Investigating the factors driving adoption of RPA in South African banking: a qualitative analysis

dc.contributor.advisorBudree, Adheesh
dc.contributor.authorTew, Mark
dc.date.accessioned2021-02-26T13:54:11Z
dc.date.available2021-02-26T13:54:11Z
dc.date.issued2020
dc.date.updated2021-02-26T13:53:33Z
dc.description.abstractBackground: Studies have shown that the traditional banking sector is under threat from digital banks and financial technology (fintech) organisations that can operate with a lower cost base and respond to the market faster. In response to this threat, leading banks have implemented Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to reduce costs and simplify operations. The adoption of RPA has, however, proven to be challenging as in many cases the impact of automation technology implementations is perceived to affect the livelihoods of staff who work in banks. Within the South African banking context, there is a particular sensitivity to factors that impede employment and labour unions are deeply involved in protecting workers. Objective: While there is research on RPA implementations, it is limited in the banking context. Further, there is currently little to no RPA adoption research specifically in the South African banking context. This study seeks to investigate the factors that drive RPA adoption in South African banks. Method: This study has used the Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework, extended with Institution Theory, as a lens to structure an approach in organising RPA adoption factors in an extensive literature review on the phenomenon. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview data that was collected. Themes were aggregated and organised by the TOE perspectives to create structure throughout the study. Results: The findings were that the adoption of RPA in South African banks is driven by the expected benefits of RPA which are achieved when well-suited processes are targeted, an effective operating model for the program including business and IT personnel, with the right skills. A well-designed change program is critical for RPA adoption in banks. South African banks are also working closely with the trade unions and are, on the whole, following best practices when automating parts of their workforce's roles by ensuring that they are given the opportunity to work on more engaging tasks.
dc.identifier.apacitationTew, M. (2020). <i>Investigating the factors driving adoption of RPA in South African banking: a qualitative analysis</i>. (). ,Faculty of Commerce ,Department of Information Systems. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33017en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationTew, Mark. <i>"Investigating the factors driving adoption of RPA in South African banking: a qualitative analysis."</i> ., ,Faculty of Commerce ,Department of Information Systems, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33017en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationTew, M. 2020. Investigating the factors driving adoption of RPA in South African banking: a qualitative analysis. . ,Faculty of Commerce ,Department of Information Systems. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33017en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Master Thesis AU - Tew, Mark AB - Background: Studies have shown that the traditional banking sector is under threat from digital banks and financial technology (fintech) organisations that can operate with a lower cost base and respond to the market faster. In response to this threat, leading banks have implemented Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to reduce costs and simplify operations. The adoption of RPA has, however, proven to be challenging as in many cases the impact of automation technology implementations is perceived to affect the livelihoods of staff who work in banks. Within the South African banking context, there is a particular sensitivity to factors that impede employment and labour unions are deeply involved in protecting workers. Objective: While there is research on RPA implementations, it is limited in the banking context. Further, there is currently little to no RPA adoption research specifically in the South African banking context. This study seeks to investigate the factors that drive RPA adoption in South African banks. Method: This study has used the Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework, extended with Institution Theory, as a lens to structure an approach in organising RPA adoption factors in an extensive literature review on the phenomenon. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview data that was collected. Themes were aggregated and organised by the TOE perspectives to create structure throughout the study. Results: The findings were that the adoption of RPA in South African banks is driven by the expected benefits of RPA which are achieved when well-suited processes are targeted, an effective operating model for the program including business and IT personnel, with the right skills. A well-designed change program is critical for RPA adoption in banks. South African banks are also working closely with the trade unions and are, on the whole, following best practices when automating parts of their workforce's roles by ensuring that they are given the opportunity to work on more engaging tasks. DA - 2020 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Information Systems LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2020 T1 - Investigating the factors driving adoption of RPA in South African banking: a qualitative analysis TI - Investigating the factors driving adoption of RPA in South African banking: a qualitative analysis UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33017 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/33017
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationTew M. Investigating the factors driving adoption of RPA in South African banking: a qualitative analysis. []. ,Faculty of Commerce ,Department of Information Systems, 2020 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33017en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Information Systems
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Commerce
dc.subjectInformation Systems
dc.titleInvestigating the factors driving adoption of RPA in South African banking: a qualitative analysis
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMCom
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