Software Process Improvement Using Force Field Analysis

Software process improvement is a necessity especially since the dynamic nature of today’s hardware demands reciprocal improvements in the underlying software systems. Several process improvement models exist where organizations perform an introspective study of the current software development process and identify factors that require improvement. An improvement plan is then drawn and implemented. This paper studiedthe state of Nigerian software development organizations based on selected attributes. Force field analysis is used to partition the factors obtained into driving and restraining forces. An attempt was made to improve the software development process by transforming some of the restraining forces to driving forces.Keywords: Software, Process improvement, driving forces, restraining forces, force field analysis

Learner’s Generated Digital Media Usage and Effects among Nursing Students in Nigeria

Introduction: The use of learner’s generated digital media (LGDM) in education has accelerated several learning processes that were hitherto very complex and difficult to teach and learn in the past. They come in various multimedia formats to help ease learning and teaching experiences via telecommunication technologies and the Internet. Problem: Learning using LGDM in nursing science requires professional skills, motivations and intentions of users who generate multimedia and deploy them for learning. Understanding LGDM usage in learning and its significant effects may improve academic performance of the learner, motivation and adoption for nursing student. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of LGDM on nursing learner’s skills (improved Academic Performances), motivation and intention to use LGDM in their learning programme by formulating hypotheses based on technology acceptance models. Methods: We carried out a survey research methodology of LGDM usage among nursing student of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and National Open University of Nigeria (Benin and Asaba study centre). Nursing student (N=500) of year 3 student was the focus group. Random sampling was used to select the participant (students) and a structured questionnaire was administered to them to provide responses to the closed-ended questions contained therein. Examining the role of Technological Acceptance Model (TAM) and Motivation model in learning established the theoretical framework presented in this research to determine the relationship of LGDM usage to learner intention and academic performance. Structured Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to analyse the theoretical framework path diagram. Results: Among the commonly used LGDM by the nursing students were podcast (video, audio) and e-books alongside with printable learning materials (PDF) for their learning experiences. Although most of those LGDM resources are readily available and free to access, most of the LGDM format require enormous bandwidth to download them hence a burden for learner. The analyses of the path diagram using SEM revealed significant relationships of core framework parameters (Effort Efficiency, Social Influence, Performance expectance) on Behaviour intention, motivation and improved Academic Performances of motivated nursing student who use multimedia for their learning. Conclusions: Nursing students are determined to use LGDM to enhance their learning and improve their academic performance. The findings in this work provide both contextual and practical blueprints for qualitative and collaborative learning and it will benefit education authorities and institutions that offer specialised nursing training and programmes to students for effective and qualitative health care delivery &nbsp

The Role of GIS, Mobile App and Satellite Technologies to Enhance Data Collection Process: A Case of Environmental Factors and Epidemics Linkages

A research article was submitted to Smart Cities/Smart Regions – Technische, wirtschaftliche und gesellschaftliche Innovationen, 2019Enhancement of health data collection and presentation to support epidemic analysis can benefit many aspects of healthcare in terms of diseases control, decision making and action to be taken. The epidemic analysis is the science that studies the patterns, causes, and effects of health and diseases conditions in defined populations. In most hospitals, there is increasing demand to improve quality of data, the efficiency of collection and presentation. In this study, we aim at integrating new module in the existing Health Information System (HIS) in order to improve data collection and presentation. The module takes advantage of the emerging technologies of mobile application, satellite technology and Geographical Information System (GIS) to capture environmental data. As part of the module we have developed, the mobile app which is integrated with GIS and satellite technology for remote data collection and hence the module can play a vital role in enhancing epidemic analysis