Abbreviated Resume
Nico M. Elema
Business
experience
Nico Elema is
currently the Director and Shareholder of GIS Global Image (PTY) Ltd (www.globalimage.co.za), based in
In 1996, Nico
established Plandata Western Cape, with the aim of providing Geographical
Information System (GIS) and related services to the
A merger led to
the establishment of Global Image in September 2000, where Nico was appointed
as Director and Operational Manager for the Western Cape Office. Global Image has two offices in
His current
responsibilities include the Strategic Management of Global Image on a National
level, and the General Management of the Western Cape Office. He also provides Specialist inputs into all
projects in
One of his key
focus areas within the organisation is the development of Integrated
Geographical Systems for Local Government.
These systems integrate data from Financial-, Engineering-, Town Planning
and other related systems into a single corporate.
He also
specialises in GIS the development of Information Management Policies, to
assist organisations in managing and distributing information in a responsible
manner. These Policies are based on the
Promotion of Access to Information Act (Act 2 / 2000).
His knowledge and
experience has also led to various invitations to discuss and workshop the
implementation of Geographical Systems within organizations, to organisation
which include various Local Governments, Western Cape Provincial Government,
the Universities of Stellenbosch and the
Academic
qualifications.
Nico matriculated
with university exemption, from
After completing
the part-time qualification National Diploma in Town and Regional Planning
(T&RP) at the Witwatersrand Technicon in 1993, he completed the Higher
Diploma (T&RP) in 1994 at the ML Sultan Technicon.
In 2003, Nico
enrolled at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) for an Master
of Business Administration (MBA) degree, which he successfully completed in
2006, with the dissertation titled “THE COST EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENATION OF
INTEGRATED SPATIAL MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT”. The abstract from his research is as
follows:
Management
within Local Government are increasingly required to report on the various
spatially related projects and initiatives within their jurisdiction. As Information Technology develops, various
electronic systems are implemented within the organisations, not only assist in
the reporting, but also to fulfil the data requirements in relation to
maintenance, capturing and storing of data.
In order to fully adhere to the reporting needs, systems are also
increasingly required to integrate, and in so doing, provide access to more
data in the organisation. But as the
reporting requirements are often clear, the cost in implementing the required
systems elude implementers. One of the
reasons for costs being unclear stems from a need for integrated systems to
help implementers to understand the cost factors which drive costs, and in so
doing, enabling them to manage costs incurred in projects better.
As a
solution, an Integrated Spatial Management Information System (ISMIS) is
discussed. Seven primary cost factors
are identified and discussed to assist in the better understanding of the
relevant cost factors. These cost factors include data, software, hardware,
training requirements, customisation, maintenance and time constraints. Each cost factor is discussed in detail, and
the potential impact it might have on the total cost of a project
investigated. A method measuring the
success of a project is also discussed, whereby the total cost in implementing
an ISMIS is related to the number of active users as expressed in
cost-per-seat. The relationship between
the different types of users within a local municipality, their function and
the impact the cost factors can have on the use and cost-per-seat calculation
are also discussed. To illustrate the
impact, three different scenarios are discussed, each with variable cost
factors. It is found, that the
management of cost factors can greatly increase the use of a system, and
thereby make the implementation of the system more cost-effective. Finally the concept of cost-benefit analysis
(CBA) is also discussed, providing a concept whereby the costs can be measured
against benefits, where the aim is to implement an ISMIS where the benefits
outweigh the costs.
Nico is
also a PhD Candidate with the University of the Western Cape (UWC), focusing on
“THE VIABILITY OF OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE SYSTEMS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN A
DEVELOPING COUNTRY”. It is envisaged that the study project would be completed
in 2009.
Conferences and presentations
International:
The East African GIS
Strategy Workshop.
o Topic: THE
KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY
o Topic: INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS)
o Topic: STRATEGIC
THINKING
o Topic: GIS
STRATEGY AS A PROCESS
o Topic: ENHANCING
KNOWLEDGE CAPABILITY: GIS FRAMEWORKS AND STANDARDS
o Topic: GIS SUCCESS
STORIES
o Topic: ACTIVITY -
DEVELOPING A GIS STRATEGY AND PRESENTATIONS
The East African
Knowledge Management Workshop.
o Topic: KNOWLEDGE AS AN OBJECT.
o Topic: ENHANCING KNOWLEDGE CAPABILITY - KNOWLEDGE
MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORKS AND STANDARDS.
o Topic: KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS.
The
Topic: AN OVERVIEW OF OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE IN LOCAL
GOVERNMENT IN A DEVELOPING ECONOMY.
Local –
The
TOPIC: A CASE STUDY: THE OVERBERG
DISTRICT INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The City of
TOPIC: THE
COST EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF INTEGRATED SPATIAL MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
SYSTEMS (ISMIS) FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
Technology in
Local Government Conference. Gallagher Estate, Midrand
Topic: COST-EFFECTIVE GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS
(GIS)
Guest speaker at
the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) to MBA students on the
topic of Spatial Systems. Year:
2003-2006
Guest speaker at
the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) to MBA students on the
topic of the Management of User needs and Open Source Systems in Local
Government within a developing economy.
Year: 2006
Guest speaker at
the University of the Western Cape (UWC) to Information System Honours students
on the Management of user requirements. Year: 2006.
Various capacity
building workshops for the Western Cape Provincial Government as part of the
Consolidated Municipal Infrastructure Programme (CMIP – currently MIG
programme) Year: 2002 – 2003
Various
presentations and workshops with Local Government officials on the
implementation of Spatial Systems. Year: 1996 to date.
Personal.
Nico is married to
his wife Nadine, with two children Reinhardt (born 1997) and Hilde (born 2000),
and resides in