Effective management of an information technology professional's career
- Authors: Tedder, Derek
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Information technology -- Vocational guidance , Information technology -- Management , Knowledge management , Career development , Computer Science -- Vocational guidance , System analysis -- Vocational guidance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1148 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004543 , Information technology -- Vocational guidance , Information technology -- Management , Knowledge management , Career development , Computer Science -- Vocational guidance , System analysis -- Vocational guidance
- Description: The human resource is constantly cited as an organisation's greatest asset. In a rapidly changing technological environment this is most applicable to the Information Technology (IT) function. Organisations are experiencing IT human resource problems such as low satisfaction, early plateauing, high turnover, burnout, limited advancement potential, nominal corporate commitment, supervisory aversion, poor organisational culture, and exceptional compensation. These problems are directly related to the IT professional's career. There is a lack of information and awareness surrounding IT careers to deal effectively with these problems. The research aims to create increased awareness of IT careers and the inherent problems through the development of a career management model. The research aims to identify the factors that influence IT careers, provide career management with a means to measure compatibility of the factors, and suggest solutions to incompatibility. The solving of this problem will be of mutual benefit to both organisations and individuals as they seek to better manage IT careers. After reviewing research literature relating to career anchors, IT job types, IT skills portfolios, and career dynamics a model for Effective IT Career Management (EITCM) has been constructed. The model represents the dynamic interactions between individual, organisational, and dependent factors. The model examines the compatibility of these interacting factors by measuring the levels of relevant career variables. The model suggests appropriate career management techniques to increase the compatibility of the interacting factors. An empirical study was designed and launched online to provide data that would confirm the seven Critical Success Factors (CSF) relating to the proposed model. The responses from the members of the Computer Society of South Africa (CSSA) allowed the seven hypotheses derived from the CSFs to be tested. The results of the empirical study were positive but required modification to five of the CSFs before they could be confirmed. The EITCM model was modified to reflect the improved CSFs. An awareness of career influencing factors combined with active career management is advantageous to both IT professionals and their organisations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Tedder, Derek
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Information technology -- Vocational guidance , Information technology -- Management , Knowledge management , Career development , Computer Science -- Vocational guidance , System analysis -- Vocational guidance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1148 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004543 , Information technology -- Vocational guidance , Information technology -- Management , Knowledge management , Career development , Computer Science -- Vocational guidance , System analysis -- Vocational guidance
- Description: The human resource is constantly cited as an organisation's greatest asset. In a rapidly changing technological environment this is most applicable to the Information Technology (IT) function. Organisations are experiencing IT human resource problems such as low satisfaction, early plateauing, high turnover, burnout, limited advancement potential, nominal corporate commitment, supervisory aversion, poor organisational culture, and exceptional compensation. These problems are directly related to the IT professional's career. There is a lack of information and awareness surrounding IT careers to deal effectively with these problems. The research aims to create increased awareness of IT careers and the inherent problems through the development of a career management model. The research aims to identify the factors that influence IT careers, provide career management with a means to measure compatibility of the factors, and suggest solutions to incompatibility. The solving of this problem will be of mutual benefit to both organisations and individuals as they seek to better manage IT careers. After reviewing research literature relating to career anchors, IT job types, IT skills portfolios, and career dynamics a model for Effective IT Career Management (EITCM) has been constructed. The model represents the dynamic interactions between individual, organisational, and dependent factors. The model examines the compatibility of these interacting factors by measuring the levels of relevant career variables. The model suggests appropriate career management techniques to increase the compatibility of the interacting factors. An empirical study was designed and launched online to provide data that would confirm the seven Critical Success Factors (CSF) relating to the proposed model. The responses from the members of the Computer Society of South Africa (CSSA) allowed the seven hypotheses derived from the CSFs to be tested. The results of the empirical study were positive but required modification to five of the CSFs before they could be confirmed. The EITCM model was modified to reflect the improved CSFs. An awareness of career influencing factors combined with active career management is advantageous to both IT professionals and their organisations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
An investigation of knowledge management implementation strategies
- Authors: Sunassee, Nakkiran N
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Knowledge management , Strategic planning , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:1141 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002770 , Knowledge management , Strategic planning , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Management
- Description: The world is experiencing an era which has been termed the “knowledge age” or the “knowledge economy”. In this new context, knowledge is the primary commodity, and knowledge flows are regarded as the most important factors in the economy. The management of knowledge flows within organisations has become a crucial activity because many of the activities of organisations and the broader economic and social life today are knowledge-driven. In recent years, this managerial activity has become known as Knowledge Management. Equally important are the associated Knowledge Management implementation strategies. Driven by a need expressed by the South African Motor Vehicle Industry for a knowledge management implementation strategy tailored to their needs, this research aimed to develop a knowledge management implementation strategy suited to the needs of this industry. Following an extensive literature survey and a study of the target industry using Duffy’s Knowledge Benchmarking Questionnaire, a model of knowledge management implementation is proposed that is suited to the needs of the South African Motor Vehicle Industry. The model consists of three main interlinked components: Knowledge Management of the Organisation, People, and Infrastructure and Processes. Furthermore, the model recommends a holistic approach to managing knowledge. The critical success factors of the model were tested by means of a survey of industry opinions that validated certain aspects of the model and motivated for changes in others. Additionally, despite the focus of the model on the target industry, it is considered sufficiently appropriate for use by other organisations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
- Authors: Sunassee, Nakkiran N
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Knowledge management , Strategic planning , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:1141 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002770 , Knowledge management , Strategic planning , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Management
- Description: The world is experiencing an era which has been termed the “knowledge age” or the “knowledge economy”. In this new context, knowledge is the primary commodity, and knowledge flows are regarded as the most important factors in the economy. The management of knowledge flows within organisations has become a crucial activity because many of the activities of organisations and the broader economic and social life today are knowledge-driven. In recent years, this managerial activity has become known as Knowledge Management. Equally important are the associated Knowledge Management implementation strategies. Driven by a need expressed by the South African Motor Vehicle Industry for a knowledge management implementation strategy tailored to their needs, this research aimed to develop a knowledge management implementation strategy suited to the needs of this industry. Following an extensive literature survey and a study of the target industry using Duffy’s Knowledge Benchmarking Questionnaire, a model of knowledge management implementation is proposed that is suited to the needs of the South African Motor Vehicle Industry. The model consists of three main interlinked components: Knowledge Management of the Organisation, People, and Infrastructure and Processes. Furthermore, the model recommends a holistic approach to managing knowledge. The critical success factors of the model were tested by means of a survey of industry opinions that validated certain aspects of the model and motivated for changes in others. Additionally, despite the focus of the model on the target industry, it is considered sufficiently appropriate for use by other organisations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
An investigation of knowledge management practices in the Old Mutual, Buffalo City Metropole branch
- Authors: Siqoko, Kolisa
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Knowledge management , Insurance companies -- South Africa -- East London
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:10879 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/252 , Knowledge management , Insurance companies -- South Africa -- East London
- Description: The study has sought to examine knowledge management practice in the Old Mutual, Buffalo City Metropole. The study has been conducted against the backdrop of measuring how far South African companies are in applying Knowledge Management (KM) tools and techniques to improve their competitive advantage. The study was conducted based on the assumption that insurance companies in South Africa are at the forefront in the use and application of technology. Various concepts are defined throughout the study. In reviewing literature for example, the study introduces the reader to various theories, views and approaches to KM. The most significant of these are the cultural and social systems approach on one hand and the product or process approach on the other. The study relied on the use of a variety of data collection methods such as questionnaires, interviews and participant observation for the purposes of collecting primary data. From the primary data collected, it was discovered that the largest number of responses came from marketing, sales and customer services departments. The employees have limited flexibility in terms of decision making and team work, due to the rigidity of tasks. The findings revealed that the company has a loosely structured infrastructure, where each strategic business unit (SBU) manages its own IT tools and documents. All these underlying aspects are not conducive to the promotion of and growth of KM in any company. The final chapter concludes with a model for KM implementation and the procedures to be followed to ensure that the practice adds value to the company.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
- Authors: Siqoko, Kolisa
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Knowledge management , Insurance companies -- South Africa -- East London
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:10879 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/252 , Knowledge management , Insurance companies -- South Africa -- East London
- Description: The study has sought to examine knowledge management practice in the Old Mutual, Buffalo City Metropole. The study has been conducted against the backdrop of measuring how far South African companies are in applying Knowledge Management (KM) tools and techniques to improve their competitive advantage. The study was conducted based on the assumption that insurance companies in South Africa are at the forefront in the use and application of technology. Various concepts are defined throughout the study. In reviewing literature for example, the study introduces the reader to various theories, views and approaches to KM. The most significant of these are the cultural and social systems approach on one hand and the product or process approach on the other. The study relied on the use of a variety of data collection methods such as questionnaires, interviews and participant observation for the purposes of collecting primary data. From the primary data collected, it was discovered that the largest number of responses came from marketing, sales and customer services departments. The employees have limited flexibility in terms of decision making and team work, due to the rigidity of tasks. The findings revealed that the company has a loosely structured infrastructure, where each strategic business unit (SBU) manages its own IT tools and documents. All these underlying aspects are not conducive to the promotion of and growth of KM in any company. The final chapter concludes with a model for KM implementation and the procedures to be followed to ensure that the practice adds value to the company.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003