MSIT Theses and Dissertations (2013)

Permanent URI for this collection

http://hdl.handle.net/11071/2220

Browse

Browsing MSIT Theses and Dissertations (2013) by Author "Kiraka, Ruth"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    An assessment of open source software's use for administrative, teaching and learning in private chartered universities in Kenya.
    (Strathmore University, 2013-06) Misoi, Irene Chepng'etich; Onyango-Otieno, Vitalis; Marwanga, Reuben (Dr.); Kiraka, Ruth
    Kenyan private chartered universities have implemented Open source software for administrative, teaching and learning purposes. However despite the implementation of these Open source software, a review of literature reveals a lack of knowledge on the extent and success that has been achieved in the implementation of open source software projects in universities in Kenya. Given the advantages of using Open Source Software in university operations, there is need for better understanding of the key challenges facing usage and implementation of Open Source Systems and therefore propose a framework for implementation of open source systems. The study focuses to determine the key challenges facing the usage and implementation of open source software for teaching, learning and management activities of private universities in Kenya and proposes a framework for implementing open source systems in Kenyan universities. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The findings from this research provides evidence that most universities need to provide for adequate budget to go towards supporting the systems use the main conclusions drawn from this study are that private chartered universities in Kenya have implemented Open Source Software. This is perhaps the reason why many private chartered universities have automated most university processes, and that Moodle Open Source Software is widely used.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Coffee supply chain traceability model: Case of the Coffee Board of Kenya
    (Strathmore university, 2013-06) Mumbi, Mungai Karen; Sevilla, Joseph; Orero, Joseph Onderi; Kiraka, Ruth
    This thesis describes the potential impact of the introduction, implementation and integration of traceability model in the coffee industry. It seeks to identify a traceability model to be used as a blueprint in developing a traceability system for the coffee sector. This is achieved by highlighting the value chain players in the coffee sub-sector, the processes and to ensure that the system is aligned along the coffee supply chain. This technological innovation is meant to trace coffee consistently and efficiently from the point of origin to the point of consumption. Absence of the right traceability model in the coffee sector in Kenya is hindering the potential of this sector as well as limiting its growth. The value of an automated coffee traceability system would seek to integrate all the information scattered from all the supply chain player's; centralize capture; storage and retrieval of information; speed up processing of information; keep track of the production process ; generate reports; and also be used as a knowledge management tool. The methodology used was a basic survey, questionnaire and interview. Data was collected from a sample selected to represent a larger population. This sample size consists of Sasini Miller Limited and the Coffee Board of Kenya. The estimated population of CBK ICT users in the organization is 65 working with the confidence level of 95% and a confidence interval of 9, using the sample size formula 42 employees best characterized the general understanding of the entire CBK population. In this research the product-centric data model was selected owing to its critical packages of traceability and quality appropriate for the food industry. The traceability package contained entities that enabled tracing and tracking the product throughout its lifecycle and the quality package contained entities that represent the quality features of the product. Based on the data collected the traceability components missing in the current traceability system in the coffee sub-sector. The proposed model incorporates the missing traceability components and ensured that the product-centric parameters of traceability and quality are enhanced. Additional technologies included are traceability standards and bar-coding technologies thereby improving and customizing the model for the coffee sub-sector in Kenya The model ensures that adequate information is generated at the right time and is available to the next person in the supply chain. It enhances identification of the coffee product, movements and processes done in the supply chain. It also allows the supply chain players to process , store, handle and display the product safely and correctly.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    A service improvement model for the information technology infrastructure library based on lean it
    (Strathmore University, 2013-06) Nganga, Njoroge Charles; Wekesa, Cyrus; Kiraka, Ruth; Marwanga (Dr.), Reuben; Kiraka, Ruth
    This thesis proposes a service improvement model for the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) based on Lean IT. It highlights service improvement from a service management platform by highlighting the common frameworks used for IT Service Management, ITIL and service improvement methodologies for comparison purpose and to prove the case for Lean IT. Lean IT is an extension to lean principles and is a methodology which shows how to reduce operational and procedural waste by identifying key value adding process or value streams, mapping these value streams and controlling the flow of production items in the value streams by ensuring that this flow is demand or pull driven. Lean IT is to be used in a complementary nature to ITIL. The objectives of this research are: to establish the functional processes based on ITIL as implemented by KRA, to identify the measurement metrics (KPls) used to evaluate how the processes are deployed, to collect the data related to the processes as per the given metrics over a certain period, to develop a Service Improvement Model for the Information Technology Infrastructure Library based on Lean IT and to validate this Model. The research follows an applied and formal approach and uses Kenya Revenue Authority as the focus of the study. Qualitative and quantitative data is collected on employee satisfaction and the implementation of a function of ITIL i.e. information security management. The proposed model suggest that to improve service delivery the IT processes have to be clearly identified and performance metrics well established, information on these metrics is to be obtained and analyzed for gaps or waste elements as identified by Lean IT, service delivery improvements are then identified and lean IT methodologies used to effect this improvements. The research reviewed identified functions and found several gaps to which suggestions of improvements were also made. The results were validated and recommended by experts and managers in the field and the work found commendable.