A framework to guide development through ICT in rural areas in South Africa
- Authors: Mamba, Malungelo Siphiwosami Njinga
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Information technology -- Economic aspects -- South Africa , Telecommunication -- South Africa , Information services industry -- South Africa , Rural development -- South Africa , Information services -- Government policy -- South Africa , Communication policy -- South Africa , Communication planning -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Information Systems)
- Identifier: vital:11137 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007024 , Information technology -- Economic aspects -- South Africa , Telecommunication -- South Africa , Information services industry -- South Africa , Rural development -- South Africa , Information services -- Government policy -- South Africa , Communication policy -- South Africa , Communication planning -- South Africa
- Description: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is widely regarded as a key tool for bringing about development to people who live in underserved areas. Technologies such as mobile phones and Wi-Fi are seen as advantageous because they can be made available to poor places without the cost of building extensive physical infrastructure. However, researchers argue that ICTs have failed to live up to their potential in the context of development. Researchers point out developing countries lack frameworks to guide them through the implementation of ICTs in this context. The objective of this study is to come up with a framework that can be used in rural areas in South Africa to implement ICT projects. The researcher interviewed individuals who have been directly involved in an ICT initiative in a rural setting in the Eastern Cape Province to learn from their experiences. The researcher also studied publications that have been produced from these initiatives in order to gain a richer understanding. The findings of the study show that participants share similar views about how ICT projects should be approached and implemented in rural areas in South Africa. The views are grouped according to similarity into themes and discussed in detail in the study. From these themes a framework that can help implement ICT projects in rural areas is developed.
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- Date Issued: 2012
An assessment of factors that impact on the performance of Cisco Academies: the South African situation
- Authors: Kudyachete, Gratitude
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Information technology -- Economic aspects -- South Africa , Software-defined networking (Computer network technology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8789 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1014720
- Description: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a catalyst for economic development and has been seen to provide new business opportunities and a source of competitive advantage. The acute ICT skills gap in South Africa is widely acknowledged. Such a shortage has cost the South African economy dearly, resulting in the government adopting a multi-pronged approach to the problem. The various interventions have yielded limited success leaving room for other players to contribute to the solution. The Cisco Academy programme, executed through the establishment of Cisco Academies in educational institutions, is a professional education programme focused on the provision of computer networking skills and other basic information technology technical skills. Its comprehensive approach has seen it playing a complementary role to those of the government and other stakeholders. This study focused on the factors that affect Cisco Academy performance. The primary objective was to improve the academic performance of the Cisco Academies in South Africa. More specifically the study assessed the effect of instructor quality, use of technology tools, multi-culture needs, motivation, supporting infrastructure and accessibility on academy performance. The sample consisted of 166 respondents from five Cisco Academies in South Africa. Techniques such as multiple regression analysis, two sample t-tests and analysis of variance were employed on the empirical data. It was established that instructor quality and use of technology tools were the significant determinants of academy performance. It was also established that the Cisco Academy programme is making a significant contribution towards addressing the ICT skills shortage. A number of recommendations are made for the government, Cisco Academies and Cisco systems itself. Recommendations for future research are also provided.
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- Date Issued: 2012