Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters/MBA)

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A framework for Mobile Application integrated with Biometric Authentication to Improve Youth participation in Elections
(University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Botsime, Kealeboga Obed; Pellissier, Prof René
The purpose of this research study is to apply the technology acceptance framework to assess the prospect of using mobile application integrated with biometric authentication that might improve the South African’s youth participation in elections. The main objectives of this research are to measure the extent to which youth voters have trust in internet and the ability for the national government to conduct online elections, evaluate the youth voters ICT accessibility and skills and to determine the attitudes, perceptions as well as intention to participate in online elections using framework for mobile application. A quantitative research approach was adopted for this research. An onlinequestionnaire on formplus platform is used to collect data from Gauteng youth (18-35 years); 209 participants had valid responses. A conceptual framework is proposed using constructs and theories from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The constructs were adopted from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and it was also extended with trust constructs. The findings of this research are youth respondents have indicated that they agree (eighty-four percent) and have intention to use the mobile application to participate in online voting if it becomes available and they have the willingness to learn how to use it. The intention of youth to use mobile phones for online voting as an important contributing factor to improve youth participation in elections.
Digitisation of Patient Care: An Analysis of the Implementation of Electronic Health Records in Gauteng, South Africa
(University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Essof, Dr Erasmus Kofi; Appiah, Dr Erasmus Kofi
Background: The global trend of centralised Electronic Health Records (EHR) aligns with the digitisation megatrends of the fourth industrial revolution. Developed countries show success, while developing nations, facing economic complexities, are lagging. In South Africa, low EHR maturity and adoption, coupled with the National Health Insurance (NHI) development, highlight the need for successful implementation. Problem Statement: EHR offers various benefits, yet slow implementation and adoption persist in the South African public healthcare sector due to numerous challenges. Objective: The study sought critical success factors for EHR implementation in Gauteng informed by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Information and Technology, Processes and Objectives, Skills and Management, and Other Factors (ITPOSMO) with an emphasis on user perspectives and the literature- reality gap. Method: The study used an exploratory cross-sectional approach, conducting interviews with six individuals, including end users and leadership from Gauteng's three largest municipalities. Findings and Conclusion: Benefits and challenges from literature, categorised by ITPOSMO and ranked by commonality, revealed a fundamental relationship with factors crucial for EHR implementation. To realise benefits and overcome challenges, critical success factors must be prioritised. These include user input, training, infrastructure development, change management, system maintenance, data quality, interoperability, standardized evaluation, and funding control. Emphasising these factors is crucial for successful EHR implementation, ultimately enhancing patient care and quality outcomes in the Gauteng Province.
Employees’ Perceptions and Attitudes on technological adoption in the banking sector
(University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Carolissen, Ashley; Magida, Ayanda
The prediction of technology adoption within the financial services, specifically at Absa BankRetail and Business Banking, will help the research study understand the adoption level and aims to make recommendations to the executive c-suite level as to what to do to improve adoption. The study sought to further understand employees’ perceptions and attitudes toward technological adoption and the underlying external factors influencing their behaviour. Examines employees’ perceptions and attitudes toward technological adoption and the underlying external factors influencing it. An online quantitative survey was used to collect data among the retail and Business Banking business unit population. A convenience sampling method was used. The data was analysed using the SPSS statistical tool and the Chi-Square test to evaluate the independent and dependent variables as well as the Kendall Tau C coefficient to measure the ordinal and dependent variables. Based on the three predictors Behavioural Expectancy (BE), Facilitating Conditions (FC) and Behavioural Intention (BI), the hypotheses were tested using a total of n=120 respondents which represent 10% of the population of people working in the Retail and Business Banking business unit. The approach taken was using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to conceptualise the predictions. The overall Cronbach reliability test suggests a very strong consistency for Behavioural Expectancy (BE) with an overall alpha of 87%, whilst the results for Facilitating Conditions (FC) were 46% and Behavioural Intention (BI) 49%, indicating a very low consistency. The study indicates that employees are constantly looking for ways to further advance their knowledge and skills. The sense of belonging to something bigger and being part of a learning organisation is evident, and the more intensive technology is used, the easier the adoption.
Exploring the potential of 5G to bridge the digital divide in South Africa
(University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Dumako, Sebongile; Patel, Mr Ashraf
5G adoption is expected to boost job growth and income, and reduce costs, contributing to the South African National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 goal of a connected society, especially in underserved areas, and improving affordability and broadband infrastructure accessibility. This research study sets out to explore the potential of 5G in bridging the digital divide in South Africa. The researcher undertook a qualitative study through semi-structured interviews of industry experts using an interview guide as the research instrument. The sample was made up of a qualitative study of the perceptions of 14 participants from the telecommunications sector, a research council, the government, and SMEs, with first-hand experience in 5G deployment and manufacturing of 5G equipment. The themes that emerged during the process of data analysis were derived using a thematic analysis. The study findings revealed that South Africa to is ready to adopt 5G technology and confirmed 5G technology's potential to transform South African lives, businesses, and industries through Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Massive Machine-Type Communications (mMTC), and Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communications (uRLLC) use cases, thus aligning with the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) 2020 vision. 5G offers significant potential for improving service delivery in South Africa, enabling e-government, and saving time, money, and convenience in various sectors. However, 5G technology's potential to revolutionize life and work faces socioeconomic challenges and slow government implementation, hindering its potential to bridge the digital divide. Recommendations have been posited for each of the stakeholders involved in the 5G ecosystem in South Africa to help overcome the digital divide.
Factors influencing the adoption of Instagram as a social commerce channel by SA consumers.
(University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Girdharilall, Michelle; Chalomba, Nakuze
The increasing popularity of social media has led to the rise of social commerce in South Africa. Consumers are welcoming these new modes of shopping as they offer more convenience than traditional electronic commerce methods. This research will seek to identify the factors which influence consumers to use Instagram social commerce. These insights are key to small businesses to attract and retain consumers on Instagram. This research is composed of fifteen qualitative interviews with purposely selected participants who have had experience using Instagram social commerce. The effect of Experience Quality, Perceived Easiness, Social Influence and Privacy Concerns were explored on consumers' trust and use of Instagram social commerce. Trust theory, Trust theory for social commerce and the Theory of Planned Behavior were used as foundations for this research. The results revealed that Experience Quality, Perceived Easiness, Social Influence and Privacy Concerns affected consumers' trust in Instagram social commerce. This research allowed us to probe into the details around these factors and identify relevant recommendations for businesses to succeed with Instagram social commerce.
Fintech as a driver for customer retention in the South African telecommunications industry
(University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Kalabamu, Erick
This study explored the impact of financial technology (fintech) adoption by customers on customer retention in South Africa’s telecommunication industry. Telecommunications companies in South Africa have been at the forefront of bringing technological innovation into their processes at a very early stage. However, customer retention as a result of fintech adoption by customers is not clear. To retain customers in a competitive business environment, new products and services are usually employed. This study analysed the impact of fintech service adoption and telecommunication service adoption in retaining customers underpinned by the communication theory and UTAUT. Adoption was determined by the customer’s perceived values and usefulness of the services. Customer retention was determined by the customer’s intention to remain with the network provider and had no intention to switch to another network provider. A 33-item questionnaire was used to gather data from 130 telecommunication customers at Wits Business School (WBS). Correlation analysis, exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were used to analyse the data collected. This correlation analysis revealed that there is a positive correlation and a statistical significance (r = 0,515 and p-value < 0,01) between customer retention and fintech service adoption. In contrast, traditional telecommunication services, an essential part of telecommunication companies, have insufficient evidence to suggest a statistically significant relationship (p-value -0,040) and correlation (r = 0,181) with customer retention. The results of this study provide insights for telecommunication firms to develop and expand fintech services for their existing customers. Implementing financial technology services will confer additional iii value beyond the scope of traditional telecommunication services. Communication was also seen to have a positive impact on fintech adoption over telecommunication adoption, thus having a positive impact as an additional variable. As a result of these findings and efforts employed by telecommunication firms as seen in media reports, SMS campaigns, social media, advertisements, mergersand acquisitions of fintech start-ups, fintech service adoption by customers has an impact on customer retention.
Investigating online learning and its role in addressing the cybersecurity skills shortage in South Africa
(University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Kgosiatsela, Lefa; Pillay, Kiru
This study explores the pivotal role of online learning in addressing the shortage of cybersecurity skills within the South African financial services sector. The study investigates the preferred learning formats of cybersecurity professionals, scrutinizes the strengths and weaknesses of online learning, and evaluates its efficacy in imparting cybersecurity skills. Emphasis is placed on the principles of attention, retention, and motivation in cybersecurity training, focusing on their implications for different learning formats. The decision to use a qualitative approach was influenced by the research questions, data requirements, and theoretical framework. A cross-sectional research design was chosen for its suitability in answering the research questions efficiently, considering the time constraints and the need for broad coverage in the complex field of cybersecurity. The advantages of this design include speedy data collection, simplicity in analysis, and suitability for exploratory research. Semi-structured interviews, conducted through Microsoft Teams, were employed for data collection from a sample of ten cybersecurity professionals, selected through a combination of purposive and snowball sampling methods. The interviews, comprising 16 open ended questions organised into four sections, aimed to explore participant preferences, critical factors for successful online learning, and the efficacy of online learning in imparting cybersecurity skills. Thematic Content Analysis (TCA) was employed for data analysis, involving the organization of data, identification of common themes, and the interpretation of findings. Online learning emerges as a flexible and accessible avenue for acquiring cybersecurity skills and knowledge. Despite its advantages, careful attention must be given to addressing potential drawbacks stemming from the absence of physical interaction and engagement. Instructors play a pivotal role in mitigating these challenges by incorporating interactive discussions, offering timely feedback, and fostering a sense of community among learners. The evaluation of online learning effectiveness should prioritize factors such as retention and practical skill application. Online platforms can contribute to this by providing diverse resources and tools. Success in online learning hinges on self-regulation iv and time management skills, underscoring the importance of adequate support and tools within the online learning environment. In essence, online learning holds the potential to motivate cybersecurity professionals, fostering not only skill development but also a lasting enthusiasm for lifelong learning. The research revealed distinct impacts of various training formats—physical on- the-job training, physical classroom training, and online training—on attention and engagement levels. Participants exhibited diverse preferences, with the majority favouring online self-paced and physical classroom training. Moreover, the study underscored the critical role of retention in cybersecurity training, emphasising the necessity for professionals to retain and recall knowledge and skills for effective application, necessitating continuous training to match the rapidly evolving nature of the field. Finally, the principle of motivation emerged as a key factor, indicating that participants driven to learn and apply their skills are more likely to excel in the cybersecurity field, as evidenced by their active participation in multiple training programs and specific form
Perceived barriers to digitalization by small-scale farmers Gauteng
(University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Choguya, Donald; Oba, Pius
Digitalization in the fourth industrial revolution era has transformed many industries across the board. However, there are some that have been affected more than the others as depicted in the digital vortex. Lagging is the agricultural sector. This study was a quantitative research study that utilized a sample of 40 small-scale farmers to be representative of the Gauteng Province small-scale farmers. The research related the perceived barriers to digitalization and its impact to the agricultural activities of small-scale farmers in Gauteng Province. The data was analysed using the multiple regression analysis and correlation coefficient. Analysis of the results showed a massive gap between small-scale farmers and commercial farmers on the adoption of digitalization. Further analysis indicated that small-scale farmers were less likely to be impacted by digitalization to adopt technological utilization. It was also found that small-scale farmers were contributors to food production. Finally, it was also discovered that small-scale farmers were less established to adapt and adopt to digitalization in their agricultural activities due to various barriers. The recommendations were that there was need to do more research to find ways to bridge the gap to digitalization between small-scale farmers in Gauteng Province and commercial farmers. So that small-scale farmers in Gauteng Province especially the small-scale farmers in rural areas could also be exposed to the digitalization of operations to enable them to improve production.
The barriers to digital transformation in the Wits School of Oral Sciences
(University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Dandawa, Donald; Ochara, Nixon M.
Owing to changes in technology industries are going through digital transformation but in some instances, the digital transformation endeavours fail. This study focused on Wits School of Oral Health Sciences (WSOHS) with a view to understanding the barriers to digital transformation and proposing strategies for circumventing the barriers. The study used a combination of stakeholder theory and the status quo bias theory as the lens. Using quantitative research methods, stratified random sampling was used to select participants who included employees which added up to 245 and 218 student population. A total of 168 participants eventually took part in the research by completing a questionnaire. The responses where then analysed using SPSS, Various statistics which includes frequencies, measures of central tendency and dispersion as well as unadjusted ordinal logistic regression were calculated, and the study found out that lack of connection to strategy and execution and lack of collaboration across departments where the two major reasons why digital transformation was failing. The possible strategies that can be employed to make digital transformation a success include aligning on the why of digital transformation as well as preparing and dealing with culture change. Results of the unadjusted ordinal logistic regression analysis on factors associated with enabling digital transformation were that students, impact of digital transformation, extent of barriers, and intentions impact were significantly associated with digital transformation at the 5% significance level. The conclusion drawn from the study is that there is a multiplicity of factors that impeded digital transformation and that multipronged strategies need to be used to make sure that digital transformation initiatives succeed.
The impact of digital leadership and transformational leadership on digital transformation
(University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Manga, Meera Gordhan; Sethibe, Tebogo
This study aimed to understand the impact of transformational leadership, and digital leadership on digital transformation journeys with three key objectives, i.e., digital and transformational leadership are positive contributors to delivering digital transformation journeys but digital leadership is a more positive contributor to digital transformation journeys when compared to transformational leadership. A quantitative research approach was taken and online surveys were used to collect data from individuals in three identified organisations who have been part of digital journeys/projects within their organisations’ departments. A total of 272 responses were received, of which 174 were noted as usable for this study due to missing values on responses not used. Reliability and validity, Descriptive, T-Test, Correlation, and Regression tests were used to analyse the data. Based on the tests performed the first outcome was aligned to the literature reviewed and confirmed a positive relationship between digital leadership and digital transformation journeys. The conclusion on the second objective was not aligned to the literature reviewed and found that a negative relationship between transformational leadership and digital transformation. The final objective confirmed that digital leadership has a more significant impact on digital transformation journeys than transformational leadership. While the conclusion may seem clear that digital leadership is a better fit for achieving successful outcomes in digital transformation journeys, the contrary outcomes to existing literature and studies implore the need for further exploration and understanding of leadership traits, styles and attributes that are best suited to supporting the positive outcome of digital transformation journeys. The outcome of such studies may be the creation and recognition of new leadership category, or the consolidation of existing leadership theories. Either way, it is imperative to gain a clearer insight into the leadership impacts on digital transformations if organisations and society are to gain more significant benefits from Industry 4.0 faster.

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