Chris Rensleigh | University of Johannesburg, South Africa (original) (raw)

Papers by Chris Rensleigh

South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science, 2022

The results show a preference towards utilising free information resources and websites above fee... more The results show a preference towards utilising free information resources and websites above fee based as part of the research online presence, researcher discoverability, research output accessibility and to ascertain their inclusive research impact. In addition, the results of the e-visibility survey reported positive responses and overall positive attitude and perceptions towards the e-visibility training. This research emphasises e-visibility training as part of an e-visibility strategy to increase research online presence, researcher discoverability and online research output accessibility in an attempt to enhance the researchers' e-visibility.

Mobile application (app) usage has become a universal trend. Paramount in most app designers' foc... more Mobile application (app) usage has become a universal trend. Paramount in most app designers' focus, is what mobile app users want in terms of features offered by an app. Forming part of a larger study which aims to determine the most desirable app features for a mobile blood donation app, this paper reports on one section of that study's exploratory sequential mixed method research strategy. The paper illustrates how the use of Google Scholar alerts, over a period of six months, was systematically employed to inform the researchers of the most current research on app features. Abstracts and keywords from 47 academic articles which were included in the alert emails, were analysed through the natural language analysis software Leximancer. The findings aimed at highlighting prominent concepts and themes related to the development, selection, and application of mobile app features. Findings showed a prevalence of research articles focused on mobile health apps, specifically apps that support self-management of various illnesses.

The end of 'Apartheid' in 1994 left Higher Education in South Africa with an unfair divide with t... more The end of 'Apartheid' in 1994 left Higher Education in South Africa with an unfair divide with two distinct groups, the so-called Historically Disadvantage Institutions (HDIs) and the ones that benefited from the ideology. This divide is still visible after eight years of democracy. In the South Africa context the term 'Higher Education' is predominately used to refer to learning that takes place in universities and technikons. Numerous challenges like the depreciating currency (an effective devaluation of 73% in 2001), shrinking budgets, lack of IT infrastructure and skilled IT staff are making the implementation of ETD initiatives on an institutional level very difficult for these HDIs. Fortunately working together in consortia or being part of an international project like the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) makes it possible for these Historical Disadvantage Institutions to make their theses and dissertation available electronically.

SA Journal of Information Management, 2010

Background: South Africa has a well-developed and established banking system which compares favou... more Background: South Africa has a well-developed and established banking system which compares favourably with those in many developed countries (e.g. USA), but also sets South Africa apart from many other emerging market countries like Egypt and Brazil. Four dominant banks, namely the Amalgamated Banks of South Africa (ABSA), Standard Bank, Nedcor and First National Bank (FNB) influence the South African banking environment. Internet banking has slowly been taking off in South Africa since 1996 as consumers are attracted to the convenience, safety and lower costs of doing banking online. Trust is a significant component of Internet banking and online services and products. Objectives: This article has reported on the results of a survey (a close-ended questionnaire) that was conducted by alumni of the University of Johannesburg (UJ). The research problem for this study has been formulated as 'what are Internet banking customers' perception on information protection when using Internet banking services and products?' Method: The methodology for this study falls on quantitative research. The research study consisted of a detailed literature review, followed by an empirical component which consisted of a quantitative questionnaire. The questionnaire used in this study consisted of eight sections covering biographical information, financial institution and Internet banking, Internet banking service quality and delivery, Internet banking functionality, Internet banking costs, Internet banking convenience and relationships, Internet banking trust and Internet banking security and information technology (IT). Results: It was established that the findings of this research could assist financial institutions with fostering and building greater value adding relationships with their customers. These value-adding endeavours will ensure that customers experience and perceive their Internet banking experience to be enriching. Education and awareness campaigns are key focus areas financial institutions should continuously invest in. Information should be easily retrievable and communicated in a manner that makes sense to the diverse customer base, especially within South Africa with its diverse cultures and languages. Conclusion: The final conclusion that could be reached is that Internet banking products and services will continue to grow across various divides and platforms as the Internet costs decrease in future, the growth of Internet related products and services such as Internet banking will increase. THE SOUTH AFRICAN BANKING LANDSCAPE According to Singh (2004:188) banking in South Africa can be traced back to Cape Town in the 1860s where it was influenced by both British and Dutch traditions. South Africa has a well-developed and established banking system which compares favourably with those in many developed countries like the USA, but also sets South Africa apart from many other emerging market countries like Egypt and Brazil. The Governor of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) stated in 2004 that South Africa's

SA Journal of Information Management, Mar 30, 2009

Throughout the world one finds that small businesses are playing critical roles in absorbing labo... more Throughout the world one finds that small businesses are playing critical roles in absorbing labour, penetrating new markets, and promoting entrepreneurial and innovative activities. These businesses have the same information needs as their bigger counterparts. Web portals can offer small businesses platforms to reach information resources effectively and hence create a stimulating business community for entrepreneurship. The purpose of this research was to investigate the extent to which online community information portals can promote the use of information resources for small retail business in South Africa. For the empirical part of this research 150 questionnaires were completed by small retail businesses. The questionnaire consisted of four sections: business biographical information; business information and agencies; information and communication technologies usage; and community and portal activities. It was found that small business owners and managers are unwilling to disclose business information, especially their financial information but that they are very interested in networking with other businesses, in particular with potential customers and suppliers.

SA Journal of Information Management, Jan 5, 2006

Contents 1. Introduction 1.1 Research problem 2. Alumni of the University of Johannesburg 3. New ... more Contents 1. Introduction 1.1 Research problem 2. Alumni of the University of Johannesburg 3. New media for disseminating information to alumni 4. Possible effects of the digital divide on information dissemination to alumni of the UJ 5. Empirical research 5.1 Research methodology 5.2 Research findings 6. Conclusion 7. References

A mobile application's (app) popularity and influence is determined by its users.These users down... more A mobile application's (app) popularity and influence is determined by its users.These users download, use, review and support an app based on a myriad of requirements and needs. The aim of this paper is to showcase the results from asynchronous online interviews, which was focused on exploring the needs of potential users of a mobile blood donation app in South Africa. This paper specifically reports on the results of the 89 interviews conducted with existing and potential blood donors in South Africa during late 2017 and early 2018. As part of a larger, exploratory sequential mixed method research project, the interview schedule described in this paper was guided by the Leximancer analyses of app store reviews of existing blood donation apps, and the results from the interview informed a quantitative questionnaire. The results of the interviews, garnered from a Leximancer analyses, showed that the potential convenience afforded to blood donors by a blood donation app was important-aspects such as reminders to donateand GPS functionality for finding blood donation events, among others, were mentioned as preferred features by respondents.Furthermore, several respondents noted that a question and answer feature with the blood donation organisation would be a value adding feature in an app of this kind.

International journal of technology, knowledge and society, 2006

This paper focuses on how Relationship Marketing, targeting the Alumni of the University of Johan... more This paper focuses on how Relationship Marketing, targeting the Alumni of the University of Johannesburg, could be improved by the use of ICTs via Integrated Marketing Communication. ... International Journal of Technology, Knowledge and Society, Volume ...

The Electronic Library, Aug 8, 2008

PurposeThe core purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which web portal technology ... more PurposeThe core purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which web portal technology and online communities could be successfully applied by the alumni offices of higher education institutions in South Africa (using the University of Johannesburg as a case study) to create information‐sharing with and amongst its alumni affinity groups, in order to build and maintain valuable relationships, networks and partnerships.Design/methodology/approachThis research project falls under Pasteur's quadrant of use‐inspired research. Using quantitative empirical research, a total number of 10,380 questionnaires was distributed to graduates of the University of Johannesburg at the Autumn graduation ceremonies in April 2006, thereby making it a self‐selecting, purposeful (purposive) and convenient sample.FindingsBased on the literature study, the results of the empirical research and the case study, the final conclusion made from this research project is that an online community portal can enhance to a large extent the networking of alumni in the South African higher education sector. In addition, the research data collection instrument is transferable to a number of other higher education settings. In particular, the user‐centric information resource questions provide useful insights into alumni information‐seeking behaviour and needs.Research limitations/implicationsDue to the University of Johannesburg Alumni being used as a case study for this research project, the research findings are tailored for implementation by this entity. However, the processes that were followed for this research project in terms of conducting a needs analysis with regard to the information needs of the alumni target audience and the types of questions that were posed could be guiding principles for other South African higher education sector (SAHES) institutions that want to develop such a tool for managing their alumni's information needs. In addition, the framework for the study predicts continuing alliances among academic services, placement services, library services, and fund development on higher education campuses.Originality/valueThe paper should prove useful to other academic institutions since it develops a helpful tool to assist in managing alumni networking behaviour, needs and resources.

IGI Global eBooks, 2012

Countries the world over have drawn e-Government interventions placing much emphasis on erecting ... more Countries the world over have drawn e-Government interventions placing much emphasis on erecting affluent ICT infrastructures, institutional, legal, and regulatory frameworks. However, most of these interventions lack carefully-drawn e-Government awareness strategies, which translates into most of these interventions being typically unknown by the general public and causing low e-Participation. This chapter presents the novel interventions that are being authored towards robust e-Government development for Botswana where e-Government development is at the very intial stages. Using exploratory and empirical study of Francistown and surrounding rural areas, the chapter presents a critical analysis of the state of e-Government preparedness and further presents the current status of e-Government adoption in Botswana. This study establishes that whilst many e-Government strategies are being authored in Botswana, the e-Participation component has not been adequately considered in drawing the different e-Government interventions. This is negatively impacting on the overall anticipated value prepositions for e-Government implementation.

International journal of technology, knowledge and society, 2007

SA Journal of Information Management, Jan 28, 2004

Contents 1. Introduction 2. Online academic environment 3. Online academic information sources 4.... more Contents 1. Introduction 2. Online academic environment 3. Online academic information sources 4. Online academic environment at the Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) 5. Conclusion and future work 6. References

SA Journal of Information Management, Dec 4, 2002

Contents 1. Introduction 2. Computer systems and Internet services abuse 3. Arguments for Interne... more Contents 1. Introduction 2. Computer systems and Internet services abuse 3. Arguments for Internet content filtering 4. Defining Internet content filtering 5. Implementing Internet content filtering in a higher education library environment 6. Internet services abuse 7. Possible future developments 8. Conclusion 9. References Unauthorised usage and access Sharing of passwords and access into networks without permission. Copyright infringements or plagiarism Using illegal or pirated software. Copying of Web sites and copyrighted logos. Transmission of confidential data Using the Internet to display or transmit confidential documents.

SA Journal of Information Management, Dec 1, 2004

Although not a novel concept, peer-to-peer computing is associated by many users with file sharin... more Although not a novel concept, peer-to-peer computing is associated by many users with file sharing, in particular MP3 music files, but in reality peer-to-peer computing encompasses instant messaging, group collaboration and distributed computing. The social implications of peer-to-peer computing have wide-ranging ramifications for the Internet and its users. This research at the Rand Afrikaans University had as goal to identify student behaviour and utilization patterns when interacting with peer-to-peer systems available on the Internet. The respondents, all being Information Science students, completed a questionnaire that examined aspects such as information communication technology utilization, the frequency and duration of use, type of content downloaded and shared and the social aspects of peer-to-peer file sharing. Although distributed computing has various inherent problems such as copyright and privacy issues, peer-to-peer computing can be seen as a radical new mindset, setting the stage for a decentralized Internet future.

SA Journal of Information Management, May 28, 2015

Background: A very small percentage of all the research generated by universities is commercialis... more Background: A very small percentage of all the research generated by universities is commercialised. The article is a case study of the transformation from action research to a spin-off company. It looks at the practical implications of such a transformation. Objectives: The aim of this article is to provide a holistic view of what the process entailed to leap from academic research to the commercialisation of the research into a company as was the case for Gradnet. Method: A case-study approach was used to document the conceptualisation and development of the research-based, spin-off company, Gradnet. This includes the background of the original research that formed the basis of the innovation process. Results: It was found that the commercialisation process of academic research is not necessarily a natural process for the researcher in the absence of an appropriate supporting infrastructure. Conclusion: All academic disciplines have the potential for establishing commercially viable research projects. This potential should be actively explored and pursued by the institution.

South Africa's blood stock level is often categorised as alarmingly low, leaving blood donation o... more South Africa's blood stock level is often categorised as alarmingly low, leaving blood donation organisations in constant need of voluntary, unpaid blood donations to ensure their ability to supply hospitals with safe blood. Globally, there are successful mobile blood donation apps facilitating blood donation by providing useful services to blood donors, however similar apps available in South Africa are new, and not popular when compared to global standards. An estimated 5.9 million South Africans download and use mobile applications (apps), and this paper explores the process and results from the first phase of a study, which employed a sequential mixed method research design, to identify user-preferred features for a mobile blood donation app. The findings of the study should serve as a roadmap to blood donation organisations in South Africa, regarding what users expect from a blood donation app, and which features may possibly stimulate a constant or increased frequency of blood donation instances. The two largest app stores, Google Play and Apple iOS, served as the sources of the eventual sample of blood donation apps, of which the user reviews were analysed. Commenting from a design science paradigm, this paper reports on the selection process that had been followed to sample the relevant apps, and further discusses the user insights gained from the analysis of these apps' reviews. The paper further reports on how the app review analysis findings informed the creation of an interview schedule, that was used to gain in-depth understanding of perceptions held by users of the blood donation apps, specifically regarding the users' preferred features in these types of apps.

SA Journal of Information Management, Mar 30, 2015

Background: The lack of consideration of the developmental opportunities that online technologies... more Background: The lack of consideration of the developmental opportunities that online technologies offer small churches in the 21st century forms the foundation of this research article. This article reports on a master's study which seeks to investigate whether small churches are aware of the opportunities generated by the use of online technologies. Objectives: This study was done to identify the current online technology usage and seeks to create awareness as to how these technologies are impacting congregation members in the small church environment. Method: A quantitative study was conducted in the form of a survey of four small churches in the Johannesburg metropolitan area to identify the current usage and the potential impact online technologies could have upon the small churches. Results: The study indicated that online technologies have a large role to play in the development of small churches and have the ability to increase the involvement of members in church programmes. Conclusion: It is clear that online technologies offer substantial benefits. Small churches should incorporate the opportunities associated with online technologies in their strategic plans.

SA Journal of Information Management, Dec 10, 2004

Contents 1. Introduction 2. Background 3. Methodology 4. Literature review 5. Empirical findings ... more Contents 1. Introduction 2. Background 3. Methodology 4. Literature review 5. Empirical findings 6. Conclusion 7. References 8. Appendix 'The global economy is a driving force today. It has led to extensive restructuring in most

SA Journal of Information Management, 2010

Cloud computing has become an important topic to research because of the value it can provide to ... more Cloud computing has become an important topic to research because of the value it can provide to the business. In this article, the researcher examined how Business Intelligence (BI) can be offered to the business over the Internet as a solution. BI environments, however, require a large capital layout to implement and support the large volumes of data that needs to be analysed to identify trends. It also requires enormous processing power which places pressure on the business resources. The goal of this article is to show how BI will be offered as a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution to the business. The BI SaaS solution will allow companies to reduce cost of having a BI solution and also having access to the latest software which will give the business an edge on their competition. By making use of a literature review the researcher were able gather and present evidence to support the value that the BI SaaS solution will add to the business and how such a BI SaaS solution will look like. As part of this research paper the researcher will also identify the challenges that the business will face when making us a BI SaaS solution.

Proceedings of the International Conference on multidisciplinary Research, Dec 31, 2018

This paper aims to establish the relationships between the altmetrics derived from the academic s... more This paper aims to establish the relationships between the altmetrics derived from the academic social networking tool ResearchGate and bibliometrics derived from the citation resources Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar to establish which academic social networking tools gives the most advantage. The investigation forms part of a longitudinal study investigating the e-visibility of the environmental science researchers at the University of South Africa during December 2014 and December 2016. The bibliometric indicators from Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar, and altmetric indicator data from ResearchGate were collected in six (6) month intervals, and analysed using SPSS to determine the Pearson's rank correlations. The results indicated a positive correlation between the bibliometric indicators derived from Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar, and the altmetric indicators derived from the academic social networking tool ResearchGate. The results show that ResearchGate altmetric indicators influence the bibliometric indicators positively. ResearchGate therefore can be recommended for academic social networking as a strategy to influence the Environmental Science researcher's citations positively at Unisa.

South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science, 2022

The results show a preference towards utilising free information resources and websites above fee... more The results show a preference towards utilising free information resources and websites above fee based as part of the research online presence, researcher discoverability, research output accessibility and to ascertain their inclusive research impact. In addition, the results of the e-visibility survey reported positive responses and overall positive attitude and perceptions towards the e-visibility training. This research emphasises e-visibility training as part of an e-visibility strategy to increase research online presence, researcher discoverability and online research output accessibility in an attempt to enhance the researchers' e-visibility.

Mobile application (app) usage has become a universal trend. Paramount in most app designers' foc... more Mobile application (app) usage has become a universal trend. Paramount in most app designers' focus, is what mobile app users want in terms of features offered by an app. Forming part of a larger study which aims to determine the most desirable app features for a mobile blood donation app, this paper reports on one section of that study's exploratory sequential mixed method research strategy. The paper illustrates how the use of Google Scholar alerts, over a period of six months, was systematically employed to inform the researchers of the most current research on app features. Abstracts and keywords from 47 academic articles which were included in the alert emails, were analysed through the natural language analysis software Leximancer. The findings aimed at highlighting prominent concepts and themes related to the development, selection, and application of mobile app features. Findings showed a prevalence of research articles focused on mobile health apps, specifically apps that support self-management of various illnesses.

The end of 'Apartheid' in 1994 left Higher Education in South Africa with an unfair divide with t... more The end of 'Apartheid' in 1994 left Higher Education in South Africa with an unfair divide with two distinct groups, the so-called Historically Disadvantage Institutions (HDIs) and the ones that benefited from the ideology. This divide is still visible after eight years of democracy. In the South Africa context the term 'Higher Education' is predominately used to refer to learning that takes place in universities and technikons. Numerous challenges like the depreciating currency (an effective devaluation of 73% in 2001), shrinking budgets, lack of IT infrastructure and skilled IT staff are making the implementation of ETD initiatives on an institutional level very difficult for these HDIs. Fortunately working together in consortia or being part of an international project like the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) makes it possible for these Historical Disadvantage Institutions to make their theses and dissertation available electronically.

SA Journal of Information Management, 2010

Background: South Africa has a well-developed and established banking system which compares favou... more Background: South Africa has a well-developed and established banking system which compares favourably with those in many developed countries (e.g. USA), but also sets South Africa apart from many other emerging market countries like Egypt and Brazil. Four dominant banks, namely the Amalgamated Banks of South Africa (ABSA), Standard Bank, Nedcor and First National Bank (FNB) influence the South African banking environment. Internet banking has slowly been taking off in South Africa since 1996 as consumers are attracted to the convenience, safety and lower costs of doing banking online. Trust is a significant component of Internet banking and online services and products. Objectives: This article has reported on the results of a survey (a close-ended questionnaire) that was conducted by alumni of the University of Johannesburg (UJ). The research problem for this study has been formulated as 'what are Internet banking customers' perception on information protection when using Internet banking services and products?' Method: The methodology for this study falls on quantitative research. The research study consisted of a detailed literature review, followed by an empirical component which consisted of a quantitative questionnaire. The questionnaire used in this study consisted of eight sections covering biographical information, financial institution and Internet banking, Internet banking service quality and delivery, Internet banking functionality, Internet banking costs, Internet banking convenience and relationships, Internet banking trust and Internet banking security and information technology (IT). Results: It was established that the findings of this research could assist financial institutions with fostering and building greater value adding relationships with their customers. These value-adding endeavours will ensure that customers experience and perceive their Internet banking experience to be enriching. Education and awareness campaigns are key focus areas financial institutions should continuously invest in. Information should be easily retrievable and communicated in a manner that makes sense to the diverse customer base, especially within South Africa with its diverse cultures and languages. Conclusion: The final conclusion that could be reached is that Internet banking products and services will continue to grow across various divides and platforms as the Internet costs decrease in future, the growth of Internet related products and services such as Internet banking will increase. THE SOUTH AFRICAN BANKING LANDSCAPE According to Singh (2004:188) banking in South Africa can be traced back to Cape Town in the 1860s where it was influenced by both British and Dutch traditions. South Africa has a well-developed and established banking system which compares favourably with those in many developed countries like the USA, but also sets South Africa apart from many other emerging market countries like Egypt and Brazil. The Governor of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) stated in 2004 that South Africa's

SA Journal of Information Management, Mar 30, 2009

Throughout the world one finds that small businesses are playing critical roles in absorbing labo... more Throughout the world one finds that small businesses are playing critical roles in absorbing labour, penetrating new markets, and promoting entrepreneurial and innovative activities. These businesses have the same information needs as their bigger counterparts. Web portals can offer small businesses platforms to reach information resources effectively and hence create a stimulating business community for entrepreneurship. The purpose of this research was to investigate the extent to which online community information portals can promote the use of information resources for small retail business in South Africa. For the empirical part of this research 150 questionnaires were completed by small retail businesses. The questionnaire consisted of four sections: business biographical information; business information and agencies; information and communication technologies usage; and community and portal activities. It was found that small business owners and managers are unwilling to disclose business information, especially their financial information but that they are very interested in networking with other businesses, in particular with potential customers and suppliers.

SA Journal of Information Management, Jan 5, 2006

Contents 1. Introduction 1.1 Research problem 2. Alumni of the University of Johannesburg 3. New ... more Contents 1. Introduction 1.1 Research problem 2. Alumni of the University of Johannesburg 3. New media for disseminating information to alumni 4. Possible effects of the digital divide on information dissemination to alumni of the UJ 5. Empirical research 5.1 Research methodology 5.2 Research findings 6. Conclusion 7. References

A mobile application's (app) popularity and influence is determined by its users.These users down... more A mobile application's (app) popularity and influence is determined by its users.These users download, use, review and support an app based on a myriad of requirements and needs. The aim of this paper is to showcase the results from asynchronous online interviews, which was focused on exploring the needs of potential users of a mobile blood donation app in South Africa. This paper specifically reports on the results of the 89 interviews conducted with existing and potential blood donors in South Africa during late 2017 and early 2018. As part of a larger, exploratory sequential mixed method research project, the interview schedule described in this paper was guided by the Leximancer analyses of app store reviews of existing blood donation apps, and the results from the interview informed a quantitative questionnaire. The results of the interviews, garnered from a Leximancer analyses, showed that the potential convenience afforded to blood donors by a blood donation app was important-aspects such as reminders to donateand GPS functionality for finding blood donation events, among others, were mentioned as preferred features by respondents.Furthermore, several respondents noted that a question and answer feature with the blood donation organisation would be a value adding feature in an app of this kind.

International journal of technology, knowledge and society, 2006

This paper focuses on how Relationship Marketing, targeting the Alumni of the University of Johan... more This paper focuses on how Relationship Marketing, targeting the Alumni of the University of Johannesburg, could be improved by the use of ICTs via Integrated Marketing Communication. ... International Journal of Technology, Knowledge and Society, Volume ...

The Electronic Library, Aug 8, 2008

PurposeThe core purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which web portal technology ... more PurposeThe core purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which web portal technology and online communities could be successfully applied by the alumni offices of higher education institutions in South Africa (using the University of Johannesburg as a case study) to create information‐sharing with and amongst its alumni affinity groups, in order to build and maintain valuable relationships, networks and partnerships.Design/methodology/approachThis research project falls under Pasteur's quadrant of use‐inspired research. Using quantitative empirical research, a total number of 10,380 questionnaires was distributed to graduates of the University of Johannesburg at the Autumn graduation ceremonies in April 2006, thereby making it a self‐selecting, purposeful (purposive) and convenient sample.FindingsBased on the literature study, the results of the empirical research and the case study, the final conclusion made from this research project is that an online community portal can enhance to a large extent the networking of alumni in the South African higher education sector. In addition, the research data collection instrument is transferable to a number of other higher education settings. In particular, the user‐centric information resource questions provide useful insights into alumni information‐seeking behaviour and needs.Research limitations/implicationsDue to the University of Johannesburg Alumni being used as a case study for this research project, the research findings are tailored for implementation by this entity. However, the processes that were followed for this research project in terms of conducting a needs analysis with regard to the information needs of the alumni target audience and the types of questions that were posed could be guiding principles for other South African higher education sector (SAHES) institutions that want to develop such a tool for managing their alumni's information needs. In addition, the framework for the study predicts continuing alliances among academic services, placement services, library services, and fund development on higher education campuses.Originality/valueThe paper should prove useful to other academic institutions since it develops a helpful tool to assist in managing alumni networking behaviour, needs and resources.

IGI Global eBooks, 2012

Countries the world over have drawn e-Government interventions placing much emphasis on erecting ... more Countries the world over have drawn e-Government interventions placing much emphasis on erecting affluent ICT infrastructures, institutional, legal, and regulatory frameworks. However, most of these interventions lack carefully-drawn e-Government awareness strategies, which translates into most of these interventions being typically unknown by the general public and causing low e-Participation. This chapter presents the novel interventions that are being authored towards robust e-Government development for Botswana where e-Government development is at the very intial stages. Using exploratory and empirical study of Francistown and surrounding rural areas, the chapter presents a critical analysis of the state of e-Government preparedness and further presents the current status of e-Government adoption in Botswana. This study establishes that whilst many e-Government strategies are being authored in Botswana, the e-Participation component has not been adequately considered in drawing the different e-Government interventions. This is negatively impacting on the overall anticipated value prepositions for e-Government implementation.

International journal of technology, knowledge and society, 2007

SA Journal of Information Management, Jan 28, 2004

Contents 1. Introduction 2. Online academic environment 3. Online academic information sources 4.... more Contents 1. Introduction 2. Online academic environment 3. Online academic information sources 4. Online academic environment at the Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) 5. Conclusion and future work 6. References

SA Journal of Information Management, Dec 4, 2002

Contents 1. Introduction 2. Computer systems and Internet services abuse 3. Arguments for Interne... more Contents 1. Introduction 2. Computer systems and Internet services abuse 3. Arguments for Internet content filtering 4. Defining Internet content filtering 5. Implementing Internet content filtering in a higher education library environment 6. Internet services abuse 7. Possible future developments 8. Conclusion 9. References Unauthorised usage and access Sharing of passwords and access into networks without permission. Copyright infringements or plagiarism Using illegal or pirated software. Copying of Web sites and copyrighted logos. Transmission of confidential data Using the Internet to display or transmit confidential documents.

SA Journal of Information Management, Dec 1, 2004

Although not a novel concept, peer-to-peer computing is associated by many users with file sharin... more Although not a novel concept, peer-to-peer computing is associated by many users with file sharing, in particular MP3 music files, but in reality peer-to-peer computing encompasses instant messaging, group collaboration and distributed computing. The social implications of peer-to-peer computing have wide-ranging ramifications for the Internet and its users. This research at the Rand Afrikaans University had as goal to identify student behaviour and utilization patterns when interacting with peer-to-peer systems available on the Internet. The respondents, all being Information Science students, completed a questionnaire that examined aspects such as information communication technology utilization, the frequency and duration of use, type of content downloaded and shared and the social aspects of peer-to-peer file sharing. Although distributed computing has various inherent problems such as copyright and privacy issues, peer-to-peer computing can be seen as a radical new mindset, setting the stage for a decentralized Internet future.

SA Journal of Information Management, May 28, 2015

Background: A very small percentage of all the research generated by universities is commercialis... more Background: A very small percentage of all the research generated by universities is commercialised. The article is a case study of the transformation from action research to a spin-off company. It looks at the practical implications of such a transformation. Objectives: The aim of this article is to provide a holistic view of what the process entailed to leap from academic research to the commercialisation of the research into a company as was the case for Gradnet. Method: A case-study approach was used to document the conceptualisation and development of the research-based, spin-off company, Gradnet. This includes the background of the original research that formed the basis of the innovation process. Results: It was found that the commercialisation process of academic research is not necessarily a natural process for the researcher in the absence of an appropriate supporting infrastructure. Conclusion: All academic disciplines have the potential for establishing commercially viable research projects. This potential should be actively explored and pursued by the institution.

South Africa's blood stock level is often categorised as alarmingly low, leaving blood donation o... more South Africa's blood stock level is often categorised as alarmingly low, leaving blood donation organisations in constant need of voluntary, unpaid blood donations to ensure their ability to supply hospitals with safe blood. Globally, there are successful mobile blood donation apps facilitating blood donation by providing useful services to blood donors, however similar apps available in South Africa are new, and not popular when compared to global standards. An estimated 5.9 million South Africans download and use mobile applications (apps), and this paper explores the process and results from the first phase of a study, which employed a sequential mixed method research design, to identify user-preferred features for a mobile blood donation app. The findings of the study should serve as a roadmap to blood donation organisations in South Africa, regarding what users expect from a blood donation app, and which features may possibly stimulate a constant or increased frequency of blood donation instances. The two largest app stores, Google Play and Apple iOS, served as the sources of the eventual sample of blood donation apps, of which the user reviews were analysed. Commenting from a design science paradigm, this paper reports on the selection process that had been followed to sample the relevant apps, and further discusses the user insights gained from the analysis of these apps' reviews. The paper further reports on how the app review analysis findings informed the creation of an interview schedule, that was used to gain in-depth understanding of perceptions held by users of the blood donation apps, specifically regarding the users' preferred features in these types of apps.

SA Journal of Information Management, Mar 30, 2015

Background: The lack of consideration of the developmental opportunities that online technologies... more Background: The lack of consideration of the developmental opportunities that online technologies offer small churches in the 21st century forms the foundation of this research article. This article reports on a master's study which seeks to investigate whether small churches are aware of the opportunities generated by the use of online technologies. Objectives: This study was done to identify the current online technology usage and seeks to create awareness as to how these technologies are impacting congregation members in the small church environment. Method: A quantitative study was conducted in the form of a survey of four small churches in the Johannesburg metropolitan area to identify the current usage and the potential impact online technologies could have upon the small churches. Results: The study indicated that online technologies have a large role to play in the development of small churches and have the ability to increase the involvement of members in church programmes. Conclusion: It is clear that online technologies offer substantial benefits. Small churches should incorporate the opportunities associated with online technologies in their strategic plans.

SA Journal of Information Management, Dec 10, 2004

Contents 1. Introduction 2. Background 3. Methodology 4. Literature review 5. Empirical findings ... more Contents 1. Introduction 2. Background 3. Methodology 4. Literature review 5. Empirical findings 6. Conclusion 7. References 8. Appendix 'The global economy is a driving force today. It has led to extensive restructuring in most

SA Journal of Information Management, 2010

Cloud computing has become an important topic to research because of the value it can provide to ... more Cloud computing has become an important topic to research because of the value it can provide to the business. In this article, the researcher examined how Business Intelligence (BI) can be offered to the business over the Internet as a solution. BI environments, however, require a large capital layout to implement and support the large volumes of data that needs to be analysed to identify trends. It also requires enormous processing power which places pressure on the business resources. The goal of this article is to show how BI will be offered as a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution to the business. The BI SaaS solution will allow companies to reduce cost of having a BI solution and also having access to the latest software which will give the business an edge on their competition. By making use of a literature review the researcher were able gather and present evidence to support the value that the BI SaaS solution will add to the business and how such a BI SaaS solution will look like. As part of this research paper the researcher will also identify the challenges that the business will face when making us a BI SaaS solution.

Proceedings of the International Conference on multidisciplinary Research, Dec 31, 2018

This paper aims to establish the relationships between the altmetrics derived from the academic s... more This paper aims to establish the relationships between the altmetrics derived from the academic social networking tool ResearchGate and bibliometrics derived from the citation resources Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar to establish which academic social networking tools gives the most advantage. The investigation forms part of a longitudinal study investigating the e-visibility of the environmental science researchers at the University of South Africa during December 2014 and December 2016. The bibliometric indicators from Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar, and altmetric indicator data from ResearchGate were collected in six (6) month intervals, and analysed using SPSS to determine the Pearson's rank correlations. The results indicated a positive correlation between the bibliometric indicators derived from Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar, and the altmetric indicators derived from the academic social networking tool ResearchGate. The results show that ResearchGate altmetric indicators influence the bibliometric indicators positively. ResearchGate therefore can be recommended for academic social networking as a strategy to influence the Environmental Science researcher's citations positively at Unisa.