Determinants of consumerisation of information technology and its effect on employee performance
- Authors: Khayundi, Hilda
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Information technology -- Economic aspect Organizational effectiveness
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Business Management)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16906 , vital:40784
- Description: The ubiquitous nature of personally technological advanced devices and applications has engendered various predictions for the current employee at the workplace. With the introduction and adoption of mobile phones, tablets, laptops and even software, organisations are gradually allowing employees to utilise their personal mobile devices at the office to accomplish their tasks. This has led to the term Consumerisation of Information Technology (CIT) or IT consumerisation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of consumerisation of IT and its effect on job performance of staff at an institution of higher learning. This study used a theoretical framework - The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Usage of Technology – to find out if indeed consumerisation of IT has an effect on job performance. An online questionnaire was sent to the university’s staff email and a total of 230 responses were recorded. The study used a quantitative research approach. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used for data analysis to test the hypotheses. Tests such as the multiple linear regression, factor analysis, correlations, ANOVA and t-tests were used to test the hypotheses. The findings of the study showed that there is a relationship between the determinants of consumerisation of IT and their effect on job performance at the workplace. These determinants are performance expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions. Effort expectancy was the only factor that did not have an effect on consumerisation of IT. As such the study suggested that institutions and organisations to take note of the technological development of devices that can help employees improve their productivity. However, this should be treated with caution as there are also negative effects such as technostress and cyberloafing which may be associated with the advent of consumerisation of IT, therefore it should be a gradual process in order to see the benefits.
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A mobile based user centred integrated remote patient monitoring framework for low resource settings
- Authors: Ndlovu, Nkanyiso
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Health services accessibility Medical telematics Patient monitoring -- Remote sensing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8563 , vital:33128
- Description: There is a gap in healthcare service delivery within low resource settings of South Africa. These areas are under-serviced because of poor health infrastructure and few available medical experts. This contributes immensely to poor health care delivery especially to chronically ill diabetic patients and increases mortality rates. However, innovative remote patient monitoring (RPM) systems have been developed to curb the above challenge in recent years. Unfortunately, most of these systems are standalone and are incompatible with one another. Most of them relay on Internet for connectivity which is imminent in low resource settings. This makes continuity of care of chronic ill patients a great challenge. Additional, the efficacy and feasibility of RPM using mobile phones in low resource settings of South Africa are still unknown. It was also noted that none of these systems have been developed for a clinical trial. The goal of this study was to provide a standard framework that allows optimal design of mobile RPM systems which are interoperable. The objectives were to investigate the RPM system efficacy and reliability in low resource settings and determine its effects on clinical management, self-care and health outcomes. The framework was validated with a clinical trial to remotely monitor diabetic adults in Limpopo province of South Africa. A prototype system was developed based on sound user centric design process and enterprise architectural principles to remotely monitor diabetic elderly patients using cellular technologies and existing hospital infrastructure. It was evaluated using a controlled, randomized clinical trial for 6 months. There were 120 patients who took part in the study and were categorized into two groups, the intervention Group X and the control Group Y. Each group comprised of 60 participants. Evidence from this study justified the feasibility and possibility of long term implementation of RPM system to cater for chronic ill patients in low resource settings worldwide. Results showed that the self-care and normal blood glucose levels improved for both groups whereas quality of life improved only for Group X. It was shown that extensive self-care knowledge with the help of RPM system improved self-care and helped normalize their glucose levels. The hospital admissions and mortality between the two groups did not differ much. However, the intervention group had more hospital visits than the control group because the participants were requested to visit the hospitals in case of emergency. The users perceived the RPM system as feasible and effective way of clinical management and self-care. Due to wide acceptance, some patients were even willing to continue using the system after the trial. Home measurements proved to be reliable and helped improve self-care. In future, a standardized and unified framework based on rule set would provide comprehensive remote healthcare allowing continuous patient monitoring at a reduced overall cost thereby decreasing mortality rates.
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Geological and geophysical investigations of the reservoir rock properties of the Gamtoos Basin in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Mokoele, Salmina Phuti 0000-0001-8096-8350
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Petroleum reserves -- Mechanical properties Petroleum reserves -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Geophysics -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/7863 , vital:30779
- Description: Geological and geophysical studies of the Gamtoos Basin were carried out by using the research methods of stratigraphic analysis, petrographic analysis, sedimentary facies analysis, and geophysical studies. The orientation of the Gamtoos Basin onshore is controlled by the Gamtoos Fault which cuts through the lithologies of the Cape Supergroup on the eastern edge of the basin. Magnetic data and depth slices show the presence of the Cape Supergroup basement on the south east corner of the onshore Kirkwood Formation which is further sitting on the Gamtoos Group basement from the Neoproterozoic extending up to 8860 m in depth. Most previously compiled stratigraphic profiles of the Uitanhage Group revealed the presence of reddish massive conglomerate units from the Enon Formation and massive reddish to greenish alternating units of sandstones, siltstones and mudstones from the Kirkwood Formation. The results obtained from this research also revealed the presence of reddish to whitish massive alternating units of sandstones, mudstones and siltstones from the upper Enon Formation overlaying the reddish massive conglomeritic layers while the alternating reddish to greenish units of sandstones, siltstones and mudstones from the Kirkwood Formation are overlaid by massive reddish to greyish conglomeritic layers. Thirteen types of lithofacies and five types of biofacies were accounted for across the Gamtoos Basin from core logs, field observations and petrographic analysis. The same type of reddish to greyish massive conglomerate facies interbedded with subordinate sandstone lenses were observed on both the Enon (Lower most part) and the Kirkwood (top most part) Formations. Similar reddish to whitish sandstone facies were also observed in both formations except some of the units from the Kirkwood Formation revealed the presence of a lot of sedimentary structures such as laminations, thin beds, tabular cross beds, trough cross beds, convolute structures, load casts and even secondary structures like calcite veins and honey comb structures. Mudstone deposits are divided into reddish laminated facies and whitish massive facies. The whitish mudstone facies of the Enon Formation comprise caliche indicating the process of leaching while the reddish facies contain mudcracks indicating the process of desiccation. The Kirkwood Formation comprises reddish laminated mudstone facies and whitish massive mudstones. Petrographic studies revealed the presence of quartz arenites, lithic arenites, quartz wacke, lithic wacke, pelletic wacke, siltstones and mudstones. The mineral compositions were monocrystalline and polycrystalline quartz, plagioclase, K-feldspar and lithic fragments as the main framework grains. Muscovite and glauconite were identified as accessory minerals along with heavy minerals of hematite spotted on a few occasions. The matrix was composed of clay (mainly kaolinite and smectite), bentonite, illite-sericite and fine quartz silts. Microscope petrography revealed that organic matters occurred in 4 occurrences, i.e. as organic intraclasts, kerogen pellets, organic carbon laminae or stringers, and diagenetic crack-filling organic carbon (asphalt). Density determinations onshore have revealed an average wet density of 2.439 g/cm3 for the Enon Formation sandstones and 2.589 g/cm3 for the Kirkwood Formation sandstones. The average rock density for Borehole Ha-B2 is 2.67 g/cm3 whereas Borehole Ha-G1 rocks show an average density of 2.64 g/cm3. Geophysical data from the offshore boreholes has indicated an increase in the following parameters with depth: bulk density, porosity and geothermal gradient. Data from borehole logs resulted in a linear relationship between bulk density and depth although some boreholes were represented by more than one linear segment in one graph still showing gradual increase of bulk density with depth. The basin was deposited in terrestrial environments (braided fluvial fans and meandering rivers) and marine environments (beach, shallow and deep marine).
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The 'failure-success' dichotomy in migration discourse and practice : revisiting reverse migration deterrents for South Africa based Zimbabwean skilled migrants
- Authors: Nzima, Divane
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Return migration -- Zimbabwe Return migration -- South Africa Zimbabwe -- Emigration and immigration -- Economic aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5434 , vital:29243
- Description: The study was conceptualised against the background that leading migration theories explain return migration based on failure and success alone. The neo-classical economics theory of migration perceives return migration as a by-product of a failed migration experience while the new economics of labour migration perceives return as occurring after successful achievement of migration objectives. This study questions these theoretical positions through an exploration of the factors that deter South Africa-based Zimbabwean skilled migrants from returning home permanently notwithstanding a successful or failed migration experience. Furtive economic factors in Zimbabwe and South Africa that dissuade skilled migrants from returning home permanently are explored. Social factors in Zimbabwe and in South Africa that influence return migration decision making are also examined. Furthermore, the study analysed whether and how Zimbabwean skilled migrants are forced into a permanent settlement in South Africa as a result of what this study calls the ‘diaspora trap’. This ‘diaspora trap’ framework argues that Zimbabwean skilled migrants in South Africa do not return following their experiences of failure and success in South Africa. Central to the absence of return is the social construction of migrants as successful in Zimbabwe. Skilled migrants are deterred from returning due to their failure to meet family and communal expectations of success. In addition, return migration is deferred as a means to hide poverty in South Africa. Moreover, new diaspora family ties weaken attachments with Zimbabwe and contribute to deferred return migration. Skilled migrants are thus entrapped in South Africa by their failure to live up to the success social construct and the inability to mitigate adversities in the host country.
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