A digital transformation framework for municipalities in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Luke, Lamla Lonwabo Leadley
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Internet in public administration , Information technology -- Political aspects , Electronic government information
- Language: English
- Type: Master's thesis , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62506 , vital:72779
- Description: Digital transformation (DT) integrates technology into all business areas, fundamentally changing how businesses operate and deliver value to their clients. It is also a cultural change that requires organisations to continually challenge the status quo, experiment and get comfortable with change. Smart Municipalities in South Africa have various challenges concerning integrating services and information flow among departments within the municipalities, thus preventing the creation of value for the citizens. The ongoing digital transformation revolutionises urban development and governance, offering opportunities for enhanced citizen services, resource optimisation, and sustainable growth. However, the complexity of implementing smart city initiatives demands a structured approach. Due to urbanisation, municipal management in developing nations must deal with issues like increased energy consumption, pollution, the disposal of toxic wastes, resource depletion, ineffective management of urban infrastructures, ineffective planning processes, overloaded transportation networks, endemic congestion, as well as social inequality and socioeconomic disparity. The extent of digital adoption in the South African province of the Eastern Cape has provided municipalities with a learning opportunity to change into data-driven Smart Municipalities in order to increase productivity, growth, employment, and the need for people with a variety of skills. This study required a review of the literature to examine digital transformation, Smart Municipalities, Smart Municipalities at national and international levels, and Smart Municipality models. The literature review also helped to create a Smart Municipality conceptual model. Data for this study were collected in four Eastern Cape municipalities, namely: DR. AB. Xuma, Enoch Mgijima, Intsika Yethu Local municipalities, and their critical stakeholder Chris Hani District Municipality. The population was all municipal workers, including Municipal Managers, Councillors, Executive Management, ICT officials, Unit Managers, Computer Users and other municipal employees who were using IT to do their job responsibilities within the municipalities. This research study followed a positivistic approach using quantitative methods of analysis. Accordingly, the conceptual model was hypothesised and tested using a questionnaire to collect data and the data were statistically analysed. The study followed a descriptive research designwith a quantitative approach. Various statistical analyses were conducted, including descriptive statistics, reliability and validity metrics of the research instrument, correlation coefficients and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). South Africa has provided municipalities with a learning opportunity to change into data-driven Smart Municipalities to increase productivity, growth, and employment supported by the need for people with a variety of skills. A Value Alignment Smart City Stakeholder (VASCS) model was created in previous research and identified nine dimensions of a smart city, namely Smart Economy, Smart Environment, Smart Governance, Smart Living, Smart Mobility, Smart Organisation, Smart People, Smart Policies and Smart Technology. Due to lack of DT framework and guidelines that guides municipalities on how they can adopt Smart Municipality concept, the objective of this study was to propose and evaluate a Value Alignment Smart Municipality Stakeholder (VASMS) model for municipalities in the Eastern Cape. The nine dimensions were empirically evaluated by stakeholders in four Eastern Cape municipalities. The results depict a change towards the importance of developing a Smart Municipality in the four municipalities, while following appropriate planning, designing, management, operations and governance guidelines. The respondents regarded the smart policy dimension as the most important dimension in the proposed VASMS model. This study further provided practical guidelines for the adoption of smart municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. This proposed VASMS model aims to address the unique challenges faced by municipalities in the Eastern Cape as they embark on their digital transformation journey. It outlines a stepby- step process encompassing strategic planning, technological integration, stakeholder engagement, and governance restructuring. Moreover, it emphasises the importance of fostering a collaborative ecosystem between government agencies, private sector partners, and citizens. By offering this VASMS model, this research contributes to the advancement of Smart Municipality initiatives in the Eastern Cape, ultimately paving the way for more efficient, resilient, and citizen-centric urban environments. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computing Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-12
- Authors: Luke, Lamla Lonwabo Leadley
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Internet in public administration , Information technology -- Political aspects , Electronic government information
- Language: English
- Type: Master's thesis , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62506 , vital:72779
- Description: Digital transformation (DT) integrates technology into all business areas, fundamentally changing how businesses operate and deliver value to their clients. It is also a cultural change that requires organisations to continually challenge the status quo, experiment and get comfortable with change. Smart Municipalities in South Africa have various challenges concerning integrating services and information flow among departments within the municipalities, thus preventing the creation of value for the citizens. The ongoing digital transformation revolutionises urban development and governance, offering opportunities for enhanced citizen services, resource optimisation, and sustainable growth. However, the complexity of implementing smart city initiatives demands a structured approach. Due to urbanisation, municipal management in developing nations must deal with issues like increased energy consumption, pollution, the disposal of toxic wastes, resource depletion, ineffective management of urban infrastructures, ineffective planning processes, overloaded transportation networks, endemic congestion, as well as social inequality and socioeconomic disparity. The extent of digital adoption in the South African province of the Eastern Cape has provided municipalities with a learning opportunity to change into data-driven Smart Municipalities in order to increase productivity, growth, employment, and the need for people with a variety of skills. This study required a review of the literature to examine digital transformation, Smart Municipalities, Smart Municipalities at national and international levels, and Smart Municipality models. The literature review also helped to create a Smart Municipality conceptual model. Data for this study were collected in four Eastern Cape municipalities, namely: DR. AB. Xuma, Enoch Mgijima, Intsika Yethu Local municipalities, and their critical stakeholder Chris Hani District Municipality. The population was all municipal workers, including Municipal Managers, Councillors, Executive Management, ICT officials, Unit Managers, Computer Users and other municipal employees who were using IT to do their job responsibilities within the municipalities. This research study followed a positivistic approach using quantitative methods of analysis. Accordingly, the conceptual model was hypothesised and tested using a questionnaire to collect data and the data were statistically analysed. The study followed a descriptive research designwith a quantitative approach. Various statistical analyses were conducted, including descriptive statistics, reliability and validity metrics of the research instrument, correlation coefficients and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). South Africa has provided municipalities with a learning opportunity to change into data-driven Smart Municipalities to increase productivity, growth, and employment supported by the need for people with a variety of skills. A Value Alignment Smart City Stakeholder (VASCS) model was created in previous research and identified nine dimensions of a smart city, namely Smart Economy, Smart Environment, Smart Governance, Smart Living, Smart Mobility, Smart Organisation, Smart People, Smart Policies and Smart Technology. Due to lack of DT framework and guidelines that guides municipalities on how they can adopt Smart Municipality concept, the objective of this study was to propose and evaluate a Value Alignment Smart Municipality Stakeholder (VASMS) model for municipalities in the Eastern Cape. The nine dimensions were empirically evaluated by stakeholders in four Eastern Cape municipalities. The results depict a change towards the importance of developing a Smart Municipality in the four municipalities, while following appropriate planning, designing, management, operations and governance guidelines. The respondents regarded the smart policy dimension as the most important dimension in the proposed VASMS model. This study further provided practical guidelines for the adoption of smart municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. This proposed VASMS model aims to address the unique challenges faced by municipalities in the Eastern Cape as they embark on their digital transformation journey. It outlines a stepby- step process encompassing strategic planning, technological integration, stakeholder engagement, and governance restructuring. Moreover, it emphasises the importance of fostering a collaborative ecosystem between government agencies, private sector partners, and citizens. By offering this VASMS model, this research contributes to the advancement of Smart Municipality initiatives in the Eastern Cape, ultimately paving the way for more efficient, resilient, and citizen-centric urban environments. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computing Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-12
An assessment of electronic-governance as a support system for service delivery in the public sector
- Maramura, Tafadzwa Clementine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4419-1887
- Authors: Maramura, Tafadzwa Clementine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4419-1887
- Date: 2014-11
- Subjects: Civil service -- South Africa , Electronic government information , Internet in public administration
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26053 , vital:64786
- Description: This is an exploratory research that is aimed at assessing the role of e-governance tools and initiatives on how they can be support systems for service delivery in the public service sector. The rationale of this research came as a response to the ever increasing and recurring service delivery protests that are underpinning the Government of South Africa. Hence the inception of electronic-governance (e-governance) comes at the right time with the aim of mordernising and reforming the public sector for efficient and effective service delivery. E-governance is about transforming governance to be more citizens centered and thus technology is the tool in this effort which can enable change in how the government works and how public officials interact with the public at stake. Cloete (2012:128) asserts that e-governance is the future of public governance and public service delivery globally. Thus governments that do not make the transition from paper-based systems of public administration to electronic platforms of public service delivery may swiftly undermine their chances of developing their societies as 21st century information societies. This research however does not imply that e-governance will be a miraculous panacea to poor service provision in South Africa, but it implies that its role in the public service sector can be as a support system for efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery. This is coupled by the research findings which are espoused on through a secondary data approach and thematically analysed to assess the role of e-governance as a support system on service delivery in the public service sector. Thus from the literature it is remarkable to acknowledge that the South African public service sector has successfully established and implemented a significant number of e-governance initiatives from 1994 to present day. Simultaneously to reveal how e-governance can be a support system for the public service, it is not one-dimensional, it is however multidimensional and thereby cutting across the entire field of public administration inter alia the public service sector. The already initiated e-governance tools in South Africa also range from national, provincial and municipal level thereby clearly revealing how e-governance can also be a support system to cooperative governance and intergovernmental relations inter alia. This research does not imply that e-governance can be a panacea to the public service sector ills but however with the fast moving techno-global world the move to an ICT driven public service sector has more merits than demerits to the general public who are at the receiving end of public services. , Thesis (MPA) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2014
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014-11
An assessment of electronic-governance as a support system for service delivery in the public sector
- Authors: Maramura, Tafadzwa Clementine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4419-1887
- Date: 2014-11
- Subjects: Civil service -- South Africa , Electronic government information , Internet in public administration
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26053 , vital:64786
- Description: This is an exploratory research that is aimed at assessing the role of e-governance tools and initiatives on how they can be support systems for service delivery in the public service sector. The rationale of this research came as a response to the ever increasing and recurring service delivery protests that are underpinning the Government of South Africa. Hence the inception of electronic-governance (e-governance) comes at the right time with the aim of mordernising and reforming the public sector for efficient and effective service delivery. E-governance is about transforming governance to be more citizens centered and thus technology is the tool in this effort which can enable change in how the government works and how public officials interact with the public at stake. Cloete (2012:128) asserts that e-governance is the future of public governance and public service delivery globally. Thus governments that do not make the transition from paper-based systems of public administration to electronic platforms of public service delivery may swiftly undermine their chances of developing their societies as 21st century information societies. This research however does not imply that e-governance will be a miraculous panacea to poor service provision in South Africa, but it implies that its role in the public service sector can be as a support system for efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery. This is coupled by the research findings which are espoused on through a secondary data approach and thematically analysed to assess the role of e-governance as a support system on service delivery in the public service sector. Thus from the literature it is remarkable to acknowledge that the South African public service sector has successfully established and implemented a significant number of e-governance initiatives from 1994 to present day. Simultaneously to reveal how e-governance can be a support system for the public service, it is not one-dimensional, it is however multidimensional and thereby cutting across the entire field of public administration inter alia the public service sector. The already initiated e-governance tools in South Africa also range from national, provincial and municipal level thereby clearly revealing how e-governance can also be a support system to cooperative governance and intergovernmental relations inter alia. This research does not imply that e-governance can be a panacea to the public service sector ills but however with the fast moving techno-global world the move to an ICT driven public service sector has more merits than demerits to the general public who are at the receiving end of public services. , Thesis (MPA) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2014
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014-11
User requirements framework for mobile government in the Western Cape
- Authors: Wilson, Fiona Michelle
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Government communication systems , Internet in public administration , Electronic government information , Mobile communication systems , Information technology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9751 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008076 , Government communication systems , Internet in public administration , Electronic government information , Mobile communication systems , Information technology
- Description: Globally, mobile technology use, particularly the use of mobile phones, is becoming increasingly widespread. One consequence of this growth is mounting interest in using mobile technologies in the public sector, particularly in developing countries, because it is seen as enabling better access to information and services for citizens. Mobile government (m-government), defined as the use of mobile technologies and applications for public sector services, promises to extend access to public services to marginalised sectors of the population and is emerging as a new focus in the ongoing challenge to provide efficient, effective and accessible public services. Though interest in m-government is emerging in the provincial Western Cape Government (WCG) of South Africa, few guidelines exist in the WCG to inform the development of public sector mobile services. This absence impacts on service delivery and the primary objective of this study was to propose a set of guidelines that could guide the prioritisation of citizen facing public sector services for mobile implementation in the Western Cape. The study considered two areas namely, government and user needs. The primary research question was to determine what public sector services citizens need and how these services should be prioritised for mobile delivery in the Western Cape. To address this, three research sub-questions were formulated. The first question aimed to examine conceptions of mobile government. To achieve this a literature study and documentation review was conducted, from which factors influencing service prioritisation emerged. The second research question aimed to identify citizen needs that could inform mobile public sector services in the Western Cape. Thus a survey and interviews were conducted with citizens using the WCG community ICT centres (e-Centres). The third research question aimed to identify factors that impact on the prioritisation of citizen facing public sectors for mobile delivery in the Western Cape. The findings from the literature study, survey and interviews conducted were used to address this research question. The results from the three research sub-questions were triangulated to address the main objective of the study and from this a set of guidelines for prioritising mobile public sector services in the Western Cape was proposed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Wilson, Fiona Michelle
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Government communication systems , Internet in public administration , Electronic government information , Mobile communication systems , Information technology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9751 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008076 , Government communication systems , Internet in public administration , Electronic government information , Mobile communication systems , Information technology
- Description: Globally, mobile technology use, particularly the use of mobile phones, is becoming increasingly widespread. One consequence of this growth is mounting interest in using mobile technologies in the public sector, particularly in developing countries, because it is seen as enabling better access to information and services for citizens. Mobile government (m-government), defined as the use of mobile technologies and applications for public sector services, promises to extend access to public services to marginalised sectors of the population and is emerging as a new focus in the ongoing challenge to provide efficient, effective and accessible public services. Though interest in m-government is emerging in the provincial Western Cape Government (WCG) of South Africa, few guidelines exist in the WCG to inform the development of public sector mobile services. This absence impacts on service delivery and the primary objective of this study was to propose a set of guidelines that could guide the prioritisation of citizen facing public sector services for mobile implementation in the Western Cape. The study considered two areas namely, government and user needs. The primary research question was to determine what public sector services citizens need and how these services should be prioritised for mobile delivery in the Western Cape. To address this, three research sub-questions were formulated. The first question aimed to examine conceptions of mobile government. To achieve this a literature study and documentation review was conducted, from which factors influencing service prioritisation emerged. The second research question aimed to identify citizen needs that could inform mobile public sector services in the Western Cape. Thus a survey and interviews were conducted with citizens using the WCG community ICT centres (e-Centres). The third research question aimed to identify factors that impact on the prioritisation of citizen facing public sectors for mobile delivery in the Western Cape. The findings from the literature study, survey and interviews conducted were used to address this research question. The results from the three research sub-questions were triangulated to address the main objective of the study and from this a set of guidelines for prioritising mobile public sector services in the Western Cape was proposed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
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