Browsing by Author "Mwalemba, Gwamaka"

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    Open Access
    Information and Communication Technology Skills Dynamics in Mozambique
    (2025) Canani, Ammar; Mwalemba, Gwamaka
    The current state of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Mozambique is inadequate in terms of education, skills, infrastructure, government support, language, and culture. There is poor education available at all levels, and there is a lack of basic ICT skills countrywide. Language and cultural differences constitute barriers to ICT, due to English not being commonly spoken. The infrastructure of the country remains insufficient to fully reap the potential of ICT. As there is insufficient literature regarding ICT as a field in Mozambique , this study lays some of the groundwork in this regard, by inductively exploring the dynamics around ICT skills supply and demand, as perceived by local actors. The study was guided by a Case Study-Grounded Theory Methodology (CS-GTM), with data collected through in-depth interviews with various local stakeholders implicated in the ICT skills ecosystems. The findings reveal a never-ending loop of a lack of the supply of ICT opportunities (employment, education, and training) to gain ICT skills on the one hand, and a lack of skills available to demand ICT skills in the country as a result of the lack of current conditions for ICT growth, aided by a lack of support from the government for ICT on the other . Some of the dynamics raised were the centralisation and reliance on the capital city, the hierarchy of the different regions of the country, and the heavy reliance on foreign companies and talent. From a big picture view, the government holds the power in the ICT ecosystem but provides little support leading to stakeholders adapting to the situation. However, due little support, ICT skills supply remain inadequate leading to inadequate demand creating a never-end loop of ICT skills not improving in the ecosystem. For future research, studying the role of the government may assist in better understanding the different dynamics at play. Interviewing participants from the different parts of the country will broaden understanding. Lastly, comparing the dynamics in Mozambique to dynamics in similar countries (in terms of development indicators) may provide further insight.
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    Open Access
    A systemic landscaping of the software industry of an emerging economy : a case of the Western Cape, South Africa
    (2013) Mwalemba, Gwamaka; Sewchurran, Kosheek
    This study is an attempt to address that need focusing on Western Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa. Making use of case study research strategy, the research aimed at identifying the major pressure points in the software industry, their interactions (impact on each other) as well as impact on the overall industry. Data was collected through interviews with industry leaders operating in the province, analysed and synthesised abductively making use of systems thinking techniques to generate key insights for the industry. Research findings reveal an increasing frustration amongst businesses in dealing with a continuous decline of quality and quantity of software related skills, tension from competitors (mostly India) and absence of a nationwide or even regional software strategy which is an outcome of lack of leadership in the sector. The study concluded by highlighting the need for the government to take leadership and systemically organise the collective efforts of industry stakeholders such as business, academia, as well as NGOs into addressing the identified challenges.
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    Open Access
    The role of industry technologies in is education: a South African case study
    (2022) Mutetwa, Shaloam; Mwalemba, Gwamaka
    The issue of determining the most appropriate software tools for instructional purposes is not new. As the tools keep changing and evolving and considering the vast number of existing tools that are there, this process of selecting the best tools for students may become quite challenging and it is important that the dynamic be explored. This research targets studying factors that have impact on tool selection, implementation of tools in the curriculum, and impact of tool use on students. The study also uses Activity Theory as the theoretical framework in holistically exploring how these tools are implemented in an undergraduate Information Systems curriculum. The research adopts an interpretivist approach and follows an exploratory research design using qualitative methods to gather data and thematic analysis for data analysis. This case study is of a South African university, which was chosen using convenience sampling. Data was collected through interviews with 10 lecturers and 8 students at the Information Systems Department and analysis of course outlines. Key findings point to alignment with industry needs, affordability, availability of supplementary resources, and software functionality as some of the important criteria used by educators when selecting software products. The study also identifies primary and secondary contradictions as per the Activity Theory and these highlight the inconsistencies which exist in the department's use of technologies. It is important to note the lack of studies in this area, where existing research mainly focuses on tools used in specific courses in Information Systems, but none have looked at the Information Systems discipline as a whole. The study also highlights the different roles played by technology companies in facilitating the use of tools in courses, which to the researcher's knowledge, has never been done before. Thus, the research contributes to literature and fills the stated gaps in research and answers the research questions.