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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
1

A Roadmap for the Titanium Metal Industry of South Africa

Roux, Nicolene January 2020 (has links)
The South African titanium metal industry is underdeveloped and has a fragmented value chain. The aim of this study was to investigate fragmentation within the local titanium metal value chain by using industry technology roadmapping as a tool to comment on the completeness of each value chain stage. Roadmapping for the period 2021 to 2030 was applied to a novel value chain produced for the local titanium metal industry. Within the fragmented value chain, it was indicated that from the eight identified stages only four were established locally. The identified stages of the titanium metal value chain were: stage 1 - mineral reserves; stage 2 - slag; stage 3 – TiCl4; stage 4 – sponge; stage 5 – melted products; stage 6 – mill products; stage 7 – metal powder production and stage 8 – metal powder products. Stages 1, 2, 6 and 8 are already established in South Africa. The roadmapping type selected to address the fragmented South African titanium metal value chain was an industry technology roadmap. This type of roadmap focuses on forecasting the development, commercialisation and deployment of new technologies. The overall industry roadmap was designed using individual roadmaps for the value chain stages. These individual roadmaps were used as a guideline on what to include and what to exclude from the overall industry roadmap. The technology roadmap layout consisted of five layers namely market, product, technology, R&D, and resources. These roadmapping layers were applied to each stage of the titanium metal value chain resulting in the production of individual roadmaps for each stage. The roadmap model was based on the three fundamental questions in roadmapping: “Where are we now?” addressing the current state of each value chain stage, “Where do we want to go?” addressing the vision elements for each value chain stage and “How will we get there?” addressing how the vision elements would be achieved for each value chain stage. The methodology used in this study relied on data collection from two main sources. The first was primary data collected through conducting interviews and a survey. The main aim of the interviews (conducted with industry and R&D experts) was to establish a vision element for each of the titanium metal value chain stages which was validated though the survey. Secondary data was then combined with the collected expert driven data in order to follow the selected roadmapping approach and complete a roadmap for each of the value chain stages following the specified layers (top-down approach). The vision elements were then combined to obtain an overall South African titanium metal value chain vision. The consolidated vision, based on what should be included in the South African titanium metal value chain and what not, was used as driver for compiling the overall South African titanium metal industry roadmap. This was done by considering and combining the required actions needed from the value chain stage roadmaps (top-down visioning approach) to achieve the identified overall roadmap (bottom-up visioning approach). The newly developed vision for the South African titanium metal industry is: South Africa should continue to mine and upgrade titanium mineral concentrates in a sustainable and efficient manner. The country should commit to the establishment of two additional stages within the titanium metal value chain, which is TiCl4 production and titanium metal powder production. Capacity and expertise within the two already developed downstream stages (mill product and powder product production) should be expanded for both the local and the export markets. Within the mill product market, the focus should be on producing products for the medical, chemical and aerospace industries while the powder product markets should focus on medical, aerospace, leisure and automotive industries. In addition to the vision and roadmap establishment, other outcomes of this study indicated that the South African titanium metal industry is fragmented and should remain fragmented over the next decade. This thesis presents novel research on the production of a roadmap for a fragmented industry. To the best knowledge of the author, no other industry roadmap approach has first considered the production of individual roadmaps in a fragmented value chain and then combine them into a single overall industry technology roadmap. South Africa can apply the newly obtained titanium industry vision and roadmap, since there was no prior vision that addressed the development of the industry’s fragmented value chain. The newly produced roadmap can be used to advance and develop the South African titanium metal industry in order to improve local value addition to the already existing resources. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / The main sponsor wat the CSIR, Additive Manufacturing Initiative (AMI) UP Postgraduate Bursary for Masters and Doctoral students / Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM) / PhD / Unrestricted
2

Innovation and creativity in organizations: a state-of-the-science review, prospective commentary, and guiding framework

Anderson, Neil, Potocnik, K., Zhou, J. 17 March 2014 (has links)
Yes / Creativity and innovation in any organization are vital to its successful performance. The authors review the rapidly growing body of research in this area with particular attention to the period 2002 to 2013, inclusive. Conceiving of both creativity and innovation as being integral parts of essentially the same process, we propose a new, integrative definition. We note that research into creativity has typically examined the stage of idea generation, whereas innovation studies have commonly also included the latter phase of idea implementation. The authors discuss several seminal theories of creativity and innovation and then apply a comprehensive levels-of-analysis framework to review extant research into individual, team, organizational, and multilevel innovation. Key measurement characteristics of the reviewed studies are then noted. In conclusion, we propose a guiding framework for future research comprising 11 major themes and 60 specific questions for future studies. / Grant IN-2012-095 from the U.K. Leverhulme Trust awarded to the first author and by British Academy Grant SG110409 awarded to the second author.
3

The business of 'dark tourism' : the management of 'dark tourism' visitor sites and attractions, with special reference to innovation

Poade, Donna Maria January 2017 (has links)
This study explores the management of visitor sites and attractions associated with death, disaster and suffering, commonly referred to in the literature as ‘dark tourism’. Although gaining increasing academic attention, the supply-side perspective of dark tourism is poorly understood with scarce empirical evidence relating to management operations and practices. This may be due to management operations and practices that are perceived to conflict with the sensitive themes of visitor sites associated with dark tourism. Particular consideration is given to the management concept of innovation identified as a significant gap for scholarly exploration. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were carried out with senior management at 23 sites and attractions across the United Kingdom associated with dark tourism. The findings reveal that, contrary to suggestions that dark tourism sites may be restrictive in management practices, a wide array of innovative activities and marketing practices are widely conducted and innovation was viewed as a stimuli for repeat visitation. Furthermore, management operations are viewed as facilitating important stories of trauma for present and future generations. Omission of these stories would belittle the tragic circumstances in which people associated with the sites had died or suffered. Moreover, managers at dark tourism sites acknowledged the ethical and moral tensions surrounding management practices at dark tourism sites. Indeed, the majority of managers adopted both highly ethical processes resulting in ethical innovations and complex consultation processes in order to mitigate any potential concerns from stakeholders. The ethical stance underpinning operations positions the phenomenon of dark tourism as a subset within the tourism sector, distinct from its counterparts. Recommendations include calls to widen the study to explore visitor perceptions of innovative measures undertaken by managers, and to focus on specific commercial aspects, such as retailing, within the business of dark tourism.
4

Assessing the use of foresight as a managerial skill to manage business decisions in an academic institution / Pieter Du Preez Du Plessis

Du Plessis, Pieter Du Preez January 2014 (has links)
In the recent decades there have been tremendous technological and innovative advances that have shaped the business. Technology Laws like Moore’s, Gates law, Gilder’s Law, Metcalfe’s Law and Less’s Law shows the rate at which technological development has taken place. This has impacted how society as a whole functions and thus had changed the whole business environment and the rate at which new trend and ideas are adopted. It has become important for organisations to develop dynamic capabilities to be able to adopt in these environments where they could easily become redundant in a very short time. The aim of this study was to assess the use of foresight as a managerial skill to manage business decisions in academic institutions. For this study the primary focus was on higher academic institutions in South Africa. These higher academic institutions have been operating in a business environment that is highly competitive considering they focus on delivering quality products and services to the communities they serve. These products and services have to be competitive with the rest of the international market and thus they have to ensure they deliver products and services that are relevant to the latest industry trends and technologies. Foresight as a skill is very useful in the early detection of new trends, technologies and assist in the improving the innovation of these organisations. Exploratory research found that within these organisations there is a strong representation of Flexist’s which are hesitant to adopt new technologies, where they would rather wait till it is tried and tested before adopting the technology. The results also depicted a relationship between the ways these organisations adopted technologies to that of the technology adoption life cycle model. The exact same way new technologies have to cross the chasm in the market was found within the organisations where there were some staff members being early adopter of new technology and the rest pragmatists. Finally a foresight skill measurement formula had been developed which can be adopted to various industries. It can indicate areas where the organisations need to improve and plot them on an exponential curve showing their rate of effectiveness. The curve also indicates how effective they are at the implementation of foresight. Recommendation for further research in this field can be aimed at getting a better understanding of the relationship between the biographical information such as qualifications, age and years of experience impact the ability of foresight as a skill. / MBA (Business Administration), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015
5

Assessing the use of foresight as a managerial skill to manage business decisions in an academic institution / Pieter Du Preez Du Plessis

Du Plessis, Pieter Du Preez January 2014 (has links)
In the recent decades there have been tremendous technological and innovative advances that have shaped the business. Technology Laws like Moore’s, Gates law, Gilder’s Law, Metcalfe’s Law and Less’s Law shows the rate at which technological development has taken place. This has impacted how society as a whole functions and thus had changed the whole business environment and the rate at which new trend and ideas are adopted. It has become important for organisations to develop dynamic capabilities to be able to adopt in these environments where they could easily become redundant in a very short time. The aim of this study was to assess the use of foresight as a managerial skill to manage business decisions in academic institutions. For this study the primary focus was on higher academic institutions in South Africa. These higher academic institutions have been operating in a business environment that is highly competitive considering they focus on delivering quality products and services to the communities they serve. These products and services have to be competitive with the rest of the international market and thus they have to ensure they deliver products and services that are relevant to the latest industry trends and technologies. Foresight as a skill is very useful in the early detection of new trends, technologies and assist in the improving the innovation of these organisations. Exploratory research found that within these organisations there is a strong representation of Flexist’s which are hesitant to adopt new technologies, where they would rather wait till it is tried and tested before adopting the technology. The results also depicted a relationship between the ways these organisations adopted technologies to that of the technology adoption life cycle model. The exact same way new technologies have to cross the chasm in the market was found within the organisations where there were some staff members being early adopter of new technology and the rest pragmatists. Finally a foresight skill measurement formula had been developed which can be adopted to various industries. It can indicate areas where the organisations need to improve and plot them on an exponential curve showing their rate of effectiveness. The curve also indicates how effective they are at the implementation of foresight. Recommendation for further research in this field can be aimed at getting a better understanding of the relationship between the biographical information such as qualifications, age and years of experience impact the ability of foresight as a skill. / MBA (Business Administration), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015
6

Research on the innvation and change of multinational corporation's subsidiary -- A case study of EPSON Taiwan Technology & Trading LTD.

Chung, Hui-Kuang 03 July 2004 (has links)
¡@With the increasing growth of Asia market, most of well-known multinational corpo -ration have respectively extended their business to and weight their investment in Taiwan area. Accordingly, Taiwan and Asia enterprises themselves need needs to innovate and change repeatedly so as to improve their competitive ability. Taiwan is in a transient stage from ¡§manufacture orientation¡¨ to ¡§marketing orientation¡¨, now will change to ¡§innovation orientation¡¨. Therefore, it is a significant subject for Taiwan enterprises, especially for which intend to have international business, to apply domestic and overseas management theories and experiences to the characteristics of the enterprises themselves so as to develop a new management mode. ¡@After reviewing and organizing related domestic and overseas studies and documents, we will do discussion with five aspects including strategy, organization, reward, technology and marketing. We will further discuss and analyze, by case study, the development of innovation and reformation in a company and show the results caused thereby. We generalize a study conclusion according to the collected data, documents and contents of a case interview. In this study conclusion, it can be understood that a parent company should give its subsidiary company appropriate autonomies and timely changes in management style while the subsidiary company keeps on growing, and that an enterprise should make clear its market position, core specialty and main target, improve internal efficiencies (e.g. enterprise resource planning, knowledge management, innovation management, supply chain manage -ment and so on) by introducing new technologies, encourage employees to learn and to innovate more as well as adopt diverse salary system for employee performance. Since enterprises nowadays need to face the rapid changes of science and technology, diversified markets and competitive environments,the case will keep moving forward to the business objectives which is predetermined by its organization. ¡@Based on the case findings, an enterprise intends to keep a longer business, overtake competitors and create competitive advantage for becoming a top one, it innovate and change repeatedly and keep moving forward to the business objectives which is predetermined by its organization. which all are good management modes for current enterprises to survive, grow and confront the market changes.
7

Maximizing returns on innovation through service encapsulation : a case study in Thailand luxury car industry

Kulnides, Nattavut January 2013 (has links)
The Thai automotive industry was the third largest industry in the country and contributed nearly 12% of Thai GDP in 2010. Thailand is projected to be in the world’s top ten vehicle production countries by 2015. In 2011, the country produced 1.8 million vehicles and 600,000 units were for domestic consumption. The luxury car industry in Thailand represents roughly 5% of the total automotive market in 2011. Luxury car consumption in Thailand reached its peak in 1995 with the domestic consumption of 23,265 units. In 1997, Thailand triggered the world economic meltdown by devaluing the Thai currency. Consequently, luxury car sale volume then dropped to 3,383 units in 1998. Since then Thailand’s automotive industry has gone through a series of changes through political unrest (military coup – 2007, red shirt protest - 2010), global economy (US sub-prime crisis - 2008), and natural disaster (Japan’s tsunami – 2011, Thailand’s mega flood – 2011). For the past decade, luxury car sales volume has stagnated at around 10,000 units, despite Thailand’s GDP averaging growth of 7%. The study of the Thai luxury car industry provides a unique opportunity to probe the industry led by international firms entering fierce competition to win local consumers. This study looks through consumers’ buying criteria and reasons why Thai consumers purchase highly priced luxury cars. The study explores the roles of innovations in the Thai luxury car industry. When services are packaged with core products, this package attempt is classified as ‘service encapsulation’. The study explores the role of service encapsulation in Thailand and the key players who deliver values of service encapsulation. A mixed research methodology approach was used, starting with 30 face-to-face interviews with executives who run Thai luxury car companies and other key stakeholders. Findings and outcomes are used to design the questionnaire of ‘Service Encapsulation in Thailand Luxury Car Industry’. The survey includes 206 survey participants. Outcomes from the qualitative and quantitative parts are integrated with the literature on innovation and service innovation to come up with a Service Encapsulation Commercialization Framework. The framework aims to provide insight on the interplay among four key elements: internal parties, external parties, social factors and service encapsulation enablers, based on the original work of Sundbo and Gallouj (2000). The study provides insights on how organizations can maximize returns on innovation through service encapsulation, by using the Thai luxury car market as a case study.
8

U.S. Newspapers And The Adoption Of Technological Innovations

Kemp, Jacob 12 1900 (has links)
In order to survive in a hyper-competitive media marketplace, managers must constantly evaluate new technologies and their potential impact on the industry. Using theories on innovation management in organization, this study examined the processes used by managers at daily newspaper in the U.S. during the time period of 1992-2005 to plan for publishing content online. Fourteen subjects, all of whom held management positions during this time, were interviewed at length about their experiences. Their responses reveal that the processes were generally haphazard. This was a result of several factors, some of which were external to the newspaper industry, and others which were cultural, internal forces. Despite a general level of disorganization in the processes, the responses do identify some practices that can be used as blueprints for media organizations that wish to rethink their approach to potentially disruptive technologies.
9

The role of different innovation management modes on organisational financial performance in South Africa / S.M.V.Z. Kaitano

Kaitano, Shupikai Mafadzwa Viena Zelda January 2014 (has links)
The study investigated the role of innovation management modes on organisationorganisational financial performance in South Africa. to examine what the relationship is with organisational financial performance. Although research has been conducted on the innovative strategy in South Africa none has been identified that seeks to establish the link to organisational financial performance. Innovativeness and an adapted innovation management mode questionnaire taken from Bisbe and Malagueno’s (2009), was administered to 73 companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. These 73 companies were selected because they were registered and they confirmed to be innovating companies. A poor response rate of 18% was obtained due to changes in the willingness of respondents from when the database was compiled to the date of the actual research. The Cronbach alpha coefficient analysis was conducted to ascertain the reliability of the measurement tool in relation to the small sample size obtained. The innovativeness tool proved to be reliable with a Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.845. Some of the innovation management mode tool items were coded and reversed and upon applying the Cronbach alpha coefficient, the tool was found not to be reliable when all 25 items were analysed. Reliability was obtained for three out of the six subsections when analysed separately. These subsections were used for Spearman rho correlation analyses, together with descriptive statistics for all items in the tool, in order to test innovativeness in organisations; relationship of innovativeness and IMM; and lastly the relationship between IMM and organisational financial performance; for the sample being observed. Shareholder wealth creation (SWC) was used as a tool for organisational financial performance measurement, together with other more common measures for profitability, leverage, growth and survival. A positive relationship between financial performance and innovativeness in the sample confirmed that innovation is a source of increased financial performance in organisations. No conclusive relationship could be ascertained between organisational financial performance using SWC, leverage, return on assets and survival. However the positive relationship found between growth and IMM in the sample, suggests that IMM may have a role to play in a growing organisation. The prevalence of systematic IMM in the sample and the high organisational financial performance of some of the companies using this mode could be due to the use of the contingency innovation management. Limitations were identified in the study, which included the small sample size obtained and suggestions to improve on the implementation of the empirical research. Areas of further study include improving implementation and opening it up to a wider population group to ascertain whether the results found in this research are representative for South African companies. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015
10

The role of different innovation management modes on organisational financial performance in South Africa / S.M.V.Z. Kaitano

Kaitano, Shupikai Mafadzwa Viena Zelda January 2014 (has links)
The study investigated the role of innovation management modes on organisationorganisational financial performance in South Africa. to examine what the relationship is with organisational financial performance. Although research has been conducted on the innovative strategy in South Africa none has been identified that seeks to establish the link to organisational financial performance. Innovativeness and an adapted innovation management mode questionnaire taken from Bisbe and Malagueno’s (2009), was administered to 73 companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. These 73 companies were selected because they were registered and they confirmed to be innovating companies. A poor response rate of 18% was obtained due to changes in the willingness of respondents from when the database was compiled to the date of the actual research. The Cronbach alpha coefficient analysis was conducted to ascertain the reliability of the measurement tool in relation to the small sample size obtained. The innovativeness tool proved to be reliable with a Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.845. Some of the innovation management mode tool items were coded and reversed and upon applying the Cronbach alpha coefficient, the tool was found not to be reliable when all 25 items were analysed. Reliability was obtained for three out of the six subsections when analysed separately. These subsections were used for Spearman rho correlation analyses, together with descriptive statistics for all items in the tool, in order to test innovativeness in organisations; relationship of innovativeness and IMM; and lastly the relationship between IMM and organisational financial performance; for the sample being observed. Shareholder wealth creation (SWC) was used as a tool for organisational financial performance measurement, together with other more common measures for profitability, leverage, growth and survival. A positive relationship between financial performance and innovativeness in the sample confirmed that innovation is a source of increased financial performance in organisations. No conclusive relationship could be ascertained between organisational financial performance using SWC, leverage, return on assets and survival. However the positive relationship found between growth and IMM in the sample, suggests that IMM may have a role to play in a growing organisation. The prevalence of systematic IMM in the sample and the high organisational financial performance of some of the companies using this mode could be due to the use of the contingency innovation management. Limitations were identified in the study, which included the small sample size obtained and suggestions to improve on the implementation of the empirical research. Areas of further study include improving implementation and opening it up to a wider population group to ascertain whether the results found in this research are representative for South African companies. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

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