Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Small business Australia Data processing'

The research issue for this thesis was founded within the RAMESES project, but is specifically concerned with the necessity for SMEs to undertake the activity of business process modelling. The need to understand the `as is' position of an organisation is fundamental to the development, change or implementation of any information or communication technologies (ICT). The primary research question was `are SMEs able to model business processes in such a way that will enable the effective analysis of the organisation in order to enable information systems development change or implementation'. The objective of the research was to develop a method by which this business process modelling activity could be supported in a fashion which was accessible and effective within the target environment. This thesis expounds the benefits of using a critical approach utilizing a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods within the bounds of a multi-disciplinary research team to enable effective exploration and investigation. The concept of the research life-cycle has developed the notion of appropriateness in method and approach: this is discussed against the values of the critical and realist paradigms. The issues reported in this thesis have been identified as a result of detailed case study analysis of six small organisations in the North-east of England. The conclusions are presented in three sections firstly the conclusions relating to the SME and the appropriateness of the BAM technique developed within the RAMESES project. Secondly conclusions are given in regard to the research methodology and reflections given as to the efficacy of the process. Thirdly reflections and conclusions are presented that relate to the work in relation to its overall critical aims and finally makes suggestions as to how future work could be improved.

Thesis (MTech (Information and Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.
It has been shown that the South African insurance landscape takes up an important place in the African continent, contributing nearly three quarters of the total African insurance sector (Paul, Twala & Marwala, 2012). The industry landscape has shown development at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.7% between 2004 and 2008. The life insurance industry is assumed to grow at a CAGR of 8.3%. Small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) are important role players in every economy and provide a major contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) and employment. Many South African enterprises have in the past focused on local markets, but more recently SMMEs have been forced to respond to competition in the global market as markets expand. The role of SMMEs is considered critical in terms of poverty alleviation, employment creation, and international competitiveness. However, resource limitations have made it difficult for many SMMEs to enter new markets and compete effectively. The effective application of information systems (IS) are viewed as a way for SMMEs to become more competitive and drive business benefits such as cost reduction, improved profitability, enhanced customer service, new market growth opportunities, and more efficient operating relationships with trading customers and partners. There are an increasing number of new opportunities and competition in the marketplace because of business globalisation. The marketplace and business globalisation dynamics have a major influence on SMMEs and their operations. SMMEs require a critical evaluation of their internal processes and seek out solutions to be able to sustain their growth and competitiveness. This research study adopted an inductive approach to describe the rational process of establishing a general proposition on the basis of observing particular facts. An in-depth case study is used to explore the multiple perspectives of the complexity and uniqueness of SMMEs. One-on-one interviews were conducted to collect data from 17 financial advisors using an interview guide with semi-structured questionnaires. The data were analysed through the process of thematic coding which is common in case study research, and labels were assigned to form and organise the themes in groups and categories. Ethical consideration was presented before data collection commenced, and the autonomy, self-respect and human dignity of all respondents during the data collection process were considered. The findings reveal that financial service providers (FSPs) have a different understanding of IS, what competitive means, and what it can do for a business.

The purpose of this study was to investigate and report on the impact and effectiveness of a Small Business Development Center consulting program. The consulting program consisted of two individualized, self-paced, interactive computer courseware sets which were designed to deliver information about business computer systems to small business owners. The study was descriptive and exploratory in nature, utilizing a pre- and post-experience application of an attitudinal instrument. The participants were small business owners in Indiana.The primary research question related to the impact that the Indiana Small Business Development Center computer assistance consulting program had upon the attitudes of small business owners toward computers in their firms. The attitude of the participants toward computers was positive prior to the experience and remained so after the experience. Other major findings regarding small business owners' perceptions of the consulting program were as follows:1. Nearly 90 percent of the participants indicated that an individualized, self-paced, interactive computer courseware set was a useful way to obtain instruction about business computer systems, and 96.2 percent indicated that they would recommend the program under investigation to other small business owners.2. Although the majority of the participants had not used an integrated software package that contains word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications under one software umbrella prior to this study, following their interaction with the courseware sets almost 74 percent indicated that an integrated package would be practical for their businesses.3. Almost all (96.2 percent) of the participants found a graphical user interface to be useful in helping them understand the computer software.4. Participants preferred to use business associates and seminars or courses as sources of information for learning about computers for their firms, but lack of time prevents them from learning as much as they would like.Results of this study indicate that as adult learners, small business owners are a fragmented population, and therefore difficult to reach via traditional adult education programs. More emphasis by government and educational institutions on providing small business owners with training and education regarding computers and more research conducted in developing programs are suggested.
Department of Educational Leadership

The 21st century is an age of conducting business electronically. The benefits of dealing electronically with customers, suppliers, government and others is a fact that will continue the push towards further use of digital technology. This research work aims to address the following research question. How can a small to medium size enterprise (SME)etransform to be competitive in a globalised, rapidly changing, digital world? There are two components to this question; firstly the nature of competitiveness in a globalised environment, and secondly, the issue of how an orgaisation can etransform.The background material investigated at the initiation of this work can be broadly categorised into two types (1)theoretical possibilities; proposing 'potential' uses of internet technologies and (2)case studies reporting on existing ebusinesses. A detailed literature review of eBusiness was conducted to discover what made these organisations different from a traditional business. The next phase in this research work involved development of the eTransformation Roadmap, a tool that served two purposes. Firstly, to measure the current Information Technology sophistication of a business. Secondly, to show the steps that an organisation can take to become an eBusiness. The Roadmap was also used to analyse data collected from a survey of Western Sydney businesses. Overall, this research has provided a holistic view of how an organisation can transform itself to compete in a rapidly changing, digital world.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.
Introduction The research looked at the application of project management tools and techniques in ICT SME projects in the Western Cape. Problem Statement Previous literature revealed that small to medium enterprises (SMEs) are vital to developing economies as they provide employment and contribute to overall sustainable economic productivity. Literature further alludes that project management tools and techniques enhance SME’s ability to innovate, grow and compete in industry. However, it is unclear if ICT SMEs in Western Cape are applying project management tools and techniques in their projects. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether ICT SMEs in Western Cape applied these tools and techniques in their projects. Aims / Objectives The primary objective of the research was to determine the extent to which ICT SMEs in Western Cape were using project management tools and techniques. The secondary research objectives were: to determine the extent to which ICT SMEs in Western Cape knew about the project management tools and techniques and how to use them; to establish the extent to which the ICT SMEs knew the benefits of using project management tools and techniques; and to determine the extent to which project management tools and techniques were used by SMEs to achieve success. Methodology The research was non experimental. An electronic questionnaire was distributed using Survey Monkey and Mail Chimp to collect responses. Some questionnaires were hand delivered to ICT SMEs based in the Cape Town CBD areas accessible to the researcher. The results presented in the research were based on a survey of ICT SMEs, located in Western Cape. Out of the 341 responses targeted a total of 210 responses were obtained. The results obtained represent 60- 70% of the population interviewed. The sample was chosen using stratified random sampling that classified the respondents according to organisational hierarchy, and the amount per strata was noted. The respondents within each stratum were chosen using simple random sampling thus eliminating bias.

This thesis is written at the department of Business Studies at Uppsala University. The study addresses the differences in possibilities and difficulties of implementing business intelligence (BI)-systems among small IT-enterprises. BI-systems support enterprises in decision-making. To answer the aim of this thesis, theories regarding organizational factors determining a successful implementation of a BI-system were used. Theories regarding components of BI- systems, data warehouse (DW) and online analytical processing (OLAP) were also used. These components enable the decision-support provided by a BI-system. A qualitative study was performed, at four different IT-enterprises, to gather the empirical material. Interviews were performed with CEOs and additional employees at the enterprises. After the empirical material was gathered an analysis was performed to draw conclusion regarding the research topic. The study has concluded that there are differences in possibilities and difficulties of implementing BI-systems among small IT-enterprises. A difference among the enterprises is the perceived ability to finance an implementation. Another difference is in the managerial- and organizational support of an implementation, but also in the business need of using a BI- system in decision-making. There are also differences in how the enterprises use a DW. Not all enterprises benefits from the ability of a DW to manage complex and large amounts of data, neither from the advanced analysis performed by OLAP. The enterprises thus need to examine further if the use of a BI-system is beneficial and would be used successfully in their company.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
As small manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) grow, the complexity of their manufacturing operations are likely to increase to a point where they can benefit from manufacturing specific information systems, such as a manufacturing execution system (MES), to manage the complexity of their operating environment. Unfortunately, the capital expense required to implement an MES may prohibit smaller enterprises from adopting this potentially advantageous technology. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is a developing delivery channel that promises to realise the same economies of scales of large software implementations by hosting software centrally and allowing access by multiple customers through the internet. This delivery model promises, amongst its many benefits, access to advanced software at a subscription based fee, which reduces its capital expense and makes it affordable to smaller enterprises. The purpose of this study is to identify factors that would influence the adoption of SaaS based MESs in South-African manufacturing SMEs. A literature survey was conducted to understand the characteristics of SaaS, the functionality and benefits that can be derived from an MES and the characteristics of SMEs that differentiate them from larger organisations. Instruments were identified which can be used to assess the propensity of SMEs to adopt new technology. An internet survey of South-African manufacturing SMEs was conducted to determine their perceptions and beliefs regarding SaaS and MES, and their intent to implement licensed or SaaS based MES within the next 12 months. The survey results were analysed to determine which beliefs were the most influential in determining an SME’s intention to adopt an MES and particularly which beliefs bias their decision towards either a licensed or a SaaS based MES implementation. The perceived benefits of an MES were found to be the most significant factor in driving the intent to adopt an MES. It was found that some beliefs regarding SaaS and licensing may influence the choice of delivery channel, and the perceptions of industry peers and customers were also found to influence the decision to adopt either a licensed or a SaaS based MES. A simple screening of input variables was effective in improving the predictive ability of the research model. While a full set of variables was able to explain 9.4% of the variation in the intent to adopt MES, a screened set of variables was able explain 15.5%. Further improvement in screening techniques could further improve the predictive power of the model. Since the model was only able to explain around 15.5% of the variation in the intent to adopt an MES, it is likely that there may be other significant factors that drive the intention to adopt an MES that are not covered in this study. These could include personal attitudes of the owner that are independent of the enterprise itself.

The Internet has made a considerable impact on how business is conducted. Empowered by technology consumers are using the Internet as a tool to communicate and transact online. E-commerce (electronic commerce) presents opportunities for business to gain a competitive advantage, however it also posses certain challenges. Small and Medium Hospitality Enterprises (SMHEs) sector within the tourism industry, is one of the sectors which stands to benefit from using the Internet for business. Researchers agree that the contribution made by the tourism sector in developing economies is substantial. However, SMHEs are noted for their failure to derive optimal benefits from using the Internet for business to improve their competitiveness. This study which seeks to develop a model for use by SMHEs as a guide when making the decision to adopt technology was necessitated by the importance of SMHE’s contribution in the economy of developing countries. This model is based on the examination of existing theories and models such as; the Delone and McLean IS success model (2004), and the ITGI’s (2007) IT governance focus areas model. To elicit the desired outcomes, additional data was collected using questionnaires, interviews, and observations. The collected data was analysed and resulted in the development of a model that can be used by SMHEs in order to derive value from IT and to gain a competitive advantage.

This study explored the acceptance of cloud computing (CC) services by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Lagos, Nigeria, which has been missing from CC services literature. It aimed to understand the motivations for adoption, the uses of the services, and the benefits they derive from it. The uses and gratification theory was applied as the theoretic framework for this endeavor. An online survey with close-ended and open-ended questions was distributed to 1200 randomly selected participants through email. In total, 392 valid responses were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics and categories. The results found that SMEs in Lagos, Nigeria had a low level of awareness and appreciation of CC services. The adoption rate was also low. Unlike their counterparts in other regions, SMEs primary concerns were service downtime, stable power supply, and better internet access. The study found that SMEs were not taking full advantage of the capabilities of CC services. Some sections, however, were doing better than others, such as the information and communications sub-sector. This study suggested that targeted interventions should be conducted to raise the awareness of CC services in SMEs, and to improve their efficient and effective use of CC services. The uses and gratification theory was appropriate for guiding this study to understand the acceptance and use of CC services by SMEs in Lagos, Nigeria.

The purpose of this research is to propose metrics to evaluate the user interface factors that impact on the user experience of Software Accounting Applications (SAAs) used to support the accounting business activities in Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) operating in developing countries. The research commences by outlining the conceptual background that introduces the study. In the introductory chapter, the problems together with the objectives that motivate the significance of the study are presented. In the same chapter, the overall research focus and how each of the research questions are treated to accomplish the intended goals are defined. In Chapter 2, the typical accounting business activities for SMMEs operating in developing countries are investigated. Findings from the preliminary survey revealed that Pastel accounting is the commonly used SMME accounting application used in developing countries. Inventory management, cash book processing, preparation of financial statements, customer and supplier documents processing are revealed as the most prevalent SMME accounting activities. This chapter highlights the problems that inhibit the implementation and the delivery of full benefits of using these SAAs. After indentifying the SAA problems, user experience aspects of the SAA are addressed in Chapter 3. User experience (UX) is defined and existing UX evaluation criteria are discussed. The findings form the basis for choosing the applicable criteria for evaluating the User Interface (UI) factors impacting on the UX of Pastel accounting. The proposed user experience evaluation metrics are described in Chapter 4. A discussion on how the metrics are implemented and what UI aspect they measure is presented. The research design and methodology followed is discussed in Chapter 5. The chapter outlines the possible research philosophy, strategy, methods and data collecting methods. A choice is made about the appropriate approach to answer the stated research questions to satisfy the intended overall research objective. A phenomenologist, qualitative inductive approach is adopted in the study. A contextual inquiry case-study strategy is chosen as applicable to this research. Data is collected using expert reviews, user observation and subjective questionnaires. After the choice of the research techniques, the case study results are presented and analysed in Chapter 6. It is found that Pastel UI is attractive and the users are happy with the visual design of the application. The major factors that impact on Pastel accounting are its lack of 4 feedback and its complexity which makes it difficult for first time users to use the application and the paucity of the help function. After the observed findings, the conclusions and recommendations of the research are presented in Chapter 7. It has been concluded that Pastel accounting UI fails to captivate a positive user experience for first-time users; the users do not find the expected help from the Help function and are often left wondering about the status of the system and the outcome of their actions on a task. Recommendations on how designers would make Pastel user interface more helpful, easy to use, and provide adequate feedback are presented in Chapter 7.

Capes
O presente estudo tem como objetivo identificar e analisar comparativamente os principais processos de negócio de empresas de pequeno porte do subsetor de edificações da construção civil. Para tanto, foi utilizado o método de pesquisa qualitativa e estudo de casos múltiplos como técnica principal. Participaram deste trabalho, cinco empresas que estão localizadas na cidade de Curitiba, Paraná. Para a coleta de dados, foram realizadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas, análises de documentos e observações diretas. A partir das informações obtidas, desenvolveu-se graficamente o mapeamento dos processos de negócio de cada empresa utilizando-se a notação BPMN. O estudo mostrou que os processos e as atividades das empresas deste setor apresentam características comuns, facilitando assim, a padronização das melhores práticas. Com o estudo de outros casos, surgirão outros aspectos semelhantes que poderão ser utilizados na elaboração de um modelo de referência que apresenta orientação específica sobre como os processos de negócio podem ser gerenciados nas organizações do subsetor de edificações.
The present study has as objective to identify and analyze comparatively the main business processes of small companies of the subsector of edifications of the civil construction. Therefore, was used the qualitative research method and multiple case study as the main technique. Participated of this work, five companies that are located in the city of Curitiba, Paraná. For data collection were performed semi-structured interviews, document analysis and direct observations. From the information obtained, developed graphically mapping the business processes of each company using the BPMN notation. The study showed that the processes and activities of companies in this sector present common characteristics, thus facilitating the standardization of best practices. With the study of other cases will arise other similar aspects that could be used in the preparation of a reference model that provide specific guidance on how business processes can be managed in organizations of the subsector of edifications.

D.Comm.
The small-business enterprise is becoming evermore important to economies worldwide, even to those of first-world countries. In South Africa, the small-business sector plays an even greater part. Research has shown that computer technology can be implemented in the small-business environment to increase productivity and even to gain a competitive edge over one's competitors. Despite the fact that small-business enterprises stand to derive great benefits from computerisation, many managers lack the necessary expertise to computerise their businesses. Although the necessary expertise may be acquired by engaging consultants, the associated cost often is beyond the financial means of the smallbusiness enterprise. The principal aim of this study, therefore, is to identify mechanisms in terms of which the necessary expertise could be made available to the small-business enterprise at a fair price. The study furthermore proposes a consultation model in terms of which the costs can be shared by enough small-business enterprises so that it would still be affordable to small-business enterprises and financially viable for consultants.

M.Comm.
The primary objective of the dissertation is: • To explain the design and implementation of effective accounting systems and procedures in a small organisation with a workforce of less than 100 employees. The secondary objectives of the dissertation are as follows: • To explain the nature of current non-value adding accounting systems and procedures whch the small organisation should change or eliminate; • To explain the nature of desired value-adding accounting systems and procedures which should be introduced by the small organisation; • To explain management involvement and participation in the design and implementation of accounting systems and procedures manuals in a small organisation; • To explain the purpose, objectives, need for and basic writing principles which a written accounting procedure of a small organisation must adhere to; • To explain the steps to be followed to design and implement an accounting system and procedure; and • To propose suggestions and recommendations with reference to the design and implementation of accounting systems and procedures. • To determine the minimum and maximum accounting systems and procedures that needed to be implemented in the small organisation; • To identify the shortcomings and positives regarding the information supplied by the current Accounting systems. All of the abovelisted primary and secondary objectives have effect on a small organisation with less than 100 employees, a limited cashflow and which pays limited attention to procedures, due to time constraints. The time constraints relate primarily to the limited workforce.

Introduction: Data visualisation (DV) is the process of creating and presenting a chart given a set of active data and sets of attribute and entity constraints. It rapidly and interactively investigates large multivariate and multidisciplinary data sets to detect trends, correlations, and anomalies. Data Visualisation is the latest analytical tool for both technical computer users and business computer users. Total Quality Management (TQM) is continuous improvement in the performance of all processes and the products and services that are the outcomes of those processes. In quality management, DV is one of the three new tools that complement the existing seven, which are flow charts, Ishikawa or cause and effect diagrams, Pareto charts, histograms, run charts and graphs, scattergrams and control charts. It lets quality control engineers readily see the real reasons for quality problems by presenting the data in up to six dimensions. Methodology: A survey by mail questionnaire was conducted to collect data from one hundred Victorian manufacturing companies. Responses were received from 52 companies out of the total of 100. The sample size for each analysis may vary from 52 to 49. The source for company information was Kompass Australia 1994/1995. The statistical analysis tool used was Statistica. Major Findings: The TQM program implementation tends to be more complete in companies with more employees. Wordprocessing software is adopted by all companies in TQM practice, mostly for producing a quality instructional manual. Spreadsheet and database packages are the second and the third most commonly used software. Companies that have completed their formal TQM program implementation generally use computer software in more aspects of their TQM practice than companies at lower TQM stages though not always. Two-dimensional DV techniques are more commonly used than three-dimensional ones with the 2-D colour and 2-D shade the most widely used by all. The 3-D animation tool needs to be explored. DV features are generally important for all the users. The ability to handle complex data is more important for companies at a higher stage of TQM program implementation than companies at lower stages.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Technology: Information Technology, Durban University of Technology, 2013.
In this study, an investigation was conducted to determine an appropriate lightweight framework that could adequately support Very Small Enterprises (VSEs) in documenting their daily business transactions. The VSEs play a significant role in the socioeconomic development of nations by providing employment opportunities. They contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provide a platform for entrepreneurial skills advancement. However, VSEs have very little access to innovative Information and Communication Technology (ICT) that could help to address the unique challenges that prohibit their growth and sustainability. In many instances, the documentation of VSEs business transactions is still lacking. This deficiency promotes insufficient, unreliable and untraceable business transaction records which ultimately affect the smooth growth and sustainability of VSEs. Mobile technology provides the VSEs with a unique opportunity because of its support for mobility and low costs of system procurement. Moreover, mobile technology can enable easy connection, access and retrieval of VSE services even in the resource constrained environments anytime and anywhere. However, the inherent limitations of mobile devices such as device size, storage size, computing power and battery lifespan have forced many of the existing ICT business applications to continually rely on desktop computers. The desktop computer applications are huge, complex and not compatible with the current mobile devices. The Design Science Research (DSR) method was used to understand how VSEs conduct their daily business transactions, discover essential factors that influence the business processes of VSEs and derive a lightweight framework for mobile documentation of VSE business transactions. The lightweight framework was prototyped as ICT artefact and evaluated to determine the adoption of mobile applications by VSEs for documentation of daily business transactions. The evaluation results revealed the developed lightweight framework to be effective for mobile documentation of VSEs business transactions.

M. Tech. Business Information Systems
Information Technology (IT) has become the driving force behind businesses and organizations. However, Information Technology comes with risks and other vulnerabilities. And by the same token, IT also poses threats to the organization. This then means that every organization must be able to contain and manage these risks and threats well, if it is to stay in the market and competitive. Information Technology Risk Management is to control Information Technology risks occurrences, acceptance and mitigate them. This means, organizations need proper precautionary measures and management tools to be able to identify risks, analyze risks, monitor the risks and have risk-reducing measures. This dissertation is about Information Technology Risk Management. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operating in South Africa tend to focus more on business operations, often neglecting the need to manage Information Technology risks effectively.

Environmental pollution remains a major concern, leading firms to take initiatives on greening the supply chain to reduce environmental impacts. In view of this, green supply chain management (GSCM) initiatives have emerged as a competitive priority at the intersection of sustainability, environmental management and supply chain management literature. GSCM can be defined as consolidation of environmental thinking and supply chain management incorporating product design, material sourcing and selection, manufacturing operations, delivery of the final product to the consumer, and end-of-life handling of the product. The literature so far has been inconclusive regarding the relationship between green supply chain initiatives (GSCIs) and sustainable performance. Given that operations have gone from local optimisation of environmental management at firm level to regional supply chain involving the production, shipment, consumption and end-of-life disposal of products, further investigation of this relationship is timely. In addition, the increasing concern of environmental sustainability – whether driven by government legislation, supplier pressure or customer requirement – is unknown, and warrants an investigation into the context of Australian food and beverage small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The SMEs in this sector are lagging behind in environmental practices partly due to limited resources and not able to realise the immediate return on investment. Institutional theory and Natural Resource Based View (NRBV) theory underpin this research. Institutional theory asserts that an organisation’s environmental initiatives are influenced by three external drivers; namely, coercive (regulatory), normative (customer) and mimetic (competitor) pressures. Regulations imposed on organisations, customers’ increased environmental knowledge, and the emulation of competitors’ successful green strategies have resulted in environmental alignment within organisations’ supply chain operations. NRBV theory argues that implementation of GSCIs and the adoption of green strategies help to improve firms’ performance and sustain their competitive advantage. The green strategies include pollution prevention, product stewardship and the sustainable development of clean technology. Any green strategies initiative and its implementation aims to minimise environmental pollution in the supply chain and gain a competitive advantage in the market. Drawing on the institutional theory and NRBV perspectives, the research therefore aims to investigate the hierarchical impact of GSCM initiatives on green performance and subsequently on economic and social performance. This research used a cross-sectional survey to collect data from SMEs in the food and beverage sector in Australia. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed to test the hypothesised relationship of the study variables in a conceptual framework. The SEM results reveal that GSCIs have a positive impact on green performance which, in turn, positively affects economic and social performance. Also, institutional pressures and green human resource management practices (GHRMPs) have a positive and significant effect on GSCIs. This research contributes to a theoretical and practical context. Theoretically, this study adds new insight to the literature by developing a comprehensive understanding of the hierarchical impact of green initiatives on environmental performance, which is influenced by institutional pressure and green human resource practices. Practically, managers can apply this framework to support their business strategies for sustainable performance.

This thesis draws on the framework of dynamic capability (DC) in an effort to make sense of how small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) use mobile apps in Lagos, Nigeria. There exists significant knowledge regarding the application of the DC framework in large firms but its application in smaller organisations has scarcely been researched. The knowledge of how SMEs use mobile apps is important at this time because it could help these SMEs compete favourably, despite unpredictable environments. Based on pragmatic philosophy and a mixed-methods research approach, the research was conducted in two phases. The first phase of the research used qualitative methods to identify the absorptive, adaptive and innovative capabilities of SMEs in Lagos with a view to discover the extent to which mobile apps are used as enablers and/or drivers of these capabilities. The findings from 20 SMEs identified 15 DC constructs whose impact on SMEs could be enhanced using appropriated mobile apps. The SMEs manifest adaptive capabilities, mainly through using appropriated mobile apps. The SMEs manifest adaptive capabilities, mainly through customer feedback and referrals, and demonstrate absorptive capabilities through the repackaging and repricing of their goods and/or service offerings. The innovative capabilities of SMEs became evident through the imitation and adaptation of offerings. The second phase of this research surveyed 1 162 SMEs in Lagos in an effort to validate the identified constructs through quantitative methods. Descriptive statistics of survey responses affirm the use of mobile apps by SMEs and it also indicated the underutilisation of mobile apps as a DC enabler. Further analysis, using covariance-based structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), explored the fitness of a conceptual SME model. The model assembled seven latent variables namely: mobile app usage, adaptive capability, absorptive capability, innovative capability, opportunity sensing ability, opportunity shaping ability and opportunity seizing ability. Subsequently, 15 hypotheses aimed at understanding the relationships between the variables were developed. The findings from the quantitative analysis revealed that mobile app usage increases the adaptive, absorptive and innovative capabilities of SMEs. The results failed to establish a direct relationship between mobile app usage and opportunity sensing, shaping and seizing abilities. Furthermore, the use of the adaptive capability in taking advantage of opportunities could not be generalised in SMEs’ context. The research findings imply the existence of an untapped potential as far as the use of mobile apps by SMEs in Lagos is concerned. The findings suggest that SMEs in Lagos respond to opportunities by becoming innovative and they seldom exhibit innovation in order to create opportunities. Based on the heterogeneous nature of SMEs, it is difficult to suggest a clear-cut narrative as to how all SMEs should employ mobile apps to create and maximise opportunities. However, mobile apps could induce creativity when developed and applied to the contextual requirements of SMEs. The outcome of this research reflects a multidisciplined research experience. The study contributed to IS through the creation of a model for investigating mobile app usage by organisations from a DC perspective. The conceptual model designed in this study could be adapted to investigate the way in which mobile app usage influences organisations in other contexts. The study contributed to the area of Information Systems by revealing the application of the DC framework to SMEs in contrast to the usual practice of researching DC with large organisations in mind. This research work suggests implicit ways of enhancing SMEs which could aid policy makers. This study was limited in that it gathered data from SMEs in Lagos alone as Lagos represents the commercial centre of Nigeria. Considerations for future research include the comparison of DC of large and small organisations in Lagos to examine if similarities and/or contrasts exist. Furthermore, due to the evasive and heterogeneous nature of SMEs, it would be beneficial to delimit future research on SMEs along specific domains of interest.
Iqoqa Lolu cwaningo lususelwa ohlakeni lokuthiwa ngamandla aphilayo (dynamic capability [DC]) emzameni wokuba umuntu aqonde ukuthi amabhizinisi amancane namaphakathi (ama-SME) awasebenzisa kanjani ama-apps ahanjiswayo eLagos, eNigeria. Lolu lwazi lubalulekile ngoba lungasiza la mabhizinisi ukuba ancintisane namanye ngokunempumelelo, noma izimo akuzo wona zingaqondakali kahle. Ucwaningo lwenziwa ngezigaba ezimbili. Isigaba sokuqala sahlonza ama-DC ama-SMSE eLagos, ngenhloso yokuthola ukuthi ngabe ama-apps ahanjiswayo asetshenziswa kangakanani ukukhuthaza kanye/noma ukuqhubela phambili la mandla aphilayo. Okwatholakala kuma-SME angama-20 kwaba ukuhlonzwa kwezinhlelo zama-DC ithonya lazo kuma-SME elalingase liphakame ngokusebenzisa ama-apps ahanjiswayo afanele. Ama-SME afakazela ama-DC ikakhulu ngokushiwo ngamakhasimende nalabo abathintiwe, nokuba kubonakale ngokuba impahla ekhishwayo ipakishwe kabusha, ifakelwe intengo entsha, noma kube yimpahla engukulingisa eyokuqala noma ilungiswe ifane neyokuqala. Ibanga lesibili lalolu cwaningo lwahlola ama-SME ayi-1 162 eLagos ukuzama ukuqinisekisa ngezinga lezinhlaka ezihlonziweyo. Izimpendulo ezavezwa ucwaningo zakwesekela ukusetshenziswa ngama-SME kwama-apps ahanjiswayo, zakhomba nokuthi awasetshenziswa ngokugcwele ama-apps ahanjiswayo njengokunika i-DC amandla. Okunye ukuhlaziya kwakhombiisa ukuthi ukusebenzisa ama-apps ahanjiswayo kwakungasiza ama-SME ngokwandisa amathuba awo. Nokho phela ukusebenzisa amathuba avelayo kwakungeke kwenzeke yonke indawo kuma-SME. Okuvezwa ucwaningo kukhombisa ukuthi kukhona ukusizakala okukhulu okungakafinyelelwa kukho mayelana nokusetshenziswa ngama-SME kwama-apps ahanjiswayo eLagos. Ucwaningo luphonsa itshe esivivaneni enkundleni yezinhlelo zokusebenza ngezolwazi ngokwembula ukusetshenziswa kohlaka lwe-DC kuma-SME uma kuqhathaniswa ngokuphambene nalokhu, okungukucwaninga okwejwayelekile nge-DC ezinhlanganweni ezinkulu. Lolu cwaningo luveza izindlela ezingekho obala zokuthuthukisa ama-SME, okungaba usizo kulabo ababhekene nokusungula imigomo yezwe.
School of Computing
Ph. D. (Information Systems)

This research investigated the potential benefits, risks and challenges, innovation properties and viability of cloud computing for records management on an Australian organisation within the mining software development sector. This research involved the use of a case study results analysis as well as a literature analysis. The literature analysis identified the ten potential benefits of cloud computing, as well as the ten risks and challenges associated with cloud computing. It further identified aspects, which needed to be addressed when adopting cloud computing in order to promote innovation within an organisation. The case study analysis was compared against a literature review of ten potential benefits of cloud computing, as well as the ten risks and challenges associated with cloud computing. This was done in order to determine cloud computing’s viability for records management for Company X (The company in the case study). Cloud computing was found to be viable for Company X. However, there were certain aspects, which need to be discussed and clarified with the cloud service provider beforehand in order to mitigate possible risks and compliance issues. It is also recommended that a cloud service provider who complies with international standards, such as ISO 15489, be selected. The viability of cloud computing for organisations similar to Company X (mining software development) followed a related path. These organisations need to ensure that the service provider is compliant with laws in their local jurisdiction, such as Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Australia, 2011:14-15), as well as laws where their data (in the cloud) may be hosted. The benefits, risks and challenges of records management and cloud computing are applicable to these similar organisations. However, mitigation of these risks needs to be discussed with a cloud service provider beforehand. From an innovation perspective, cloud computing is able to promote innovation within an organisation, if certain antecedents are dealt with. Furthermore, if cloud computing is successfully adopted then it should promote innovation within organisations.
Information Science
M. Inf.

This research identifies the key factors involved in the successful adoption of a computerised match prediction system in the textile industry. The adoption of this technology has created big problems for many companies and few have succeeded without difficulty. Five companies adopting the technology were investigated to identify common problem areas. These areas were compared with the results of a literature review. A case study format was used to study in greater detail two companies in the carpet industry regarding their adoption of this system. One company was remarkably successful whilst the other company succeeded after much delay and difficulty. The literature relating to technological change and its effects on employees indicates the problems involve management, environmental, technical and social factors. Hence four research questions concerning prescriptive and contextual factors are tested by case study research and a cultural survey of all involved at both sites. Factors like the importance of strategy, management support and training are examined. The impact of culture, management style and fear of change are closely investigated. The results, whilst not conclusive, do give a good indication of the areas for special attention and the key factors, should the adoption of a computerised match prediction system be contemplated. The key factors form the basis of the conclusions that training, management support and the presence of a knowledgeable champion to drive the implementation were crucial whereas there was very little evidence of fear of the technology. Culture and management style were found to have an impact in so far as they direct the companies' approach to adopting the technology and influence h o w decisions are made and problems solved.