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School of Management, IT and Governance

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Browsing School of Management, IT and Governance by Author "Abimbola, Ajayi Nurudeen."

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    Information risk management within supply chains.
    (2010) Abimbola, Ajayi Nurudeen.; Maharaj, Manoj Sewak.
    A supply chain is an integrated process wherein different organizations combine their efforts in acquiring raw materials, transforming the raw materials into finished products and delivering the finished products to the final consumers. Organizations are continuously searching for means to reduce costs and simultaneously making effort to enhance the quality of their products, and ultimately satisfying customers’ demand. There are three major components essential to achieving these: information flow, cash flow and material flow. In this research, we evaluate modern competitive global market, where it is challenging for any organization to function in isolation of its trading partners, and where organizations need the enhanced flow of information as well as an easier, reliable and faster access to the necessary information; as information has been identified as the foundation upon which decisions regarding the other supply chain process and activities are made, and is the link between all operations in any supply chain. This research considers the supply chain as a concept which is centred on the development of a value chain network. This network consists of entities that are committed to providing information, cash and resources in order to achieve the goals of an effective supply chain. In the global economy, this network is expanding, and this expansion is causing the extent of information flow in the supply chain to increase and hence become complex. The increasing length of information flow in the supply chain and the complexity of the value chain network are presently exposing information within the supply chain to risk. Hence, the objectives of this research are to identify information risks and consider ways in which these risks may be managed within supply chains. This study helps in identifying what information flows and how information flows within the supply chain. It provides an understanding of information vulnerabilities and risks associated with these vulnerabilities. It also helps identify how these information vulnerabilities and risks may be managed.
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    Managing the challenges of digital divide among first year students : a case of UKZN.
    (2019) Faloye, Samuel Temitayo.; Raghavjee, Rushil.; Abimbola, Ajayi Nurudeen.
    The integration of technology into the educational system has brought about changes in the style of teaching and learning. Nowadays, institutions are adopting technologies such as computers and the Internet to enhance their teaching and learning activities. Students that grew up using computers and related technologies are often at an advantage with their learning because they would have developed the skills required for using technological resources to enhance their learning. However, students that have not been exposed to any form of technology are often at a disadvantage with their learning because they often lack or do not possess sufficient technological skills. The disparity between students that have been exposed to technology and those that have not, is often referred to as digital divide. The literature shows that the digital divide is a challenge that is impacting on students’ academic performance. This study was therefore conducted to understand the challenges faced by the first-year students of UKZN with regards to the digital divide. In this study, a quantitative research methodology was employed. The findings of this study show that students with little or no exposure to technology prior to joining the university often face challenges that include the use of application programs (e.g. MS Word, Spreadsheet), downloading of informative materials, conducting online tasks and navigating the Internet. The findings also show that time of access/ownership to technology (before or after joining the university), technology skills and computer anxiety affects student’s computer self-efficacy. However, the study’s findings also showed that irrespective of student’s exposure level to technology prior to joining the university, students are faced with the university’s technological challenges that include insufficient technological resources (e.g. printer, computers, scanners), power interruption, poor Wi-Fi connectivity and lack of technology assistants. Based on the findings in this study, it is therefore recommended that universities organize frequent orientation and IT training programs for first year students. Such programs should focus on the effective use of technologies for learning purposes. In addition, universities should ensure the availability of administrative and technical support whenever students are performing technology related learning tasks. Furthermore, universities should setup a team that will focus on continuous monitoring of whether students are coping with technology or not. This team should also evaluate the available resources on monthly basis to identify the possible or required maintenance.