Absorptive capacity and information technology adoption strategies in Kenyan SMEs
- Authors: Ndiege, Joshua Rumo Arongo
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Information Systems)
- Identifier: vital:11140 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1014672
- Description: Although Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), arguably, make up a significant part of economic development in many countries, these enterprises have continued to face challenges especially in developing countries like Kenya. With Information Technology (IT) being considered a critical component of the survival of SMEs, many are striving to invest in it. However, a number of these SMEs are still far from realising the full potential of their IT investments. In today‟s challenging and dynamic business environment, SMEs need to leverage both internal and external knowledge, exploit it to help improve and maintain their competitiveness, and consequently, their survival. This study has endeavoured to address the IT adoption strategy challenges experienced by SMEs in Kenya and other developing countries, as these have been largely flawed. The study has explored on the way in which these enterprises can build strong Absorptive Capacities (AC) and exploit these to improve their IT adoption processes through a model of AC. To achieve this, a qualitative, interpretive case study research approach was employed in this study. The findings of this study suggest that although AC plays a critical role in the performance of SMEs in Kenya, many of these enterprises have low levels of AC. It also became clear that all the SMEs that participated in the study had not attained maturity in their IT adoption process. However, SMEs that exhibited strong AC employed the use of more superior IT adoption processes than did their counterparts with low levels of AC. From the results of this study an IT Adoption Strategy Improvement Model (ITASIM) has been developed to help SMEs improve their IT adoption strategies. The model focuses on improving SMEs‟ AC and injecting these alongside the elements of a good strategy in the SMEs‟ IT adoption process. Furthermore, in order to help in the effective implementation of ITASIM, implementation guidelines have been developed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Ndiege, Joshua Rumo Arongo
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Information Systems)
- Identifier: vital:11140 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1014672
- Description: Although Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), arguably, make up a significant part of economic development in many countries, these enterprises have continued to face challenges especially in developing countries like Kenya. With Information Technology (IT) being considered a critical component of the survival of SMEs, many are striving to invest in it. However, a number of these SMEs are still far from realising the full potential of their IT investments. In today‟s challenging and dynamic business environment, SMEs need to leverage both internal and external knowledge, exploit it to help improve and maintain their competitiveness, and consequently, their survival. This study has endeavoured to address the IT adoption strategy challenges experienced by SMEs in Kenya and other developing countries, as these have been largely flawed. The study has explored on the way in which these enterprises can build strong Absorptive Capacities (AC) and exploit these to improve their IT adoption processes through a model of AC. To achieve this, a qualitative, interpretive case study research approach was employed in this study. The findings of this study suggest that although AC plays a critical role in the performance of SMEs in Kenya, many of these enterprises have low levels of AC. It also became clear that all the SMEs that participated in the study had not attained maturity in their IT adoption process. However, SMEs that exhibited strong AC employed the use of more superior IT adoption processes than did their counterparts with low levels of AC. From the results of this study an IT Adoption Strategy Improvement Model (ITASIM) has been developed to help SMEs improve their IT adoption strategies. The model focuses on improving SMEs‟ AC and injecting these alongside the elements of a good strategy in the SMEs‟ IT adoption process. Furthermore, in order to help in the effective implementation of ITASIM, implementation guidelines have been developed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Education District Office support for teaching and learning in schools: the case of two districts in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Mavuso, Mzuyanda Percival
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Schools -- Development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School management and organization -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Educational change -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School management teams -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School administrators -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School supervision -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School improvement programs -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Educational leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Educational evaluation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
- Identifier: vital:16194 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006259 , Schools -- Development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School management and organization -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Educational change -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School management teams -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School administrators -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School supervision -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School improvement programs -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Educational leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Educational evaluation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The idea of district support for schools is based on the view that local education offices are best placed to play a critical role in the promotion of quality teaching and learning. In performing this mandate whose characterisation has, over time, moved away from ‘inspection’ and ‘supervision’ both of which are seen as old fashioned and undemocratic, to support, which is seen as developmental. The aim of this study was to understand how three categories of district based officers, Subject Advisors, Integrated Quality Management System Coordinators and Education Development Officers support teaching and learning in schools. This was a case study of two districts in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A total of six district officials and four school based officials participated in this study. In-depth interviews and document analysis were carried out. There were four main findings. First, support for schools by three district based officials was understood and practiced as administrative tasks, mainly consisting of monitoring policy implementation and monitoring resource provision to schools. School Management Teams saw district officers’ visits as focussing on compliance rather than support. Second, some pedagogical support was given by Subject Advisors through training teachers in subject content and methods of teaching that subject. This was done through workshops and demonstration lessons. However Subject Advisors did not at any time observe actual classroom teaching to see if teachers were implementing what they had learnt at workshops. Third, none of the officers mentioned direct support for teaching and learning at classroom level. Visits by officials were not directly linked to influencing teaching and learning classroom level. Fourth, schools saw district officials as working in separate pockets and sometimes sending different signals to them, despite claims by district officials that inter-disciplinary meetings were held among district officials, however, the nature of the coordination and the use to which it is put remains unclear. There were three main conclusions, first that although the district officials’ visits to schools were described as support, they exhibited the trappings of technicism of inspection; supervision and control; and appeared to neglect the developmental aspects implied in the notion of support. Second, the conception and practice of support visits by district officials were characterised by tension between support and control. Third, at district level support to schools lacked coordination among the three categories of officers who visit schools. This has implications for quality management in schools. Given the findings and conclusions of this study; it is recommended that the issue of support for schools be the focus of a survey research for which a probability sample must be drawn in order to generate findings that are generalisable across the participating target population. Other research could focus on investigating mechanisms by which the tension between support and control can be resolved. To improve practice of a framework for the development of a coordinated district support focusing on the core business of teaching and learning is suggested.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Mavuso, Mzuyanda Percival
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Schools -- Development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School management and organization -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Educational change -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School management teams -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School administrators -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School supervision -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School improvement programs -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Educational leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Educational evaluation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
- Identifier: vital:16194 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006259 , Schools -- Development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School management and organization -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Educational change -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School management teams -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School administrators -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School supervision -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School improvement programs -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Educational leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Educational evaluation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The idea of district support for schools is based on the view that local education offices are best placed to play a critical role in the promotion of quality teaching and learning. In performing this mandate whose characterisation has, over time, moved away from ‘inspection’ and ‘supervision’ both of which are seen as old fashioned and undemocratic, to support, which is seen as developmental. The aim of this study was to understand how three categories of district based officers, Subject Advisors, Integrated Quality Management System Coordinators and Education Development Officers support teaching and learning in schools. This was a case study of two districts in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A total of six district officials and four school based officials participated in this study. In-depth interviews and document analysis were carried out. There were four main findings. First, support for schools by three district based officials was understood and practiced as administrative tasks, mainly consisting of monitoring policy implementation and monitoring resource provision to schools. School Management Teams saw district officers’ visits as focussing on compliance rather than support. Second, some pedagogical support was given by Subject Advisors through training teachers in subject content and methods of teaching that subject. This was done through workshops and demonstration lessons. However Subject Advisors did not at any time observe actual classroom teaching to see if teachers were implementing what they had learnt at workshops. Third, none of the officers mentioned direct support for teaching and learning at classroom level. Visits by officials were not directly linked to influencing teaching and learning classroom level. Fourth, schools saw district officials as working in separate pockets and sometimes sending different signals to them, despite claims by district officials that inter-disciplinary meetings were held among district officials, however, the nature of the coordination and the use to which it is put remains unclear. There were three main conclusions, first that although the district officials’ visits to schools were described as support, they exhibited the trappings of technicism of inspection; supervision and control; and appeared to neglect the developmental aspects implied in the notion of support. Second, the conception and practice of support visits by district officials were characterised by tension between support and control. Third, at district level support to schools lacked coordination among the three categories of officers who visit schools. This has implications for quality management in schools. Given the findings and conclusions of this study; it is recommended that the issue of support for schools be the focus of a survey research for which a probability sample must be drawn in order to generate findings that are generalisable across the participating target population. Other research could focus on investigating mechanisms by which the tension between support and control can be resolved. To improve practice of a framework for the development of a coordinated district support focusing on the core business of teaching and learning is suggested.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Prevalence of listeria pathogens in effluents of some wastewater treatment facilities in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa
- Odjadjare, Emmanuel Erufuare Onogwuwhenya
- Authors: Odjadjare, Emmanuel Erufuare Onogwuwhenya
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Listeria -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sewage -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Effluent quality -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Pollution -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11264 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/246 , Listeria -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sewage -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Effluent quality -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Pollution -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Wastewater discharges may contain health compromising pathogens and carcinogenic and/or chemical substances that could compromise the public health and impact negatively on the environment. The present study was conducted between August 2007 and July 2008 to evaluate the Listeria abundance (as free-living and plankton associated species) and physicochemical qualities of the final effluents of three wastewater treatment facilities in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa selected to represent typical urban, peri-urban and rural communities and the impact of the discharged final effluents on their respective receiving watershed, as well as to elucidated the in vitro antibiotic susceptibilities and resistance genes profile of Listeria species isolated from the final effluents. The suitability of the secondary effluent of the urban treatment facility (as a case study) for use in agriculture and aquaculture with reference to recommended standards was also determined. Wastewater samples were collected from the raw sewage, secondary effluent, final treated effluent, discharge point, 500 m upstream discharge point, and 500 m downstream discharge point from all three locations on a monthly basis throughout the study period. Listeria abundance in the final effluents and the receiving watersheds varied between 2.9× 100 and 3.52 × 105cfu/ml across the sampled locations. Free-living listerial density across the sampled locations ranged between 0 and 3.2 × 103cfu/ml while counts of Listeria species attached to large (180 μm) planktons varied from 0 to 1.58 × 105 cfu/ml and those of the 60 and 20 μm categories were in the range of 0 to 1.32 × 103 cfu/ml and 0 to 2.82 × 105 cfu/ml respectively. Listeria abundance did not vary significantly with location and season; there was however, significant (P < 0.05; P < 0.01) variance in Listeria abundance with plankton sizes across the locations. Free-living Listeria species were more abundant in the rural and urban xii communities than plankton attached Listeria species; whereas the reverse was the case in the peri-urban community. Prevalence of Listeria in terms of total counts was 100 percent across all sampled locations. Free-living Listeria species showed prevalence ranging from 84-96 percent across the sampling locations; while Listeria species attached to large (180 μm) planktons exhibited prevalence ranging from 75 percent to 90 percent. The prevalence of medium-sized (60 μm) plankton associated Listeria species varied between 58 percent and 92.5 percent; whereas those of Listeria species attached to small (20 μm) planktons ranged from 65-100 percent across all three communities. Listeria prevalence was generally a reflection of the turbidity of the water system, with free-living Listeria species being more prevalent than plankton associated cells in the relatively less turbid rural and urban waters compared to the more turbid peri-urban waters where plankton attached cells were more prevalent in comparison with their free living counterparts The final treated effluent quality fell short of recommended standards for turbidity, chemical oxygen demand and phosphate across all three communities. In addition, the final effluent of the rural treatment plant also fell short of recommended standard for NO3, while that of the urban treatment plant did not comply with acceptable limits for dissolved oxygen and nitrite. Other physicochemical parameters were compliant with set standards after treatment. An inverse relationship was observed between chlorine residual and listerial density across the sampled facilities; the effect of chlorine was however not enough to eliminate the pathogen from the water systems. At the urban treatment plant and its receiving watershed, pH, temperature, EC, turbidity, TDS, DO, and nitrate varied significantly with season and sampling point (P < 0.05; P < 0.01). Salinity also varied significantly with sampling point (P < 0.01), while COD and nitrite varied significantly with season (P < 0.05). Although, the treated effluent fell within recommended water quality standard for pH, TDS, nitrate and nitrite, it fell short of stipulated standards for other parameters. Whereas the microbial quality of the secondary treated effluent at this (urban) facility fell short of recommended standard after secondary treatment, its physicochemical quality were generally compliant with recommended standards for reuse wastewater in agriculture and aquaculture. Listeria pathogens isolated from effluents of the rural wastewater facility were sensitive to 11 (55 percent) of the 20 test antibiotics, and showed varying (7-71 percent) levels of resistance to 8 antibiotics; whereas those isolated from the peri-urban community showed sensitivity to 6 (30 percent) of the 20 test antibiotics, and varying (6-94 percent) levels of resistance to 12 antibiotics; while the urban effluent isolates were sensitive to 3 (15 percent) of the 20 test antibiotics, and showed varying (4.5-91 percent) levels of resistance to 17 antibiotics. Multiple antibiotic resistances involving 78.5-100 percent of isolates and antibiotics combination ranging from 2-10 antibiotics was observed across the sampled locations. Penicillin G and ampicillin showed remarkably high (64-91 percent) phenotypic resistance across the three sampled facilities. Other antibiotics, to which isolates showed significant resistance, were linezolid (22-88 percent); erythromycin (43-94 percent) and sulphamethoxazole (7-94 percent). Two of the 14 Listeria strains isolated from the rural effluents were positive for ereA and sul1 antibiotic resistance genes; while sulII genes were detected in five of the 23 Listeria isolates from the urban effluent and none was detected in isolates from the peri-urban community. The presence of antimicrobial resistance genes in the isolates did not correlate with phenotypic antibiotic resistance. The current study demonstrated that Listeria pathogens easily survived the activated sludge treatment process as free-living and plankton attached entities and suggests that municipal wastewater treatment plants are a significant source of multiple resistant Listeria pathogens in the South African aquatic milieu. While the physicochemical quality of the urban final effluent suggests that it is a major source of pollution to the receiving watershed, the secondary effluent quality demonstrated a great potential for use in agriculture and aquaculture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Odjadjare, Emmanuel Erufuare Onogwuwhenya
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Listeria -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sewage -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Effluent quality -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Pollution -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11264 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/246 , Listeria -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sewage -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Effluent quality -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Pollution -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Wastewater discharges may contain health compromising pathogens and carcinogenic and/or chemical substances that could compromise the public health and impact negatively on the environment. The present study was conducted between August 2007 and July 2008 to evaluate the Listeria abundance (as free-living and plankton associated species) and physicochemical qualities of the final effluents of three wastewater treatment facilities in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa selected to represent typical urban, peri-urban and rural communities and the impact of the discharged final effluents on their respective receiving watershed, as well as to elucidated the in vitro antibiotic susceptibilities and resistance genes profile of Listeria species isolated from the final effluents. The suitability of the secondary effluent of the urban treatment facility (as a case study) for use in agriculture and aquaculture with reference to recommended standards was also determined. Wastewater samples were collected from the raw sewage, secondary effluent, final treated effluent, discharge point, 500 m upstream discharge point, and 500 m downstream discharge point from all three locations on a monthly basis throughout the study period. Listeria abundance in the final effluents and the receiving watersheds varied between 2.9× 100 and 3.52 × 105cfu/ml across the sampled locations. Free-living listerial density across the sampled locations ranged between 0 and 3.2 × 103cfu/ml while counts of Listeria species attached to large (180 μm) planktons varied from 0 to 1.58 × 105 cfu/ml and those of the 60 and 20 μm categories were in the range of 0 to 1.32 × 103 cfu/ml and 0 to 2.82 × 105 cfu/ml respectively. Listeria abundance did not vary significantly with location and season; there was however, significant (P < 0.05; P < 0.01) variance in Listeria abundance with plankton sizes across the locations. Free-living Listeria species were more abundant in the rural and urban xii communities than plankton attached Listeria species; whereas the reverse was the case in the peri-urban community. Prevalence of Listeria in terms of total counts was 100 percent across all sampled locations. Free-living Listeria species showed prevalence ranging from 84-96 percent across the sampling locations; while Listeria species attached to large (180 μm) planktons exhibited prevalence ranging from 75 percent to 90 percent. The prevalence of medium-sized (60 μm) plankton associated Listeria species varied between 58 percent and 92.5 percent; whereas those of Listeria species attached to small (20 μm) planktons ranged from 65-100 percent across all three communities. Listeria prevalence was generally a reflection of the turbidity of the water system, with free-living Listeria species being more prevalent than plankton associated cells in the relatively less turbid rural and urban waters compared to the more turbid peri-urban waters where plankton attached cells were more prevalent in comparison with their free living counterparts The final treated effluent quality fell short of recommended standards for turbidity, chemical oxygen demand and phosphate across all three communities. In addition, the final effluent of the rural treatment plant also fell short of recommended standard for NO3, while that of the urban treatment plant did not comply with acceptable limits for dissolved oxygen and nitrite. Other physicochemical parameters were compliant with set standards after treatment. An inverse relationship was observed between chlorine residual and listerial density across the sampled facilities; the effect of chlorine was however not enough to eliminate the pathogen from the water systems. At the urban treatment plant and its receiving watershed, pH, temperature, EC, turbidity, TDS, DO, and nitrate varied significantly with season and sampling point (P < 0.05; P < 0.01). Salinity also varied significantly with sampling point (P < 0.01), while COD and nitrite varied significantly with season (P < 0.05). Although, the treated effluent fell within recommended water quality standard for pH, TDS, nitrate and nitrite, it fell short of stipulated standards for other parameters. Whereas the microbial quality of the secondary treated effluent at this (urban) facility fell short of recommended standard after secondary treatment, its physicochemical quality were generally compliant with recommended standards for reuse wastewater in agriculture and aquaculture. Listeria pathogens isolated from effluents of the rural wastewater facility were sensitive to 11 (55 percent) of the 20 test antibiotics, and showed varying (7-71 percent) levels of resistance to 8 antibiotics; whereas those isolated from the peri-urban community showed sensitivity to 6 (30 percent) of the 20 test antibiotics, and varying (6-94 percent) levels of resistance to 12 antibiotics; while the urban effluent isolates were sensitive to 3 (15 percent) of the 20 test antibiotics, and showed varying (4.5-91 percent) levels of resistance to 17 antibiotics. Multiple antibiotic resistances involving 78.5-100 percent of isolates and antibiotics combination ranging from 2-10 antibiotics was observed across the sampled locations. Penicillin G and ampicillin showed remarkably high (64-91 percent) phenotypic resistance across the three sampled facilities. Other antibiotics, to which isolates showed significant resistance, were linezolid (22-88 percent); erythromycin (43-94 percent) and sulphamethoxazole (7-94 percent). Two of the 14 Listeria strains isolated from the rural effluents were positive for ereA and sul1 antibiotic resistance genes; while sulII genes were detected in five of the 23 Listeria isolates from the urban effluent and none was detected in isolates from the peri-urban community. The presence of antimicrobial resistance genes in the isolates did not correlate with phenotypic antibiotic resistance. The current study demonstrated that Listeria pathogens easily survived the activated sludge treatment process as free-living and plankton attached entities and suggests that municipal wastewater treatment plants are a significant source of multiple resistant Listeria pathogens in the South African aquatic milieu. While the physicochemical quality of the urban final effluent suggests that it is a major source of pollution to the receiving watershed, the secondary effluent quality demonstrated a great potential for use in agriculture and aquaculture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
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