Exploring the cultural structure of an in-house IT organisation : a case-study of a South African multi-national.

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.This investigation is exploratory and seeks to gain an insight into the culture of IT organisations by using an SA based IT organisation as a case study. The initial assumptions are that the organisational culture in IT influences the business outcomes and the effectiveness of IT as a service provider to meet business demands. The finding of this investigation confirms the impact and significance of the IT organisational culture and describes how this manifests in the organisations performance

African epistemologies and the decolonial curriculum

In this article we argue that a discussion on African epistemologies must precede the quest for both the decolonisation of knowledge and curriculum in Africa. Decolonial thought in Africa is significant because it focuses, among other things, on the decolonisation of Western epistemological supremacy within the space where knowledge is produced and transferred. We contend that knowledge acquired through the process of learning must resonate with people’s lived experiences and realities. To meaningfully pursue that involves placing in focus people’s modes of thought and epistemic ideas, in the interpretation of their experiences and the realities around them. This article argues that designing a decolonised curriculum that centres unique African intellectual ideas should be informed by the understanding of African epistemologies, whose principle of epistemic validation is grounded on the idea of interconnectedness in African thought. Considering a decolonial curriculum as an attempt in pursuing ‘centring’ is to align curricula with the modes of knowledge validation in African thought.

A Systemic View of South Africa’s Software Industry

Computer software are increasingly becoming an integral part of how businesses and society at large can innovatively use technology to increase efficiency, set up new business models as well as improve their overall productivity. Developing countries are also realising the potential impact of a successful software industry on structural transformation, education, innovation, service delivery, job creation and export revenue. While these positive impacts of a successful software industry have been well documented, there is also evidence that failure to establish the right policies can severely hinder prospects of a country in realising the benefits. The paper makes use of system thinking techniques to explore the systemic issues implicated in the South Africa’s software industry and advocates for the government to take an active role in spearheading an industry that can have a sustainable and meaningful impact to businesses and the society at large. This requires the government to carefully and strategically mediate the efforts and interests of stakeholders in private sector as well as academia

A political economy of mobile telecommunications in South Africa.

Ph. D. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2016.The thesis is in part a political economy of telecommunications in South Africa, in part a discourse analysis of the field. While the thesis investigates issues around ownership, control and regulation of the big telecoms companies in South Africa, it also considers some facets that do not really fit comfortably into traditional political economy approaches. The dominant discourse within telecommunications is a neoliberal technological determinism, despite the developing context. However, there are lesser known narratives of consumption, commodification and control, which demand a cultural studies approach. Together these form alternate, ignored yet important facets emerging from the sector. The thesis foregrounds these alternate discourses as they relate to wider systems of control in the modern empire’s hegemony

The application of the unified modelling language and soft systems metholdology for modelling the production process in an aluminium plant.

Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.This research explores the combined use of soft systems methodology (SSM) and UML based business process modelling (BPM) techniques. These two techniques are integrated to provide a framework for the analysis and definition of suitable business process models. Such integration better supports developers following objectoriented (00) approaches than traditional business process modelling. The thesis describes the importance and difficulties in getting development proj ects aimed at the correct needs. We provide an overview of current business process modelling practices. From this it is argued that current practices show two major weaknesses. Firstly, the modelling language that is used is not a current standard amongst developers who now expect 00 and UML based approaches. Secondly, the techniques used do not emphasise analysis, often resulting in a lack of appreciation of the problem. In order to deal with these inadequacies, the thesis critically examines suitable techniques that can be used to analyse and model business processes to support the developer's requirements. The examination of SSM reveals that the technique does deal with the analysis limitations of current business process modelling techniques. SSM has been linked to information systems provision by previous researchers. Unfortunately the examination ofthese research attempts shows that the linking is conducted in an ad-hoc manner with no underlying theoretical basis or emphasis on business process modelling. We show how soft systems methodology techniques can be married with Eriksson and Penker (2000) UML business process modelling techniques following Mingers (2001) multi-methodology framework in a way that can over come these difficulties. This combined business analysis and modelling technique is applied to the production process in an aluminium rolling plant. Based on the experiences at one site, the integrated approach is able to deal with the complexities caused by multiple stakeholders, and is able to provide a UML representation of the required business process to guide developers

Comparative digital protest cultures in South Africa and Tamil Nadu: #feesmustfall, #Jallikattu, and Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM) - a case of surveillance and diasporic potential

This paper explores three protest movements differing in scale and scope in two regions in the world. #feesmustfall (2015-2016) was a social media movement in South Africa to protest against prohibitive hikes in university fees. #Jallikattu (2017) was a social media movement in Tamil Nadu (India) to lift a ban imposed by the Supreme Court of India against an ancient cultural sport with bulls. Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM) is a South African social media movement to raise issues related to shack dwellers. While there is literature focusing on these movements individually (Bosch 2016, Kalaiyarasan 2017, Mdlalose 2014), a comparative approach offers some alternate insights into how state power manifests in the age of digital capitalism. Habermas (1987, 1989) theorised the transformation of the public sphere and key to understanding how these publics contest existing power structures is his explication of authentic communicative action. Using Fuchs’s (2016) and Zuboff’s (2019) analyses of social media activism, we examine police brutality and surveillance in these three movements. The classical model of diaspora (Harutyunyan 2012) is introduced to show how it manifests in two of the protest movements, and contemporary notions of diaspora (Grossman 2019: 1265) are explored to see what they could offer to diverse protest cultures

An Apppraisal of Social Network Media Use for Online Group Buying in South AFrica

South Africa's socio-economic modernization has led to the adoption a variety of ICT based consumer goods marketing practices. One of the contemporary ICT based consumer goods marketing practices which is fast becoming popular among South African consumer goods and services firms and consumers is the online group buying. this research was therefore carried out in order to do an empirical appraisal of online group buying in the South AFrican consumer goods market using examples from the Western Cape Province. The study's primary objectives are to examine the social phenomena underpinning the use of social networking platforms facebook and twitter by merchants, vendors and consumer who participate in online group buying in South AFrica and to examine the benefit they derive and challenges they face. The research is qualitative and therefore adopted adopted exploration soft systems (SS) approach that was based on the principles of SS methodology developed by Peter Checkland in 1999. The study revealed that merchants use of facebook and twitter is limited. It also reach with which group buying vendors have on facebook and twitter in term of the number of their facebook and twitter members (merchants) influenced merchants' choice of vendors to manage their online group buying campaigns. The study also revealed that vendors are not able to use facebook and twitter in ways that encourage merchants to join their online networks and to engage them to manage their online group buying initiatives. Particularly the study revealed that online group vendors did not handle the communicativeness of their own websites and that of facebook and twitter in manner that their communication richness can be harnessed for the purpose of online group buying. This hampers the social aspect of online group buying and prevents vendors from appropriately sharing required and available information about group buying deals to members within their online networks. The research also reveal that there is room for improvement in the ways facebook and twitter are being used for online group buying campaigns in South AFrica. As a result, conclusion was reached and recommendation proffered

African epistemologies and the decolonial curriculum

In this article we argue that a discussion on African epistemologies must precede the quest for both the decolonisation of knowledge and curriculum in Africa. Decolonial thought in Africa is significant because it focuses, among other things, on the decolonisation of Western epistemological supremacy within the space where knowledge is produced and transferred. We contend that knowledge acquired through the process of learning must resonate with people’s lived experiences and realities. To meaningfully pursue that involves placing in focus people’s modes of thought and epistemic ideas, in the interpretation of their experiences and the realities around them. This article argues that designing a decolonised curriculum that centres unique African intellectual ideas should be informed by the understanding of African epistemologies, whose principle of epistemic validation is grounded on the idea of interconnectedness in African thought. Considering a decolonial curriculum as an attempt in pursuing ‘centring’ is to align curricula with the modes of knowledge validation in African thought

Survey and assessment of the impact of embedded generation on the eThekwini electricity distribution grid.

Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering. University of KwaZulu-Natal. Durban, 2016.Under frequency load shedding, rising electricity tariffs, environmental concerns, reducing costs of renewable energy technology and delays in constructing new power stations has lead consumers and producers alike to explore various energy generation options to reduce their own electricity needs whilst assisting the sector. Embedded Generation (EG), Distributed Energy Resources (DER) or Distributed Generation (DG) is further predicted to play a substantial role in the electrical power system in the near future. Various EG technologies are entering a period of major growth and commercialization. Small scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) projects are quickly becoming a popular sight locally within the city of Durban and numerous projects are been connected to the eThekwini Electricity distribution grids. In these projects, there seems to be a reluctance to couple expensive energy storage technologies to these systems but rather synchronize and utilise the municipal grid as a virtual battery. Whilst the advantages make synchronization to the grid a logical choice, the municipal network architecture and framework was not designed to facilitate this. The municipal mandated core function is to procure electricity from Eskom (the national energy generator), transform it and distribute it to its customers. Power flow is from generation (Eskom), transmission (Eskom) and distribution to the end customer. This includes all technical, regulatory, administrative and legal aspects that have been structured to support this unidirectional power flow. The introduction of DER/DG/EG introduces bi-directional power flow on the existing distribution network. An analysis of the impact of this phenomenon is required as it affects fault level, protection selectivity and sensitivity, network losses, quality of supply, network planning, metering and control of power flow on the existing distribution grid. In order to address and understand the impacts of EG on the existing eThekwini Electricity distribution grid, an investigation was first carried out to identify the drivers and available renewable energy resources in Durban. 5 cases studies were selected based on the investigation which showed that there will be growth and projects in these sectors in Durban. These cases studies were selected to address growth in residential rooftop PV, commercial/industrial rooftop solar PV, PV farm potential on closed landfill sites, wind farm potential at identified sites around the city and landfill gas to electricity projects from existing landfill sites in the city. Accurate models of these sources and their interaction with the grid were then studies. Studies were also carried out on the recently published NRS guidelines for SSEG and the South African Renewable Energy Grid Code to understand how this will provide operational flexibility to the System Operator and assist with mitigating the negative impacts to the distribution network. The 5 case studies provide excellent results and greater understanding of the impacts of increased penetration of EG onto the existing eThekwini Electricity distribution grid. The impacts of increased penetration of EG on the existing eThekwini Electricity distribution network included impacts to the network voltage, fault level rise, losses, power flow, network planning and revenue loss. Based on the results and studies from the case studies methods were then derived to mitigate the impacts of increased penetration of EG on the existing distribution network. The following outcomes and key contributions, were achieved in this research investigation, namely: An understanding of the drivers of EG in eThekwini Municipality. Evaluation of the available renewable energy resources within eThekwini Municipality. The feasibility of residential rooftop solar PV in Durban. Identified factors affecting residential rooftop solar PV feasibility in Durban. Assessed the feasibility of municipal landfill gas to electricity EG projects. Developed and propose methods to improve operational and financial viability of landfill gas to electricity projects in Durban. Provides results showing the impacts of increasing EG on the eThekwini Municipality distribution network design and performance. Developed methods to assist and enable distribution network designers when designing distribution networks with increasing EG. Developed a methodology for selecting EG size on an existing eThekwini Electricity distribution network. Provide methods to minimise the impacts of preselected size of EG given that the municipality has no control over the size selection which may be dictated by the IPP. An understanding of the local South African guidelines on small scale EG, and the South African Renewable Energy Grid code requirements. Provide controllability options to assist manage EG plants on the existing distribution network in eThekwini Municipality. vii Understand the operation and effects of different EG sources available within eThekwini Municipality. These have been accomplished using the 5 case-studies, modelling and simulation, field tests and measurements; as well as extensive research investigation and analysis

Towards a regional ontology for information systems project management

Includes bibliographical references (leaves [170]-185).The extant research literature on Information Systems (IS) project management illustrates that there is considerable confusion about the true nature of IS project management. The bewilderment is expressed in a number of ways. Practitioners are reporting that there is considerable mismatch between the prescribed practices they are socialised into and their actual experiences of project work. Appropriately, there are also debates about what constitutes project success and about what factors influence project success and failure. Whilst these fundamentals are being debated there are also concerns expressed about the lack of adequate underlying theoretical constructs to give coherence to the kinds of questions raised. As the essence of IS project management is being debated there is evidence suggesting that the project-driven organisational form is growing in popularity. Together with the concerns there are proposals being offered as alternatives to improve understanding of project management. The review undertaken in this thesis illustrates that alternatives are emerging despite the existence of an entrenched value system that makes society prone to unwittingly accept and be attracted to the adoption of best practices such as PMBOK, which is central to the debate taking place in IS project management