Marlien Herselman

Digital Doorway: Social-Technical innovation for high-needs communities

The application of the Living Lab (LL) approach to social‐technical innovation to the Digital Doorway Initiative in the informal settlement of Zandspruit near Johannesburg is outlined in the context of the initiatives evolution from an educational project to a broader community innovation initiative. The relationship between different stakeholders is explored in a theoretical and practical sense as a future research and practice challenge for both the study of ICTs in society (in this case, a poor community), and the fostering of community‐driven innovation. The activity also offers a research challenge for understanding the cultural transformations that are necessary for bringing about more effective integration between technical and social‐technical viewpoints about design and research in a social context. Current and projected community‐based research activities are also outlined, including the development of a project in Australia for high‐needs indigenous communities.

A Digital Health Innovation Ecosystem for South Africa

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of how a digital health innovation ecosystem was conceptualised and validated for South Africa. Largely, we focus on defining strategies to build Digital Health Innovation Ecosystems in the context of developing countries, and pay particular attention to the challenges and potentials. Over a period of two years the conceptualisation was done by applying Design research as a methodology and the validation through two cycles of expert review feedback in order to improve the artifact. The conceptual digital health innovation ecosystem for South Africa portrays the inputs from research experts and practitioners in South Africa, Africa and Europe working in the Health domain. Feedback indicated that the conceptual digital health innovation ecosystem for South Africa is a good reflection of the realities of developing contexts where all role players and systems are indicated that affect digital health. This conceptualisation allows for the positioning of sub innovation ecosystems and related new products through applying an open innovation life cycle to improve the quality of life of ordinary citizens.

Improving computer-mediated synchronous communication of doctors in rural communities through cloud computing: A case study of rural hospitals in South Africa

This paper investigated how doctors in remote rural hospitals in South Africa use computer-mediated tool to communicate with experienced and specialist doctors for professional advice to improve on their clinical practices. A case study approach was used. Ten doctors were purposively selected from ten hospitals in the North West Province. Data was collected using semi-structured open ended interview questions. The interviewees were asked to tell in their own words the average number of patients served per week, processes used in consultation with other doctors, communication practices using computer-mediated tool, transmission speed of the computer-mediated tool and satisfaction in using the computer-mediated communication tool. The findings revealed that an average of 15 consultations per doctor to a specialist doctor per week was done through face to face or through telephone conversation instead of using a computer-mediated tool. Participants cited reasons for not using computer-mediated tool for communication due to slow transmission speed of the Internet and regular down turn of the Internet connectivity, constant electricity power outages and lack of e-health application software to support real time computer-mediated communication. The results led to the recommendation of a hybrid cloud computing architecture for improving communication between doctors in hospitals.

Information and communication technologies within small and medium enterprises in developing economies

With the realization of the benefits associated with the adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs), many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing economies are beginning to embrace the use of ICT. This process has, however, been marred with numerous challenges, characterizing the process as slow paced adoption and use of poor quality ICTs that are outdated, ineffective and inefficient. This is partly attributed to the fact that most developing economies are not well positioned to provide conducive environments for their SMEs to thrive, even in their efforts to embrace ICT. Notwithstanding the many challenges, SMEs in developing economies are slowly but steadily starting to embrace the use of ICTs. Therefore, the objective in this article is to review literature on ICT usage within SMEs in developing economies. The authors concluded that by strategically positioning their ICT, SMEs can tap into the enormous potential advantages offered by ICT to gain a competitive advantage. The authors further submit that SMEs can make use of their flexibility and relatively small size to their advantage, because these are perfect conditions for the diffusion and application of ICT.

ICTs in Rural Education: Let the Game Begin

Over a period of three years, 255 teachers at 26 schools in Cofimvaba, which lies in the very rural Nciba district of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, have been using mobile tablets in their classrooms to support teaching and learning. The purpose of this paper is to describe the novel gamification approach to Teacher Professional Development in a unique context where schools are deprived of resources but still managed to successfully integrate mobile tablets in their classroom practices. These practices have changed the way teachers teach towards a pedagogy that is more suited to the information age. The success of this TPD model lies in the application of lessons learnt from literature, selected game elements, rewards based on demonstrated competencies, flexibility, innovation, creativity and co-creation. All of the teachers who took part in the project, achieved the 13 compulsory badges, which is noteworthy. This implies that all participating teachers applied all the ICT integration skills demonstrated in the ICT for Rural Education (ITC4RED) TPD course at least once in their classroom, and were able to collect evidence to support that they have gained the necessary competencies.

Data quality challenges: A content analysis in the e-health domain

E-health (electronic health) has become a global term and is referred to in literature as a conversion to electronic health records, benefiting from internet use and health agreements in order to develop sufficient communication between healthcare professionals. Substandard data quality could impact quality of care in health facilities, lead to privacy and security issues, increase cost, create risks and decrease the benefits from using health information systems. The quality of data is essential, not only for use in patient care, but also for monitoring the performance of the health service and employees. Data collected and presented should be accurate, complete, reliable, comprehensible and accessible to data users. The purpose of the paper is to explore data quality challenges giving rise to substandard data quality in electronic health records. The challenges identified from literature can provide a reference for future health data quality interventions. To realise the purpose of this paper, an inductive content analysis methodology was followed.

On the prioritization of data quality challenges in e-health systems in South Africa

Data quality is one of many challenges experienced in e-health. The collection of data with substandard data quality leads to inappropriate information for health and management purposes. Given evidence of challenges with regards to data quality in electronic health systems, the purpose of the study is to prioritise data quality challenges as experienced by data users of electronic healthcare systems in South Africa. The study adopted a sequential QUAL-quan mixed method research design towards the realisation of the research purpose. After carrying out a literature review on the background of e-health and the current status of research on data quality challenges, a qualitative study was conducted to verify and extend the theoretical list of data quality challenges. A quantitative study followed to prioritise data quality challenges as experienced by data users of electronic healthcare systems. Data users of electronic healthcare systems in South Africa served as the unit of analysis in the study. The data collection process included the conducting of interviews with four data quality experts to verify and extend the theoretical list of data quality challenges. This was followed by a survey targeting 100 data users of electronic healthcare systems in South Africa for which 82 responses were received. From the results of the study, a prioritised list of data quality challenges has been developed which can be applied to assist data users of electronic health care systems in South Africa to improve the quality of data in electronic healthcare systems. The most important data challenge is training. The prioritised list of data quality challenges allowed for evidence-based recommendations which can assist health institutions in South Africa to ensure future data quality.

Modeling management information systems' success: a study in the domain of further education and training

Capacity in and enhancement of critical, scarce and intermediate skills are seen as a national priority in South Africa. The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) in South Africa has prioritized the success of the Further Education and Training (FET) sector to meet this need for capacity development in critical, scarce and intermediate skills. Management information systems (MIS) are pivotal in the efficient and effective running of FET colleges. Therefore, the evaluation of MIS success is an essential spoke in the wheel of FET college success. The problem is that no MIS success evaluation model for FET colleges could be found. In this paper, we describe the development and testing of an evaluation model and tool for MIS success. Information systems evaluation theory and an analysis of FET policy documents were used to propose an initial success evaluation model and tool (questionnaire) for an educational environment (FET colleges) in South Africa. Using a quantitative approach the tool was applied in a survey at one public FET college to evaluate the success of the MIS deployed at the college. Findings from the survey lead to the refinement of the model which is also articulated in this paper and reflected as the SAFETMIS model. The paper is novel in proposing an IS theory based model and tool which can be used to evaluate MIS success at FET colleges and similar education contexts. The paper should be of interest to researchers in the field of Information Systems success evaluation and also to practitioners and managers in the field of Education.

A scoping review of digital health innovation ecosystems in developed and developing countries

Digital health innovation ecosystems describe the need to incorporate the components of digital health, innovation and digital ecosystems in administering healthcare services. Reviewing the evidence of digital health, innovation and digital ecosystems in both developed and developing countries is therefore crucial in determining the feasibility of implementing a digital health innovation ecosystem. The purpose of this paper was to present the results of a scoping review aimed at identifying the scope and range of digital health, innovation and digital ecosystems literature in developed and developing countries and propose guidelines for implementing digital health innovation ecosystems. The findings of the scoping review reveal that studies on digital health, innovation and digital ecosystems have been conducted in developed and developing countries, providing useful insights on the feasibility of implementing a digital health innovation ecosystem in both developed and developing countries. Guidelines for implementing a digital health innovation ecosystem were also proposed. The findings of the scoping review as well as the guidelines proposed in this study will inform healthcare policy makers in developed and developing countries.

Identifying Essential Components of a Digital Health Innovation Ecosystem for the Namibian Context: Findings from a Delphi Study

The concept of digital health innovation ecosystems is an emerging body of literature which suggests that components of digital health, innovation and digital ecosystems are important in the administration and delivery of healthcare services. The current literature indicates which components of digital health, innovation and digital ecosystems constitute a digital health innovation ecosystem, but it is less clear as to which components of digital health, innovation and digital ecosystems are relevant to the development of such an ecosystem for the Namibian context. The purpose of this paper was to identify the components of digital health, innovation and digital ecosystems relevant to the development of a digital health innovation ecosystem for the Namibian context. Therefore, the Delphi method was adopted in which 22 knowledgeable professionals from within the Namibian context were purposively selected to take part. The findings revealed essential components of digital health, innovation and digital ecosystems which are considered relevant to the development of a digital health innovation ecosystem for the Namibian context. Additionally, there are differences noted between the components of digital health, innovation and digital ecosystems essential for the Namibian context and the components of digital health, innovation and digital ecosystems identified in literature. The essential components identified will inform decision makers in the Namibian healthcare sector on the implementation of a digital health innovation ecosystem for Namibia.