global organisation is undertaken to explore and understand how organisations navigate the macro-environmental landscape while forging a digitally transformed future. The research uses thematic analysis to extract themes in the data collected from both IT and business leaders as they navigate the path of transitioning from traditional to digital business models in the context of regulatory uncertainty. The study provides insight into what is required for firms to achieve digital transformation, and demonstrates the influence that regulatory uncertainty has on the digital business strategising process of a firm. A conceptual model is developed that reflects the key drivers of digital transformation to achieve digital maturity and competitive advantage, and also represents the external influencing factors of regulatory uncertainty. The findings reveal a shift to a more tactical, combined top-down, bottom-up strategising practice with reliance on dynamic capabilities, strong leadership and innovation to overcome challenges of regulatory uncertainty.
Open Access
E-commerce and small and medium enterprises (SME) in least developed countries : the case of Tanzania
(2013) Kabanda Salah; Brown, Irwin
The purpose of the study was to investigate the E-Commerce phenomena in Tanzania with the goal of understanding how E-Commerce is typically made sense of by Tanzanian SMEs and how the sense making is produced, sustained and affected by environmental and organisational conditions. Structuration theory was used as a theoretical lens from which the social construction of the E-Commerce phenomena could be understood. The study primarily adopted a subjective interpretive stance. A preliminary quantitative study using questionnaires and interviews was done to gain an initial understanding of the E-Commerce status quo in Tanzania. The main study was qualitative in nature and used interviews with 33 Tanzanian SMEs as the data collection method.
Open Access
Enterprise architecture driven design of an artefact to support strategic Information Technology decision-making of Small Enterprises in Nigeria and South Africa
(2018) Alhassan, Mohammed; Brown, Irwin
Information Technology (IT) is inevitably influencing the way enterprises operate, compete, and grow. The contemporary disruption has not excluded small companies. Small enterprises play a significant role in the growth of every economy but are hindered by limited skills, time, and money. The attributes of small enterprises influence the strategic and day-to-day operations. Small enterprise owners are often the managers who make the strategic decisions in order to solve specific problems. The decision style of small enterprise owner-managers limits the leveraging of IT. To ensure the sustainability of small enterprises in a contemporary business ecosystem, it is pertinent to strategise IT investment decisions. Enterprise architecture is a well-known approach to business and IT alignment. This study aimsto discover and develop how the complex enterprise architecture principles can strategise the IT decisionmaking process in small enterprises with limited resources and informal structures. The pragmatic philosophic stance was the premise for understanding the decision challenges and the development of a roadmap to intervene the problems the researcher identified. The Vaishnavi and Kuechler design science research methodology guided this study. The qualitative research approach was employed to collect verbal data with eleven small enterprise ownermanagers to understand the processes and the challenges of making IT decision in small enterprises. A thematic analysis of the findings revealed that lack of formalisation, limited information, and lack of IT skill created a critical bottleneck of IT investment decisions in small enterprises. An enterprise architecture-driven framework was developed to overcome the bounded rationality approach to IT choices in small enterprises. The framework holistically assesses organisational business-IT capabilities, constraints, and criteria to guide the decisionmaker's choice. The characteristics of small enterprises limit the successful implementation of the enterprise architecture-driven framework as a theoretical guideline for making optimal IT decisions in small enterprises. This study further developed an online IT decision-assistive tool informed by the framework. The instantiation artefact was demonstrated with six small enterprise owners from Nigeria and South Africa. The findings affirmed the prospect, potential, and relevance of an enterprise architecture-driven artefact as a tool to optimise strategic IT decisions in small manufacturing, service, and retail enterprises. The artefact developed in this study provided a practical intervention to the challenges of IT investment decisions in small enterprises.
Open Access
Factors Influencing the Adoption of the World Wide Web for Job-Seeking in South Africa
(2010) Pavon, Fernando; Brown, Irwin
In the past decade, the use of the World Wide Web (WWW) as a tool for job-seeking a nd recruitment has increased globally, changing the dynamics for job-seekers and recruitment organisations. The purpose of this study was to gain greater insight into the factors that influence the adoption of the Internet (WWW) for job-seeking within a South African context. The impact of the Internet (WWW) and newspaper-reading habits on the adoption process was of specific interest. Data was gathered by survey through telephonic interviews with 228 job seekers applying for information technology (IT) work in Cape Town, South Africa. The findings show that the income of a job-seeker influences the favourability of internet facilitating conditions they encounter. Facilitating conditions in turn influence Internet (WWW) usage habits. Such habits influence performance expectancy, effort expectancy and intentions to use the Internet (WWW) for job-seeking. The actual extent of Internet (WWW) usage for job-seeking is positively influenced by these usage intentions and negatively influenced by newspaper-reading habits. These and other findings are discussed and implications drawn.
Open Access
Factors influencing the decision to transition from Multi-Channel to Omni-Channel – A Banking Perspective
(2020) Binza, Lungile; Brown, Irwin
Banking through insufficiently coordinated and non-integrated channels (Multi-Channel) is slowly being discarded. With Omni-Channel banking, where channels are integrated and data and information are shared across cross channels, customers are in control of the channels they wish to use. Factors influencing the organisational decision to transition from Multi-Channel to Omni-Channel hasn't been fully explored. Is this decision responding to internal factors like efficiency improvements, or is it driven by external factors like customer demands, trying to enhance customer experience, gaining competitive advantage over the competitors, expanding the business by introducing new business models, or trying to gain access to smart technologies for financial benefit? This dissertation presents research findings into the investigation of factors that influence the organisational decision to transition from Multi-Channel to Omni-Channel banking. A positivist case study with inductive reasoning was adopted. Qualitative data was collected from a single organisation through interviews together with observations of the strategy documents between January 2019 and April 2019. An initial conceptual model was derived from the literature review to guide data collection, after which thematic analysis was used to analyse the data and develop an emergent theory. The key findings from the research study are that a customer centric approach informs the decision to transition. The customer is at the centre of the omni-channel strategy: that is through an enhanced customer experience or timeously responding to customer demands. Other factors are either enabling this strategy, like technological innovations, and efficiency improvements or are the outcome of the strategy like customer satisfaction, revenue or cost optimisation, and competitive advantage. The key implications are that organisations must pay more attention to the customer journey and ensure that they advance in the Customer Experience Capability Maturity Model. Most successful business transitions to the Omni-Channel strategy require a transformation in organizational culture, operations and processes, and the underlying technologies.
Open Access
Factors that influence behavioural intention on political party websites in South Africa
(2014) Lewis, Jonathan; Brown, Irwin
The underlying context of this research is a focus on political party websites and citizen usage behaviour. The background of the study investigates how the role of the party website has risen to growing prominence in the online campaign context due to the transformative nature of the Internet on modern communication, as a whole. As a result, evaluating website quality in the political arena is of strategic importance but lacks a strong body of dedicated research in the academic community. Rigourous evaluations can point to improvements in the way parties develop and use websites to engage citizens. At an aggregate level as a result of these improvements, more effective political engagement online may contribute to healthier democratic processes and more politically active citizenry. At an organisational level, for parties themselves, more effective political engagement online can produce benefits at large scale, such as expanded reach, better targeting and profiling of constituents, with significant cost-savings, increased voter turnout and improvements to public opinion.
Open Access
The impact of bring-your-own-device on work practices in the financial sector
(2016) Mphahlele, Palesa; Brown, Irwin
Bring-your-own-device (BYOD) refers to the practice of allowing the employees of an organisation to use their own computers, smartphones, or other devices for work purposes. This has brought a tremendous change in today's working environment. Organisations are faced with many technology trends which have the potential to create a competitive advantage in terms of both performance and efficiency. This paper follows a qualitative approach in which 15 interviews were conducted and a survey covering of 87 respondents was distributed. The findings show that the financial sector interpret s BYOD as a strategy that can create a competitive advantage to provide benefits of increased productivity, flexibility in the workforce, more autonomy, and contribute to the cost - efficiency of the business. There was also a disregard of policy formulation for BYOD from management which created a problem as employees became despondent that their personal devices were n o t allowed to access the corporate network. In addition, the findings revealed that work practices have to be re - defined and policies have to be drawn up in order to protect the company's assets and to provide guidelines. To guide the research in this emerging area, a review of several established theories that have not yet been applied to BYOD were used to form part of the proposed framework, which aims to provide a mechanism in the workplace to evaluate the impact of BYOD. This paper used exploratory analysis where six major influences of work practices were identified: 1) Change in behaviour; 2) Impact on workload; 3) Changes in motivation of individuals; 4) Re-definition of work practices; 5) Impact on overall performance; and 6) Approach required for industry. It was possible to associate them to several related constructs in IS literature which exposed possibilities for future theory-building efforts. The main influences on work practices are discussed with respect to the proposed framework.
Open Access
The impact of ICT expansion on promoting democracy and economic freedom in the Middle East (1995-2005)
(2010) Shirazi, Firad; Ngwenyama, Ojelanki; Brown, Irwin
The PhD study has found that ICT expansion has positively influenced democratic freedom, information sharing and dissemination and provides a public sphere for discourse among citizens of the eleven Middle Eastern countries. This thesis also found that ICT expansion positively influences economic freedom in the eleven Middle Eastern countries. However, differences between countries such as the educational attainment of their citizens and institutional resistance to ICT utilization both enhanced and restricted the relationship between ICT and economic freedom in the region
Open Access
Impediments on the path to academic success in an IS degree programme: a South African perspective
(2008) Brown, Irwin; Moola, Imtiaz; Mugjenkar, Ariefah; Sands, Michae
The aim of this research was to investigate impediments to success (in terms of pass marks) in an information systems degree programme. A programme at a South African university was used as the basis for investigation. A mixed method research approach was employed whereby semi-structured interviews were carried out with 14 students and 2 staff members, in addition to a quantitative survey amongst a larger group of learners. In this paper we report on findings derived from the qualitative data. This data was analysed using coding techniques taken from the grounded theory methodology. The end result was a framework showing that the major impediments related to the students (1) environmental context, (2) approach to academic work, (3) prior programming experience, (4) communication skills and (5) teamwork difficulties. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Browsing by Author "Brown, Irwin"

Results Per Page

Sort Options