Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (ETDs)
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Item The role of digital transformation within construction project management in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Snyman, Pierre; Sethibe, TebogoIn the rapidly evolving landscape of South Africa's construction industry, integrating digital technology has emerged as a pivotal factor influencing project management practices. This study delves into the role of digital transformation within construction project management, framed within the context of technological advancements and shifting industry paradigms. This investigation used a qualitative research methodology to gather data through structured interviews with the South Africa construction sector and international professionals. The sample comprised individuals actively involved in project management, offering insights into the current state of digitalisation and challenges in the planning phase of construction projects. The findings reveal a significant integration of digital tools such as CCS MSP and Primavera P6, highlighting their contribution to enhanced efficiency and effectiveness in project management. The study also uncovers the cultural and age-related challenges in adopting these technologies, alongside the role of regulatory reforms and the DD in their implementation. Advanced collaboration methods, including BIM, Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR), and cloud-based tools, were identified as key to improving stakeholder communication and project success. Conclusively, this research underscores the transformative role of digitalisation in construction project management in South Africa. It advocates for strategic policy interventions and targeted training initiatives to bridge the digital divide, particularly among older professionals, and to harness the full potential of digital tools for improved project outcomes. The study provides valued insights for practitioners and policymakers who want to explore and achieve a deeper understanding of the complexities of modern project management in the construction industry during digital transformation.Item The effectiveness of technological advancements on project execution in the South African financial services sector(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Rantao, Samuel; Mupfawa , Shungu; Wotela, NkambidimaBackground: The digital age is filled with emerging digital technologies that are evolving at a rapid pace. The wide scope of digital technologies streams such as ‘artificial intelligence’ (AI), ‘automation’, ‘big data’, ‘cloud computing' and the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) have created opportunities and challenges to all involved in banking to embrace digital transformation. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to explore the effectiveness of technological advancements on project execution in the South African financial services sector. The main emphasis for banks to remain relevant and gain a competitive advantage in this digital age, they would need to transform digitally by adopting appropriate emerging technologies and transition their backend processes and operations. The study further explores the mitigation of the problem statements through a management consulting start-up as a possible solution. Method: The research method was in the form of a quantitative research design, which involved 267 online surveys with banking professionals working within IT such as Chief Digital Officers, Head of Departments, and Project teams. The literature review indicated that digital transformation was reshaping the structure of the banking sector, and the role of IT project execution in the digital age. This has emphasised the need for banking professionals to stay abreast with the fourth industrial revolution developments and trends, and to prepare for imminent changes as the digital age requires new skills and competencies. Results: The findings from this study indicated that the issues pertaining to digital transformation are multifaceted and go beyond the incumbents in the financial services banking sector as they affect companies operating in other industries across SA. The findings from this study are expected to contribute to the extant literature in the field of digital transformation and competencies required by banking professionals. Conclusion: The fourth industrial revolution has introduced significant new technologies in all areas of business, and the banking sector is no different. The emergence of technologies has impacted the way projects need to be executed, in terms of speed, efficiencies and processes. All of this requires new mindsets with advanced skills which need to be quickly attained and practiced at the highest levels to make the most of the technologiesItem Sustaining and supporting SMME use of big data in South Africa(2021) Xegwana, SiviweSMEs play a significant role in the South African economy because of their contribution towards employment which makes this a very important sector. Big Data plays a significant role in propelling the digital economy and organisations that are dominant across various industries are those that have effectively adopted and assimilated BDA technologies in their business strategies. The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of Big Data Analytics BDA) technologies on sustaining growth strategies of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in South Africa. The study was carried out using a non-experimental quantitative research method that draws from a post-positivist worldview. Data collection was done using an online survey in a form of a self-administered questionnaire. The research survey was distributed through email to a random sample of participants sourced from online business directories and IT professionals who work for SME entities and are actively involved in big data initiatives. The key findings of the study reveal that BDA technologies do positively influence SME’s competitive advantage, and resource constraints do have a negative impact on SME growth strategies, but the relationship between adoption and assimilation of BDA technologies and SME growth was found to be very weak and insignificant. Leveraging and delivering value through BDA, SMEs can develop and sustain a robust SME sector and make a considerable contribution towards employment and improve socio-economic conditions for the South African public.