Search

Despite the numerous support systems, academic performances in many South African higher institutions continue to experience challenges while some are declining in throughputs. Some of the support mechanisms seem to be black boxed, notwithstanding the deteriorating situation. Thus, there is "prima facie" evidence that the factors that influence dwindling performance are unknown. This study, therefore, explores the effect of black boxing the support provided in the institutions, towards finding a long-lasting remedy to the challenges, through information technology (IT) solutions such as the robotic automated process (RPA). Qualitative data was used, to deeply understand why things happen in the way that they do in providing and receiving academic supports while performance remains low and challenging. The relationship and interaction between human and non-human actors of over ten years were traced in existing sixty-one documents and analysed. From the analysis, structural property, technological change, and power relationship manifest from the simplification of networks, durable configurations, and invisible factors. These factors were found to be of significant and dominant influence on academic performance through the support an institution provides. From the findings, a conceptual framework is proposed, purposely to guide an RPA-based system can be designed.

In the context of South Africa, what we do know is that huge amount of healthcare data does exist and that they are consciously and unconsciously scattered in bits and pieces across facilities within the country. This has directly or indirectly resulted to underutilisation of data, which affects service delivery to the community. For example, many patients have been wrongly diagnosed, and some others have been given wrong medications due to duplication of prescriptions, which were influenced by lack of real-time information. Consequently, there have been loss and damages to lives, contributing to the mortality rate in the country. This study was undertaken on the premise of these challenges, to develop a conceptual framework that can guide how data could be managed towards improved services within the South African healthcare facilities. The interpretive approach was employed. Qualitative data were gathered from existing works. Structuration theory was applied as a lens to guide the analysis of the data. From the findings, a framework was developed, primarily to guide and advance the ways in which data are stored, retrieved, managed, and used for healthcare improved services.

Namibia is characterized by a fragmented health-care system that has led to data inconsistencies and duplication of efforts. It has also become costly to health-care institutions to maintain these fragmented, standalone systems. This study examined how enterprise architecture (EA) can be applied to guide the integration of health information systems (HISs) in the Namibian health-care context. A qualitative approach was applied to collect data from two cases using semi structured interviews and an interpretive approach in the analysis. From the analysis, the constructs of requirements clarity, information systems and technology (IS/T) project management, systems documentation, and communication were discovered to influence the development and integration of HISs. Applying these constructs, the study developed an EA guide for the development and integration of HISs. The study recommends that future studies consider developing similar architecture using a quantitative approach and possibly validating the developed guide using a quantitative approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health Informatics is an emerging interdisciplinary subject of Health Sciences and Information Systems, which aimed to cater for both the educational and professional needs within the Health and Informatics fields. Even though there has been increasing interest in health informatics discipline, challenges continue to exist, particularly in developing countries such as Namibia. One of the main challenges in the discipline is shortage of skilled personnel, which is primarily caused by institutions of higher learning not producing enough graduates in the discipline. This results from the fact that many of the institutions do not offer or have curriculum for the course. Thus, this research examines how health informatics curriculum is developed at institutions of higher learning, to offer insight on the influencing factors. The qualitative methods and interpretive approach were employed in the research. This is an applied research that was carried out at the Namibia University of Science and Technology. The data was analysed by following the interpretive approach. Based on the analysis, a process-oriented approach is proposed. The approach identifies key stakeholders, and how different parties can contribute to a successful health informatics curriculum at institutions of higher learning. The framework may be of interest to health practitioners and academia in the area of health informatics.

The South African government strives to increase citizens' participation in economic, political, social and trade activities through online connectivity, by providing free Wi-Fi for previously disadvantage, peri-urban communities. This was in an attempt to contribute and promote poverty alleviation, growth and economic transformation among communities that are generally considered low income earners. Thus, the government embarked on a free Wi-Fi project for peri-urban communities, which Nyanga in the Western Cape was a benefactor. Even though the Wi-Fi was free, its accessibility was significantly low. Based on the background, the objective of the study was reached, to examine how accessibility influences usage of free facility such the Wi-Fi in the Nyanga community. The qualitative methods, case study approach and semi-structure interview technique were employed from the interpretivist perspective. From the analysis of the data, five factors, security, proximity, technical know-how, and awareness were found to be of primary influence to accessibility of free Wi-Fi facility in the Nyanga community. Based on the findings, a model was developed, which can be used to educate stakeholders in order to guide and increase access to the government free Wi-Fi. Such educational effort is intended to promote inclusiveness in socioeconomic activities.