An emancipatory approach for innovative access to education in farm schools of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Robinson, Craig Grant
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/72462 , vital:30055
- Description: Expected release date-April 2020
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2019
Aligning local government service delivery communication with digital citizen engagement: a case study of Makana Municipality
- Authors: Machiri, Mwazvita Chipo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Political participation South Africa Makana , Municipal services South Africa Makana , Communication in public administration South Africa Makana , Internet in public administration South Africa Makana , Information technology South Africa Makana , Electronic government information South Africa Makana , Government accountability South Africa Makana
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/194146 , vital:45423
- Description: The effective management of local municipalities in South Africa determines the quality of service delivery to citizens. Policies and other legislation have been implemented in an attempt to improve service delivery backlogs in South Africa since post-apartheid. However, these have not been effective in meeting community needs, hence leading to poor service delivery and increased community protests of frustration. These problems are partly linked to the lack of communication between government and citizens, and within internal government. Government needs to be held accountable for the services it provides, and improve on these services through practicing transparency, providing information to citizens, and allowing citizens to provide feedback on the various challenges experienced. Information access and communication is vital to the citizen engagement process, as this supports evidence-based engagement between citizens and government. Over the most recent years, innovative ICTs have emerged as a critical strategic tool in facilitating communication between the government and its citizens, commonly referred to as digital citizen engagement. The effective implementation of such initiatives at the local government level, especially in resource-constrained contexts, is not straightforward. This research aims to develop a guiding framework for aligning municipal communication processes with innovative ICTs to support ongoing social accountability and transparency through citizen engagement in local municipalities. The formulation of this framework is built on the Adaptive Structuration Theory, which is based on studying organisational change that occurs due to implementation and adoption of technology. Using a pragmatist approach and case study of Makana Municipality, the research study investigates a digital citizen engagement initiative called MobiSAM (Mobile Social Accountability Monitoring). The key findings from the qualitative empirical investigation indicates that there are significant social and political factors to consider when aligning Digital Citizen Engagement initiatives in a resource-constrained environment. The findings illustrated that the change and alignment process of DCE in local municipalities rely on a diverse set of inputs from different stakeholders, and a dynamic change process, which result in key citizen engagement outcomes of empowerment, accountability, transparency, and increased engagement depending – all depending on the success of the process. The extent of the outcomes will vary with the effectiveness of change management, idea generation, and participation, which Preliminaries are impacted by perceived usefulness, attitude towards the system, and the intentions of the user. The proposed framework provides a guideline for the implementation and introduction of innovations ICTs for citizen engagement at local government level. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Information Systems, 2018
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- Date Issued: 2018
A framework for guiding the interdisciplinary design of mHealth intervention apps for physical activity behaviour change
- Authors: Thomson, Callie Deborah
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Wireless communication systems in medical care , Exercise Health aspects , Behavior modification , Mobile apps , Medical care Technological innovations , Medical informatics , Health promotion Technological innovations , Application software Development , Design Science Research (DSR)
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/232193 , vital:49970 , DOI http://doi.org/10.21504/10962/232193
- Description: The global pandemic of noncommunicable diseases and its associated premature mortality rates and socioeconomic burden have led to increasingly intensified efforts towards designing and delivering health promotion interventions aimed at addressing the leading modifiable health risk behaviours, such as physical inactivity. Developing physical activity behaviour change interventions that target individuals at the dual intra-interpersonal socioecological levels of health promotion has become a key objective worldwide. Digital and mobile technology is revolutionising the ways in which health behaviour change interventions are delivered to individuals across the world, with mobile health applications (mHealth apps) increasingly recognised as a powerful means of promoting physical activity behaviour change. However, with the growth and opportunities of mHealth apps, come several design challenges. Key design challenges concern the integration of theory, the incorporation of evidence-based behaviour change techniques, the application of persuasive systems design principles, and the importance of multi- and interdisciplinary collaborative design, development and evaluation approaches. These key challenges influence the output product design and effectiveness of mHealth physical activity behaviour change intervention apps. There exists a paucity of approaches for guiding and supporting the multi- and interdisciplinary collaborative design, development and evaluation of mHealth physical activity behaviour change intervention apps. To address this gap, this research study proposes an Interdisciplinary mHealth App Design Framework, framed by a novel boundary object view. This view considers the diverse communities of practice, boundary objects and supporting artefacts, process activities, and knowledge sharing practices necessary and relevant to the design of effective mHealth physical activity behaviour change intervention apps. The framework’s development is guided by a Design Science Research (DSR) approach. Its core components are based on the findings of a critical theoretical analysis of twenty existing multi- and interdisciplinary digital health development approaches. Once developed, the framework is evaluated using a qualitative DSR linguistic interpretivist approach, with semi-structured interviews as the research instrument. The thematic analysis findings from interviews with thirty-one international academic researchers and industry practitioners informs the iterative modification and revision of an enhanced Interdisciplinary mHealth App Design Framework, constituting the main DSR artefact contribution of the research study. In addition, four theoretical contributions are made to the mHealth intervention app design body of knowledge, and a practical contribution is made through the provision of guideline recommendations for academics and industry practitioners. Methodological contributions are also made in terms of applying DSR, adopting a hybrid cognitive reasoning strategy, and employing a qualitative linguistic interpretivist approach to evaluation within a DSR project. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Commerce, Information Systems, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-04-06
Transformative ICT education practices in rural secondary schools for developmental needs and realities: the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Simuja, Clement
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Education, Secondary -- South Africa -- Data processing , Information technology -- Study and teaching (Secondary) --South Africa , Educational technology -- Developing countries , Rural development -- Developing countries , Computer-assisted instruction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet in education -- South Africa , Rural schools -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community and school -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/150631 , vital:38991
- Description: The perceived social development significance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has dramatically expanded the domains in which this cluster of ICTs is being discussed and acted upon. The action to promote community development in rural areas in South Africa has made its way into the introduction of ICT education in secondary schools. Since rural secondary schools form part of the framework for rural communities, they are being challenged to provide ICT education that makes a difference in learners’ lives. This requires engaging education practices that inspire learners to construct knowledge of ICT that does not only respond to examination purposes but rather, to the needs and development aspirations of the community. This research examines the experience of engaging learners and communities in socially informed ICT education in rural secondary schools. Specifically, it seeks to develop a critique of current practices involved in ICT education in rural secondary schools, and explores plausible alternatives to such practices that would make ICT education more transformative and structured towards the developmental concerns of communities. The main empirical focus for the research was five rural secondary schools in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. The research involved 53 participants that participated in a socially informed ICT training process. The training was designed to inspire participants to share their self-defined ICT education and ICT knowledge experiences. Critical Action Learning and Philosophical Inquiry provided the methodological framework, whilst the theoretical framework draws on Foucault’s philosophical ideas on power-knowledge relations. Through this theoretical analysis, the research examines the dynamic interplay of practices in ICT education with the values, ideals, and knowledge that form the core-life experiences of learners and rural communities. The research findings of this study indicate that current ICT education practices in rural secondary schools are endowed with ideologies that are affecting learners’ identity, social experiences, power, and ownership of the reflective meaning of using ICTs in community development. The contribution of this thesis lies in demonstrating ways that reframe ICT education transformatively, and more specifically its practices in the light of the way power, identity, ownership and social experience construct and offer learners a transformative view of self and the world. This could enable ICT education to fulfil the potential of contributing to social development in rural communities. The thesis culminates by presenting a theoretical framework that articulates the structural and authoritative components of ICT education practices – these relate to learners’ conscious understandings and represented thoughts, sensations and meanings embedded in the context, and actions and locations of using their knowledge of ICT.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
A comprehensive approach to scalability assessment of ICTD projects : a case study of ICT4RED
- Authors: Baduza, Gugulethu Qhawekazi
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: To be added
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178435 , vital:42939
- Description: Access restricted until April 2023. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Commerce, Information Systems, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-04
A systems thinking approach to e-government strategy formulation for water service delivery in South African local municipalities
- Authors: Osah, Umeoniso Joshua
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Internet in public administration South Africa , Electronic government information South Africa , Communication in public administration South Africa , Municipal services South Africa , Municipal services Information technology , System theory
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64471 , vital:28547 , DOI 10.21504/10962/64471
- Description: E-Government deployments by stakeholders within the South African water service sector, provide certain benefits for the sector. While deemed beneficial and of considerable value, e-Government deployments and implementations in the water sector of local governments of South Africa have not always been successful. One important reason for e-Government failures, among several others, is the lack of coherent strategies, informed by key representing stakeholder views, to guide implementation and deployment of e-Government tools. Without strategies, it is highly likely that ICT integration will be conducted haphazardly. As a point of note, more than the deliverable (strategy document) that represents the output of the strategy development process, it serves more purpose to understand the process that results in the strategy. Importantly, understanding the process helps to account for the formed relationships between the various stakeholders that need to buy into the strategy. The research study develops an e-Government strategy formulation framework based on a systems thinking approach, intended to support the strategy formulation process of e-Government strategies – to underpin the effective integration, deployment and sustained use of ICT solutions for water service delivery at the local government level. A systems thinking approach is considered due to its emphasis on the strategy being informed by a holistic assessment. Where there is some knowledge about the processes by which a strategy is formulated – over time ideas may be derived on the types of processes that may produce efficient e-Government strategies. The research is conducted using the Design Science research paradigm. The Design Science paradigm is comprised of two processes – build and evaluate (Hevner et al., 2004). The build process, as related to this research concentrates on the progression through which the theoretical e-Government strategy formulation framework is derived. Weick’s (1989) theorizing approach is ascribed, supporting the design of the theoretical framework. In applying Weick’s theorizing approach, firstly, the lack of knowledge on how e-Government strategies should be formulated in South African local municipalities – is explicated in an intelligible manner. Once the problem is properly articulated, a trial and error selection process is undertaken of existing approaches on strategy formulation – thought to possess the potential to contribute to the development of an e-Government strategy formulation framework, suited to local governments in South Africa. With good reason, 10 (ten) strategy approaches are selected from, e-Government programmes in developed countries, Non-Governmental organizational strategy approaches, and business related strategy formulation approaches. Lastly, as all possible approaches that may contribute to the framework development process cannot be selected, criteria is specified to limit the number of possible selections. Furthermore, in deriving the framework, foundations for systematically dealing with unstructured problems, such as, strategy formulation are consulted. This foundation along with the research goals, informs the development of a template used to comparatively analyse the 10 selected approaches on strategy formulation. This analysis aids in revealing the components of an e-Government strategy formulation process. With the developed framework, the evaluation process of the design science research commences, seeking to determine the utility of the framework (suitability and shortcomings). The framework is applied to the procedural formulation of a strategy for a tentative e-Government project called MobiSAM, which aims to enhance citizen engagement with local government through the use of mobile phones. The strategy formulation application process in the project environment and local government reveals lessons that inform revisions to the framework. The e-Government strategy formulation framework, therefore represents a fundamental tool for e-Government strategy development in local municipalities, and may be customized to fit the requirements of varying local municipalities. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Commerce, Information Systems, 2017
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Outcome and impact assessment in the comprehensive evaluation of rural ICT projects in developing countries
- Authors: Mtkoko, Hafeni Tulimewawa Wilhelmina Lyatenda
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64483 , vital:28548 , DOI 10.21504/10962/64483
- Description: Despite existing literature that indicates that Information and communication technologies (ICTs) act as tools for social change and development, there is still limited empirical evidence that demonstrates this. An outcome and impact assessment based on a comprehensive (holistic) evaluation is deemed appropriate at a time when many ICT4D programmes fail to effectively demonstrate their impact towards rural development. A comprehensive evaluation is one that incorporates the evaluation of the need, design, implementation, outcome and impact, efficiency, and scalability of a programme. These stages make up the different domains of an evaluation lifecycle. The following study aims to develop an outcome and impact assessment framework for ICT4D programmes. It forms part of continuous research associated with the development of a rural ICT Comprehensive Evaluation framework. A theoretical approach, using Design Science and Weick’s theorizing process, was applied to investigate the development of a framework (design artefact) for outcome and impact assessment of ICT4D programmes. The theorizing process analysed existing outcome and impact assessment frameworks from social programmes, information systems/technology programmes, and ICT4D programmes. The output of the theorizing process proposes five critical themes of outcome and impact assessment of rural ICT4D programmes that should be assessed. These themes include: Strategic Value, Most Significant Change, Empowerment, Livelihoods, and Sustainability. To assess its utility, the framework was implemented in the Siyakhula Living Lab and Information and Communication Technology for Rural Education (ICT4RED) projects in South Africa. Through the application of the framework in real life ICT4D contexts, the lessons learned contributed to its revision and enhancement. The proposed framework aims to guide evaluators through the assessment of outcomes and impacts in ICT4D programmes. It provides a foundation and justification for the selected outcome and impact assessment themes that contribute to a comprehensive evaluation. An outcome and impact assessment that is informed by: baseline; needs assessment; programme theory assessment; and process assessment data, provides ICT4D evaluators and project stakeholders with meaningful outcome and impact feedback. Having such an approach to outcome and impact assessment ensures that the evaluation process is seen more holistically as part of the ICT4D project as a whole. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Commerce, Information Systems, 2017
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- Date Issued: 2017
A process assessment framework for rural ICT projects in developing countries: an exploration of the Siyakhula Living Lab, South Africa
- Authors: Osah, Umeoniso Joshua
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Siyakhula Living Lab Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Rural development projects -- Evaluation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Communication in economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:1133 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001623
- Description: Rural development can be supported by information and knowledge which are key strategic resources for socio economic development. ICTs enable the facilitation and communication of information between remotely dispersed individuals or groups and more developed regions. While it has become common place that ICTs possess capabilities to potentially support rural development, the concept of ICT for development (ICT4D) is still fraught with challenges and barriers, which impede the success and sustainability of ICT4D projects. It is therefore essential to evaluate rural ICT projects, as such an analysis may aid in revealing information related to the need, effectiveness, impact, and sustainability of these projects. This research seeks to further the implementation and exploration of the Rural ICT Comprehensive Evaluation Framework (RICT-CEF), through the application of the Process Assessment domain in a real life rural ICT project environment. The RICT-CEF framework consisting of 7 evaluation domains has the primary objective of evaluating rural ICT projects from their inception stages to post implementation. A process assessment seeks to determine whether or not a rural ICT project is operating to implement its intended functions in the intended way specified in the projects plan. Such an assessment is invaluable to a comprehensive evaluation. Evaluation questions for a process assessment are centred around critical themes of project performance. Critical themes are aspects of a programme or projects implementation which must be enacted in order to achieve desired project outcomes. This research study is aimed at identifying critical themes of process assessment relevant to rural ICT4D projects. To identify critical themes, assessment approaches on social programme process assessments, evaluation of information systems in use, and rural ICT4D project evaluation case studies are comparatively analysed. Fourteen assessment approaches from these three categories are selected based on criteria. To analyse selected assessment approaches, a template is created based on the research questions, foundational literature on process assessment and identified challenges applicable to process assessments of rural ICT4D projects. Comparing and contrasting critical themes from these assessment approaches highlight critical themes essential to assess in the iterative implementation phase of rural ICT projects. Accentuated critical themes include, service utilization, organizational function and external project factors. These themes, along with suggested guiding principles from literature for conducting process assessments enable the creation of a framework for conducting process assessments of rural ICT projects. The framework is labelled "the Rural ICT Project Process Assessment Framework (RICTP-PAF)". The application of the RICTP-PAF in a real life rural ICT project through a design science case study provides lessons learned (suitability and shortcomings) from applying the framework. This essentially demonstrates the sensitivity of the RICTP-PAF to rural contexts in which it is implemented in. For instance, the implemented prototype of the RICTP-PAF reveals that the framework places a great deal of emphasis on rural beneficiary perspectives. A practice which has been lacking in such evaluation exercises. Furthermore, the guiding principles elucidated, bring to mind best practices to deal with issues such as stakeholder conflict, unreliable data elicitation and unethical assessment practices. The RICTP-PAF represents a fundamental tool for process assessments of rural ICT projects, and may be adopted and customized to various rural ICT project contexts in developing countries.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
The Integration of Personally-owned Information and Communication Technologies (PICTs) for Teaching and Learning in Resource-Constrained Higher Education Environments – The Case of a Nigerian University
- Authors: Lewis, Oláñrewájú Olúrotimi
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163582 , vital:41050 , doi:10.21504/10962/163582
- Description: Thesis (PhD)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Commerce, Information Systems, 2020
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- Date Issued: 2020