A consulting strategy dealing with management constraints of self-service business intelligence
- Authors: Gaorekwe, Sedigilwe Vincent
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Knowledge management , Information technology , Business intelligence , Self-service (Economics) , Systems integration
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/272659 , uj:29034
- Description: M.Com. (Business Management) , Abstract: For many organisations, as business needs change, the need for better decision support systems increases. Which is why many organisations today embark on a journey of transitioning from traditional way of doing business intelligence to self-service business intelligence (SSBI). As is with many a new technology, SSBI presents different challenges to companies, therefore, to effectively deal with these challenges, it is critical to align IT and business strategies. To get real value out of the investment made on SSBI, companies tend to outsource the implementation and management of the solution to known consulting firms to assist them with effective ways of dealing with challenges posed by the solution. Which is why this study embarked on a journey of developing a practical working framework for a consulting firm named C-firm, which can then be used as a strategy to deal with management constraints of SSBI for its clients. A single case study was conducted between C-Firm and its clients to explore management constraints of SSBI, which include data governance and management, supporting infrastructure, context, and systems integration, and to subsequently develop a practical working framework for implementing and managing SSBI solution. The interactive approach model by Maxwell Loomis (2003), informed this case study research design. The flexibility of the interactive approach model best suited this study because it allowed different components of the study to interact with each other. A conceptual framework, which is one of the components of the interactive approach model, helped the researcher to focus on those factors that could assist in gaining understanding of the management issues associated with SSBI and how C-Firm can assist its clients in dealing with those issues. The research choice for this study was mixed method, mixed-model research. This means quantitative and qualitative data were collected, and researcher used quantitative analysis procedures to report on the findings. Data collection instruments used were semi structured interviews and an online questionnaire with open-ended and close-ended questions. The empirical study involved gathering data from both C-Firm’s employees and its clients. The research participants were nineteen (19) BI developers from C-Firm, and from C-Firm’s clients’ nine (9) BI developers and five (5) BI managers. The key findings of the empirical study in terms of data governance and management, supporting infrastructure, context, and systems integration were then used to develop a...
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A strategy for knowledge management
- Authors: Rademan, Johan Andries Muller
- Date: 2012-01-24
- Subjects: Knowledge management , Information technology
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:1932 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4292
- Description: M.Comm.
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Effective knowledge sharing within communities of practice in a financial institution
- Authors: Nkuna, Shyless
- Date: 2013-07-18
- Subjects: Knowledge management , Information technology , Economic development , Business education
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:7625 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8495
- Description: M.Comm. (Business Management) , This research paper is a study of the effectiveness of knowledge sharing within the communities of practice (CoPs) in a financial institution in South Africa. Specifically, the focus is on investigating the requirements for establishing CoPs that share knowledge effectively within this organisation. This was achieved through understanding the current state of knowledge sharing within the CoPs, identifying critical factors for effectively sharing knowledge and thereafter determining reasons for a CoP not being effective in sharing knowledge. The results showed that there is still a long way to go to ensure the effectiveness of knowledge sharing through CoPs. The CoPs within this financial institution are informal in nature, and therefore not necessarily given the attention that they deserve. Time used for CoPs is not maximised effectively, which reduces the chances of their effectiveness and improvement of productivity. Lack of effective system infrastructure to support knowledge sharing is also a massive challenge for the CoPs, as is not having virtual Cops to reduce challenges faced in the use of face-to-face CoPs. The literature review in chapter 2 of this paper covers the importance of the role of technology in supporting knowledge sharing, which is supportive to this finding.
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Information and knowledge management in support of legal research in a digital information environment
- Authors: Du Plessis, Tanya
- Date: 2009-01-08T13:03:45Z
- Subjects: Knowledge management , Information technology , Information superhighway , Digital libraries , Law libraries , Law librarians , Law firms , Legal research , Management information systems
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14754 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1834
- Description: D. Litt. et Phil. , The main research question addressed by this study is whether the application of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has an effect on the practice of law, and specifically whether information and knowledge management affects the process of legal research. Various issues are considered in this regard, including what the concept of knowledge management (KM) entails in a law firm and what the current KM trends are in South African law firms. To this extent an investigation follows of the global trends in the application of ICTs for legal research purposes and what the specific applications are of KM in support of legal research. Furthermore, this study investigates how information technology applications and KM systems and strategies can support the legal research process and what the benefits of KM are to legal research. This entails a study of the unique characteristics of legal research in a digital information environment and of the challenges legal researchers face in a changing information environment. Subsequently the skills and tools that are required for effective digital legal research are discussed. This research also considers the effect the changing information environment has on the role of the legal information professional, which includes an investigation of the reasons why legal information professionals can and should support lawyers in their legal research activities. Specifically, this study considers the roles, skills and competencies of legal information professionals as knowledge managers, digital librarians and trainers of legal research skills in a changing information environment. Lastly, this study investigates whether current legal research skills training offers useful guidelines to future digital legal researchers.
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Knowledge sharing practices within an organisation's information services division
- Authors: Radebe, J.
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Knowledge management , Information services , Academic libraries , Information technology
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/237743 , uj:24363
- Description: M.Com. (Business Management) , Abstract: Advances in technology and the changing demands of library clients have brought about a demand for innovative, higher quality services from academic libraries. Academic libraries find themselves in a position where they have to either re-evaluate their service models to meet the technologically influenced needs of the library clients, or face redundancy. Research has proven that the practice and implementation of knowledge management (KM) aids an organisation in gaining a competitive advantage, which is at the pinnacle of ensuring that an organisation remains a preferred service provider. In order to address these issues, this research focused on exploring the knowledge sharing (KS) practices of employees within the Library and Information Services (LIS) division at a higher education institution. The researcher employed a qualitative research design, guided by a case-study research strategy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, with seventeen respondents who were purposively selected for the sample. Data was analysed using thematic analysis, creating categories of subjects relating to the identified research questions. The findings of the study revealed that KS was limited within the LIS and mostly occurred informally between employees within the same section. Furthermore, it was found that the culture at LIS was not conducive for the advancement of KS, as respondents felt unsupported by the LIS' management in terms of KS endeavours. A silo culture, encouraging the creation of specialists in specific roles, was identified as a barrier to potential KS practices within the LIS. In terms of encouraging KS within the LIS, the findings showed that respondents were most enthusiastic about the concepts of rewards and incentives. A need for a formalised KM strategy and consequent policies guiding the acquisition and implementation of KS tools and mechanisms, was also identified. Recommendations arising from the study included: 1. A need for renewed commitment by LIS management in terms of encouraging a KS culture. 2. A drive to find affordable technologies that would enable the storage, retrieval and sharing of knowledge within the LIS, to ensure that the right knowledge reaches the right person, employee or client, at the right time.
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