South African Computer Journal
type: channel
description: The South African Computer Journal (SACJ) is a DHET (South Africa) accredited specialist open access academic journal, publishing research articles and communications in English in the Computer Science, Computer Systems and Information Systems domains. The journal is published by the South African Institute of Computer Scientists and Information Technologists (SAICSIT) and hosted on the Khulisa Journals platform (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)). The journal - being included on Scopus since 2016 - appears on the DHET sub-list of Scopus-indexed journals that qualify for subsidy for articles published by South African academics at public South African universities.
publisher: South African Institute of Computer Scientists and Information Technologists (SAICSIT)
language: en
publication name: South African Computer Journal
issn: 1015-7999
items: Editorial: The international issue
items: Obituary – Derek Smith
items: Obituary – André van der Poll
items: WeaveChain: A decentralized storage framework using Arweave to address scalability, security, and decentralization challenges
items: Editorial: Impact of innovative IT solutions
items: Improving greybox fuzzing with dictionary-based mutations: A systematic literature review
items: A 45-year review of the South African Computer Journal (1979 – 2023)
items: Reinforcement learning algorithms for adaptive load-balancing for web applications
items: Investigating the support of proprioception and visual guidance for menu selection in virtual reality
items: Editorial: Summer of 2024
items: A multilevel analysis of digital technology to support teachers to improve their professional practice
items: An investigation into the feasibility of using virtual environments as an induction method in SHIP® therapy
items: Identifying factors affecting the adoption of big data analytics in South African rural-based hospitals to improve service delivery
items: Predicting the performance of ORB-SLAM3 on embedded platforms
items: Contextualising Design
items: The use of detective analytics for mitigating financial crimes: A South African perspective
items: Exploring adoption dynamics
items: Formalising solutions to network availability issues in low-resource environments
items: Integrating the TOE framework and DOI theory to dissect and understand the key elements of AI adoption in sociotechnical systems
items: Editorial: Winter 2024 Update
items: Letter to the Editor: Advancements in Digital Health Technologies
items: Sensemaking and the Potential Future-focused Curriculum for Society 5.0 Knowledge Managers
items: A conceptual framework for agility in sociotechnical contexts
items: Understanding the inertial forces impeding dynamic cybersecurity learning capabilities
items: Migrating teaching of automata theory to a digital platform
items: Towards Human-AI Symbiosis
items: Factors that influence computer programming proficiency in higher education
items: An IT career choice model
items: Big data analytics capabilities and the organisational performance of South African retailers
items: Generative AI: Concerns, usage, challenges, opportunities and sentiments

Editorial: The international issue
type: item
subject: Editorial Comment
  topic: section
creator: Katherine M. Malan
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Katherine M. Malan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-12-22
publication date: 2025-12-22
doi: 10.18489/sacjv37i2/25176

Obituary – Derek Smith
type: item
subject: Obituaries
  topic: section
creator: Irwin Brown
creator: Lisa Seymour
creator: Michael Hart
creator: Michael Eccles
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Irwin Brown, Lisa Seymour, Michael Hart, Michael Eccles https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-12-22
publication date: 2025-12-22
doi: 10.18489/sacjv37i2/25171

Obituary – André van der Poll
type: item
subject: Obituaries
  topic: section
creator: Jan H. Kroeze
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Jan H. Kroeze https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-12-22
publication date: 2025-12-22
doi: 10.18489/sacjv37i2/25094

WeaveChain: A decentralized storage framework using Arweave to address scalability, security, and decentralization challenges
type: item
description: Blockchain systems persistently struggle to balance scalability, security, and decentralization - the fundamental trilemma hindering enterprise adoption. Existing solutions like Filecoin compromise decentralization when scaling throughput or face security vulnerabilities under adversarial conditions. Motivated by the urgent need for practical trilemma resolution in storage-intensive applications (e.g., medical records, IoT coordination), this study introduces WeaveChain: a novel framework leveraging Arweave’s permanent storage to simultaneously optimize all three dimensions. Our primary aim is to architect a decentralized storage system that achieves: (1) high-throughput transaction processing, (2) provable security against Byzantine failures (malicious or faulty nodes acting arbitrarily), and (3) egalitarian network participation—without mutual trade-offs. By implementing compact 48-byte transaction anchors and adaptive block sizing (1-200MB), the system processes 7,200 transactions per megabyte block, reaching 162 TPS. Comprehensive testing demonstrates 0.82 chain quality under 40% adversarial influence, 99% lower storage than Bitcoin, and Sybil attack resistance. These results establish a new paradigm for trilemma resolution where permanent data anchoring enables scalable, secure, and truly decentralized blockchain storage.
subject: Research Articles - General
  topic: section
subject: Blockchain scalability
  topic: keywords
subject: Arweave
  topic: keywords
subject: Decentralized storage
  topic: keywords
subject: Consensus mechanisms
  topic: keywords
subject: Distributed systems
  topic: keywords
creator: Saha Reno
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Saha Reno https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-12-22
publication date: 2025-12-22
doi: 10.18489/sacjv37i2/22359

Editorial: Impact of innovative IT solutions
type: item
subject: Editorial Comment
  topic: section
creator: Katherine M. Malan
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Katherine M. Malan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-07-02
publication date: 2025-07-02
doi: 10.18489/sacjv37i1/22860

Improving greybox fuzzing with dictionary-based mutations: A systematic literature review
type: item
description: Detecting deep bugs that are guided by complex conditions, based on specific byte sequences of the input, often requires input structure-aware or grammar-aware fuzzing strategies. However, the grammar or specification of the input may not be readily available. In this regard, there exists anecdotal evidence that dictionary-based mutations contribute to preserving the syntactic structure of input test cases and may approximate the efficacy of grammar-aware fuzzing. It is not yet clear as to which is the best strategy for automatically extracting fuzzing dictionary tokens from the codebase of the program under test. In this study we conduct a systematic review of the impact of dictionary-based mutations on the fuzzing process. We further review strategies for automatically extracting dictionary tokens and optimizing dictionary-based mutations. Our findings are that current strategies for extracting fuzzing dictionary are not optimised for highly structured input. Furthermore, about 58% of the reviewed state-of-the art fuzzing tools rely on the random mutation operator distribution of respective baseline fuzzer. Moreover, the evaluation of these fuzzing tools report on aggregated performance of mutation operator scheduling algorithms, and not specific individual operators such as dictionary-based mutation operators.
subject: Research Articles - General
  topic: section
subject: Dictionary-based mutation
  topic: keywords
subject: Greybox fuzzing
  topic: keywords
subject: Software vulnerability
  topic: keywords
subject: Mutational Fuzzing
  topic: keywords
subject: Software testing
  topic: keywords
creator: Enock L. Dube
creator: Boluwaji A. Akinnuwesi
creator: Stephen G. Fashoto
creator: Petros M. Mashwama
creator: Vusi W. Tsabedze
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Enock L. Dube, Boluwaji A. Akinnuwesi, Stephen G. Fashoto, Petros M. Mashwama, Vusi W. Tsabedze https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-12-22
publication date: 2025-12-22
doi: 10.18489/sacjv37i2/21430

A 45-year review of the South African Computer Journal (1979 – 2023)
type: item
description: This single journal study provides a comprehensive overview of the history and development of the South African Computer Journal (SACJ, formerly Quaestiones Informaticae), combined with a bibliometric and altmetric analysis spanning 45 years from 1979 to 2023. Citation data were sourced from Google Scholar and Scopus, while Mendeley readership counts were used as an alternative metric indicator. A total of 768 articles were analysed to assess journal productivity, authorship patterns and collaboration trends. On average, 17 articles were published per year, with an average of 8.3 Google Scholar citations per article. Citation data reveal that 60% of articles had Google Scholar citations, while 40% remained uncited. The journal exhibits a notable shift from single authorship to multi-authorship, with co-authored articles increasing from 22% (1979 to 1989) to 70% (1990 to 2023). The results indicate a strong association between collaboration and scholarly impact, as articles with two or three authors consistently achieved higher citation counts and Mendeley readership than single-authored articles. The most productive authors and most cited papers were identified. The SACJ journal metrics were also compared with selected international journals in the Computing discipline.
subject: Research Articles - General
  topic: section
subject: Bibliometrics
  topic: keywords
subject: Altmetrics
  topic: keywords
subject: Citation analysis
  topic: keywords
subject: Collaboration
  topic: keywords
subject: Authorship
  topic: keywords
subject: Mendeley readership
  topic: keywords
subject: Google Scholar
  topic: keywords
subject: Scopus
  topic: keywords
subject: South African Computer Journal
  topic: keywords
subject: Quaestiones Informaticae
  topic: keywords
creator: Filistéa Naudé
creator: Jan Hendrik Kroeze
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Filistéa Naudé, Jan Hendrik Kroeze https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-12-22
publication date: 2025-12-22
doi: 10.18489/sacjv37i2/21924

Reinforcement learning algorithms for adaptive load-balancing for web applications
type: item
description: This research investigates the application of reinforcement learning (RL) to optimise load balancing in Nginx web applications. We developed a simulation environment on AWS to evaluate three enhanced RL algorithms: Epsilon-greedy, Upper Confidence Bound, and Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) against classic methods (round-robin and Least Connections) under diverse load conditions, including normal loads, burst loads, server failures, and heterogeneous server instances. Our results demonstrate that RL, particularly PPO, significantly outperforms classic methods. Notably, PPO achieved up to a 30% increase in throughput, a 20% reduction in latency, and a 5% improvement in the successful message rate compared to the best-performing classic algorithm. These improvements were most pronounced under challenging conditions such as burst loads and server failures, highlighting the adaptability and resilience of RL-based load balancing.
subject: Research Articles - General
  topic: section
subject: Load-Balancing
  topic: keywords
subject: Reinforcement Learning
  topic: keywords
subject: Epsilon Greedy
  topic: keywords
subject: Proximal Policy Optimization
  topic: keywords
subject: Upper Confidence Bound
  topic: keywords
creator: Rana Zuhair Al-Shaikh
creator: Muna M. Jawad Al-Nayar
creator: Ahmed M. Hasan
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Rana Zuhair Al-Shaikh, Muna M. Jawad Al-Nayar, Ahmed M. Hasan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-12-22
publication date: 2025-12-22
doi: 10.18489/sacjv37i2/20753

Investigating the support of proprioception and visual guidance for menu selection in virtual reality
type: item
description: Virtual reality (VR) technology enhances spatial awareness in the virtual environment, yet current menu design research seldom explores how this can support interaction. This study investigates how proprioception, users’ sense of body position, can guide menu selection in immersive VR environments. A menu system was developed to test how users interact with menu items using non-visual senses, supported by visual cues. Across three usability sessions, participants engaged with the system, and their evolving behaviours were examined through performance metrics, observations, interviews, and focus groups. Thematic analysis revealed that while users can learn to use proprioceptive cues for menu selection, they rarely rely on them without visual guidance. Effective use requires systems that support spatial awareness and familiarity, allowing interactions to become intuitive and memorised over time. The study also identifies types of visual guidance linked to varying levels of familiarity with surrounding virtual objects. These findings contribute to VR interaction design by demonstrating how visual and proprioceptive cues affect user behaviour and support efficient, embodied menu selection.
subject: Research Articles - General
  topic: section
subject: virtual reality
  topic: keywords
subject: menu system
  topic: keywords
subject: visual guidance
  topic: keywords
subject: proprioception
  topic: keywords
subject: user behaviour
  topic: keywords
creator: Kwan Sui Dave Ka
creator: Isak de Villers Bosman
creator: Theo Bothma
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Kwan Sui Dave Ka, Isak de Villers Bosman, Theo Bothma https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-12-22
publication date: 2025-12-22
doi: 10.18489/sacjv37i2/21524

Editorial: Summer of 2024
type: item
subject: Editorial Comment
  topic: section
creator: Katherine Malan
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Katherine Malan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-11
publication date: 2024-12-11
doi: 10.18489/sacj.v36i2/20775

A multilevel analysis of digital technology to support teachers to improve their professional practice
type: item
description: Within the education sector, digital technology has increasingly entered into school subjects, curricula, assessment and teaching methods. The common features of technology-orientated and supported programmes are the independence from geographic boundaries and time constraints. Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the debates about digitalisation in the education sector. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to conduct a multilevel analysis of evidence from a large-scale randomised control trial complemented with the systematic collection of implementation information to compare the impact of a conventional structured pedagogic programme to that of a pedagogically similar programme built with a digital technology overlay. The technology acceptance model framed our analysis. Results from the multilevel analysis provided an opportunity to advance knowledge about teachers’ acceptance of digital technology to improve student learning and their professional practice. The evidence pointed to two hypotheses: While much of the literature on teachers’ acceptance of digital technology concentrated on the subjective element of teachers’ behavioural intentions, the current study suggests the extent to which professional accountability may be a key factor in successful digital technology interventions for teachers; and the results points to substantial differentiated uptake that is not linked to either perceived usefulness or perceived ease of use.
subject: Research Articles - General
  topic: section
subject: Digital Technology Intervention
  topic: keywords
subject: Randomised Control Trial
  topic: keywords
subject: Structured Pedagogical Programme
  topic: keywords
subject: Technology Acceptance Model
  topic: keywords
subject: Virtual Coaching
  topic: keywords
creator: Reuben Dlamini
creator: Brahm Fleisch
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Reuben Dlamini, Brahm Fleisch https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-07-02
publication date: 2025-07-02
doi: 10.18489/sacjv37i1/20602

An investigation into the feasibility of using virtual environments as an induction method in SHIP® therapy
type: item
description: Virtual reality contributes to the successful treatment of patients by assisting those who have difficulty with the process of imagining the required visual images needed during psychotherapy. SHIP® is a form of psychotherapy that suggests that spontaneous healing is a natural tendency that emerges from within a person. It identifies certain activator images as essential pathways for accessing unconscious trauma material that needs healing. The purpose of this study is to examine whether virtual reality can be used as a medium to induce memories through the utilisation of neutral images based on the SHIP® Frame. Two groups of participants were gathered: one group underwent a traditional SHIP® session while the other group underwent the virtual induction with the aid of a head mounted display. A random clinical trial was used to determine the level of induction and identify the helpful aspects that contributed to the induction. The results indicated that virtual reality was able to assist as a cognitive stimulus as well as a cognitive proxy in the overall process of SHIP®.
subject: Research Articles - General
  topic: section
subject: virtual reality
  topic: keywords
subject: psychotherapy
  topic: keywords
subject: exposure therapy
  topic: keywords
subject: virtual environment
  topic: keywords
subject: SHIP®
  topic: keywords
creator: Weich Malan
creator: Isak de Villers Bosman
creator: Theo Bothma
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Weich Malan, Isak de Villers Bosman, Theo Bothma https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-07-02
publication date: 2025-07-02
doi: 10.18489/sacjv37i1/19286

Identifying factors affecting the adoption of big data analytics in South African rural-based hospitals to improve service delivery
type: item
description: The healthcare sector is progressively recognising the potential of big data analytics to revolutionise patient care, operational efficiency and decision-making processes. However, rural-based hospitals face challenges in embracing big data analytical tools to improve their service delivery to their patients. The adoption of big data analytics will assist rural-based hospitals in predicting and making informed decisions to manage the limited resources that they have and allocate them appropriately. However, there is a lack of literature that explores and identifies the factors that affect the adoption of big data analytics in rural-based hospitals to improve service delivery. This research employs a quantitative research methodology using surveys to identify the factors that affect the adoption of big data analytics in rural-based hospitals. This study found that rural-based hospitals prefer a hybrid method to collect data and it impedes the adoption of big data analytics in rural-based hospitals. Therefore, there is a need to implement modern infrastructure to integrate various data collection methods to promote the adoption of big data analytics in rural-based hospitals.
subject: Research Articles - General
  topic: section
subject: big data analytics
  topic: keywords
subject: rural-based hospitals
  topic: keywords
subject: healthcare
  topic: keywords
subject: decision-making
  topic: keywords
subject: service delivery
  topic: keywords
creator: Thifhindulwi Maxwell Rambau
creator: Willard Munyoka
creator: Nkhangweni Lawrence Mashau
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Thifhindulwi Maxwell Rambau, Willard Munyoka, Nkhangweni Lawrence Mashau https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-07-02
publication date: 2025-07-02
doi: 10.18489/sacjv37i1/17830

Predicting the performance of ORB-SLAM3 on embedded platforms
type: item
description: Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) is a crucial component to the push towards full autonomy of robotic systems, yet it is computationally expensive and can rarely achieve real-time execution speeds on embedded platforms. Therefore, a need exists to evaluate the performance of SLAM algorithms in practical embedded environments – this paper addresses this need by creating prediction models to estimate the performance that ORB-SLAM3 can achieve on embedded platforms. The paper uses three embedded platforms: Nvidia Jetson TX2, Raspberry Pi 3B+ and the Raspberry Pi 4B, to generate a dataset that is used in training and testing performance prediction models. The process of profiling ORB-SLAM3 aids in the selection of inputs to the prediction model as well as benchmarking the embedded platforms’ performances by using PassMark. The EuRoC micro aerial vehicle (MAV) dataset is used to generate the average tracking time that the embedded platforms can achieve when executing ORB-SLAM3, which is the target of the prediction model. The best-performing model has the following results 2.84%, 3.93%, and 0.95 for MAE, RMSE and R2 score respectively. The results show the feasibility of predicting the performance that SLAM applications can achieve on embedded platforms.
subject: Research Articles - General
  topic: section
subject: Monocular-Inertial SLAM
  topic: keywords
subject: ORB-SLAM3
  topic: keywords
subject: Embedded platform
  topic: keywords
subject: Nvidia Jetson TX2
  topic: keywords
subject: Raspberry Pi
  topic: keywords
creator: Jacques Matthee
creator: Kenneth Uren
creator: George van Schoor
creator: Corne van Daalen
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Jacques Matthee, Kenneth Uren, George van Schoor, Corne van Daalen https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-11
publication date: 2024-12-11
doi: 10.18489/sacj.v36i2/20099

Contextualising Design
type: item
description: This paper addresses the challenge of designing digital sharing platforms that align with the local sharing practices of SMEs in resource-constrained countries, with a specific focus on Ethiopian SMEs. The research utilises the elaborated action design research (EADR) methodology and begins with the diagnosis stage, employing thematic analysis with activity theory (AT) to gain an understanding of the local sharing practices. Results revealed elements such as activities, stakeholders, motives, resources, goals, actions, rules, and tools that inform the design requirements of the digital sharing platform. Building on the diagnosis stage, the design cycle established key principles and the architecture of 13 local sharing models that form the features of the platform. In the implementation cycle, the paper presented a specific instance of a “property rental package.” Results indicated the positive acceptance of the digital platform. Factors such as technological compatibility, perceived direct benefit, ease of use, and perceived indirect benefit contributed to this acceptance. The study contributes to the existing literature by providing valuable insights on how to contextualise the design of digital platforms in the local sharing practice contexts. Additionally, it showcases the effective utilisation of the EADR methodology and activity theory.
subject: Research Articles - General
  topic: section
subject: Digital Sharing Platforms
  topic: keywords
subject: Contextualizing Design
  topic: keywords
subject: Activity Theory
  topic: keywords
subject: SMEs
  topic: keywords
subject: Local Sharing Practices
  topic: keywords
subject: Information System Design
  topic: keywords
creator: Sertse Abebe
creator: Hossana Twinomurinzi
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Sertse Abebe, Hossana Twinomurinzi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-07-02
publication date: 2025-07-02
doi: 10.18489/sacjv37i1/18435

The use of detective analytics for mitigating financial crimes: A South African perspective
type: item
description: South African organisations are increasingly exploring the use of detective analytics in mitigating financial crimes. However, many organisations are struggling with how to employ the tool in detecting and preventing financial crimes. This study aimed to conceptualise how detective analytics can be used to mitigate financial crimes in organisations. Qualitative data were gathered from different sources, from peer-reviewed to grey literature. Actor-network theory (ANT) was employed as a lens, through its mantra ‘follow the actors’, to gain insights on how activities can be identified, traced, and tracked, in mitigating financial crime in institutions. The interpretive approach was applied. The findings revealed seamless integration of incidents, cybersecurity detection, in-house fraud detection, external infiltrate detection, and image-matching data into one cohesive system. The study highlights the need for gaining a deeper understanding of networks of actors, following the actors, and passage points within an organisation. The findings have significant implications for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the use of detective analytics, from both technical and non-technical perspectives.
subject: Research Articles - General
  topic: section
subject: Actor-network theory
  topic: keywords
subject: Detective analytics
  topic: keywords
subject: Financial crime
  topic: keywords
creator: Nontobeko Mlambo
creator: Tiko Iyamu
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Nontobeko Mlambo, Tiko Iyamu https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-07-02
publication date: 2025-07-02
doi: 10.18489/sacjv37i1/18697

Exploring adoption dynamics
type: item
description: There is a lack of acceptance, adoption and sustained use of mobile phones for agricultural purposes by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe, but the reasons for this have not been critically explored. In this study, the authors used a naturalistic methodology to help uncover the nuances of adoption dynamics among smallholder farmers in Gokwe South District, Zimbabwe. Data was gathered from in-depth interviews and focus groups. The findings suggest that gender, age, land ownership size, farming experience, mobile device ownership, and the period of owning a mobile device are critical precursors to adoption and use. Furthermore, digital proficiency and literacy, affluence, mobile technology services cost and telecommunication infrastructure availability are vital in achieving continuous, sustainable use of mobile technology in the Zimbabwean agricultural sector. This research has practical implications for policy and practice and may inform national legislation encouraging the increased use and affordability of mobile devices in the local agricultural sector. The research also makes a theoretical contribution in terms of unpacking the key factors that inhibit the adoption of mobile technology in marginalised settings.
subject: Research Articles - General
  topic: section
subject: Mobile phones
  topic: keywords
subject: Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
  topic: keywords
subject: smallholder farmers
  topic: keywords
subject: information dissemination
  topic: keywords
subject: ICT adoption
  topic: keywords
subject: Zimbabwe
  topic: keywords
creator: Samuel Musungwini
creator: Izak van Zyl
creator: Jan Kroeze
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Samuel Musungwini, Izak van Zyl, Jan Kroeze https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-11
publication date: 2024-12-11
doi: 10.18489/sacj.v36i2/20003

Formalising solutions to network availability issues in low-resource environments
type: item
description: In most software systems operating within low-resource environments, the persistently encountered challenges related to network availability often result in compromised performance or even complete system failure. To address this issue, software developers frequently resort to ad hoc measures to mitigate these challenges. To offer a more comprehensive solution, this paper introduces an all-encompassing approach in the form of a design pattern. This design pattern uses offline functionalities with localised storage, emphasising the distinction between offline storage and synchronisation, presenting a versatile and high-level methodology for overcoming the recurrent network-related challenges intrinsic to low-resource environments. We describe the use of the design pattern in some real-world use cases, thereby illustrating how a single design pattern is the foundation for many seemingly disparate software engineering approaches. This design pattern holds the potential to significantly redefine the manner in which network availability challenges are approached and addressed.
subject: Research Articles - General
  topic: section
subject: design pattern
  topic: keywords
subject: software systems
  topic: keywords
subject: low-resource environment
  topic: keywords
subject: data synchronisation
  topic: keywords
subject: delay tolerant networks
  topic: keywords
creator: Abayomi Agbeyangi
creator: Hussein Suleman
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Abayomi Agbeyangi, Hussein Suleman https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-11
publication date: 2024-12-11
doi: 10.18489/sacj.v36i2.19976

Integrating the TOE framework and DOI theory to dissect and understand the key elements of AI adoption in sociotechnical systems
type: item
description: This study is interested in increasing the likelihood of achieving the organisational adoption of artificial intelligence that has a positive outcome. We argue that the technological-organisational-environmental framework provides a sound theoretical lens for analysing how an organisation’s context influences the adoption and integration of artificial intelligence solutions. Furthermore, the diffusion of innovation theory is proposed to identify enablers for transforming organisations. Together with the combination of technological-organisational-environmental and diffusion of innovation, the stages of diffusion are proposed as an evaluation paradigm to evaluate the effectiveness of the enabling factors. Furthermore, the elements and objectives of artificial intelligence adoption in the context of data-driven organisations are included. From this, the research develops a comprehensive framework for studying the technical and social AI adoption elements in an organisational environment where complex symbiotic relationships prevail. This study uses generative artificial intelligence as a novel approach to exploring the framework’s usability. The evidence from our research indicates that the developed framework can advance our comprehension of what drives the success or failure of artificial intelligence adoption in organisations. Theoretically, it provides a tool for dissecting and understanding the key elements influencing this process.
subject: Special Issue
  topic: section
subject: Adoption
  topic: keywords
subject: Organisation
  topic: keywords
subject: Sociotechnical
  topic: keywords
subject: Design Science Research
  topic: keywords
subject: Artificial Intelligence
  topic: keywords
subject: Generative Artificial Intelligence
  topic: keywords
subject: ChatGPT
  topic: keywords
creator: Danie Smit
creator: Sunet Eybers
creator: Alta van der Merwe
creator: Rene Wies
creator: Nica Human
creator: Julia Pielmeier
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Danie Smit, Sunet Eybers, Alta van der Merwe, Rene Wies, Nica Human, Julia Pielmeier https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-11
publication date: 2024-12-11
doi: 10.18489/sacj.v36i2/17679

Editorial: Winter 2024 Update
type: item
subject: Editorial Comment
  topic: section
creator: Katherine Malan
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Katherine Malan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-07-31
publication date: 2024-07-31
doi: 10.18489/sacj.v36i1.19291

Letter to the Editor: Advancements in Digital Health Technologies
type: item
subject: Letters to the Editor
  topic: section
creator: Kyrylo Malakhov
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Kyrylo Malakhov https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-07-31
publication date: 2024-07-31
doi: 10.18489/sacj.v36i1.18942

Sensemaking and the Potential Future-focused Curriculum for Society 5.0 Knowledge Managers
type: item
description: When "quality being everyone’s business" coincides with the reality of a disruptive work environment, critical self-evaluation becomes an essential tool to ensure accountability. Academics who design curricula and their tuition offering have a certain degree of freedom in what and how they teach. However, academics need to be consciously discerning, yet inclusive, about the voices that should speak into curriculum design. This study operates from the principle of co-creation in curriculum design and acknowledges the multiplicity of relevant voices that speak into curriculum design. These voices are influenced by the past, present, and possibilities of the potential future. To remain relevant in the imagined future, this research identified the co-creators and curriculum design partners for the multidisciplinary field of knowledge management. The curricula of three related academic departments were analysed to determine knowledge management tuition linkages. These curricula were then compared with the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) level descriptors. Following on from this desktop analysis, Sensemaker®, a distributed digital ethnographic methodology was piloted that will be used to collect micronarratives from emergent curriculum co-creators. This article identifies gaps in current curricula, expresses expectations for future possibilities and highlights potential niche opportunities for knowledge management curriculum design.
subject: Special Issue
  topic: section
subject: Knowledge manager’s capabilities
  topic: keywords
subject: Society 5.0
  topic: keywords
subject: disruptive technologies
  topic: keywords
subject: Skills Framework for the Information Age
  topic: keywords
subject: knowledge management curriculum
  topic: keywords
creator: Martie Mearns
creator: Anika Meyer
creator: Marlene Holmner
creator: Linda Marshall
creator: Marie Hattingh
creator: Elmi Bester
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Martie Mearns, Anika Meyer, Marlene Holmner, Linda Marshall, Marie Hattingh, Elmi Bester https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-07-31
publication date: 2024-07-31
doi: 10.18489/sacj.v36i1.18880

A conceptual framework for agility in sociotechnical contexts
type: item
description: Organisational agility is crucial for organisations to thrive in dynamic business environments. While the Information Systems (IS) discipline recognises the need for IS to support organisational agility, current IS research has not sufficiently explained how organisations achieve agility given their sociotechnical contexts. Some scholars and practitioners propose scaling agility-building approaches from small software development teams to the enterprise level, and others argue that agility is not a predetermined outcome of linear processes, but instead emerges from intricate organisational contexts. Previous research proposed a conceptual model that identified the structural components of agility in IS. However, this structural perspective does not address the dynamic aspects of agility. To address this gap, two systematic literature reviews (SLR) were conducted to develop a conceptual framework for agility in sociotechnical contexts, which is the contribution this research makes to the IS field. The first SLR investigated frameworks that enable organisational agility. Consequently, the Cynefin framework was adopted to explain the dynamics of contextualised decision-making and agility. The second SLR identified the influence of heuristics on decision-making and dynamic capabilities. The resulting framework integrates the structural and dynamic aspects of agility in IS and explains how heuristics could potentially be managed to improve sociotechnical agility.
subject: Research Articles - General
  topic: section
subject: agility
  topic: keywords
subject: sociotechnical
  topic: keywords
subject: complex adaptive systems
  topic: keywords
subject: dynamic capabilities
  topic: keywords
subject: Cynefin
  topic: keywords
subject: critical systems heuristics
  topic: keywords
creator: Theresa Lillie
creator: Sunet Eybers
creator: Aurona Gerber
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Theresa Lillie, Sunet Eybers, Aurona Gerber https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-07-31
publication date: 2024-07-31
doi: 10.18489/sacj.v36i1.18878

Understanding the inertial forces impeding dynamic cybersecurity learning capabilities
type: item
description: Healthcare firms need to develop cybersecurity learning mechanisms to respond faster and more proactively to a rapidly changing cybersecurity threat landscape. Many healthcare firms lack the necessary cybersecurity learning capabilities to address ever-changing and unpredictable cyberthreats effectively. In this case study, we investigate the challenges faced by a major South African healthcare software services firm that offers software as a service (SaaS) solutions. We analyse the inertial forces that impede the firm’s cybersecurity learning capabilities by integrating concepts from dynamic cybersecurity learning capability (DCLC) and IS-enabled organisational learning perspectives. Furthermore, we identify strategic and operational level inertial forces through interviews with the organisation’s experts and examination of cybersecurity documents. We then present actionable recommendations for industry practitioners to overcome these inertial forces and strengthen their cybersecurity learning capabilities. Our suggested interventions include implementing proactive leadership structures, enhancing user learning capabilities, and adopting novel risk management approaches. Additionally, we propose further directions for scholars to research the impact of inertial forces on dynamic cybersecurity learning capabilities in healthcare firms.
subject: Special Issue
  topic: section
subject: case study
  topic: keywords
subject: cybersecurity
  topic: keywords
subject: dynamic capabilities
  topic: keywords
subject: organisational learning
  topic: keywords
subject: organisational inertia
  topic: keywords
subject: healthcare
  topic: keywords
subject: software as a service
  topic: keywords
creator: Lawrence Nyakasoka
creator: Rennie Naidoo
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Lawrence Nyakasoka, Rennie Naidoo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-07-31
publication date: 2024-07-31
doi: 10.18489/sacj.v36i1.18877

Migrating teaching of automata theory to a digital platform
type: item
description: This research explores the challenges of teaching automata theory in computer science and proposes a digital solution to enhance learning experiences. Traditionally taught through pen and paper, automata theory often appears daunting to students due to its abstract nature. This study advocates for a shift towards a more interactive, digital approach. It presents a detailed analysis of current teaching practices, highlighting the need for digital innovation. Based on the categorisation of common question types in traditional assessments, the research introduces 'AutomaTutor', a mobile application designed for this specific educational context. 'AutomaTutor' features a user-friendly interface with a guided exercise system and an interactive editor for experimentation. It offers immediate feedback, hints, and varied problem sets, promoting self-guided learning. An experimental evaluation with postgraduate students demonstrated a preference for 'AutomaTutor' over conventional methods, confirming the hypothesis that a digital platform can significantly improve the understanding of automata theory. The study represents a step forward in making theoretical computer science more accessible and engaging, benefiting both teachers and students. It underscores the potential of integrating technology with traditional teaching principles in automata theory education.
subject: Research Articles - General
  topic: section
subject: Automata theory
  topic: keywords
subject: computer science education
  topic: keywords
subject: digital learning
  topic: keywords
creator: Steven Jordaan
creator: Nils Timm
creator: Linda Marshall
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Steven Jordaan, Nils Timm, Linda Marshall https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-11
publication date: 2024-12-11
doi: 10.18489/sacj.v36i2.17844

Towards Human-AI Symbiosis
type: item
description: Organisations need to adopt AI successfully and responsibly. AI’s technical capabilities make AI powerful. However, the implementation of AI in organisations is not limited to the technical elements and requires a more holistic approach. An AI implementation within an organisation is a sociotechnical system, with the interplay between social and technical components. Considering the sociotechnical nature of AI in organisations, the following research question arises: From a sociotechnical perspective, how can an organisation increase adoption of AI as part of its quest to become more data-driven? In light of the research question, we propose to create a sociotechnical artificial intelligence adoption framework with a target audience of both academics and practitioners. This study follows a design science research approach, constituting various iterative cycles. The study is conducted at an automotive manufacturer’s IT Hub based in South Africa and has the aim to gain concrete, contextual, in-depth knowledge about a specific real-world organisation. To achieve this, focus groups serve as the primary research method. As the organisation at which the study took place is seen as a global leader in industrial digital transformation, the experience can help researchers and other organisations understand how an organisation can increase the adoption of AI.
subject: Special Issue
  topic: section
subject: Adoption
  topic: keywords
subject: Organisation
  topic: keywords
subject: Sociotechnical
  topic: keywords
subject: Design Science Research
  topic: keywords
subject: Artificial Intelligence
  topic: keywords
creator: Danie Smit
creator: Sunet Eybers
creator: Alta van der Merwe
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Danie Smit, Sunet Eybers, Alta van der Merwe https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-07-31
publication date: 2024-07-31
doi: 10.18489/sacj.v36i1.18823

Factors that influence computer programming proficiency in higher education
type: item
description: The industrial world has witnessed an increased demand for computing based skills due to the advent of robotics, artificial intelligence, and analytics. However, the learning of computer programming is challenging and requires an intensive cognitive effort to attain a high degree of skill and expertise. Given this phenomenon, this study undertook to ascertain the factors that influence proficiency in computer programming. The study adopted a quantitative approach and a survey research strategy, guided by a conceptual model. A survey questionnaire was designed as the primary source of data collection. The respondents comprised students who were enrolled for Information Systems and Technology (IT) courses at a higher education institution. The main factors that were identified as significant predictors of computer programming performance were Problem-Solving Ability and Self-Efficacy. The findings contribute to enhancing computer programming pedagogy, which could lead to enhanced student performance in assessment, and validation of the conceptual model.
subject: Research Articles - General
  topic: section
subject: Computer programming performance
  topic: keywords
subject: Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
  topic: keywords
subject: Learning styles
  topic: keywords
subject: Self-efficacy
  topic: keywords
subject: Problem-solving ability
  topic: keywords
creator: Lerushka Ranjeeth
creator: Indira Padayachee
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Lerushka Ranjeeth, Indira Padayachee https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-07-31
publication date: 2024-07-31
doi: 10.18489/sacj.v36i1.18819

An IT career choice model
type: item
description: Research focusing on students’ Information Technology (IT) career choices shows that their decisions were influenced by factors, such as exposure to programming concepts at school level, culture, parents, teachers and role models. Theories relating to career choice have focused on individual characteristics and their environment. In South Africa however, there have been limited studies investigating the factors influencing students’ IT career decisions, specifically choosing study programmes in Computer Science (CS), Information Systems (IS) and IT. The aim of this study was to evaluate a proposed IT career choices model. A questionnaire was developed and distributed amongst CS/IS/IT first-year students at the Nelson Mandela University in South Africa and 205 students completed the survey. The data were statistically analysed, including Exploratory Factor Analysis. The study highlighted that students with high academic confidence and exposure to programming concepts at an early age, chose an IT career. The study further showed statistical differences between students speaking different home languages and genders in their perceptions about the IT industry and choosing an IT career. The main contribution of the study is the evaluation of a proposed IT Career Choice Model, based on existing theories, literature and the statistical results obtained from the study.
subject: Research Articles - General
  topic: section
subject: IT career choice model
  topic: keywords
subject: Career choice theories
  topic: keywords
subject: IT Career choice factors
  topic: keywords
creator: Andre Calitz
creator: Margaret Cullen
creator: Malibongwe Twani
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Andre Calitz, Margaret Cullen, Malibongwe Twani https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-11
publication date: 2024-12-11
doi: 10.18489/sacj.v36i2/18327

Big data analytics capabilities and the organisational performance of South African retailers
type: item
description: Big data analytics provides a competitive advantage and growth opportunities for organisations. Recent studies identify the resources required to build big data analytics capability (BDAC) and its correlation with firm performance. This study extends this exploration by investigating the nexus between specific dimensions of big data analytics capabilities namely, Big Data Analytics Tangible Capabilities (BDATC), Big Data Analytics Human Capabilities (BDAHC), and Big Data Analytics Intangible Capabilities (BDAIC) and the organisational performance of South African retailers. Employing a descriptive research design, this study applied a quantitative survey administered to members of the Business Intelligence (BI) teams within selected South African retailers. The study’s findings affirm a positive and significant impact of BDA capabilities (BDATC, BDAHC, and BDAIC) on the organisational performance of South African retailers, thereby supporting the three proposed hypotheses. In essence, this research underscores the indispensable nature of all primary dimensions of BDAC in optimising the organisational performance of retailers. The outcomes of this study indicate that cultivating these capabilities empowers retailers to enhance productivity, elevate sales revenue, improve profit margins, foster customer retention, and augment return on investment.
subject: Research Articles - General
  topic: section
subject: big data
  topic: keywords
subject: big data analytics
  topic: keywords
subject: organisational performance
  topic: keywords
subject: retailers
  topic: keywords
creator: Diana Welbotha
creator: Carolien van den Berg
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Diana Welbotha, Carolien van den Berg https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-11
publication date: 2024-12-11
doi: 10.18489/sacj.v36i2/17937

Generative AI: Concerns, usage, challenges, opportunities and sentiments
type: item
description: Despite widespread adoption and enthusiasm, Generative AI faces persistent technical challenges, prompting the need to understand its broader impact. This study employed bibliometric analysis to examine scholarly discourse and key drivers of Generative AI adoption. The findings reveal the key factor driving adoption as transdisciplinary collaboration regardless of region; the concerns relate to inconsistent accuracy, demanding infrastructure, and ethical and privacy issues. Generative AI’s rapid proliferation, spurred by ChatGPT, marked a post-digital era marked by transformative innovations across multiple fields. The scholarly discourse has grown by 3,164%, reflecting its significant influence on research and disciplinary progress. Education, medical, and biomedical sectors lead in adoption, to enhance teaching experiences, diagnostics, personalised medicine, and pandemic responses. However, the digital divide persists, leaving certain demographics and regions unable to access its benefits equally. The absence of robust ethical, legal, and regulatory frameworks further exacerbates these challenges. This study reveals Generative AI’s transformative potential and its ability to bridge disciplines despite technical hurdles. The study makes recommendations for education reform to embrace new curricula, for practitioners and policymakers to create flexible workforce options, to proactively address important ethical, legal, and regulatory considerations; and to be intentional about bridging the widening digital divide.
subject: Special Issue
  topic: section
subject: Artificial Intelligence
  topic: keywords
subject: generative AI
  topic: keywords
subject: ChatGPT
  topic: keywords
subject: bibliometric
  topic: keywords
subject: ethics
  topic: keywords
subject: scoping review
  topic: keywords
subject: sentiment analysis
  topic: keywords
subject: transdisciplinarity
  topic: keywords
subject: post digital theory
  topic: keywords
creator: Hossana Twinomurinzi
creator: Sibukele Gumbo
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Hossana Twinomurinzi, Sibukele Gumbo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-07-02
publication date: 2025-07-02
doi: 10.18489/sacjv37i1/17890