Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters/MBA)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/37942

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Loadshedding challenges and adoption of ICT solutions by SMEs in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Masilela, Senzi Michael; Msimango-Galawe, Jabulile
    Small and medium-sized enterprises are regarded as important contributors to improving the employment rate in South Africa. Unfortunately, loadshedding is severely affecting enterprises across different industry verticals. ICT is one of the enablers of collaboration, improved business processes, production and so forth. Companies rely on electricity as it underpins and enables the continuous running of business operations. Primary data was collected through one-on-one semi-structured interviews that were conducted with participants in the ICT space in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Majority of the participants who took part in the study work for organisations in and around Johannesburg and Pretoria. The collected data was analysed through thematic analysis where similarities were drawn, and suggestions put forward. It was discovered that some organisations run their IT services from physical hardware hosted on-premises while some are evolving and have since adopted newer ways of running IT services. Organisations running IT from on premises had to put down standby power generators and UPS systems to make sure that they are not negatively affected by loadshedding. Most smaller companies unfortunately were not able to afford backup power solutions because of them being so exorbitant from a cost perspective. Due to loadshedding challenges, some moved their infrastructure to third-party data centres and ran them remotely from there. Some have fully migrated to cloud computing
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    The transformation of primary and secondary education by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Gama, Lindiwe Setsabile
    Digital technologies have taken over the education sector in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Education 4.0 necessitates the upskilling of educational professionals and learners. It also requires the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to uniformly equip all schools with digital infrastructure to prepare learners for the technology-driven work environment. The DBE must make an effort to bridge the digital divide of learners in rural, urban and remote areas as part of the National Development Plan 2030. This is necessitated by the evolving job market. Literacy and numeracy levels have been declining in South Africa despite 4IR technologies that Generation Z learn to use quickly. The interventions by the DBE and the learning styles of Generation Z require educational professionals to adjust and adapt teaching methods. Unlimited access to digital information and applications promote a customised teaching and learning environment. This study aims to investigate how digital technologies are being used by educational professionals (educators) that teach official South African languages (except for sign language) and Mathematics were sampled to solicit their views on how digital technologies can be used to increase numeracy and literacy rates. Twenty- six educators (26) conveniently sampled participated in the study. According to the 2015 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and the 2016 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). The results indicate that there is a relationship between literacy, numeracy and the digital skills of education professionals and learners. Adequate funding for the Department of Basic Education is essential for uniform digital transformation in South Africa
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    The Impact of Digital Technology on Education in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Gupta, Shikha
    This study sought to determine the effect that digital technology would have on South Africa's educational system. The use of technology in educational settings may change how teaching and learning are carried out. Learning is made possible by technology, which can significantly reduce the growing gap in inequality and disparity and enhance the status of the economy. The research method used for this study is qualitative. To understand the motivations and behaviours of the target audience, the qualitative technique involves gathering perceptions and having faith in people's responses. Qualitative research aims to offer a more in-depth understanding of the problems. The following key themes emerged: Digital Technology, Willingness for Acceptance, Willingness for Implementation, Issues that Digital Technology Can Solve, and Advantages that Digital Technology Can Have. The results of technology in education spaces can have a profound impact and the findings are in closing the skills gap of the country, creating a more interconnected world, and giving access to educational resources, to mention a few
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    Evaluating the impact of outsourcing ICT operations at Road Accident Fund
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Chonco, Siphephelo Francis; Munkuli, Bongani
    The Road Accident Fund (RAF) receives a high number of claims as a result of major road accidents. This required RAF to change its business model to meet consumer demand (claimants) and to enhance the internal processes. This is done through outsourcing services from highly specialized entities. According to Hati̇Poğlu (2015), outsourcing has evolved as a strategic option for attaining organizational goals through cost management and to sustain and maintain competitive advantage. The organization is forced to outsource various service to acquired insufficient skills and knowledge within the company. However, at the end of outsourced services contract, RAF usually remain without the knowledge and skills required to continue with service maintenance. This study aims to evaluate the impact of outsourcing ICT operations and to evaluate skills sharing between employees during outsourcing. Based on a review of the literature in the benefits of skills transfer during outsourcing, structured interviews were conducted to ICT specialist and junior managers. Participant were selected based on experience of outsourcingand ICT qualification. The analysis of the responses demonstrated that consultants were not willing to share information and, service providers dispatched unskilled consultant. The analysis further indicated that there was lack of management support, inadequate infrastructure to store knowledge and lack of policy enforcement from the management. The results indicate that management does not enforce or develop policies for knowledge sharing during outsourcing. On this basis, it is recommended that the organization must improve good relationship with the service provider and must ensure that there are policies in place which will easily enable knowledge sharing. Further research is needed to develop a model that will monitor a successful knowledge sharing processes. The study is limited to one organisation, and it followed a single case study research strategy. Thus, the findings might have been influenced by the unique characteristics of the organisation, even though the study was based on solid theories. Caution must be taken not to generalise the findings to other organisations with different characteristics
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    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.