8.3.2.1 Role of OITDAT for SITD in SEs
The findings in this section are discussed under the following sub-themes: the benefits of the OITDAT, the relevance of the OITDAT, and the reliance on the support of OITDAT. Section 4.4.3.2 describes the grouping of the themes based on thematic data analysis technique.
i. Benefits of the OITDAT
The users perceived the OITDAT as a useful tool that can influence strategic IT choice. Five of the participants interviewed commented on the numerous ways the OITDAT can benefit their SITDM process. Table 8-2 summarises the comments of the users.
Benefits of the OITDAT User
I User II User III User IV User V User VI
Reduces the IT Skill Gap in SME
Potential DSS for SITD
Better Analysis of IT Alternatives
Improved Information Searching
ii. Relevance of the OITDAT
The OITDAT was unanimously accepted as a relevant tool for the SITDM process in SE. However, user III was reluctant in admitting to the innovativeness of the OITDAT because the IT decisions demonstrated with the tool were not relevant to his agriculture business. According to user III who is a farm owner stated that, “the current decisions you have demonstrated aren’t relevant to me but might be relevant to other businesses. Just that my company has not grown to that extent of using CRM systems.” Other users described the OITDAT as relevant, impressive, insightful, and a creative strategy to support SEs’ SITDM process. The importance of the OITDAT was emphasised because it provides a detailed level of analysis of the users’ business requirements. The OITDAT was also acknowledged to offer users with a sufficient level of detailed recommendations, thereby simplifying the choice process. The following comments in Table 8-3 highlights the perceived relevance of the OITDAT.
User Comment
I “The system is a great starting step towards the development of a decision support system for IT”, II “…it is insightful by revealing some potential business opportunities”
III “Like every DSS it provides one with a guide then it left for the decision-maker to adhere to the recommendation. So, is the web-tool relevant? I will say to an extent”
IV “I am thrilled by the artefact and its suggestion”
V “I will say it is very relevant tool that supports IT decisions” VI “Extremely relevant, I am very impressed with this software”
Table 8-3:Relevance of the OITDAT
iii. Reliance on the support of OITDAT
This study assessed users’ trust and confidence on the information and recommendations provided by OITDAT. The users’ response revealed that the OITDAT can substitute the external information source for SITD in SEs. This study describes external information sources as friends, vendors, and consultants. User III emphasised how the OITDAT will eliminate users’ dependency on vendors and the business network because the OITDAT provides comprehensive and concise information. In addition, user IV from Nigeria stated that the OITDAT’s recommendations surpass the advice from vendors. “The artefact is a good initiative. I consider your system as a consulting service because that is what we pay the consultant to help us analyse…translate business requirements to technical or IT needs”, (User I). Also, “Impressive, this software enlightened me on somethings that my vendors will never mention to me. For instance, the architectural principles that will guide how I negotiate with them and recommendations to integrate some IT instead of buying”, (User IV). The confidence demonstrated by user IV shows the level of trust the decision-
makers have in the OITDAT. Also, users I, II and VI revealed how the “architectural principles recommendation” in the OITDAT will serve as a benchmark for subsequent SITDs. The optimism of the users suggests that OITDAT can serve as an alternative to external information sources for SITD in SEs.
8.3.2.2 Functionalities of the OITDAT:
The findings showed that the users considered the OITDAT as a very useful tool that supports SITD because of some features of OITDAT. User IV stated that OITDAT provides precise and concise information. Furthermore, “…it eliminates the difficulties of analysing the information I acquire online, from friends, or business network” (User II). The users described the features of OITDAT in different terms as highlighted in Table 8- 4.
S/N OITDAT Functionalities User
I User II User III User IV User V User VI
1 Analysis of business requirements
2 Analysis of IT alternatives
3 Overcome the lack of IT specialist in SEs
4 Business-oriented questions
5 Concise information
6 Criteria assessment
7 Criteria definition
8 Detailed information to support IT choice
9 Quick access to information source
10 Online 247 access to the OITDAT
11 Eliminate cost of searching for information
12 Expert advice (recommendation)
13 Holistic assessment of business & IT
requirements
14 Recommendations based on business
maturity
15 Relevant architectural principles
16 Strategic perspective of IT choice
17 Systemic analysis of information
18 Timely assessment of IT decisions
19 Translating business requirements to IT
need
8.3.2.3 Technical Risks and Ethical Considerations for the use of OITDAT in SEs
The users collectively confirmed that the OITDAT does not pose any technical or professional risks to them nor to the SEs. Some of the users suggested that vendors or consultants may perceive the OITDAT as a threat because the tool will make them less relevant in their decision- making process. The ethical consideration was to ascertain the level of trust on the recommendations by OITDAT. The users considered OITDAT as a decision support system, so it is the responsibility of the decision-maker to accept or reject the recommendations of the OITDAT. The following quotes emphasised on the SE owner-managers understanding of the ethical consideration of the OITDAT. “Well I see it as a DSS. Like every DSS it provides one with a guide then its left for the decision-maker to adhere to the recommendation.” (User III). “…so, if one has a tool that analyse the consequences, then it is up to you to decide – agree or disagree with the outcome.” (User IV)
8.3.2.4 Usability of the OITDAT
In this study, the usability of the OITDAT is perceived as the ease of use of the OITDAT and the simplicity of the user’s interface. The OITDAT was developed with consideration to the level of technical-orientation of the intended users. All the users confirmed that the OITDAT was very explicit, easy to use, with simplified interface, and the content of the OITDAT was well structured. On the contrary, the user III stated that the OITDAT is not very interactive and claimed that it will be difficult to use the OITDAT without the researcher’s intervention. According to user III, “this (OITDAT) is fairly simple and easy to use but not interactive. I think I will get a bit confused if I have to use the website by myself.”
8.3.2.5 Limitations and recommendations for the improvement of the OITDAT
This section presents the limitations of OITDAT and the users’ recommendations on how to improve the OITDAT.
a) The users suggested that the OITDAT should be demonstrated with more IT decisions like ERP, cloud storage, and cloud backups. However, users II, III and IV feel enlightened by the two IT decisions demonstrated with the OITDAT.
b) Two of the users claimed that they were not familiar with some terms like architectural principles and maturity level the first time they used the OITDAT.
Limitations User
I User II User III User IV User V
Lack of product/vendor
recommendation
Ambiguous words/terminologies Demonstrate OITDAT with more IT Decisions
Non-interactive User Interface (UX)
Table 8-5: Limitation of the OITDAT
The users also provided some recommendations to improve the OITDAT as follows:
a) The users suggested that the researcher needs to populate the OITDAT with more decisions.
b) The users acknowledged that the time constraint of the PhD will not allow the researcher to populate the OITDAT with more IT decisions. However, some of the users suggested that the researcher should invest more time on the development of OITDAT after the PhD program.
c) The user II and user III recommended that the researcher should make the OITDAT available for free or for minimal cost.
d) The users recommend the introduction of dictionary to explain complex terminologies. The table below highlights some comments of the SE owner-managers.
User Comment
III “….. make it more interactive ……...”
IV “You might consider having a dictionary of words to explain some concepts.” V “I hope we can have access to this website when we need it.”
II “…. I want to believe that enterprises from outside South Africa will also find this system very useful.” II “This is a very good tool that I suggest you strongly invest in even after your PhD.”
Table 8-6: Recommendations for the improvement of OITDAT