Technology audit and production reserves

Navigating the digital divide: exploring the multifaceted 4IR challenges and technological disparities encountered by SMMEs within Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

Ismail Sheik — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0300

The dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has been a harbinger of unparalleled technological innovations, reshaping industries and economies at an unprecedented pace. While these advancements promise a new frontier of opportunities, they also bring forth a myriad of challenges, particularly for Small, Micro, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMMEs). This research delves deep into the multifaceted challenges and technological disparities encountered by SMMEs in the wake of 4IR, with a concentrated lens on the enterprises operating within the KwaZulu-Natal region of South Africa.

At the heart of this exploration is the pronounced digital divide, which exacerbates the gulf between well-resourced corporations and SMMEs. The divide is not just technological but extends to areas like access to finance, digital literacy, infrastructure, and the agility to adapt to rapidly changing business environments. As these SMMEs grapple with the challenges of integrating into the digital economy, they face hurdles such as limited access to advanced technological tools, cybersecurity threats, the high cost of digital transformation, and a dearth of skilled manpower to navigate the complexities of 4IR.

Furthermore, the research sheds light on the systemic and infrastructural challenges in the KwaZulu-Natal region, which further compound the difficulties faced by local SMMEs. From inconsistent internet access and electricity issues to the lack of tailored training programs and financial schemes, these enterprises find themselves in a precarious position, trying to bridge the chasm between traditional business models and the demands of the digital age.

By offering an in-depth analysis of these challenges, this study seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the obstacles that SMMEs face in the current 4IR-driven economic climate. It emphasizes the need for a multi-stakeholder approach, involving governments, industry leaders, educational institutions, and financial institutions, to collaboratively develop strategies, policies, and interventions that can empower SMMEs. Through targeted support, capacity-building initiatives, and fostering an ecosystem of innovation, there's potential to not only narrow the digital divide but to position these enterprises as key players in South Africa's 4IR journey. This research, thus, serves as both a clarion call and a foundational blueprint for ensuring that no enterprise, regardless of its size, is left behind in this transformative era.

The importance of financial management in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): an analysis of challenges and best practices

Eugine Nkwinika, Segun Akinola — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0300

The object of research is the importance of monetary management in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), specializing in challenges, best practices, and future trends. Financial management in SMEs is an important aspect that influences their growth, sustainability, and competitiveness. The paper begins by defining SMEs and highlighting the significance of financial management for their success. It emphasizes the need for SME owners to understand financial concepts, make informed decisions, and prioritize financial planning to ensure sound business operations. Insights from real-world case studies showcase successful financial management practices adopted by SMEs.

Government policies and support for SME financial management are also explored, with a focus on initiatives, tax incentives, and access to financial advisory services. These government interventions play a crucial position in empowering SMEs with the necessary sources and steerage for powerful financial management.

Moreover, the evaluation delves into destiny developments, such as rising technology (AI, blockchain, IoT) and regulatory adjustments, and their capacity impact on economic management for SMEs. It discusses the challenges and possibilities in monetary forecasting, highlighting using information analytics and predictive modeling for improved accuracy.

In conclusion, this review assessment underscores the significance of financial control for SMEs, emphasizing the want for monetary literacy, era adoption, and compliance with regulatory adjustments. By embracing first-class practices and authorities’ help, SMEs can reap long-term financial balance and thrive in dynamic commercial enterprise environments. As SMEs preserve to evolve within digital technology, powerful economic control remains vital for his or her sustainable increase and achievement.

The development of the method of evaluation of complex hierarchical systems based on improved alforitm of particle swarm

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0300

The scientific task, which is solved in the research, is to increase the efficiency of the evaluation of complex hierarchical real-time systems. Finding solutions to nonlinear optimization problems and especially global optimization problems is one of the most popular problems in computational mathematics. In applied problems, the objective function, as a rule, has a large number of variables, is not given in an analytical form and is calculated as some integral characteristic of a complex dynamic process. The development of effective methods, to a certain extent adaptive to the variability of the objective function, is especially relevant in connection with the development of computer technology and the possibility of using parallel computing systems. The conducted research was aimed at developing a method of evaluating complex hierarchical systems based on an improved particle swarm. At the same time, the object of research was complex hierarchical real-time systems. The subject of research is the functioning of real-time hierarchical systems.

The novelties of the proposed method consist in:

‒ creating a multi-level and interconnected description of complex systems of hierarchical real-time systems;

‒ increasing the efficiency of decision making while evaluating complex systems of hierarchical real-time systems;

‒ solving the problem of falling into global and local extremes while assessing the state of complex systems of hierarchical real-time systems;

‒ the possibilities of directed search by several individuals of the particles swarm in a given direction, taking into account the degree of uncertainty;

‒ the possibilities of re-analysis of the state of complex systems of hierarchical real-time systems;

‒ avoiding the problem of loops while visualizing the state of the national security system in real time.

It is advisable to implement the specified method in specialized software, which is used to analyze the state of complex systems of hierarchical real-time systems and make management decisions.

The development of a method for visualizing the states of the national security system

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0300

The scientific task, which is solved in the research, is the cognitive display of the state of the national security system with a complex hierarchical structure. As a rule, images are created individually taking into account a specific application field and interpreted by an expert (a group of experts) based on accumulated knowledge. Cognitive mapping is designed to support decision making by an expert (group of experts), monitoring and managing in real time. The object of research is the system of ensuring national security. The subject of the research is the functioning of the national security system. The research developed a method of visualization of the states of the national security system. An overview of the methods of visual graphic presentation of information about the state of multidimensional objects and systems was carried out.

The novelties of the proposed method are:

‒ creation of a visual, multi-level and interconnected description of the national security system;

‒ increasing the efficiency of decision making while assessing the state of the national security system;

‒ solving the problem of falling into global and local extremes while assessing the state of the national security system;

‒ combination of graphic and numerical display of controlled state parameters of the national security system;

‒ avoiding the problem of loops while visualizing the state of the national security system in real time.

The specified method should be implemented in specialized software, which is used to analyze the state of the national security system and make management decisions.

Quality improvement in emergency medical services: shared experiences of South Africa with pre-war Ukraine

Lloyd Christopher, Visvanathan Naicker, Navindhra Naidoo — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0300

In the Republic of South Africa (RSA) healthcare quality including Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is impaired by scarce resources and variable governance and management. The National Health Quality Improvement Plan (NHQIP) seeks to transform health care quality through standards setting.

In RSA EMS managers monitor and adjust quality to comply with the Regulations Relating to Standards for EMS. EMS management training is deficient, and it is unknown how prepared they are to meet quality standards.

Object of research: How can the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of EMS managers be transformed to comply with the standards regulations for EMS.

A mixed methods explanatory sequential design was conducted in two phases. Phase one consisted of a KAP quantitative survey (n=352). Phase two included the non-participant observations (NP-O) at management workshops (n=7) and interviews (n=11) with key informants. The data was analyzed to develop themes to deepen the understanding of the survey data.

Fragmentation of EMS into districts; ineffective workforce management; poor fleet management; poorly trained dispatchers, underutilization of information communication technology and vehicle tracking are factors that compromises the access, safety and contribute to ineffective and inefficient EMS. The World Health Organization (2020) report on EMS is Ukraine identified similar challenges.

EMS quality challenges in RSA are not unique, and sharing common challenges, experiences and solutions may benefit EMS organizations in other developing countries such as Ukraine.