Use of Information Communication Technology for personal information management by University of Fort Hare students in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
- Mafu, Phumelela https://orcid.org/ 0000-0003-3150-0828
- Authors: Mafu, Phumelela https://orcid.org/ 0000-0003-3150-0828
- Date: 2021-06
- Subjects: Information technology , Personal information management
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20992 , vital:46884
- Description: This study investigated information communication technology for personal information management by the University of Fort Hare (UFH) students in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities (FSSH). The objectives were to: find out which information communication technology applications and tools the students often use to acquire personal information; determine at what stage the students often experience a high influx of personal information and how to cope with the technology, and establish the challenges the students encounter when using information communication technology to manage personal information. The aim was to assess information communication technology for personal information management by UFH students in the FSSH. A sample of sixty respondents was randomly selected to represent a large population hoping that the results could be generalized to all FSSH students and make predictions. A quantitative research approach was chosen, utilizing the survey design and the Theory of Planned Behavior because of attitudes, behavioral control, and subjective norm. The findings reveal that 55percent of the students prefer to use portable devices, laptops to be specific to access and store information. Even though there are many search engines, 93percent of the students often use Google to search and access academic purposes on the internet. Their primary reason is that it is easy to access, download, and store information from Google. It was also established that 26percent of the students face challenges such as slow internet or damaged computers, unavailability of Wi-Fi, and crowded computer labs. This hindered their learning process. As a result, out of desperation, racing against time to submit assignments, students end up committing plagiarism. Moreover, the study's findings showed that 50percent of the students encounter information overload before they write their exams because, at this point, they are working towards collecting as much information as possible to be prepared for the exams. Furthermore, the study affirmed that 57percent of the students agree that possessing computer skills helps students in their academic journey and confirmed that students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds lack of computer skills negatively affect their academic performance. They need a quantum leap to acquire computer skills imperative for their information access, engagement, consumption, and knowledge production. , Thesis (MLIS) -- Faculty of Humanities, Social Science and Humanities, 2021
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mafu, Phumelela https://orcid.org/ 0000-0003-3150-0828
- Date: 2021-06
- Subjects: Information technology , Personal information management
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20992 , vital:46884
- Description: This study investigated information communication technology for personal information management by the University of Fort Hare (UFH) students in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities (FSSH). The objectives were to: find out which information communication technology applications and tools the students often use to acquire personal information; determine at what stage the students often experience a high influx of personal information and how to cope with the technology, and establish the challenges the students encounter when using information communication technology to manage personal information. The aim was to assess information communication technology for personal information management by UFH students in the FSSH. A sample of sixty respondents was randomly selected to represent a large population hoping that the results could be generalized to all FSSH students and make predictions. A quantitative research approach was chosen, utilizing the survey design and the Theory of Planned Behavior because of attitudes, behavioral control, and subjective norm. The findings reveal that 55percent of the students prefer to use portable devices, laptops to be specific to access and store information. Even though there are many search engines, 93percent of the students often use Google to search and access academic purposes on the internet. Their primary reason is that it is easy to access, download, and store information from Google. It was also established that 26percent of the students face challenges such as slow internet or damaged computers, unavailability of Wi-Fi, and crowded computer labs. This hindered their learning process. As a result, out of desperation, racing against time to submit assignments, students end up committing plagiarism. Moreover, the study's findings showed that 50percent of the students encounter information overload before they write their exams because, at this point, they are working towards collecting as much information as possible to be prepared for the exams. Furthermore, the study affirmed that 57percent of the students agree that possessing computer skills helps students in their academic journey and confirmed that students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds lack of computer skills negatively affect their academic performance. They need a quantum leap to acquire computer skills imperative for their information access, engagement, consumption, and knowledge production. , Thesis (MLIS) -- Faculty of Humanities, Social Science and Humanities, 2021
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The Role of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Rural Development:
- Authors: Fikeni, Thandokazi Gugu
- Date: 2020-12
- Subjects: Information technology , Communication in rural development , Rural development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19747 , vital:43232
- Description: Abstract text. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2020
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- Authors: Fikeni, Thandokazi Gugu
- Date: 2020-12
- Subjects: Information technology , Communication in rural development , Rural development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19747 , vital:43232
- Description: Abstract text. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2020
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The use of information and communication technologies in agricultural development in rural areas: case of smallholder farmers in Umzimvubu Local Municipality
- Authors: Makaula, Zimasa
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Agricultural extension work , Information technology , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Agric (Agric Extension)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11994 , vital:39125
- Description: Proper and timeous communication amongst different social development participants is one of the main driving factors for successful human progress. Different platforms have been used by different industries across the globe to ensure that useful information is shared with relevant structures at appropriate times. The global increase on use and availability of Information Communication Technologies (ICT’s) has prompted a thorough analysis and study of their relevance on different industries. Much of the increase has been observed mainly on highly urbanized areas, where the majority of the population is literate and who are above the poverty line. Some researchers have argued that the language used in some of the ICT’s is limited to the elite few, while others highlight cost implications in the use of these ICTs. The agricultural industry is not immune to the debates that relate to the development of ICTs, it is in most cases at the center, due to its diverse nature (in terms of participation) and close linkage to human development. There seems to be a correlation between ICT usage and the economies of scale in agricultural development, where smallholder farmers tend to use less of highly modernized ICTs, while commercial large scale farmers use more of the modernized ICTs. This disparity amongst farmers is exacerbated in many areas by the differing support systems employed by the public extension services. This study was initiated in order to study the usage and relevance of the ICTs by the smallholder farmers of the Umzimvubu Local Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. The research address the following research questions: 1. Which ICTs are owned by smallholder farmers of Umzimvubu local municipality? 2. Do smallholder farmers use ICTs to communicate agricultural information? 3. What are the types of ICT devices and services used by smallholder farmers for vi agricultural development? 4. What are the challenges faced by smallholder farmers when using ICTs to communicate agricultural information? A survey questionnaire was then developed to collect the relevant data from randomly selected six villages of Umzimvubu Local Municipality. The questionnaires structure employed both closed and open-ended questions that were administered using a face to face interview, conducted on the sample population in each village. The results indicated that the most common ICTs that were owned by smallholder farmers in the study area were: mobile phones (33%), televisions (TV) (28%), and radio (20%). The results also showed that communication amongst farmers (35%) and extension officers (35%) was the most notable use of mobile phone from the study area. The results also revealed that most smallholder farmers faced the following challenges when using ICTs to retrieve agricultural information; poor signal (40%), inconsistent broadcasting times for TV and radio agricultural programmes (35%), language barrier (15%) and lack of electricity (10%). The study, therefore, concludes that a majority of smallholder farmers from the study area own ICT devices necessary for rural agricultural development (mobile phones, TV and radio) that can be targeted by extension officers, policy makers, rural development implementing agencies and agro-industries to promote rural development. However, several challenges (language barrier, poor network signal and no electricity) limit the potential of these ICT devices and services from fully benefiting smallholder farmers.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Makaula, Zimasa
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Agricultural extension work , Information technology , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Agric (Agric Extension)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11994 , vital:39125
- Description: Proper and timeous communication amongst different social development participants is one of the main driving factors for successful human progress. Different platforms have been used by different industries across the globe to ensure that useful information is shared with relevant structures at appropriate times. The global increase on use and availability of Information Communication Technologies (ICT’s) has prompted a thorough analysis and study of their relevance on different industries. Much of the increase has been observed mainly on highly urbanized areas, where the majority of the population is literate and who are above the poverty line. Some researchers have argued that the language used in some of the ICT’s is limited to the elite few, while others highlight cost implications in the use of these ICTs. The agricultural industry is not immune to the debates that relate to the development of ICTs, it is in most cases at the center, due to its diverse nature (in terms of participation) and close linkage to human development. There seems to be a correlation between ICT usage and the economies of scale in agricultural development, where smallholder farmers tend to use less of highly modernized ICTs, while commercial large scale farmers use more of the modernized ICTs. This disparity amongst farmers is exacerbated in many areas by the differing support systems employed by the public extension services. This study was initiated in order to study the usage and relevance of the ICTs by the smallholder farmers of the Umzimvubu Local Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. The research address the following research questions: 1. Which ICTs are owned by smallholder farmers of Umzimvubu local municipality? 2. Do smallholder farmers use ICTs to communicate agricultural information? 3. What are the types of ICT devices and services used by smallholder farmers for vi agricultural development? 4. What are the challenges faced by smallholder farmers when using ICTs to communicate agricultural information? A survey questionnaire was then developed to collect the relevant data from randomly selected six villages of Umzimvubu Local Municipality. The questionnaires structure employed both closed and open-ended questions that were administered using a face to face interview, conducted on the sample population in each village. The results indicated that the most common ICTs that were owned by smallholder farmers in the study area were: mobile phones (33%), televisions (TV) (28%), and radio (20%). The results also showed that communication amongst farmers (35%) and extension officers (35%) was the most notable use of mobile phone from the study area. The results also revealed that most smallholder farmers faced the following challenges when using ICTs to retrieve agricultural information; poor signal (40%), inconsistent broadcasting times for TV and radio agricultural programmes (35%), language barrier (15%) and lack of electricity (10%). The study, therefore, concludes that a majority of smallholder farmers from the study area own ICT devices necessary for rural agricultural development (mobile phones, TV and radio) that can be targeted by extension officers, policy makers, rural development implementing agencies and agro-industries to promote rural development. However, several challenges (language barrier, poor network signal and no electricity) limit the potential of these ICT devices and services from fully benefiting smallholder farmers.
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A process maturity framework of information security policy development life cycle
- Authors: Tuyikeze, Tite
- Date: 2014-12
- Subjects: Computer security , Information technology , Computer crimes
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26797 , vital:66010
- Description: Information security policy development involves more than policy formulation and implementation. Unless organisations explicitly recognise the various steps required in the development of a security policy, they run the risk of developing policies that are poorly thought out, incomplete, redundant and, irrelevant and which will not be fully supported by the users. This study argues that an information security policy has an entire life cycle through which it must pass through during its useful lifetime. A content analysis on information security policy development methods was conducted using secondary sources in the relevant literature. The outcome of the content analysis resulted in the proposal of a framework of information security policy development and implementation. The proposed framework outlines the various steps required in the development, implementation and enforcement of an effective information security policy. A survey of 400 security professionals was conducted in order to evaluate the concepts contained in the framework.This study also emphasises the importance of integrating a security maturity assessment process into the information security policy development life cycle. A key finding of this study is the proposed maturity assessment framework which offers a structured methodology for evaluating the maturity level of an information security policy. The framework presents an integrated and holistic approach to ensure the incremental process maturity of the organisation’s information security policy development process. In addition, organisations using the proposed framework will be able both to determine the current maturity levels of their information security policy development process and also to plan enhancements in the correct sequence. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2014
- Full Text:
- Authors: Tuyikeze, Tite
- Date: 2014-12
- Subjects: Computer security , Information technology , Computer crimes
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26797 , vital:66010
- Description: Information security policy development involves more than policy formulation and implementation. Unless organisations explicitly recognise the various steps required in the development of a security policy, they run the risk of developing policies that are poorly thought out, incomplete, redundant and, irrelevant and which will not be fully supported by the users. This study argues that an information security policy has an entire life cycle through which it must pass through during its useful lifetime. A content analysis on information security policy development methods was conducted using secondary sources in the relevant literature. The outcome of the content analysis resulted in the proposal of a framework of information security policy development and implementation. The proposed framework outlines the various steps required in the development, implementation and enforcement of an effective information security policy. A survey of 400 security professionals was conducted in order to evaluate the concepts contained in the framework.This study also emphasises the importance of integrating a security maturity assessment process into the information security policy development life cycle. A key finding of this study is the proposed maturity assessment framework which offers a structured methodology for evaluating the maturity level of an information security policy. The framework presents an integrated and holistic approach to ensure the incremental process maturity of the organisation’s information security policy development process. In addition, organisations using the proposed framework will be able both to determine the current maturity levels of their information security policy development process and also to plan enhancements in the correct sequence. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2014
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The use of Blackboard as a tool for the teaching and assessment of large classes in mathematics education: a case study of second year level Bachelor of Education students in one university in South Africa
- Authors: Riley, Alanna
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Blackboards , Blackboard drawing , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , College students , Educational change , Information technology , Teaching -- Aids and devices , College teaching , Assessment , Blended learning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Ed
- Identifier: vital:16182 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006237 , Blackboards , Blackboard drawing , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , College students , Educational change , Information technology , Teaching -- Aids and devices , College teaching , Assessment , Blended learning
- Description: This study locates the Blackboard Learning Management System as a Technology Enhanced Learning tool within the bounds of the discipline of eLearning and aimed to interrogate the use of Blackboard for the purposes of teaching, learning and assessment in large classes. It is evident from the literature reviewed that changes in both Higher Education in the South Africa with regards to policy and legislation in addition to international shifts towards increased access and participation in a fast paced, ever-evolving knowledge-based economy, providing the context for this work. The theoretical framework for this study is not unidimensional due to the fact that the educational field of eLearning as an area of specialisation draws on a multitude of theories in terms of their utility value for instructional design of courses utilising Information and Communications Technology as a mode of delivery. This study was conducted within the bounds of an interpretivist paradigm as the researcher sought to focus on the use of Blackboard and the experiences of the lecturers and students involved in the implementation thereof. The research design for this study took the form of a case study and a multiple case method was employed. The researcher collected data through personal interviews conducted with participating lecturers, while student data was collected by means of a qualitative survey which was conducted through the Blackboard Learning Management System. The data was analyzed by means of a thematic analysis, consistent with the interpretive paradigm chosen for this study. The findings of this study revealed that Blackboard was utilised effectively in order to facilitate communication, access to course resources and promoted more efficient assessment processes. The implementation was however not without challenges many of which were systemic and focused on the lack of resources available to the students. The implications of using Blackboard for teaching and assessment of large classes include the use of the Learning Management System as part of a multimodal method of course delivery in an effort to reach the multitude of registered students both conceptually as well as electronically. The recommendations arising from this study include consideration on the part of the faculty for a unified approach in the use of Blackboard for communication as well as deployment of resources. Additionally, this study may form the foundation of further studies in this field, with a focus on the active engagement and training of lecturers in order to integrate traditional teaching methods with blended learning opportunities.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Riley, Alanna
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Blackboards , Blackboard drawing , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , College students , Educational change , Information technology , Teaching -- Aids and devices , College teaching , Assessment , Blended learning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Ed
- Identifier: vital:16182 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006237 , Blackboards , Blackboard drawing , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , College students , Educational change , Information technology , Teaching -- Aids and devices , College teaching , Assessment , Blended learning
- Description: This study locates the Blackboard Learning Management System as a Technology Enhanced Learning tool within the bounds of the discipline of eLearning and aimed to interrogate the use of Blackboard for the purposes of teaching, learning and assessment in large classes. It is evident from the literature reviewed that changes in both Higher Education in the South Africa with regards to policy and legislation in addition to international shifts towards increased access and participation in a fast paced, ever-evolving knowledge-based economy, providing the context for this work. The theoretical framework for this study is not unidimensional due to the fact that the educational field of eLearning as an area of specialisation draws on a multitude of theories in terms of their utility value for instructional design of courses utilising Information and Communications Technology as a mode of delivery. This study was conducted within the bounds of an interpretivist paradigm as the researcher sought to focus on the use of Blackboard and the experiences of the lecturers and students involved in the implementation thereof. The research design for this study took the form of a case study and a multiple case method was employed. The researcher collected data through personal interviews conducted with participating lecturers, while student data was collected by means of a qualitative survey which was conducted through the Blackboard Learning Management System. The data was analyzed by means of a thematic analysis, consistent with the interpretive paradigm chosen for this study. The findings of this study revealed that Blackboard was utilised effectively in order to facilitate communication, access to course resources and promoted more efficient assessment processes. The implementation was however not without challenges many of which were systemic and focused on the lack of resources available to the students. The implications of using Blackboard for teaching and assessment of large classes include the use of the Learning Management System as part of a multimodal method of course delivery in an effort to reach the multitude of registered students both conceptually as well as electronically. The recommendations arising from this study include consideration on the part of the faculty for a unified approach in the use of Blackboard for communication as well as deployment of resources. Additionally, this study may form the foundation of further studies in this field, with a focus on the active engagement and training of lecturers in order to integrate traditional teaching methods with blended learning opportunities.
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Deriving value from IT investments within botique hotels: a Buffalo City case study
- Authors: Mathe, Thabelang
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Information technology , Hotels -- Finance , Boardinghouses -- Finance , Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Small business -- Finance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Information Systems)
- Identifier: vital:11134 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1000975 , Information technology , Hotels -- Finance , Boardinghouses -- Finance , Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Small business -- Finance
- Description: Even though many organizations invest in IT, the value that IT is expected to contribute is still not clearly understood. Researchers agree that IT has become a crucial element to business operations and business existence. However, while there is continued investment in new information technologies and systems, organizations are not certain whether significant value is derived from IT investments. The failure to realize good return on IT investments is ascribed to a lack of understanding of IT by organizations and also the failure by organizations to align IT strategies with business strategies. The lack of alignment leads to the failure to match the right IT to the correct task, which leads to the poor application of systems and poor allocation of human resources to tasks. Therefore, organizations such as Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in particular Boutique Hotels, are noted for their failure to derive better IT value. Their unique characteristics are understood to be influential in the way IT is used and managed by affecting the delivery of value from technology. In order to enable Boutique Hotels to derive more value from IT, the IT governance frameworks, Val IT and CobiT (ITGI, 2007), were examined as these integrate good practices to ensure that an organization‘s IT supports the business objectives. In addition, the Task Technology Fit (TTF) (Goodhue and Thompson, 1995) and Gap Analysis (Heeks, 2001) theories were highlighted as these prescribe the platform ideal for more value to be derived from IT. The current status of Boutique Hotels in Buffalo City was assessed through the use of questionnaires and interviews. The collected data was analyzed and resulted in the development of a model that can be used by Boutique Hotels in order to derive more value from IT and to maximize the use of IT.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mathe, Thabelang
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Information technology , Hotels -- Finance , Boardinghouses -- Finance , Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Small business -- Finance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Information Systems)
- Identifier: vital:11134 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1000975 , Information technology , Hotels -- Finance , Boardinghouses -- Finance , Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Small business -- Finance
- Description: Even though many organizations invest in IT, the value that IT is expected to contribute is still not clearly understood. Researchers agree that IT has become a crucial element to business operations and business existence. However, while there is continued investment in new information technologies and systems, organizations are not certain whether significant value is derived from IT investments. The failure to realize good return on IT investments is ascribed to a lack of understanding of IT by organizations and also the failure by organizations to align IT strategies with business strategies. The lack of alignment leads to the failure to match the right IT to the correct task, which leads to the poor application of systems and poor allocation of human resources to tasks. Therefore, organizations such as Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in particular Boutique Hotels, are noted for their failure to derive better IT value. Their unique characteristics are understood to be influential in the way IT is used and managed by affecting the delivery of value from technology. In order to enable Boutique Hotels to derive more value from IT, the IT governance frameworks, Val IT and CobiT (ITGI, 2007), were examined as these integrate good practices to ensure that an organization‘s IT supports the business objectives. In addition, the Task Technology Fit (TTF) (Goodhue and Thompson, 1995) and Gap Analysis (Heeks, 2001) theories were highlighted as these prescribe the platform ideal for more value to be derived from IT. The current status of Boutique Hotels in Buffalo City was assessed through the use of questionnaires and interviews. The collected data was analyzed and resulted in the development of a model that can be used by Boutique Hotels in order to derive more value from IT and to maximize the use of IT.
- Full Text:
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