MSIT Theses and Dissertations (2011)

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Browsing MSIT Theses and Dissertations (2011) by Author "Kiraka, Ruth"

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    Cost Effective News Gathering Technique in Kenya Using Terrestrial Broadband IP Links
    (2013-11-18) Njoroge, Benson W.; Sevilla, Joseph; Marwanga (Dr.), Reuben; Kiraka, Ruth
    This study aims to understand the methodologies and challenges of the current news gathering techniques used by broadcasters in Kenya and provide guidelines and methodology for development of an economical and cost-effective alternative technique. The research adopts both an analytic and applied approach. The analytic approach aims to review and analyze the existing methodologies and techniques and the challenges associated with them. The Applied approach aims to provide a guideline and methodology for a cost-effective alternative technique using locally available computer hardware (Video input and output cards), software (MPEG4 encoders and decoders) running over terrestrial broadband IP Links. The findings indicate that majority of the broadcasters in Kenya use the traditional satellite based news gathering technique (Digital Satellite News Gathering) which exhibit expensive and proprietary hardware systems and software. These techniques are always constrained by resources such as satellite bandwidth, hardware equipments and qualified manpower. The designed cost-effective alternative technique delivers the same video quality with significantly low capital expenditure and operation costs. The cost effective technique provides good foundation for future research and development of low cost commercial news gathering systems that run on broadband IP links. Additional research and experiments are recommended for development of similar but robust, versatile and automated systems that have the encoding software embedded in the operating systems code (such as Linux and UNIX) in a scenario where the encoder and decoder computers powers on without I/O devices and starts the services at boot time. The developed technique provide the broadcasters in Kenya and other developing countries with a cheaper alternative news gathering systems that can be used where reliable and fast terrestrial fibre, microwave, WiMax , 3 G or 4G links exists. For guaranteed service, the broadcasters should ensure they use robust computers suitable for outdoor use and the bandwidth available on the terrestrial links is over 2 Mbps for video and 128 Kbps for audio. This study shows that for the fist time, the terrestrial IP broadband networks in the region can be used for news gathering services by broadcasters using low cost equipments. The economic sense of using computers shows the news gathering service can be available to broadcasters regardless of cost and resource constraints.
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    Effects of business process automation in a revenue collection agency : a case study at Kenya Revenue Authority
    (Strathmore University, 2011-06) Mbugua, Irene N.; Ismail Lukandu; Kiraka, Ruth; Marwanga (Dr.), Reuben
    The effects and contributions of adopting Information Communication Technology (ICT) by organizations have been on a rise in recent times. However, the anticipated end results are most often not realized due to automation challenges which include resistance from employees, lack of standards and policies that govern the automation process. Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) embraced Information Technology (IT) as an enhancement of revenue collection strategy since the year 2005. The general research objective was to establish improved KRA operations as a result of the adoption of IT; other specific objectives were to find out the challenges faced and possible solutions during the process of automation. The research was also to come up with a conceptual model that can be used for Automation of business processes in revenue collection agencies and organizations. A descriptive survey design was adopted utilizing both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The approach aimed at getting information that describes a situation, behavior, attitudes of the individual and the community in revenue collection environment hence the target population of this study was the staff at KRA. Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected for the four objectives. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to aid the analysis of quantitative data. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic method by grouping the information provided by the respondents into similar themes. In terms of findings, about 71.1% of operations e.g. communication between KRA and CBK, tax collection, Vehicle registration, Filing of tax returns were recorded to have greatly improved. About 18.4% of processes have not improved and about 10.5% remaining the same. About 75.7% of the respondents felt that the adoption of ICT has had a remarkable change in the revenue collection efficiency. Some of the conclusions made from the findings of the study are that increased revenue collection was the highest by 22% translating to about Kenya shillings 12.53 billion in 2009110, followed by 20% in general authority's operations as a result of automation. There was also improved audit trail at 19% while staff efficiency 15%. Some improved factors were international trade and relations at 14% and 10% respectively. This research developed an effective automation model that described how best the automation can take place in a revenue collection environment.
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    An exploratory study on the usage of M-payments by small and medium business enterprises in Kenya
    (Strathmore University, 2011-09) Kimathi, Vella G. N; Lukandu, Ismail Ateya; Marwanga (Dr.), Reuben; Kiraka, Ruth
    The aim of this study was to identify the key aspects of the currently available m-Commerce systems, and, in particular, identify what the drivers were for a successful implementation. The study was to look at the technology, market & competition, regulatory and network load issues with a view to explore on the usage of m-payments by small and medium business enterprises in Kenya. This study has necessarily taken a high-level look at the emerging second hand clothing industry imitumba businesses) and in the process has identified the difficult issues that will impact the success of new implementations, such as m-commerce, in the African market(s). The rapid spread of mobile phones means that the number of mobile users may exceed the number of banked people in many low income countries. Mobile phones can also offer a communications channel for initiating and executing on-line financial transactions. This channel may not only reduce the cost of financial transactions for provider and customer, but also allow new entrants to the financial sector, and new relationships to be formed for distributing services. These changes hold the prospect of accelerating access to financial services on the back of the mobile infrastructure. This research investigates the extent to which the expansion of mobile telephony is likely to lead to the expansion of access to appropriate financial services in developing countries, especially Africa. The objectives of this study are to determine how the current m-payment habits are being perceived by entrepreneurs in Kenya, to establish whether reaching the small and medium business entrepreneurs through m-payments will be the ultimate driver towards an entrepreneurship boom in Kenya and to determine which business model can support m-payments for online transactions. The researcher of this paper acquired data for analysis in order to, firstly, find out how the current m-payments habits are being perceived by entrepreneurs in Kenya. Therefore, she conducted a survey through questionnaires to evaluate feasibility of the Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) population doing transactions through m-payments. The study discovered that small businesses are using money transfer systems for transactions, and this has lead to the rapid growth of establishments and low cost of operations for small businesses. It was concluded that the usage of mobile payment systems shall lead to an explosion of small business set-ups in Kenya and Africa at large.
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    Impact of Information and Communication Technology investment on organizational performance
    (2013-11-13) Gakuo, Robert K.; Marwanga (Dr.), Reuben; Kiraka, Ruth; Acosta, Freddie
    The impact of information and communication technologies (lCT) investment on business performance has been a major research subject for long time. Until the mid 1990s there was little empirical evidence of a positive and statistically significant relation between lCT investment and business performance (lCT Productivity Paradox). Subsequent research, conducted mainly in a few highly developed countries, provided some empirical evidence of a statistically significant positive contribution of lCT investment to some measures of business performance, which increases if ICT investment is complemented by 'co-investments' that create some complementary 'intangible assets', such as new work practices, business processes, organizational structures and skills. This research examines the impact of information and communication technology (lCT) investment on performance at Nairobi Water Company. The research design that was adopted was descriptive research. The target population constituted lCT technical and management staff; Billing technical and Management staff; Engineering technical and Management and Finance management staff who are mainly rCT systems owners at NCWSC Nairobi. The research developed organizational performance survey indicators that were used to assess the impact of rCT on NCWSC performance. It was clear that majority agreed that rCT has enhanced the company revenue. The observations showed that investments in rCT substantially increased the average organizational performance of companies, since 2007 when NCWSC embarked on an rCT development strategy various milestones have been achieved and the company overall revenue improving. As far as recommendation are concerned staff need to be trained, this will address Change Readiness, Seeding of Change, Capacity Building, Monitoring and Review and Sustaining Change with regard to processes, roles, boundaries and structures, mind set/attitudes. Change management needs to be tied to staff appraisal. The process should include the change management program to cover programme selection, control and evaluation.