Browsing by Author "Joseph, Richard"

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    Impact of information and communication technology (ICT) adoption on microfinance institutions (MFIs): the case of PRIDE Tanzania
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2006) Joseph, Richard
    The main objective of the case study was to explore and gain an understanding of the impact of ICT adoption in the Microfinance industry in Tanzania. The study specifically addresses the following issues; first, the extent of ICT investment in PRIDE Tanzania and level of ICT competence to staff, second, the study assessed whether the ICT adoption has helped the organization to improve organizational performance and quality of services, lastly, the study tried to expose major constraints associated with effective implementation and utilization of ICT. Respondents were drawn from PRIDE Tanzania staff in six different branches. This study used purposive sampling to obtain respondents from total population. Questionnaires were adopted as the main tool of collecting data. Variables and hypotheses were identified and developed to obtain statistical relationships. Findings revealed that ICT adoption have helped PRIDE Tanzania to reduce some of operating costs. Offer more products, increase productivity, monitor loan repayment and serve clients timely. The study also reveals management attitude towards ICT investment and utilization. ICT investment only refers to the acquisitions of ICT futilities, undermining the aspect of ICT training to ICT users (staff). The extent of ICT utilization is solely automation, speeding up the processes rather than making use ICT options to reorganize business operations. This study concludes that for the ICT to have substantial impact, MFIs should stop using technology to mechanize old ways of doing businesses. The study argues that MFIs to utilize ICT to radically redesign business processes in order to achieve substantial impact of ICT investment.
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    Rainfall-runoff modeling of the upper catchments of the Utengule swamp.
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 1998) Joseph, Richard
    This study was carried out at determining the rainfall - runoff model for the sub - catchments upstream of Utengule Swamp, in an attempt to analyze the transformation of rainfall into runoff and hence assess the amount of water available. Assessment of the water loss at the same area has also been included in an attempt to evaluate the net available water resources, both on surface and sub-surface and assessing the existing water utilization pattern and practices. The information will help in planning the optimal and efficient management of water resources potential. Rainfall-runoff process was modelled by the use of the system type or black box, whereas water loss was carried out by the use of catchment water balance method. It was found out that the LPM-API gave better results if compared with other system models tested. Although LPM-API is concluded to be used in simulation and forecasting of discharges, thus enabling flood warning measures to be taken, its results are not good enough for the model to be stuck for use. It is recommended that other models be tested if further studies are to be done. Apart from model structure, it is possible that the model results have been greatly influenced by the quality of the data. The way of improving these data has also been recommended on the last chapter. Since most of sub-catchments had no rain falling within them and the rainfall taken were of nearby to the sub catchment in question, it was felt by the researcher to do some kind of surface interpolation-over the study area of the rainfall data and then perform the water balance again to compare the two results. The time scale of interpolation was on daily basis and interpolation was on raster format rather than vector format. It was found out that the relation of water loss versus rainfall was found to be good before interpolation as compared to the one after interpolation. The reason has been described due to either interpolation technique or time scale used in the interpolation which in this case was on daily basis. The recommendations for solving this type of problem has been given on the last chapter.