A framework for the analysis and evaluation of enterprise models

Bibliography: leaves 264-288.The purpose of this study is the development and validation of a comprehensive framework for the analysis and evaluation of enterprise models. The study starts with an extensive literature review of modelling concepts and an overview of the various reference disciplines concerned with enterprise modelling. This overview is more extensive than usual in order to accommodate readers from different backgrounds. The proposed framework is based on the distinction between the syntactic, semantic and pragmatic model aspects and populated with evaluation criteria drawn from an extensive literature survey. In order to operationalize and empirically validate the framework, an exhaustive survey of enterprise models was conducted. From this survey, an XML database of more than twenty relatively large, publicly available enterprise models was constructed. A strong emphasis was placed on the interdisciplinary nature of this database and models were drawn from ontology research, linguistics, analysis patterns as well as the traditional fields of data modelling, data warehousing and enterprise systems. The resultant database forms the test bed for the detailed framework-based analysis and its public availability should constitute a useful contribution to the modelling research community. The bulk of the research is dedicated to implementing and validating specific analysis techniques to quantify the various model evaluation criteria of the framework. The aim for each of the analysis techniques is that it can, where possible, be automated and generalised to other modelling domains. The syntactic measures and analysis techniques originate largely from the disciplines of systems engineering, graph theory and computer science. Various metrics to measure model hierarchy, architecture and complexity are tested and discussed. It is found that many are not particularly useful or valid for enterprise models. Hence some new measures are proposed to assist with model visualization and an original "model signature" consisting of three key metrics is proposed.Perhaps the most significant contribution ofthe research lies in the development and validation of a significant number of semantic analysis techniques, drawing heavily on current developments in lexicography, linguistics and ontology research. Some novel and interesting techniques are proposed to measure, inter alia, domain coverage, model genericity, quality of documentation, perspicuity and model similarity. Especially model similarity is explored in depth by means of various similarity and clustering algorithms as well as ways to visualize the similarity between models. Finally, a number of pragmatic analyses techniques are applied to the models. These include face validity, degree of use, authority of model author, availability, cost, flexibility, adaptability, model currency, maturity and degree of support. This analysis relies mostly on the searching for and ranking of certain specific information details, often involving a degree of subjective interpretation, although more specific quantitative procedures are suggested for some of the criteria. To aid future researchers, a separate chapter lists some promising analysis techniques that were investigated but found to be problematic from methodological perspective. More interestingly, this chapter also presents a very strong conceptual case on how the proposed framework and the analysis techniques associated vrith its various criteria can be applied to many other information systems research areas. The case is presented on the grounds of the underlying isomorphism between the various research areas and illustrated by suggesting the application of the framework to evaluate web sites, algorithms, software applications, programming languages, system development methodologies and user interfaces

Mobile technology adoption by doctors in public healthcare in the Western Cape, South Africa

Doctors working in public healthcare in South Africa are faced with the unique resource constraints prevalent in a developing country. In this context, doctors can use information and communication technologies (ICTs) to obtain better information and decision support. However, the potential of ICTs to improve the healthcare sector will only be realised if individuals decide to adopt the new technologies. Therefore, an understanding of the factors that influence doctors’ use of a technology needs to be developed and the research efforts to identify these factors have been lacking in the South African public healthcare sector. This paper explores significant factors influencing the adoption of mobile devices by doctors in the public healthcare sector in the Western Cape, South Africa. The research methodology was shaped by qualitative enquiry and described through thematic analysis. Key adoption factors identified include those confirmed by prior research of: job relevance, usefulness, perceived user resources and device characteristics. Adoption factors that emerged during this research are support structures from national government and hospital administration, patient influence and unease in respect of malpractice legal suits

Factors Affecting The Organizational Adoption Of Service-Oriented Architecture (Soa)

Service-oriented computing is an emerging IT innovation. Among its manifestations is service-oriented architecture (SOA), an architectural approach to designing and implementing IT solutions. Academic empirical research on SOA adoption is scarce, with many studies focussing on qualitative analysis. The purpose of this study is to explore SOA adoption using a quantitative approach. This study investigates organizational SOA adoption in South Africa from DOI theory and TOE framework perspectives. A comprehensive model of SOA adoption is presented along with an associated research instrument. In order to validate the instrument and to gauge the state of SOA adoption, an online survey was conducted among South African organizations. The results of the survey highlight a number of factors influencing SOA adoption. Use of multiple standards and platforms, complexity, compatibility, cost, top management support, good governance and strategy, adequate human and financial resources, vendor support for integration and development tools are all significant factors for a fruitful SOA implementation. The findings of this study can contribute to the body of knowledge on organizational SOA adoption and create opportunities for future related research in this field

Enablers of and Barriers to Digital Innovation Success: A Systematic Literature Review from 2010 to 2020

In a (post-)pandemic world, digital innovation has gained relevance as an important driver of digital economies. This paper combines systematic literature review and thematic analysis to isolate enablers of and barriers to digital innovation success. The review draws on an initial set of 421 papers, sourced from Google Scholar and the Web of Science databases, selected by title, topic, abstract and keywords. Out of the 421, 38 papers were selected. Unique and similar factors that emerged from the review have been isolated and discussed in more detail. By understanding the enablers and barriers, digital entrepreneurship stakeholders in the Global South can embrace best practices towards creation of an enabling environment that supports successful implementation of digital innovations. Particularly, this research has potential to influence favorable policy formulation and the targeting of funding to support technology innovators to stimulate digital innovations that power digital economies

Assessment of the Public Value of Open Data in Ghana

With rising enthusiasm for Open Data (OD) globally, there has been an expanding requirement for research on the impact this movement has created. Ghana is consid-ered as one of the early Open Data adopters in Africa. The case of Ghana presents an interesting and a unique area of concentration due to the country’s long stand in de-mocracy. The practice of democracy, accountability and transparency has been the core of government development in Ghana since independence in 1957. The research pur-pose is to understand and examine the impact of Open Data from the context of Gha-na from the perspective of created public value. Existing studies in Open Data has focused on the supply-side. These studies have discussed issues relating to licensing, policies, power relationship between government stakeholders and the technological platforms of the phenomenon. Less is however, known of the impact Open Data on citizens and government of developing countries after about four years of embracing the initiative. The research question underlying this study is: What public value has Open Data created in Ghana? To answer this research question, the study adopts a post-positivist methodology and deductively adopts the public value framework as the theoretical lens. With reference to the public value framework the study posits that the major impact of open data in Ghana is related to intrinsic enhancements, steward-ship, quality of life, economic empowerment.With rising enthusiasm for Open Data (OD) globally, there has been an expanding requirement for research on the impact this movement has created. Ghana is consid-ered as one of the early Open Data adopters in Africa. The case of Ghana presents an interesting and a unique area of concentration due to the country’s long stand in de-mocracy. The practice of democracy, accountability and transparency has been the core of government development in Ghana since independence in 1957. The research pur-pose is to understand and examine the impact of Open Data from the context of Gha-na from the perspective of created public value. Existing studies in Open Data has focused on the supply-side. These studies have discussed issues relating to licensing, policies, power relationship between government stakeholders and the technological platforms of the phenomenon. Less is however, known of the impact Open Data on citizens and government of developing countries after about four years of embracing the initiative. The research question underlying this study is: What public value has Open Data created in Ghana? To answer this research question, the study adopts a post-positivist methodology and deductively adopts the public value framework as the theoretical lens. With reference to the public value framework the study posits that the major impact of open data in Ghana is related to intrinsic enhancements, steward-ship, quality of life, economic empowerment

Mediators For Lecturer Perspectives On Learning Management Systems At Universities In The Western Cape, South Africa

This paper investigated the adoption of Course and Learning Management Systems (C/LMS) by lecturers at the four residential universities of South Africa’s Western Cape province. To explain the differences in use patterns, a dedicated analysis framework, ActAD, grounded in activity theory was used. Lecturer interviews pointed to important differences in views – and consequent use patterns – of E-Learning and C/LMS. The key considerations were found to be differences in perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, accessibility and functional expectations. This research not only shows how activity theory, and ActAD in particular, can be useful in understanding individual perspectives on and use of C/LMS, but also provides some useful comparative data to researchers in technology-based education

Customer Expectations of Internet Banking in South Africa

The Internet has fundamentally changed the banking industry in South Africa by giving people more immediate control over the management of their finances. This research investigated whether a gap exists between customer expectations of Internet Banking and the satisfaction of these expectations in the virtual environment by South African banking institutions. The research was operationalized by means of a survey amongst internet banking users. The research focused specifically on the way customers of Internet banking sites felt about the service and functionality they received on the Internet and whether their expectations of this banking service were being met. What emerged from the research was that customers were happy with their basic Internet banking experience. What they were not satisfied with, were cost issues and the lack of personalised service. Issues such as speed and more advanced functionality also played a minor part. In addition, Internet banking customers felt there was a lack of integration across banking channels. Overall, the research indicates that basic user expectations are being met by Internet banks in South Africa. However, unless this satisfaction is maintained and extended, banks could possibly lose customers to the already emerging virtual, innovative and more cost-effective alternative banks of the future

An Innovation and Risk Dashboard

In order to manage new product and service innovations within organisations effectively, cognizance needs to be taken of a wide number of diverse risks that are multidisciplinary in nature. However, to display such a large number of risks in a fast-changing environment on short notice with dispersed information requires novel techniques. Using a design science methodology, a unique artefact was delivered with a design grounded in scientific literature, including prescriptive and concrete knowledge sources as well practical knowledge. This risk and innovation dashboard allows new product and service development teams to make quicker and more informed decisions during stage/gate processes. Since no dashboard design approach for managing risks in new product and service development could be found in the academic literature, this paper hopes to make a novel contribution to the state of the art in the fields of decision support systems as well as innovation and risk management

When Social Media Fails: Exploring Alternative Technologies for Effective Communication in Disasters

Effective communication plays a critical role in disaster management, encompassing both data gathering and information dissemination. This study examines the utilization of alternative technologies for communication during disasters, aiming to address the vulnerabilities of relying solely on social media platforms. To answer the research questions, a qualitative methodology employing an inductive approach was used to gather and analyze data from literature and officers working in disaster management organizations. The research findings reveal the efficacy of employing SMS, emails, phone calls, and other supporting technologies as viable alternatives for disaster communication. These approaches have demonstrated their reliability to overcome challenges posed by social media disruptions. The study emphasizes the importance of diversifying communication channels to ensure inclusive and resilient communication strategies within disaster management organizations. Overall, this study contributes to enhancing the effectiveness of disaster communication strategies by incorporating alternative technologies and addressing the limitations of social media platforms

Public sector organizational capabilities to develop fully- fledged eGovernment-for-citizens in South Africa

The implementation of fully-fledged eGovernment-for-citizens (eG4C) initiatives by public sector organization (PSO) seems to be a challenging task especially for developing countries. For instance in South Africa, there is no or limited fully-fledged eGovernment portal which provides integrated services for citizens. Researchers have published extensive research work on eGovernment maturity models (Layne and Lee, 2001) to evaluate the readiness of individual public agencies in executing eGovernment programmes. Furthermore, these models were developed in order to integrate the assessment of technological, organizational, operational and human capital capabilities (Valdes et al, 2010). Although there is such models PSO in developing countries still struggles to develop a fully integrated eGovernment systems. According to eGovernment ranking index studies commissioned by United Nations (2001 – 2014) developing countries do not have a well-established record top ranking of eGovernment service. These public agencies are struggling to apply these models which are strongly supported by international best practices. Hence, the research questions are: • What are the factors that hinders a successful application of eGovernment maturity model within a public agencies? • What are the constraints that affect the organizational capabilities in developing a fully- fledged eG4C? The research objective of this research is to understand and interpret the complexities within an eGovernment social structure that negatively affects implementation. The research will describe and analyze the human capital capabilities in applying eGovernment maturity model during the development of eG4C initiatives within a PSO. The study will examine some of the processes which are applied by public agencies in developing their eG4C initiatives. A deductive approach would be employed throughout the study, and the structuration and activity theories have been selected as the theoretical lens in order to understand and interpret the complexities within an eGovernment social structure that affects implementation