A social media model for public participation in a South African municipality
- Authors: Fashoro, Ifeoluwapo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Information technology -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Social media -- South Africa Political participation -- Technological innovations -- South Africa Municipal government -- South Africa -- Citizen participation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/29851 , vital:30786
- Description: Social media have become the preferred method of communication for individuals, organisations and even governments. These technologies have become ingrained in our everyday lives and have changed the way we communicate, collaborate are informed of recent happenings around the world. Social media websites are reported to be the most popular around the world. In the government sphere, social media is purported as a technology that will revolutionise citizen participation, service delivery and government-citizen interactions. Accordingly, governments around the world are steadily implementing social media in a bid to meet citizens’ demand for immediate and constant access to information, as well as increased opportunities to participate in government. Public participation has become an important focus area for government which could be used to effectively engage citizens and foster citizen trust. The United Nation’s E-government survey reports the presence of 125 countries on social media platforms. Despite the increased use of social media by governments, consensus among researchers is that governments need guidance on how to use social media effectively to achieve the potential benefits proposed by these technologies. Many social media adoptions by governments have been deemed as experimental; no formal action plan was designed, and many government employees are expected to learn social media use on-the-job. The aim of this research was to investigate and propose a social media model for public participation to leverage the opportunities provided by social media and present an effective and structured approach towards public participation. The research was designed as a mixed methods research using a case study based in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The research involved a survey of citizens in the selected municipality based on the Uses and Gratifications Theory, interviews with employees responsible for social media in said municipality and a contents analysis of the existing social media pages of the municipality. The model was developed from the findings of the survey, interviews and existing literature. The implementation of the model was done in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The municipality appointed a social media champion responsible for obtaining support from top management and politicians within the municipality. Additional staff were added to the social media team and formal social media training was provided to the team. An official social media strategy was drafted and at the time of writing, needed to be approved by top management. The proposed model was operationalised within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. This research makes several contributions to the E-government and social media fields in South Africa. The major contribution is the provision of guidance for South African municipalities to implement and use social media in an effective manner to achieve public participation. The research provided a phased approach to social media implementation that eliminates ad hoc experimentation and ensures the municipality’s social media activities are effective. The development of the model was based on the characteristics of the municipality and its citizens derived from the interviews and survey carried out. There are five phases in the model; Initialisation, Setup, Organisation, Institutionalisation and Maintenance. The model can be thought of as a guideline, and as such municipalities should adapt the implementation of the model to fit their organisational characteristics. The social media model will assist municipalities to determine the resources, tools and tactics to enable them to implement social media effectively, which will result in an improved engagement and participation process with citizens, and thereby foster trust.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Fashoro, Ifeoluwapo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Information technology -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Social media -- South Africa Political participation -- Technological innovations -- South Africa Municipal government -- South Africa -- Citizen participation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/29851 , vital:30786
- Description: Social media have become the preferred method of communication for individuals, organisations and even governments. These technologies have become ingrained in our everyday lives and have changed the way we communicate, collaborate are informed of recent happenings around the world. Social media websites are reported to be the most popular around the world. In the government sphere, social media is purported as a technology that will revolutionise citizen participation, service delivery and government-citizen interactions. Accordingly, governments around the world are steadily implementing social media in a bid to meet citizens’ demand for immediate and constant access to information, as well as increased opportunities to participate in government. Public participation has become an important focus area for government which could be used to effectively engage citizens and foster citizen trust. The United Nation’s E-government survey reports the presence of 125 countries on social media platforms. Despite the increased use of social media by governments, consensus among researchers is that governments need guidance on how to use social media effectively to achieve the potential benefits proposed by these technologies. Many social media adoptions by governments have been deemed as experimental; no formal action plan was designed, and many government employees are expected to learn social media use on-the-job. The aim of this research was to investigate and propose a social media model for public participation to leverage the opportunities provided by social media and present an effective and structured approach towards public participation. The research was designed as a mixed methods research using a case study based in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The research involved a survey of citizens in the selected municipality based on the Uses and Gratifications Theory, interviews with employees responsible for social media in said municipality and a contents analysis of the existing social media pages of the municipality. The model was developed from the findings of the survey, interviews and existing literature. The implementation of the model was done in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The municipality appointed a social media champion responsible for obtaining support from top management and politicians within the municipality. Additional staff were added to the social media team and formal social media training was provided to the team. An official social media strategy was drafted and at the time of writing, needed to be approved by top management. The proposed model was operationalised within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. This research makes several contributions to the E-government and social media fields in South Africa. The major contribution is the provision of guidance for South African municipalities to implement and use social media in an effective manner to achieve public participation. The research provided a phased approach to social media implementation that eliminates ad hoc experimentation and ensures the municipality’s social media activities are effective. The development of the model was based on the characteristics of the municipality and its citizens derived from the interviews and survey carried out. There are five phases in the model; Initialisation, Setup, Organisation, Institutionalisation and Maintenance. The model can be thought of as a guideline, and as such municipalities should adapt the implementation of the model to fit their organisational characteristics. The social media model will assist municipalities to determine the resources, tools and tactics to enable them to implement social media effectively, which will result in an improved engagement and participation process with citizens, and thereby foster trust.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
A model for the alignment of ICT education with business ICT skills requirements
- Authors: Calitz, André Paul
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Educational technology -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- South Africa , Information technology -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Information technology -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8662 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1418 , Educational technology -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- South Africa , Information technology -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Information technology -- Study and teaching
- Description: The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills shortage is of national and international concern. Modern business practices require the implementation of new technologies supported by a workforce with current and diversified ICT skill-sets. Acquiring suitable ICT skills has become a difficult task and employers are seeing government intervention at all levels. The school system in South Africa is under increased pressure and is faced with continuously declining matriculation pass rates, specifically in subjects such as science and mathematics. Schools are experiencing a decline in the number of scholars (learners) enrolling for the Information Technology (IT) school curriculum. The IT curriculum at school level is being criticised; under-prepared teachers are blamed and lack of suitable facilities highlighted. Surveys conducted amongst grade 9 and grade 12 scholars in the Eastern Cape have shown that scholars are not considering careers in ICT. Teachers, career/guidance counsellors and parents contribute to scholars' career decisions and are not encouraging scholars to pursue careers in ICT. Tertiary institutions in South Africa and internationally, are experiencing a decline in student enrolments and in pass and throughput rates. Industry is holding tertiary institutions responsible for not providing the “correct” ICT graduate skill-sets and passing an insufficient number of quality ICT graduates desperately required by industry. The accreditation of computing degree programs, such as Computer Science (CS), Information Systems (IS) and Information Technology (IT), collectively referred to as CIT, offered by tertiary institutions is becoming an international requirement. The ICT industry is constantly changing and new job requirements and new career opportunities are frequently introduced. Graduates entering the ICT industry should have acquired knowledge about ICT career tracks in order to specialise and choose a suitable career path. Tertiary CIT degree programs should further be linked to specific career tracks and provide a multi-disciplined education to graduates. ii ICT graduates working in industry utilise skills obtained in under-graduate and post-graduate CIT degree programs. The ICT graduates have also obtained valuable skills working in industry, including business skills and soft skills. ICT skill surveys have identified the graduate skills gap, indicating ICT skills industry requires from graduates completing tertiary level qualifications. ICT graduates working in industry, for example indicated that programming in some cases is over-emphasised at school and tertiary level and that soft skills are ignored by tertiary institutions. An ICT Graduate Skills Classifications Framework is developed to address the graduate ICT skills gap and highlight important business skills, soft skills, technical skills and programming skills required by industry. In this thesis, an Industry ICT Value Chain Model is further developed that suggests a holistic approach to the problems experienced at all levels of ICT skills development, including government, industry, tertiary education institutions and at school level. Results from a number of research surveys conducted along the proposed Industry ICT Skills Value Chain Model indicated that problems exist at all stages in the value chain and that the problems can only be addressed involving government, industry and tertiary institutions collectively. A number of interventions is required and the support from industry is essential in achieving overall success in addressing the ICT skills shortage in South Africa. A proposed Industry ICT Skills Value Chain Model that can be utilised to address the ICT skills shortage in South Africa is presented.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Calitz, André Paul
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Educational technology -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- South Africa , Information technology -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Information technology -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8662 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1418 , Educational technology -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- South Africa , Information technology -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Information technology -- Study and teaching
- Description: The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills shortage is of national and international concern. Modern business practices require the implementation of new technologies supported by a workforce with current and diversified ICT skill-sets. Acquiring suitable ICT skills has become a difficult task and employers are seeing government intervention at all levels. The school system in South Africa is under increased pressure and is faced with continuously declining matriculation pass rates, specifically in subjects such as science and mathematics. Schools are experiencing a decline in the number of scholars (learners) enrolling for the Information Technology (IT) school curriculum. The IT curriculum at school level is being criticised; under-prepared teachers are blamed and lack of suitable facilities highlighted. Surveys conducted amongst grade 9 and grade 12 scholars in the Eastern Cape have shown that scholars are not considering careers in ICT. Teachers, career/guidance counsellors and parents contribute to scholars' career decisions and are not encouraging scholars to pursue careers in ICT. Tertiary institutions in South Africa and internationally, are experiencing a decline in student enrolments and in pass and throughput rates. Industry is holding tertiary institutions responsible for not providing the “correct” ICT graduate skill-sets and passing an insufficient number of quality ICT graduates desperately required by industry. The accreditation of computing degree programs, such as Computer Science (CS), Information Systems (IS) and Information Technology (IT), collectively referred to as CIT, offered by tertiary institutions is becoming an international requirement. The ICT industry is constantly changing and new job requirements and new career opportunities are frequently introduced. Graduates entering the ICT industry should have acquired knowledge about ICT career tracks in order to specialise and choose a suitable career path. Tertiary CIT degree programs should further be linked to specific career tracks and provide a multi-disciplined education to graduates. ii ICT graduates working in industry utilise skills obtained in under-graduate and post-graduate CIT degree programs. The ICT graduates have also obtained valuable skills working in industry, including business skills and soft skills. ICT skill surveys have identified the graduate skills gap, indicating ICT skills industry requires from graduates completing tertiary level qualifications. ICT graduates working in industry, for example indicated that programming in some cases is over-emphasised at school and tertiary level and that soft skills are ignored by tertiary institutions. An ICT Graduate Skills Classifications Framework is developed to address the graduate ICT skills gap and highlight important business skills, soft skills, technical skills and programming skills required by industry. In this thesis, an Industry ICT Value Chain Model is further developed that suggests a holistic approach to the problems experienced at all levels of ICT skills development, including government, industry, tertiary education institutions and at school level. Results from a number of research surveys conducted along the proposed Industry ICT Skills Value Chain Model indicated that problems exist at all stages in the value chain and that the problems can only be addressed involving government, industry and tertiary institutions collectively. A number of interventions is required and the support from industry is essential in achieving overall success in addressing the ICT skills shortage in South Africa. A proposed Industry ICT Skills Value Chain Model that can be utilised to address the ICT skills shortage in South Africa is presented.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Addressing the digital divide through the implementation of a wireless school network
- Authors: Du Preez, Creswell
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Educational technology -- South Africa , Information technology -- Social aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9758 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1298 , Educational technology -- South Africa , Information technology -- Social aspects -- South Africa
- Description: Societal trends have changed more in the last decade than they have in the last century. This is particularly prevalent in the education environment. Concepts such as Lifelong Learning (the continued learning/educating of an individual throughout his/her lifetime), New Competencies (technology that is now part of almost every skill in the workplace) and Telecommuting (more people working from home rather than traditional offices) have become common-place today (Twigg, 1996, pp. 1-2). Education delivery needs to provide for these societal changes in order to ensure competent individuals pass on to the next level of education and ultimately to the work force. With key trends in technology such as Digitization, Maturation and Disintermediation becoming common in the workplace, education delivery must address the ―Digital Divide. (Twigg, 1996, pp. 2-3). Historically, schools in South Africa have used traditional teaching methods that have stayed the same for the last century. Educational institutions in South Africa, in particular, the previously disadvantaged schools of the Eastern Cape, face various challenges such as the dwindling ability to collect school fees from parents of scholars and declining financial support from the government. In Chapter Seven of the Draft White Paper on e-Education, which was gazetted on 26 August, 2004, the DoE, as part of its implementation strategies, urged the private sector to respond by implementing ICT initiatives nationwide. Phase 1 of the strategy advocated that ―Institutions are connected, access the internet and communicate electronically. (Department of Education, 2004, pp. 37-40). This dissertation shows that it is feasible to create a communications’ network among South African schools. It is believed that such a network can add great value to the education system in South Africa. The potential for this network to address the gap in the Digital Divide is enormous. This dissertation examines various ICT communications’ technologies and isolates wireless communications’ technology as best suited for this purpose, due to the speeds offered by the technology and the cost structure associated with it. A case study examines a pilot installation of the network and endeavours to prove the concept.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Du Preez, Creswell
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Educational technology -- South Africa , Information technology -- Social aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9758 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1298 , Educational technology -- South Africa , Information technology -- Social aspects -- South Africa
- Description: Societal trends have changed more in the last decade than they have in the last century. This is particularly prevalent in the education environment. Concepts such as Lifelong Learning (the continued learning/educating of an individual throughout his/her lifetime), New Competencies (technology that is now part of almost every skill in the workplace) and Telecommuting (more people working from home rather than traditional offices) have become common-place today (Twigg, 1996, pp. 1-2). Education delivery needs to provide for these societal changes in order to ensure competent individuals pass on to the next level of education and ultimately to the work force. With key trends in technology such as Digitization, Maturation and Disintermediation becoming common in the workplace, education delivery must address the ―Digital Divide. (Twigg, 1996, pp. 2-3). Historically, schools in South Africa have used traditional teaching methods that have stayed the same for the last century. Educational institutions in South Africa, in particular, the previously disadvantaged schools of the Eastern Cape, face various challenges such as the dwindling ability to collect school fees from parents of scholars and declining financial support from the government. In Chapter Seven of the Draft White Paper on e-Education, which was gazetted on 26 August, 2004, the DoE, as part of its implementation strategies, urged the private sector to respond by implementing ICT initiatives nationwide. Phase 1 of the strategy advocated that ―Institutions are connected, access the internet and communicate electronically. (Department of Education, 2004, pp. 37-40). This dissertation shows that it is feasible to create a communications’ network among South African schools. It is believed that such a network can add great value to the education system in South Africa. The potential for this network to address the gap in the Digital Divide is enormous. This dissertation examines various ICT communications’ technologies and isolates wireless communications’ technology as best suited for this purpose, due to the speeds offered by the technology and the cost structure associated with it. A case study examines a pilot installation of the network and endeavours to prove the concept.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
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