Acknowledgement to reviewers

No abstract available.

Using blockchain technology to facilitate property transactions

Background: As a medium of exchange, money enables the transfer of economic value and forms the basis of financial transactions. The transition from the third to the fourth industrial revolution has brought about technologies such as blockchain and cryptocurrencies that are transforming monetary transactions and methods of payments.Objectives: This article discusses an exploratory qualitative study into the use of the blockchain technology to facilitate the processes and payments related to land and landed property administration.Method: Nineteen semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with role-players who are involved in an authoritative capacity in the current property transfer process.Findings: The findings show that blockchain technologies could significantly improve the processes involved in maintaining the electronic records associated with landed property. Blockchain technology has only been associated with cryptocurrencies before, and the argument advanced is that fiat currency should be able to be used with the same technology. To maintain the integrity of the property register, the deeds office and the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) must remain in control of the processes. Irrevocable payments should be made against registration confirmation, thus replacing the current paper-based processes with electronic records.

Approaches for enhancing information sharing between government and communities in Western Cape

Background: The Western Cape Provincial Government uses digital intermediaries to facilitate information sharing between individuals, communities and the government. Digital intermediaries are shared facilities where communities can visit and have access to information and communication technology (ICT) and the internet. Communities benefit economically, socially and politically by using free access to ICT and the internet from intermediaries’ facilities to share information with the government. There seem to be disparities between the roles of the different stakeholders in information sharing. These disparities often result in poor communication between the government and communities, and also poor government services delivery.Objectives: This research investigated how intermediaries can enhance information sharing between government and communities in the Western Cape Province.Method: This study adopted a qualitative research approach by using semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling was used to collect qualitative data from 15 participants from different intermediaries’ staff in the Western Cape Province. A narrative analysis approach was used to analyse the data.Results: The study found that intermediaries intermediate between communities and the government by providing free access to ICTs, provide basic computer training and access to computing resources and serving as an information hub. The study also found that operating hours, lack of resources, skilled staff and communication challenges adversely affect information sharing.Conclusion: This study recommended that intermediaries are supported to increase the number of resources and facilities and the number and levels of training in the province to cater for more communities. This study further recommended an increase on operational hours, and communication channels between the government and intermediaries.

Adoption of cloud-based enterprise resource planning payroll system state-owned enterprises in South Africa

Background: Cloud computing simplifies the access of applications and data from any location worldwide using Internet connected devices. Whilst adoption of cloud computing seems to be attractive, most companies are still using the on-premise enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Cloud computing provides organizations with scalable computer resources; nevertheless, state-owned corporations in South Africa have a poor adoption rate for integrating ERP and, in particular, payroll into the cloud (SOEs).Objectives: The goal of the study was to investigate factors affecting the adoption of ERP payroll cloud solutions in SOEs and basing on these factors develop an ERP payroll cloud solution adoption model.Method: In this study, a qualitative research approach was employed. Data were collected through observation, interviews and document reviews, and were analysed using thematic analysis method.Results: The a priori themes for this study: policy, security, cost, compliance and privacy were confirmed, whilst Protection of Personal Information Act, data centre location and top management emerged and were found to have a substantial influence in cloud ERP Payroll adoption process in SOEs.Conclusion: To move from on-premise to cloud ERP solution, SOEs managers need clarity on: Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI) act adherence, data centre location, top management support, privacy assurance, security guarantee, cost effectiveness, compliance controls and policy formulation adoption and implementation. The studied SOEs were not yet ready to migrate from on-premise solution to a cloud solution because of these factors. Addressing the above-mentioned concerns may enable SOEs’ managers to gain confidence in adopting cloud services.

Evaluating user satisfaction with the e-payment gateway system in Tanzania

Background: The Government of Tanzania through the Ministry of Finance and Planning implemented the Government Electronic Payment Gateway (GePG) system to improve the whole cycle of revenue management. As of June 2020, the system has been implemented in 660 institutions, 28 commercial banks, and 6 mobile money operators. Whilst the initial acceptance of this system is positive, relatively no study has evaluated its effectiveness in meeting the expected benefits. Elsewhere, similar systems showed initial acceptance at the beginning, followed by failures after some years of use. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the effectiveness of GePG system to find out how effectively public money is spent.Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the success of GePG system using users’ satisfaction as a success measure.Method: The study adapted the updated Delone and Mclean Information Systems success model whereby perceived usefulness and trust in system were added as new factors. The sequential explanatory design research design integrating quantitative and qualitative data within a single investigation was adopted. A total of 442 users from 271 institutions in 11 regions in Tanzania participated in the study.Results: Trust in system, information quality, and perceived usefulness had a significant positive impact on users’ satisfaction with GePG system, whilst service quality had a significant negative impact. In contrast, system quality did not have an effect.Conclusion: The study shows that trust in system and perceived usefulness are important factors in the updated Delone and Mclean IS success model in evaluating user satisfaction with revenue collection systems. The findings from the open-ended questions and implications of the findings are discussed.

Biometric technology in banking institutions: ‘The customers’ perspectives’

Background: Over the years, attention has been focused on digital banking and financial technology with little or no attention being paid to biometric banking technology.Objective: The study aimed to investigate the need for security and simplicity in the authentication of retail payments, digital banking and financial technology through the application of biometric systems.Method: The study employed quantitative research methodology and a response rate of 52% was achieved. A set of questionnaires was distributed for data collection.Results: The study’s findings indicated it is imperative for all businesses that participate in financial businesses to fully implement the best possible security measures or systems to ensure or enhance security for financial business activities.Conclusion: Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that businesses must adopt the new innovative and secured mechanisms of financial dealings to enhance innovation, security and flexibility.

Accelerating implementation of District Health Information Systems: Perspectives from healthcare workers from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Background: Although electronic health record systems are critical for healthcare management, there has been genuine concern about the quantity and quality of data generated by these systems inhibiting its full implementation.Objectives: The purpose of this article was to explore the experiences of healthcare workers (HCWs) and challenges facing the acceleration of the District Health Information System (DHIS) in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province of South Africa.Methods: In this study, an interpretive research paradigm was followed to explore the current state of electronic health in South Africa from the experiences of HCWs in the KZN province. Semi-structured focus group interviews conducted with 20 participants drawn from the district office, clinical nurse practitioners and data capturers allowed thematic analysis of data using a systems approach to link the perspectives HCWs to the design of the DHIS.Results: The participants held the view that e-health is crucial for monitoring disease trends, policy development, planning and allocation of infrastructure, information technology (IT), financial and human resources. Nevertheless, the participants highlighted a concern surrounding e-health regulations, ethics and data confidentiality; data quality and lack of interoperability of Health Information Systems (HIS). This concern was attributed to data fragmentation, internal politics and lack of coordination of the data system.Conclusions: The study suggests that good quality data – from an integrated DHIS, is highly critical for the effective utilisation, implementation and acceleration of e-health systems in the province to support epidemiological surveillance and modelling of outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Extending unified theory of acceptance and use of technology with ISO/IEC 27001 security standard to investigate factors influencing Bring Your Own Device adoption in South Africa

Background: As the use of mobile computing devices such as smartphones increase in developing countries, some employees in organisations prefer using their privately owned mobile devices for work purposes by following the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) practice. However, the actual factors that influence the adoption of this practice are limited.Aim: This study aimed to investigate the factors that positively influence the employee’s behavioural intention to adopt the BYOD practice in organisations.Setting: The focus of the study is workers in various industries in South Africa.Method: A model is proposed which extends components of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and the Use of Technology (UTAUT) model by certain elements of the ISO/IEC 27001 security standard and an organisational factor. It is a quantitative study. Through a snowball method, a sample of 130 South African workers participated in the study by completing an electronic survey where 106 valid responses were received.Results: The data analysis was conducted through the SPSS data analysis tool. The results revealed that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, awareness and training, and policy existence positively influence the behavioural intention to adopt the BYOD Practice.Conclusion: The outcome of this study will benefit practitioners considering the implementation of BYOD and also researchers seeking to expand the scope of existing technology adoption frameworks.

Knowledge management enablers affecting patient care: The perspective of registered nurses in South West Nigeria

Background: The productivity of healthcare institutions is impacted by the nursing workforce and plays a vital role in the provision of effective and efficient patient care. Knowledge management plays a vital role in nursing practice. This study seeks to extend the frontier of knowledge by addressing the paucity of literature on knowledge management in nursing care delivery in Nigeria.Objectives: The study empirically identified crucial knowledge management enablers from extant literature and investigated their influence on patient care in clinical nursing.Method: A cross-sectional survey design using a stratified sampling method was employed. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from 196 registered nurses in a selected teaching hospital in South West Nigeria. A total of 186 valid responses were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM).Result: The result of this study indicated that there is a direct and significant relationship between information technology (IT) and patient care. Organisational structure and organisational culture did not directly affect patient care. However, together with IT support, the knowledge management enablers were found to significantly affect patient care in clinical nursing.Conclusion: There is a need for nursing management to develop a flexible organisational structure and knowledge friendly culture including the implementation of functional technical infrastructure, to leverage knowledge management effectiveness in patient care in teaching hospitals in order to facilitate and strengthen service delivery by nurses.