Research Publications (Accounting and Informatics)

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Adoption of augmented reality to enhance Durban University of Technology's learning management system
(IEEE, 2022-10-27) Djumo, Wappi Francis; Govender, Shaolin Lee; Matha, Sanele Raphael; Adeliyi, Timothy T.
The Durban University of Technology's (DUT) elearning system is used as a case study in the research as it investigates the various learning management systems in higher education. due to the expanding technological trends and the requirement to support students who belong to "Generation Z." This study examines how augmented reality can be used to transform the DUT E-learning system from a three-standalone system into a unified system. The study illustrates how the Business Analysis Core Concept Model, a conceptual framework for business analysis, would be employed to analyze the proposed augmented reality system and the current DUT e-learning model. Additionally, the use cases of the three standalone platforms that make up the current DUT E-learning are contrasted with a single augmented reality E-learning system.
An assessment of management skills on capital budgeting planning and practices : evidence from the small and medium enterprise sector
(Informa UK Limited, 2022-12-31) Nunden, Naresh; Abbana, Sharanam Sharma; Marimuthu, Ferina; Sentoo, Naresh
Budgets are a compass and guiding light for businesses. Therefore, management and owners of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) must carry out suitable and precise capital budgeting activities and methods to ensure business longevity and progression. There is a high risk of SMEs failing soon after they are found, with one likely cause being poor management skills. Thus, the study aims to assess the management skills of the capital budgeting planning and practices of SMEs. The objective is to ascertain the influence of management skills and owners on current capital budgeting planning and practice. The study adopted the quantitative method by administering questionnaires to 108 owners and managers in the Springfield Industrial Park. The findings of the study indicate that owners and managers were solely responsible for decision-making. Secondly, owners and managers lacked the financial skills, ability to control and lead staff. The study was limited to owners and managers in the SMEs and therefore cannot be inferred to any other area or subject/s. Future studies can be conducted in other regions, of which a comparative study is recommended that owners and managers in SMEs improve their business knowledge, as well as upskilling their financial ability in the capital budgeting process. Thus, the implications of improving owners and manager’s business knowledge will lead to timeous, smarter, and informed decision-making. It is therefore recommended that owners and managers take up short courses to improve computer literacy and financial skills in business processes.
An authentic e-assessment task
(ACM Digital Library, 2019-12-21) Marimuthu, Ferina; Ramraj, Upaasna
Assessment is integral to ensuring whether an academic programme has achieved its learning outcomes, as well as an essential means of providing the crucial evidence necessary for seeking and maintaining accreditation from authorities. A major element of any e-learning strategy, is e-assessment. In this digital era, academics should be encouraged to envisage various forms of e-assessment and then build and evaluate them using student feedback. A combination of information technologies together with e-learning strategies can enhance the learning and teaching process by supporting traditional, authentic, and alternative assessment practices. Benefits of e-assessments may be convenience and flexibility to learn anytime and anywhere. However, practitioners need to assess whether those benefits contribute to student learning, that students should not be disadvantaged by any e-assessment procedure and these assessments should be valid and reliable. This paper reports the findings of whether authentic e-assessments enhance student learning in comparison to the traditional assessment methods. Using a descriptive research method, this study investigated the perceptions of a group of students that were exposed to both an authentic e-assessment and the traditional closed-book assessment methods. Data were solicited from participants using a questionnaire survey instrument. A comparison of student perceptions between the different forms of assessments revealed that they are very keen on authentic e-assessments as it relates to situations experienced in the real-world. These assessments also measure the students' ability to apply the knowledge or skills, but more importantly, that it is used as a vehicle for student learning.
A careful blend of general and vocational education: is this still necessary in the education and training of the modern LIS professional?
(2006) Raju, Jayarani
In the context of a rapidly evolving discipline almost completely dominated by digital technology, this paper revisits the long-standing debate on the value of general education in higher education in which professional information and library science (ILS) education and training is located. In doing so it reviews the literature to draw out the dominant discourses on general education as well as refers to findings on the subject in a recent study of library and information services (LIS) employers, employees and ILS educators in South Africa. The purpose of the paper is to examine whether general education is still necessary for the modern information context. The paper concludes that general education is as essential as vocational preparation for the current LIS work environment. It recommends that the modern ILS curriculum must capture a careful blend of general and vocational education.
Challenges impeding women into leadership roles in a student-led organization at the South African higher education institution
(Business Perspectives, 2021-12) Jali, Nokwanda; Suknunan, Sachin; Bhana, Anrusha
The study shows that a patriarchal society where women are still in the minority when it comes to leadership positions is still dominating. A few studies are exploring the role of women in leadership in government and industry, and very little focus is paid on higher education institutions and more especially – from a female leadership perspective. Therefore, this paper aims to determine the factors that hindered female students from attaining leadership positions and simultaneously make recommendations to create more leadership opportunities in a nationally recognized student-led organization known as the Student Representative Council at a large public South African higher education institution – the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The target population was 16 female leaders who served in the University’s Student Representative Council from 2019 to 2020 of which 13 had responded. A qualitative approach was followed and interviews were conducted. The study employed inductive qualitative thematic analysis using NVIVO 12. Findings revealed that the Student Representative Council structure at the university was patriarchal with little commitment to gender equality. Males outnumbered women in leadership roles. Portfolios assigned to women were mainly administrative rather than leadership. Females were subjected to stereotypical behavior. The study recommended ways to promote female student leadership whereby policy and constitution change is required to facilitate gender equality and the implementation of quotas. Women should be empowered to enhance their leadership skills via effective leadership development programs specifically designed for females to address the leadership gap between males and females.
A decision making tool for the improvement of service quality at universities
(The Clute Institute, 2014) Green, Paul
There have been numerous studies conducted on the evaluation of service quality at universities. However, there remains a deficiency on using a Multi Criteria Decision making approach in determining factors to consider for the improvement of service quality at a university. The purpose of this paper is to report on the use of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as a decision making tool in determining factors to consider for the improvement of service quality at a university. The study adopted a mixed method methodology and an action research approach was employed. A purposive convenient sample of 30 participants was used. Data was collected via questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. The data was captured in the software Expert Choice and the results were processed by taking the aggregated group judgements as the geometric mean of the individual comparisons. The findings reveal that organisational and educational issues are paramount to providing an effective service at tertiary institutions.
The development of a computerised simulation model to guide the South African higher education sector in short and long-term planning of TEL infrastructure
(2023-05-11) Reddy, Pregalathan; Pratt, Deirdre Denise; Olugbara, Oludayo O.
This study deals with the development of a computerised simulation model to guide the South African higher education (HE) sector in short and longterm planning of TEL (technology enhanced learning) infrastructure. A critical realist orientation was adopted, using a case study approach focusing on provision of TEL infrastructure at three Natal universities, namely, the Durban University of Technology, the University of KwaZuluNatal and Mangosuthu University of Technology. A mixed methods approach was used, combining qualitative with quantitative techniques, in order to collect data to establish key model specifications. The qualitative aspect comprised an online survey to obtain user feedback on the proposed computerised simulation. Quantitative methodology involved using functional decomposition design to extract the specifications from the data. The computerised simulation model was developed using a system dynamics approach which could define forecasting in operational terms, and thus offer various scenarios to guide institutional decision-makers in future planning. The systems model thus developed was then configured online using simulation software and tested out with key stakeholders. While computerised simulations currently exist in the area of infrastructural forecasting, the new contribution to the field is thought to be in forecasting the provision of TEL infrastructure.
Effective administration of university leadership in a selected institution in Durban
(IATED Digital Library, 2015-11) Ngwane, Knowledge Siyabonga Vusamandla; Ngwane, C. N.
University leadership and administration is a critical aspect as it is about the functioning of the entire institution. Effective and efficient administration of the university relies on the principal. Leading proponents encourage transformational leadership, moral stewardship, principal as an instructional leader, and principal as a communicator or community builder. Discovering effective leadership and administration mechanisms can help teach university decision and policy makers to implement leadership development which will lead to improved student achievement. The purpose of this article is to investigate the university senior leadership and its administration in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness holistically. The problem resulting to conducting of this study is the high level of both students and staff demonstrations annually in the selected university, these strikes end up affecting teaching, learning and research within the institution. The underlying question the study intends to address is: “Which factors hinder effective and efficient university administration?” Educational leadership changes from a managerial orientation to promote the significance of concentrating on the learning and teaching process and student success. Educational institution leaders’ competencies are always associated with continuous training and development they receive to make them better leaders. Hence, training and development in university leadership requires a systematic planning which will result to excellent institution education. In order to explain the phenomenon under study better, the Burns transformational theory founded by James MacGregor Burns will be utilised. The positivism paradigm is the philosophy adopted for this study. The survey will be conducted at the Durban University of Technology with the intention to address the question and the objective of the study. The questionnaires will be administered to 30 senior management members within the institution, including the Vice Chancellor and his Deputy, Deans, Directors and HODs.
Examining the perceived impact of ICT adoption on academic workload and on academic productivity
(IACSIT Press, 2013) Basak, Sujit Kumar; Eyono Obono, Seraphim Desire
In the twenty-first century, the rapid growth of information and communication technologies (ICTs) have brought remarkable societal changes. Nowadays, ICT is becoming increasingly important both in the everyday life and in the education system. It therefore makes sense to examine the impact of ICT adoption on the conduct of academic activities. The aim of this paper is precisely to examine the perceived impact of ICT adoption on academic workload and on academic productivity. This aim is achieved within a theoretical framework on the factors affecting academic productivity. This research was conducted as a questionnaire based survey of 103 academic staff drawn from four Higher Education Institutions in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The survey data was analyzed in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software using a quantitative approach. The results of this survey indicate that ICT adoption has no impact on teaching workload, or on research workload, or on administration workload. No evidence was found on the impact of ICT adoption on academic productivity. This research contributes to new evidence on the possible impact of ICT adoption on academic workload and on academic productivity.
Exploring first-year engineering student perceptions of the engineering librarian as an IL instructor in multimodal teaching and learning environments
(Emerald, 2023-12-08) Omarsaib, Mousin
This study aims to explore first-year engineering students’ perceptions of the engineering librarian as an instructor in multimodal environments related to Information Literacy (IL) topics, teaching strategy, content evaluation, organising, planning and support. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative approach was used through a survey instrument based on an online questionnaire. Questions were adopted and modified from a lecturer evaluation survey. A simple random sampling technique was used to collect data from first-year cohorts of engineering students in 2020 and 2022. Findings Respondents perception of the engineering librarian as an instructor in multimodal learning environment was good. Findings revealed students’ learning experiences were aligned with IL instruction even though the environment changed from blended to online. However, an emerging theme that continuously appeared was a lack of access to technology. Practical implications These findings may help in developing and strengthening the teaching identity of academic librarians as instructors in multimodal learning environments. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is novel in that it evaluates the teaching abilities of an academic librarian in multimodal environments through the lens of students.
Exploring leadership factors creating employee engagement or disengagement across job grade categories at a public higher education institution in South Africa
(Business Perspectives, 2021-03-18) Bhana, Anrusha; Suknunan, Sachin
Ongoing difficulties in promoting employee commitment confront the domain of higher education, hence, the importance of staff to help achieve institutional goals grows. For this to happen, employee engagement is key. This paper examined the issues of engagement or disengagement amongst employees, including job grades and the factors influencing this, at Durban University of Technology, South Africa. It adopted a quantitative and qualitative method of inquiry. The quantitative data collection targeted 420 employees utilizing questionnaires and obtained a response rate of 312 (74%). The qualitative aspect involved interviewing 12 out of 18 leadership personnel, giving a response rate of 67%. Also, descriptive and inferential analysis was used. Internal employee engagement demonstrated a significant difference across job level categories, F (4, 307) = 4.012, p = 0.003. There is also a significant difference in agreement mean score, which is lower for lecturer grade level (M = 2.5257, SD = 1.08359) than middle manager grade level (M = 3.2909, SD = 0.82396), showing that lecturer grade level is more engaged as compared to the middle manager level reflecting that the this level is not as engaged as it should be. Obtained qualitative results showed that there was minimal employee engagement. Overall, there was more employee disengagement than engagement at the institution, leading to employee stress, increased employee turnover, and minimal employee productivity. This can, in turn, affect institutional productivity. However, leadership viewed employee engagement as important and something to be further developed.
Exploring undergraduate students’ perception of 4IR digital era at a higher education institution in South Africa
(Accounting Department of Economics and Business Faculty of Syiah Kuala University, 2023-06-23) Bhana, Anrusha; Cele, Siphiwe; Matli, Walter
Objective –This study aims to explore undergraduate students’ perceptions and knowledge of 4IR in relation to their accounting curriculum and careers at HEIs in KwaZulu-Natal. The digital revolution is altering the way in which people and organizations work, as well as nearly every other aspect of human life. Furthermore, 4IR is re-writing society's fundamental rules, which highlights the need for this paper. Methodology –This study used a census approach to gather quantitative data from one of South Africa's HEIs, via an online questionnaire link created with the Microsoft Forms application. The study was conducted online with a total population of 257 exit-level students from the Diploma in Accounting programme, the population that was targeted. The sample size was 172 out of 257 students, with a response rate of 66.9%. Results –The findings indicated that students' knowledge of 4IR is limited, with only 56.4% of students having an understanding of what big data, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) are. Research limitations/implications –There is a need to close the knowledge gap between Financial Accounting students’ knowledge of 4IR trends like big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) and curriculum content. The study's population was limited to exit-level students at one Higher Education Institution, hence the study's findings may not be generalizable to all HEIs. Novelty/Originality –The study’s novelty contributes to the growing body of research on how accounting technology can improve Financial Accounting education. The study provides an original perspective on the applicability of 4IR Accounting software systems and packages in a South African context, since most related studies were not conducted in South Africa. Furthermore, the study illustrates the importance of 4IR in the accounting curriculum.
Factors affecting small and medium enterprises’ financial sustainability in South Africa
(Durban University of Technology, 2021) Olarewaju, Odunayo; Msomi, Thabiso
The dwindling growth of small businesses and their rate of failure in South Africa has been traced to poor financing. Thus, the factors affecting the financial sustainability of small and medium-sized enterprises in South Africa are examined in this study. Using purposive sampling, data were collected from 310 respondents, however six were incorrectly completed. The analysis was based on data collected from 304 respondents which cut across owners and/or managers from small and medium construction, manufacturing, retail, and agricultural enterprises. A quantitative research design that falls under the positivist paradigm was used. Specifically, through a descriptive and multivariate regression analysis, it was found that financial awareness, budgeting, accounting skills, and access to finance have positive and significant effects on the financial sustainability of SMEs with all the variables, having 0.005 probability values, respectively. Out of all the variables examined, budgeting and access to finance have the largest absolute values of 0.425 and 0.373, respectively. Thus, it was concluded that workshops, training, and seminars to improve the financial literacy of small and medium enterprises should be organised. This will improve owner’s ability to deploy the accounting and budgeting skills and they will be exposed to meeting loan criteria and conditions from financial institutions. Also, adequate funds should be allocated to cater for the regular training and development of small business owners using the services of financial experts.
Factors affecting the improvement of service quality at Universities of Technology: the case of South Africa
(IFRD, 2014) Green, Paul; Adekanmbi, Oluwole
Several research studies have been conducted on the evaluation of service quality at conventional universities. However, this study focuses on universities of technology which are fast growing value-based educational institutions in South Africa. The uniqueness of this study highlights the issues that can affect the improvement of service at universities of technology. Three factors namely: Organizational issues, Educational issues and Staff &Student issues were extracted as the main foci in the improvement of service at universities of technology. A mixed method methodology and an action research approach were employed in this study. The results obtained using factor analysis provides a basis for driving an equation system for evaluating the impact of the issues with respect to the factors named above. The results also show that some extraneous factors that are external to service delivery, have a substantial effect on the quality of service at universities of technology.
Factors contributing to the successful development and use of mobile digital libraries : a systematic literature review
(Emerald, 2023-03-21) Khomo, Musawenkosi Phumelela; Naicker, Nalindren; Chisita, Collence Takaingenhamo; Rajkoomar, Mogiveny
The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on factors that contribute to the successful development and use of the mobile digital library (DL). This aim will be achieved by reviewing selected journal articles on mobile DLs' successful development and use. This paper argues that the concept of DLs is evolving because of the dynamic nature of knowledge and technological developments in the infosphere. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature search of journal article factors that contribute to the successful development and use of the mobile DL was accomplished by searching the following databases: Emerald insight, Science directory and Google Scholar. The systematic review was conducted following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. This study applied Rogers's (1965) Diffusion of innovation theory to unpack the attributes of innovation to unpack contextual factors shaping African conceptions of mobile libraries (m-libraries). The studies reviewed were published from 2016 to 2021. This paper is based on a systematic literature review. This paper uses publicly available literature on the theme of DLs concerning m-libraries. Among the search terms used for the study were: “digital libraries”, “Africa and digital libraries”, “electronic libraries”, “information communication technologies”, “access to information” and “mobile digital libraries”. Findings Reviewed literature indicates that myriad factors can contribute positively or negatively to the successful development and use of the mobile DL. These factors include the degree of staff awareness and understanding of the potential of mobile technologies in enhancing the provision of library services, the availability of relevant digital content, library staff and users’ level of digital and information literacy competencies to navigate digital platforms, user friendliness of DL platforms, material and financial support to access m-libraries, power supply and access to internet connectivity. Practical implications The results from this study will generate knowledge and insight into the factors that affect the development and optimal use of mobile DLs to enhance and widen access to scholarly databases irrespective of time and space. This study will make recommendations that will enable South African policymakers to make informed decisions relating to the factors affecting the development and usage of mobile DLs for enhanced learning, teaching and education. Originality/value Given the growing number of scholarly publications on mobile DLs, this study seeks to discover how such technologies can help enhance learning, teaching and research in higher education. This study’s findings will provide a scientific basis for policymakers and researchers with evidence-based knowledge that raises the value of mobile DLs. It was discovered that if the identified factors are handled well, users can easily access tools, such as databases, electronic journals and online reference tools, and this could improve the quality of teaching and learning.
First level library and/or information science education and training at South African universities and technikons: developments in specialisation
(2005) Raju, Jayarani
The literature of the early 1990s observed a general lack of differentiation and specialisation at the basic qualification level in library and/or information science education and training in South Africa. This paper draws from an empirical study on first level LIS qualifications at South African universities and technikons to examine developments in specialisation in LIS education and training. This is particularly relevant in the context of the government’s current drive toward rationalisation of the higher education sector. There seems to have been significant developments in South Africa since the early 1990s regarding specialisation in LIS education and training among the various universities and technikons offering LIS qualifications. It is recommended that LIS departments further develop this trend and also consider possible collaboration with other LIS departments especially on a regional basis, with a view to accommodating regionally based imperatives.
Higher education enterprise resource planning system transformation of supply chain management processes
(Springer Nature Singapore, 2023) Aroba, Oluwasegun Julius; Chisita, Collence Takaingenhamo; Buthelezi, Ndumiso; Mthethwa, Nompumelelo; Yang, X.; Sherratt, R.S.; Dey, N.; Joshi, A.
The goal of this study was to outline the impact of the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system digital transformation of supply chain management (SCM) processes in higher education by using the desk research technique to gather information from other sources that we reviewed to build our study and identify gaps that were detailed in the discussions and results. This study concentrated on higher education, and observation was made that ERP systems do not fully cover all business operations, including supply chain management procedures such as price fixing, bid rigging, and collusion between employees and suppliers; yet the study satisfied all three research objectives by providing a recommended key methodology to enhance the ERP system of SCM integration in higher education.
The historical evolution of university and technikon education and training in South Africa and its implications for articulation between the two types of higher educational institutions with particular reference to LIS education and training
(2006) Raju, Jayarani
The paper provides discussions on articulation between university and technikon LIS education and training in the context of: the historical evolution and traditional purposes of university and technikon education and training; major similarities and differences between university and technikon LIS education and training; and current changes in higher education in South Africa to effect a new ethos of transformation, equity and efficiency. In doing this the paper highlights issues that are critical to deliberations on the matter of articulation between LIS programmes at universities and technikons. This, the paper claims, is important because increasingly higher education institutions are faced with the articulation dilemma as students seek greater mobility within a transforming higher education sector.
Identifying critical success factors: the case of ERP systems in higher education
(AJIS, 2014-07) Olugbara, Oludayo O.; Kalema, Billy Mathias; Kekwaletswe, Ray M.
This paper reports on a study that uses a combination of techniques to formally characterize and determine the critical success factors influencing the effective usage of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, with special reference to higher education institutions. The thirty-seven ERP success factors identified from the literature are classified into: Critical, Active, Reactive and Inert categories. The classification of decision factors can generally support organizations to explore their current challenges and to adequately prepare decisions in a more participatory way for future endeavors. This study suggests a possible alternative that decision makers should take when a factor or a set of factors dominates during the implementation of ERP systems.
ILS: towards an alternative qualification model for information and libraries in the African context
(2007) Raju, Jayarani
It is important for Africa to blaze its own unique path in terms of developing ILS qualification models that would be realistic and relevant to the African context and, importantly, add value to African library and information services which have a crucial role to play in the growth and development of the continent. Towards this end, a research project is currently being undertaken in South Africa where, as part of the project, work environments in other disciplines such as journalism, health care and engineering are being empirically investigated and compared with LIS services in terms of job functions and higher education qualification types required to fulfill these job functions. The intention is to see if perhaps there are any innovations, lessons or best practices that the ILS profession can draw from these disciplines in terms of staff structures in LIS services, job functions of incumbents, and qualification requirements defining these structures and functions. The purpose of this paper is to report on some of the preliminary findings in an initial and novel comparison involving public, academic and special libraries, and engineering firms, newspaper houses and health care services in an African city. The findings, in the main, reveal that other disciplines seem to embrace vocational institutions, such as universities of technology, in the work place much more than the LIS work environment. The paper recommends that African models in ILS education and training should break the traditional alignment with western grown qualification models. It needs to draw lessons from work place practices in other disciplines and from innovative work place behavior within the ILS discipline evident in the preliminary findings presented in this paper, and more fully utilize qualification products from non traditional university institutions which often are the only tertiary level institutions many African school leavers are able to access. At the same time African ILS qualification models should afford articulation means that provide opportunities for further education and development of these individuals. In reporting these initial findings the paper also interrogates issues such as vocational higher education institutions like the emerging universities of technology and the value and role of their ILS qualifications in the African context vis á vis those of the traditional universities, the role and contribution of the ILS paraprofessional to African LIS services, and the issue of articulation between higher education qualification types and the relevance of this for ILS education in Africa.