scholarly journals To Mature or not to Mature: The Information Systems Conundrum

2013 ◽  
Vol 51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl Marnewick
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
South African ◽  
Longitudinal Analysis ◽  
It Industry ◽  
Knowledge Area ◽  
Level 3 ◽  
African Perspective ◽  
Areas Of Concern ◽  
Managing Risk ◽  
The Impact

Research has been done within the South African information technology (IT) industry over the last decade with regard to project management maturity (PMM) and the impact it has on delivering information systems (IS) projects successfully. The research was done to determine whether IS PMM per knowledge area has improved over the last decade. It investigates if there is a correlation between maturity levels and project success. Four independent surveys over the last decade focused on IS PMM and the longitudinal analysis provides a benchmark for whether IS PMM has increased or not. This article focuses on whether certain knowledge areas are more of a problem within the IT industry and to determine what the overall IS PMM is. The longitudinal analysis indicates trends and highlights areas of concern. It indicates that most IT companies are still operating at level 3 and that risk and procurement management are the knowledge areas of concern. A comparative analysis indicates that there is no difference between South African and international maturity levels. The results provide a South African perspective of IS PMM. It highlights that risk management is still a knowledge area that is neglected and that emphasis must be placed on managing risk within IT projects.

scholarly journals Dividend tax, dividend payments and share values: a South African perspective

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Me Stéfani Coetzee ◽  
Johannes de Wet
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Share Price ◽  
Dividend Payment ◽  
Share Prices ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Dividend Payments ◽  
African Perspective ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Dividend Tax ◽  
Payment Policies

The study investigates the impact of changes in dividend taxes on dividend payment policies and in turn, the impact of dividend payments on share prices. An event study approach is used to analyse the share price movements before, on and after dividend announcement dates. The results for companies of which the dividend paid resulted in an increase in the dividend payout ratio were that share prices responded positively to the announcement on the announcement date and for the few days thereafter. The findings again underline the paradoxical nature of dividends and although a better understanding of the impact of dividends on South African companies was gained, the dividend puzzle remains largely unsolved.

scholarly journals Climate Change: A Comparison Of Market-Based Instruments From A South African Perspective

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suren Pillay ◽  
Pieter W Buys
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
South African ◽  
Carbon Tax ◽  
Developing Economy ◽  
Cap And Trade ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Key Characteristics ◽  
African Context ◽  
African Perspective ◽  
The Impact

This article aims to consider the relevancy of (i) cap-and-trade schemes and (ii) carbon tax schemes in a developing economy context. Even though both schemes have a common goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, they operate very differently, each with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Sustainable developments comprise various elements categorised in three primary dimensions environmental, economic and social. The objective of reducing greenhouse gases via the implementation of carbon tax or cap-and-trade schemes primarily addresses the environmental dimension of sustainable development. Notwithstanding the aforementioned, the impact of both schemes on the economically sustainable development, including industry competitiveness and growth, still has to be determined. In South Africa, the National Treasury made a decision to implement carbon tax as opposed to cap-and-trade schemes. In this article, the reasoning behind their decision in favour of carbon tax in the South African context is critically considered, firstly by evaluating the key characteristics between cap-and-trade and carbon tax schemes and secondly by considering the effectiveness hereof in the global context. It was found primary reason behind the favourable consideration of carbon tax was the fact the implementation thereof would be simpler using the existing taxation systems, whereas cap-and-trade would require the implementation of sophisticated mechanisms that may not provide the optimum benefit in a developing economy context.

scholarly journals Disaster management and humanitarian logistics – A South African perspective

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilna L. Bean ◽  
Nadia M. Viljoen ◽  
Hans W. Ittmann ◽  
Elza Kekana
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Humanitarian Logistics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The South ◽  
Management Context ◽  
African Perspective ◽  
The Impact

Disasters are becoming an unavoidable part of everyday life throughout the world, including South Africa. Even though South Africa is not a country affected by large-scale disasters such as earthquakes, the impact of disasters in South Africa is aggravated significantly by the vulnerability of people living in informal settlements. Humanitarian logistics, as a ‘new’ sub-field in the supply chain management context, has developed significantly recently to assist in disaster situations. This paper provides an overview of the South African humanitarian logistics context. Even though humanitarian logistics plays a critical role in the aftermath of disasters, it extends far beyond events that can typically be classified as ‘disasters’. Therefore the implication of the South African humanitarian logistics context on future research and collaboration opportunities in South African humanitarian logistics is also discussed. Finally, two recent case studies in the South African humanitarian logistics environment are discussed.

scholarly journals The Alignment of Software Testing Skills of IS Students with Industry Practices - A South African Perspective.

10.28945/2681 ◽  
2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsje Scott ◽  
Alexander Zadirov ◽  
Sean Feinberg ◽  
Ruwanga Jayakody
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Software Testing ◽  
South African ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Future Research ◽  
African Perspective ◽  
University Of Cape Town ◽  
The University

Software testing is crucial to ensure that systems of good quality are developed in industry and for this reason it is necessary to investigate the extent to which there is an alignment of software testing skills of Information Systems students at the University of Cape Town and industry practices in South Africa. A number of criteria were identified as the basis for this investigation. These criteria were used to examine the data collected from companies in the software testing industry and students at the University of Cape Town. Significant differences were found between software testing skills required by industry and those claimed by students, particularly with regard to the tests being used and the percentage of time spent on testing. This study should be seen as work in progress to investigate current practice in industry that might inform future research to enhance curricula.

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