Theses and dissertations (Accounting and Informatics)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/4

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Developing a frugal information system to support very small enterprise business transactions
(2017) Khubisa, Freedom Mthobisi; Olugbara, Oludayo O.
The research reported in this dissertation focuses on the development of a web-based frugal information system (frugal IS) which supports financial management of very small enterprises (VSEs), with a special focus on their business transactions. In most developing countries, VSEs have some significant contributions at various socioeconomic objectives, such as fostering entrepreneurship and improving growth of employment. They represent an income opportunity to retrenched and retired entrepreneurs which is recognised to be crucial to the livelihood of many poor local households and local citizens. In addition, these enterprises have a remarkable role to play in the areas of employment and poverty alleviation. Despite this, the majority of VSEs in developing countries, especially those in rural regions are faced with miscellaneous issues and challenges, which could be ascribed to their resource scarcity. In particular, most VSEs are resource-constrained in terms of knowledge and information resources, financial resources and human resources. What also exacerbates their situation is the fact that the majority of VSEs are still ingrained in their traditional ways of running the business and they are unready to adopt new and innovative working methods. In particular, VSEs are still accustomed to manual paper-based systems which are monotonous, error-prone, highly fragmented and severely inefficient. Unfortunately, all this gravely challenges the growth and development of VSEs. In this dissertation, a concept of frugal innovation, precisely frugal IS, is applied to distinctively address specific and unique business needs of VEs in developing countries. A methodology that is employed in this research is called design science research methodology (DSRM). The DSRM helped to address the problem of VSEs through design, construction, utilization and evaluation of a web-based frugal IS prototype system. A novel system life cycle model that favours the notion of frugality was employed for the design and development of a web-based frugal IS. The evaluation of the prototype system and its design revealed quite interesting results. The design of a web-based frugal IS prototype system was characterized with low complexity which promoted reusability, maintainability and reliability. The evaluation of usability indicated that the system was fairly simple to use, reliable and effective in terms of managing financial information of VSEs. Based on the general findings of this research, the design and development of a web-based frugal IS for VSEs in developing countries promises to assist VSE owners to assess their profitability, improve their financial management, promote sound economic decisions and help them to avoid business failure.
Identifying and examining the nature and extent of external factors influencing growth and development of selected SMME's in Durban Kwa-Zulu Natal
(2015) Ngubane, Sisanda Michelle; De Beer, Marie
This study identified and examined the nature and extent of external factors influencing growth and development of selected SMMEs in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The importance of the research lies in the contribution of its findings and recommendations to ensure the survival of SMMEs. The target population was identified as 300 owners of SMMEs in Durban, KwaZulu Natal, with a sample of 169 selected on a convenience basis, to which a questionnaire was distributed. Regardless of the problems experienced by SMMEs, it is vital to stimulate their growth and development, as this sector is likely to be the job creators of the future South Africa, as well as the providers of a continuation level of employment opportunities (Antonie, 2010). The rate at which SMMEs spring up is encouraging, considering that one of the cardinal goals of establishing SMMEs, is the eradication of unemployment and poverty. It was found that, not all of the respondents understand the potential of SMMEs to gain a competitive advantage; however, the majority agreed that Durban is an accessible and convenient location to do business, and that Government should partner with SMMEs in job creation and poverty alleviation. In addition, more than 80 percent of the respondents believe SMMEs will thrive with more access to loans and financial support. More than half of the respondents indicated that they often need to bribe government officials in the process of obtaining a business license and/or registration, while the findings also show that, when the process is fair, open and transparent, respondents believe it facilitates SMME growth and development. Recommendations on how factors identified can be better managed, so as to support, rather than negate, SMMEs' quest for growth and development, include government facilitation of workshops, and more visible training.
Using ICT for diarrhoea intervention in resource constrained environments : a case study of Narok County in Kenya
(2019-11-10) Mutua, Abraham Matheka; Millham, Richard C.; Puckree, Threethambaal
Diseases are the major causes of mortality worldwide with developing countries having the highest disease prevalence. Diarrhoea is one of the major diseases worldwide and especially in poor countries with its victims being mostly children below the age of five years. Diarrhoea is most prevalent in rural areas of poor countries which is due to poor awareness about the disease. Effective use of ICTs can greatly enhance health information dessimination and consequently improve disease awareness. The aim of this study was to reduce diarrhoea prevalence by raising awareness using suitable technologies in the context environment. The study was based in Narok County, one of the counties in Kenya with most of the people living in the rural areas. The county has high diarrhoea prevalence due to low levels of awareness which is attributed to use of ineffective strategies and technologies in dissemination of health information. A control and an experimental group from two similar sub-locations were identified for the study. Purpose sampling technique was used in data collection. The study was quantitative conducted in three parts concurrently. Part one was a retrospective chart review of dispensary records of children under the age of five years who suffered from diarrhoea. Part two consisted of a pre-test post-test experimental study of 175 mothers with children below the age of five years from each group.The experimental study was a diarrhoea intervention through awareness on children below the age of five years through their mothers who are the caregivers. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data during this phase. Part three conducted concurrently with parts one and two was a cross sectional survey on community health volunteers. The study established that the previously used strategies and technologies had failed because they were not suitable for the area. Mobile phones were identified as the most pervasive and preferred technology in the area for diarrhoea information dissemination. A mobile phone-based system was developed and used in diarrhoea intervention through awareness. Diarrhoea education voice messages were sent through the system to the mothers in the experimental group for three months but not to the control group. The system was unique in that it used mobile phones, which is the most pervasive technology in the area, the messages were in voice and in the Maasai language which is the local language. This allowed the illiterate to benefit from the intervention. The system allowed interaction between the participants and the system and the system allowed participants in emergency situations to contact a health worker. The intervention caused an improvement in diarrhoea awareness in the experimental group from 42.69% to 87.10% which was significant (effect size= 0.81) but there was no significant change in the control group (p>0.999). On diarrhoea prevention practices, there was a significant improvement from 36.9% to 73.0% in the experimental group (effect size=0.643) however there was no significant change in the control group (p=0.526). Diarrhoea prevalence significantly reduced from 28% to 19.6% in the experimental group (p=0.002) but there was no significant change in the control group (p=0.557). Using the data collected during the study, a diarrhoea intervention framework for resource constrained environments that integrates use of suitable technology in the context environment in diarrhoea intervention was developed. The framework addresses diarrhoea intervention from the awareness point of view because high diarrhoea prevalence is associated to low diarrhoea awareness. The framework can also be adopted in interventions of other diseases that can be prevented by creating awareness. The study concluded that when the right technology for the context environment is used to raise diarrhoea awareness, the awareness increases which leads to improved diarrhoea prevention practices and consequently to reduced diarrhoea prevalence.