Successful IT outsourcing : from conceptual to enhanced model

Abstract: Outsourcing is a subject of much attention and controversy in the modern business landscape, due to far-reaching ramifications into matters such as politics, economics, legal, and human resources. Given such wide exposure, ensuring the success of outsourcing projects seems a worthwhile pursuit. This paper presents a study focused on Information Technology (IT) outsourcing, which entails full or partial transfer of ownership of IT-related processes to a vendor, supposedly to achieve business benefits such as cheaper costs, economies of scale, and increased efficiency. This said, can all processes be outsourced? Are some processes meant to be kept in-house? To what extent do the overarching strategies and motivations behind an outsourcing decision influence the outsourcing delivery models and eventually the performance of outsourcing projects? Regardless of the specifics of an outsourcing project, there seems to be a dearth of tried, tested and repeatable blueprints guiding the decision-making throughout the outsourcing journey. The aim of this paper is two-fold: a) Present the finding of a study towards a conceptual model for IT outsourcing; b) Illustrate how a conceptual model can be validated with empirical data, towards an enhanced model; Data was collected from 20 outsourcing professionals via structured questionnaire derived from the conceptual model for successful outsourcing. Data was then analysed through data visualization and findings were contrasted against the initial literature review. Knowledge gaps identified were applied to the conceptual model and the enhanced model was proposed as a result

Deriving projects from the organisational vision using the Vision-to-Projects (V2P) Framework

Organisations initiate and execute projects at an ever-increasing ratein order to achieve their strategic intentions. Many of these, however,find it difficult to measure the contribution that these projects maketowards the realisation of the organisational vision. In order to effectthese changes in a cumulatively beneficial way, a holistic approachis needed. The Vision-to-Projects (V2P) Framework was developed tofacilitate such an approach and can be applied to all organisationaltypes. This article shows how participatory action research was appliedin the development of the V2P Framework. While largely validatingthe theoretical framework, it did indeed reveal several beneficialmodifications to improve its applicability. The main results of this research are twofold. It firstly provides organisations with a framework that can be used to derive projects from the organisational vision and strategies, thereby ensuring continuous alignment. Secondly, it shows the successful use of participatory action research in the field of project management thathas been dominated, thus far, by quantitative research methods

Global IT project performance through effective stakeholder management: a conceptual framework

Abstract : Multinational organisations face several challenges during the implementation of projects across country borders. These projects are referred to as global projects and involve various stakeholders with diverse demands and requirements that need to be understood, balanced and managed. Despite challenges in managing stakeholders, global IT projects need to comply with several structures of governance during implementation. The objective of this study is to develop a conceptual framework for improving global IT project performance. The conceptual framework provides insight into how several types of governance through stakeholder management processes enhance global IT project performance. The methodology used was based on a literature review to understand the subject being researched. Through the literature review, the level of governance as well as the impact from a global perspective in managing various stakeholders were evaluated. This paper presents a description of four quadrants that constitute stakeholder management processes. The findings indicate that corporate governance, IT governance and project governance should be implemented along with stakeholder management processes. An understanding of global influencing factors is also required. The proposed conceptual framework indicates the key features associated with global IT project performance in each quadrant

Requirements degradation for the creation of a first prototype

The requirements engineering process is typically executed, irrespective of the process model chosen, for the final commercially viable system. The system requirements generated are for a system deployed and used in its final form and function. However, the first prototype that is generated is typically representative of a minimum viable technology, and represents a degraded set of the initial system requirements specification. Typically, a first prototype is used as a technology demonstrator, and its failure or success will determine the continuation of the project, with success triggering the allocation of additional financial and personal resources. This paper explores techniques for requirements degradation that can be used to form the system requirements specification for the first prototype. A requirements Engineering methodology is proposed based upon a survey of literature. It takes into consideration the characteristics of the project, i.e. a market driven, technology implementation research project with limited budget and a flexible timeline executed in an academic environment. The techniques must take into cognizance the main risk items, and core requirements, that need to be demonstrated in the minimum viable technology to secure the future of the project. The degradation cannot undermine or jeopardize the future success of the commercially viable system in determining the subset of requirements for the minimum viable technology

Factors affecting the performance of a manufacturing supply chain, and the organization

Abstract: Due to constant failure in delivering the products to customers on time the defence manufacturing organization introduced the supply chain phenomenon into its operations in an attempt to improve its performance (on-time delivery). This research aims to identify if supply chain performance is affected mainly by social or technical factors and also outline which of these factors have the highest effect on the performance of supply chain. The importance of this research is that it will determine if the performance of supply chain is affected by technical or social factors and also how the organization is affected by these factors. This research employed a case study and made use of both qualitative and quantitative data to allow for data triangulation in order to minimize biasness and increase the credibility of the results. The findings indicate that supply chain performance is affected by both social factors and technical factors, however the impact of these factors on both supply chain and the organization is different. In summary, this research will provide insight to the factors that affect the performance of supply chain and accordingly provide methods to minimize or eliminate these factors and therefore reducing their effect on supply chain and the organization

Virtual team performance factors : a systematic literature review

Abstract: What constitutes a successful virtual team or not is of great importance considering their widespread use in business. Despite this, the failure rate of virtual teams remains relatively high compared to non-virtual teams. This study conducted a literature review that analysed 135 articles from peer-reviewed English journals. The results were coded into groups of factors and the impact of these groups on performance and their status in literature were determined. It was found that beneficial interpersonal characteristics such as empathy or behavioural flexibility were the most commonly identified positive factors in virtual team performance, followed by trust, and the appropriateness of functionality and richness of communication technology used by the team. The most significant failure factors in virtual teams were found to be the effects of geographic and temporal dispersion, the effects of cultural diversity, and negative leadership qualities such as bias

Fumonisin-induced hepatocarcinogenesis: mechanisms related to cancer initiation and promotion.

We review the hepatocarcinogenic effects of fungal cultures of Fusarium verticillioides(= Fusarium moniliforme) strain MRC 826 in male BD IX rats. Subsequent chemical analyses of the fumonisin B (FB) mycotoxin content in the culture material used and long-term carcinogenesis studies with purified FB1 provide information about dose-response effects, relevance of hepatotoxicity during FB1-induced carcinogenesis, and the existence of a no-effect threshold. Fumonisin intake levels of between 0.08 and 0.16 mg FB/100 g body weight (bw)/day over approximately 2 years produce liver cancer in male BD IX rats. Exposure levels < 0.08 mg FB/100 g bw/day fail to induce cancer, although mild toxic and preneoplastic lesions are induced. The nutritional status of the diets used in the long-term experiments was marginally deficient in lipotropes and vitamins and could have played an important modulating role in fumonisin-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. Short-term studies in a cancer initiation/promotion model in rat liver provided important information about the possible mechanisms involved during the initial stages of cancer development by this apparently nongenotoxic mycotoxin. These studies supported the findings of long-term investigations indicating that a cytotoxic/proliferative response is required for cancer induction and that a no-effect threshold exists for cancer induction. The mechanisms proposed for cancer induction are highlighted and include the possible role of oxidative damage during initiation and the disruption of lipid metabolism, integrity of cellular membranes, and altered growth-regulatory responses as important events during promotion

Suspected lead poisoning in two captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) in South Africa, in 2008 and 2013

CITATION: North, M. A. et al. 2015. Suspected lead poisoning in two captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) in South Africa, in 2008 and 2013. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, 86(1), Art. #1286, doi:10.4102/jsava.v86i1.1286.The original publication is available at http://www.jsava.co.zaWhilst lead poisoning in raptors, scavenging birds and waterfowl is well studied and common knowledge, there is surprisingly little literature detailing the risk to mammalian scavengers and captive carnivores fed hunted meat. This case report describes the death of two captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) following acute onset of nervous symptoms. Clinical signs included hyper-excitability, seizures, arched back, tail held abnormally high and hyper-salivation. Necropsy findings included bullets or a bullet in their stomachs. Kidney and liver lead levels from one cheetah (15.6 ppm and 17 ppm respectively) were consistent with a diagnosis of lead poisoning; liver from the second cheetah was not available for testing. Both animals were routinely fed hunted antelope or game birds. This is the first report of oral lead poisoning in captive large carnivores, although these are unlikely to be the first cases. Without awareness of the risks of feeding hunted game, lead exposure will continue to be an underdiagnosed reality in the rehabilitation of endangered carnivores.http://www.jsava.co.za/index.php/jsava/article/view/1286Publisher's versio

The global decline of cheetah Acinonyx jubatus and what it means for conservation

Establishing and maintaining protected areas (PAs) are key tools for biodiversity conservation. However, this approach is insufficient for many species, particularly those that are wide-ranging and sparse. The cheetah Acinonyx jubatus exemplifies such a species and faces extreme challenges to its survival. Here, we show that the global population is estimated at ∼7,100 individuals and confined to 9% of its historical distributional range. However, the majority of current range (77%) occurs outside of PAs, where the species faces multiple threats. Scenario modeling shows that, where growth rates are suppressed outside PAs, extinction rates increase rapidly as the proportion of population protected declines. Sensitivity analysis shows that growth rates within PAs have to be high if they are to compensate for declines outside. Susceptibility of cheetah to rapid decline is evidenced by recent rapid contraction in range, supporting an uplisting of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List threat assessment to endangered. Our results are applicable to other protection-reliant species, which may be subject to systematic underestimation of threat when there is insufficient information outside PAs. Ultimately, conserving many of these species necessitates a paradigm shift in conservation toward a holistic approach that incentivizes protection and promotes sustainable human–wildlife coexistence across large multiple-use landscapes

Equitable and effective area‐based conservation: towards the conserved areas paradigm

In 2018, the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted a decision on protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). It contains the definition of an OECM and related scientific and technical advice that has broadened the scope of governance authorities and areas that can be engaged and recognised in global conservation efforts. The voluntary guidance on OECMs and protected areas, also included in the decision, promotes the use of diverse, effective and equitable governance models, the integration of protected areas and OECMs into wider landscapes and seascapes, and mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation across sectors. Taken as a whole, the advice and voluntary guidance provides further clarity about the CBD Parties’ understanding of what constitutes equitable and effective area-based conservation measures within and beyond protected areas and provides standardised criteria with which to measure and report areas’ attributes and performance. This policy perspective suggests that this CBD decision represents further evidence of the evolution from the ‘new paradigm for protected areas’ to a broader ‘conserved areas paradigm’ that embodies good governance, equity and effective conservation outcomes and is inclusive of a diversity of contributions to conservation within and beyond protected areas