arXiv subjects

Ephias Ruhode

Publications and source records attributed to Ephias Ruhode.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2021

Cloud Computing Adoption: Opportunities and Challenges for Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises in South Africa

The purpose of the paper is to determine the opportunities and challenges that lead to cloud computing adoption by SMMEs in South Africa by looking at the factors that influence adoption. The TOE framework is used to contextualize the factors that influence cloud computing adoption and evaluate the opportunities and challenges that are presented by cloud computing to SMMEs in South Africa. An online survey questionnaire was used to collect data from leaders of SMMEs from all geographical regions and business industries in South Africa. A quantitative research approach was adopted to investigate the objectives, and descriptive analysis was used to evaluate the relationships and present the results. The findings of the study show that relative advantage is an important factor in the consideration of cloud computing adoption by SMMEs, while government and regulatory support is perceived as a barrier. Top management support, which has been previously found by other studies to be a significant factor has been found to be insignificant in this study. The study has revealed that cloud computing presents opportunities to SMMEs and improves their competitiveness.

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arXiv2021

EHealth Technologies Integration with Healthcare Work Activities in Public Hospitals: A Critical Realist Perspective

Integration of eHealth technologies with healthcare work activities has seen great advancement in many healthcare systems in developing countries. However, these efforts have been tainted by several challenges such as fragmentation, lack of standardization and co-ordination. Subsequently, the undertakings of eHealth articulated in health strategy/policy documents have not been fully realised. The implications of this has been that the majority of the population still access inadequate healthcare services. The aim of this paper is to explain why the current integration efforts do not adequately facilitate healthcare work activities in public hospitals in under-served contexts of South Africa. A critical realist perspective within a qualitative approach was adopted. A total of 21 participants were purposively sampled and interviewed because of their knowledge and experience in the healthcare service delivery process as well as their involvement in the integration of ehealth. The study applied the Activity Analysis and Development (ActAD) model as a theoretical analytical tool and draws on normalization process theory (NPT) as an explanatory framework. The findings highlight generative mechanisms such as the inadequate analysis of system's fit-for-purpose in healthcare workflows have inhibiting effects in the integration process of eHealth.

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arXiv2021

Factors Enhancing E-Government Service Gaps in a Developing Country Context

Globally, the discourse of e-government has gathered momentum in public service delivery. No country has been left untouched in the implementation of e-government. Several government departments and agencies are now using information and communication technology (ICTs) to deliver government services and information to citizens, other government departments, and businesses. However, most of the government departments have not provided all of their services electronically or at least the most important ones. Thus, this creates a phenomenon of e-government service gaps. The objective of this study was to investigate the contextual factors enhancing e-government service gaps in a developing country. To achieve this aim, the TOE framework was employed together with a qualitative case study to guide data collection and analysis. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews from government employees who are involved in the implementation of e-government services in Zimbabwe as well as from citizens and businesses. Eleven (11) factors were identified and grouped under the TOE framework. This research contributes significantly to the implementation and utilisation of e-government services in Zimbabwe. The study also contributes to providing a strong theoretical understanding of the factors that enhance e-government service gaps explored in the research model.

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arXiv2021

Towards an Integrated Knowledge Management and Information and Communication Technology Framework for Improving Disaster Response in a Developing Country Context

This paper is part of an ongoing project that seeks to address a gap in disaster information coordination and collaboration in Zimbabwe. There is lack of coordinated information and knowledge in natural disaster and emergency situations in Zimbabwe. This results in weak collaboration links among the various organizations that respond to emergencies, leading to slow decision making processes and long response times. This negatively affects the affected communities, exacerbating poverty in Zimbabwe. This has been evidenced in the recent catastrophic cyclone Idai where many people were left dead, infrastructure destroyed and some people marooned. To address this, the research seeks to develop an integrated Knowledge Management and ICT framework that aid in coordination and collaboration among the various crisis responders. This will be achieved through a case study approach using Zimbabwe's Civil Protection Unit. PAR within DSRM will be used to gather data from CPU as well as with NGO respondents, traditional leaders and disaster response experts. Findings will be compared and contrasted with secondary data gathered in literature, this, with collected data will be used in developing a home grown coordination and collaboration solution. Qualitative approach to data collection will be adopted using interviews, visioning workshops and document analysis.

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arXiv2013

The adoption and challenges of electronic voting technologies within the South African context

Literature has shown that countries such as Brazil and India have successfully implemented electronic voting systems and other countries are at various piloting stages to address many challenges associated with manual paper based system such ascosts of physical ballot paper and other overheads, electoral delays, distribution of electoral materials, and general lack of confidence in the electoral process. It is in this context that this study explores how South African can leverage the opportunities that e-voting presents. Manual voting is often tedious, non-secure, and time-consuming, which leads us to think about using electronic facilities to make the process more efficient. This study proposes that the adoption of electronic voting technologies could perhaps mitigate some of these issues and challengesin the process improving the electoral process. The study used an on-line questionnaire which was administered to a broader group of voters and an in-depth semi-structured interview with the Independent Electoral Commission officials. The analysis is based on thematic analysis and diffusion of innovations theory is adopted as a theoretical lens of analysis. The findings reveal that relative advantage, compatibility and complexity would determine the intentions of South African voters and the Electoral Management Bodies (IEC) to adopt e-voting technologies. Moreover, the findings also reveal several other factorsthat could influence the adoption process. The study is limited to only voters in Cape Town and these voters were expected to have some access to the internet. The sample size limits the generalizability of the findings of this study.

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