John Agwa-Ejon

The Acceptance of Infographics for Business Performance and Optimization

This study explores the acceptance of Infographies by employees as a tool for the improvement of Business Performance and Optimization. Infographies present visual information data or knowledge very quickly and clearly resulting in an improved cognition of employees by utilizing graphics to enhance their human visual systems. The current trend in employee societal development requires a new set of skills that allows workers to engage with large datasets of information. A qualitative survey was conducted at eight banks in Johannesburg, South Africa involving seventy two employees with the assistance of the Human Resources division over a period of three months. All respondents had used infographies as a viable tool in their workplace to improve business related processes. The data obtained was analyzed using SPSS version 22.0 and the results obtained indicated a positive relationship between ease of use and usefulness of infographies that translated into a general acceptance. Infographies forms part of the breaking point in the revolution and rapid adaption of digital tools and technology which is driving the democratization of information and exposure to vast amounts of information in complex streams of data. It is therefore of paramount importance that senior managers and policy makers linked to business organizations are made aware of Infographies as an innovative tool able to optimize their organizational business performance.

The Multi-Criteria Decision Making, a Tool for the Promotion of Technological Inter-Connected World through Digital Decision Making

The world is dynamic and requires complex decisions to be made in-order to resolve the global challenges. One of the tools, which can be used to assist the analyst and expert decision makers, is the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM). The dramatic increase in computer power, both wired and wireless connectivity, and availability of big data has affected the way we make decisions. This paper explores how big data and other technological information may be used to influence the MCDM process. A multi-case study, based on complex decisions made, was used to identify the key indicators to access the level of improvements in accuracy and speed as a result of big data in MCDM process. The paper also examines the barriers to the successful adoption of big data in decision making and suggests reasons why decision makers should be encouraged to adopt the digital technologies in global decision processes. Recommendations were then made on how to best adopt the e-technology and cyber-infrastructure to the MCDM process. The paper concluded by indicating further areas of research and recommends that the users of big data should increase vigilance at all times.

A comprehensive overview and promotion of bioenergy systems for social development in South Africa

The need for energy demand is dependent on the worldwide growth in population which keeps on rising exponentially. South Africa as part of the global arena is currently experiencing a major problem in generating electricity nationally. Eskom the entrusted company to supply electricity has over the years been generating power through burning coal. Faced with a huge energy consumption the country has become the leading carbon dioxide CO2 emitter in Africa and the 12th largest worldwide. Biofuels and other alternative fuels have the potential to reduce the nations dependence on imported fuels which currently stands at 70% of the petroleum consumed. In order to lower pollution levels South Africa has established several Biofuel policies and mandates such as the Biofuel Industrial strategy aimed at promoting the production and use of Biomass fuels. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview, development trends and concretization of bioenergy in South Africa. The factors used in the design and implementation of energy policies regarding bioenergy is also discussed. The paper further exhibits the usefulness of biofuels in the management of the environment and integration of bioenergy as an essential contribution to the eco-system re-equilibrium.

Technological feasibility and cultural acceptability study of solar power systems for microwave assisted sandstone artisanal mining

This paper investigates the technical feasibility of microwave assisted artisanal mining in the production of Sandstone from QwaQwa in South Africa. It further discusses the cultural acceptability by the rural community of the synergetic application of the emerging technology (microwave energy) and the renewable resource (solar). Sandstone in QwaQwa, Free State is artisanally mined using chisels and hammers. This form of mining is extensively laborious and is normally accompanied by numerous casualties . The paper demonstrates the existence and the possible utilization of alternative methods including emerging technologies which are more productive, efficient, effective and sustainable. The solar energy systems are used to trigger the microwave magnetron which results into high energy microwave dosage. The dosage causes differential or selective heating on the rocks which culminate into rock breaking along the interfacial grain boundaries between the different constituting minerals. The data used in the analysis was collected by administering questionnaires to the artisanal mining community in QwaQwa and from observations made on site as well as desktop information obtained from secondary sources. The paper contributes to knowledge by drawing on the solar energy systems to generate the dosage required to trigger the microwave magnetron used to facilitate a more efficient and economical artisanal mining of sandstones. In conclusion the paper recommends to policy makers the application of microwave energy in mineral artisanal mining and processing instead of the manual chisel and hammer currently being utilized country wide. It then gives a detail analysis of the technical, scheduling and economic analysis of the sandstone artisanal mining in QwaQwa.