Academics and universities worldwide have increasingly been subjected to monitoring and evaluation of research outputs. Research impact has become a buzzword, and the use of metrics for research evaluation has become an integral part of the academic landscape. The adverse impact of this audit culture is well documented (Adler and Harzing 2009; Mingers and Willmott 2013). A reversal of this trend, however, is unlikely; it is therefore important for academics to be aware of these debates. This chapter provides a brief introduction into research impact, based on my academic research in the area, over 12 years of user support for Publish or Perish (Harzing 2007) – a free software program for citation analysis – and my presentations and blogposts on the topic.
The aim of the study is to assess the status of water (focus) availability, demand and supply in South African context (locus). The rationale is that water is a human right, and every community member has a right to water accessibility. The study utilises a qualitative desktop analysis approach. The information was gathered through secondary sources that are published in the form of official documents. Journal articles, reports, etc. The information was analysed through document analysis. Findings reveal that although water management is significant to provide equal distribution of water, it has various challenges to deal with. Such challenges are linked to gaps in capacity-building, technological expertise, financial resources, to state a few. The study proposes that traditional methods and procedures may have impacted on water governance and water management. Therefore, it is suggested that the use of fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technologies in water institutions, their processes and procedures may improve the efficiency of water supply. The study contributes to the fields of public management, information technologies and water studies. The proposed suggestions may assist decision-makers, policymakers and stakeholders in improving water governance.
