South African Women's Rural Development and E-Commerce

2005 ◽  
pp. 646-652
Author(s):  
Jo Rhodes
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Technological Innovation ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Civic Involvement ◽  
Organizational Processes ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Social Divisions ◽  
Pervasive Applications

Increasingly, social, economic, and political progress is linked with the ability of countries to make informed, knowledge-based decisions with ICTs performing an increasingly crucial role in many societies in this regard. While the potentially transformative nature of ICTs suggests an unprecedented opportunity to overcome existing social divisions and inequalities, the role of ICTs in development is suffused with contradiction and paradox (Morales-Gomez & Melesse, 1998; Marcelle, 2002). The panoply of recent technological innovation along with the convergence of content, computing, and telecommunications has created new and pervasive applications, such as e-commerce and e-marketing, all of which can impact significantly on organizational processes. While it seems to be a common a priori assumption that ICTs can “empower” individuals and increase levels of social interaction and civic involvement (D’Allesandro & Dosa, 2001), little effort, so far, has been made to understand both the changes enabled by the new technologies, and how they can be meaningfully applied to an African rural trading context.

The Development and Establishment of Technology in South Africa

1998 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-31
Author(s):  
N.P. du Preez ◽  
P. van Eldik ◽  
M. Möhr ◽  
H.H. van der Watt
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Literature Survey ◽  
Manufacturing Efficiency ◽  
Perceived Importance ◽  
High Level ◽  
Detailed Questionnaire

In a two-part analysis (see pp 17–26 for Part 1), the authors discuss the key results of a South African project conducted during 1996 which focused on the factors relating to the development and establishment of technology in a country. The study investigated through a detailed questionnaire survey and a literature survey the various factors that promote the development and establishment of technology by comparing their perceived importance with the actual role they currently play in South Africa. This paper, Part 2, concentrates on the role of industry. The study showed that the availability of high-level technological people dominated the top (at 90%) of the list of factors relating to individual organizations and the role they play in the development of technology. Other prominent factors were the existence of a corporate technology strategy (88.4%), the need to improve manufacturing efficiency and processes (88.4%), the ability of top management to understand new technologies (87.9%), and the availability of funds for research and development (86.2%). The survey clearly indicated that South African organizations were not performing well with respect to these and other factors evaluated. All of them have been rated below 50%, indicating the seriousness of the problem. The corresponding recommendations made are of importance to younger countries with developing economies.

scholarly journals ‘deep wounds… left… in hearts and minds’: South African Public History

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Julia C. Wells
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Public History ◽  
African Identity ◽  
The Public ◽  
Academic Communities ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
To Come ◽  
Oral History Interview ◽  
Hearts And Minds

Public history practise in South Africa holds out much promise of further things to come. It can close the gulf between history and heritage. This chapter argues that the role of the public historian should not be conflated with the dynamics of the heritage sector, but suggests how trained academics can indeed put their skills to work in a society that is passionately interested in understanding itself and how its pasts created the present. The student movement sharply raised the image of universities in crisis, requiring a whole new, relevant curriculum and rethinking the ways that universities relate to their publics. Public historians can work towards creating invented spaces for co-production of knowledge, moving beyond the traditional oral history interview. The divide between academia and communities is huge and needs to be constantly tackled, providing access to the secluded information of the professional world. I suggest that due to their privileged place in society, many historians have been unable or unwilling to engage with the recovery agenda – the massive need for affirmation of African identity, capacity and culture. A handful of dedicated public historians do not fit this mould and have been exemplary in rolling up their sleeves and boldly engaging with the messy complications of dealing with non-academic communities to produce new forms of historical knowledge, based on inclusiveness.

Studying the Issues of Global Digitalization and its Impact on the Organizational Culture of the Enterprise

2021 ◽  
pp. 68-72
Author(s):  
A. Kalenova
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Theoretical Analysis ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Active Process ◽  
Organizational Processes ◽  
The World ◽  
The Impact

The article is devoted to the theoretical analysis of the concept of organizational culture of the organization. The influence of an active process in the world is the process of digitalization and its impact on the organizational culture of the organization. The analysis of the intensity of the transition of organizations to "Industry 4.0" at the present time is carried out. A key element in the process of transition to innovations has been identified, namely, personnel. A number of problems that enterprises face when implementing new technologies are highlighted. During the consideration of the problem, the provisions that need to be taken into account when switching to innovations are highlighted. The stages of implementing changes in the organizational culture, which will help to reduce the resistance to the introduction of changes, are considered. Specific examples of the impact of organizational culture on organizational processes are presented. In general, the role of organizational culture in the organization is indicated.

scholarly journals Interpretation Before and After Natal Joint Municipal Pension Fund v Endumeni Municipality 2012 4 SA 593 (SCA)

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 1-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christa Rautenbach ◽  
Malcolm Wallis
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Pension Fund ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Conceptual Content ◽  
The Past ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Relevant Context ◽  
The Law

This article explores the background to the decision in Natal Joint Municipal Pension Fund v Endumeni Municipality 2012 4 SA 593 (SCA), some of its conceptual content and its broader implications for future jurisprudence in regard to the interpretation of documents. It illustrates the reality that in the past interpretation in different areas of the law was undertaken in accordance with differing standards even though all areas involved the interpretation of language in common everyday use, and questions the need to approach issues of interpretation in a way different from that used in conventional language. The internal inconsistencies of past authority are highlighted, as well as the trend in South African jurisprudence and overseas towards a single, simple and coherent approach to interpretation. The importance of recognising the role of both text and context is stressed, and the identification of relevant context in interpreting contracts and statutes is addressed. The article identifies two animating principles underlying the approach to interpretation in Endumeni, viz.: the discipline it imposes on judges to explain their decisions in regard to interpretation rather than starting with an a priori meaning and buttressing it with authority, and the desirability of a single, clear and simple standard by which to approach issues of interpretation.

scholarly journals Inaccessible Island vs Urban Education in Greece

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Klimis Ntalianis ◽  
Maria Ntaliani ◽  
Vasiliki Kikili ◽  
Filotheos Ntalianis ◽  
Nikolaos Mastorakis
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Video Summarization ◽  
Network Connectivity ◽  
Specific Method ◽  
Main Question ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Extraction Algorithm ◽  
Inequality In Education ◽  
Future Work

During the last decade, the problem of inequality in education has been studied by several researchers, especially regarding urban and rural (inaccessible) areas. Most studies conclude that funding and adoption of new technologies are necessary to reduce inequalities. However they do not propose any specific means to overcome these inequalities. Towards this direction, in this paper a specific method is proposed that contributes to the reduction of inequalities, without demanding any funding. The method is designed especially for inaccessible areas (including isolated islands), which face network connectivity issues or Internet speed becomes very slow. In particular knowledge-based video summarization is introduced, to overcome boredom, frustration, anger etc. when students try to watch online educational videos, using limited throughput channels. The main question is: which information is less important so that it can be excluded or roughly described ? In this paper students play the role of human sensors, by letting recording and analyzing their watching behaviors. Then average watching patterns are extracted and used for video summarization, which is accomplished by a keyframes extraction algorithm that detects uncorrelated content. Finally, results are presented, to delimit the potential of such applications as well as to set the bases for future work.

Design Leadership in the Context of Emerging Technologies

2017 ◽  
pp. 121-130
Author(s):  
Geraldine Torrisi-Steele
Keyword(s):  
Technological Innovation ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Emerging Technologies ◽  
Digital Design ◽  
Desktop Computer ◽  
Organizational Survival ◽  
New Applications ◽  
Background Prior

Like never before technology is integrating into our existence. It has well and truly escaped from the confines of the desktop computer to permeate our environment both natural and artificial. As increasing numbers of humans interact with technology for many different purposes, on many different devices and in many different ways, design, in particular digital design, has become of paramount importance. Organizations are recognizing the importance of design and beginning to invest into design as a strategy to promote innovation and success in highly competitive global environments. Practitioners of technology are constantly searching for new technologies and new applications of technologies to make a more efficient and effective world. Not surprisingly then, attention is turning to design leadership not simply for organizational survival but also for fuelling ongoing technological innovation. The field of design leadership, particularly digital design leadership is, as one would expect, in its infancy, and although existing leadership in business literature provides some generic concepts for informing digital design leadership it is necessary to better understand leadership specifically as it applies to digital design. Borne of this need, the main aim of the present chapter is to make some contribution to the understanding of the capacities and capabilities of digital design leaders. To provide some background prior to discussing the capacities of effective digital design leaders, the idea of design is discussed, the role of the digital designer as used in the chapter is defined and some core ideas relating to leadership and design leadership are brought to the fore.

scholarly journals Exploring the Organizational Proliferation of New Technologies: An Affective Actor-Network Theory

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Sage ◽  
Chloé Vitry ◽  
Andrew Dainty
Keyword(s):  
Technological Innovation ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Organizational Studies ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Innovation And Technology ◽  
Zero Carbon

In this paper we explore the role of affective encounters between human and non-human bodies in the proliferation of new technologies within and across work organizations. Our exploration challenges not only the long-standing rationalism within studies of technological innovation but the anthropocentrism of burgeoning studies of technology, innovation and affect. Responding to these proclivities, we propose and elaborate an affective Actor-Network Theory (ANT) as an alternative analytical approach by cross-fertilizing ANT concepts with Deleuze’s reading of the affective philosophy of Spinoza. Our approach is elaborated further with the technological innovation of zero-carbon homes in the United Kingdom. Affective ANT is proposed to explain the profound role of affects in the circulation of technologies and of technologies in the circulation of affects. This theory contributes by challenging: studies of affect, innovation and technology to examine the significance of relational human affects in the proliferation of new technologies; organizational studies to consider the interplay of human and technical affects; and Deleuzo-Spinozian organizational studies to conceptualize how affects are organized to serve managerial interests and agendas, such as technological innovation.

scholarly journals Imaging Mass Spectrometry: A New Tool to Assess Molecular Underpinnings of Neurodegeneration

Metabolites ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Chen ◽  
Dodge Baluya ◽  
Mehmet Tosun ◽  
Feng Li ◽  
Mirjana Maletic-Savatic
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Imaging Mass Spectrometry ◽  
The Past ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

Neurodegenerative diseases are prevalent and devastating. While extensive research has been done over the past decades, we are still far from comprehensively understanding what causes neurodegeneration and how we can prevent it or reverse it. Recently, systems biology approaches have led to a holistic examination of the interactions between genome, metabolome, and the environment, in order to shed new light on neurodegenerative pathogenesis. One of the new technologies that has emerged to facilitate such studies is imaging mass spectrometry (IMS). With its ability to map a wide range of small molecules with high spatial resolution, coupled with the ability to quantify them at once, without the need for a priori labeling, IMS has taken center stage in current research efforts in elucidating the role of the metabolome in driving neurodegeneration. IMS has already proven to be effective in investigating the lipidome and the proteome of various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Here, we review the IMS platform for capturing biological snapshots of the metabolic state to shed more light on the molecular mechanisms of the diseased brain.

Sustainable Development Dilemmas of Biofuels Research and Production

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 24-41
Author(s):  
Lwazi Ngubevana
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
South African ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
The World ◽  
Thinking Differently

Global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions and the growing energy needs of the world, has forced the world into thinking differently about energy sources and sustainable development, giving rise to the field of biofuels. Research and introduction of new technologies do, by their very nature, look to bring about positive change in society. Often though, changes result in unintended, unexpected, unforeseen, unforeseeable and unaddressed consequences. It often becomes the role of ethics protocols to militate against these negative consequences. In trying to establish the levels of awareness among South African researchers and producers of biofuels, to the sustainable development dilemmas brought about by their work; the “Five Capitals Framework” and a research ethics protocol, research was carried out at three South African businesses, generating data from interviews and collaborating with data from company publications. The study concluded that industry was indeed aware of the dilemmas that face their industry albeit that it was not in the context of a defined necessary framework.

New Technologies and the Impact on the Business Environment

2015 ◽  
pp. 35-49
Author(s):  
Sergio Ricardo Mazini
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Cloud Computing ◽  
Research Method ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Organizational Processes ◽  
Shoe Industry ◽  
Strategic Role ◽  
The Impact

This chapter presents an approach to the strategic role of new technologies, like tablets and cloud computing, and the impact on the business environment. It discusses the importance of companies to understand and use these new technologies in their various organizational processes, always looking for the strategic alignment of information technology with organizational strategy. The chapter also discusses the contribution of information technology to the information systems of companies, through the resources and solutions available today, such as tablets and cloud computing. The research method is the survey conducted in firms located in an industrial Brazilian shoe industry.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document