Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A demand exists in SMEs to implement an ERP system to provide intime transaction and management information to the employees and management respectively. The reason for this study developed from problems experienced in the past with ERP implementations. As a first step, a generic business model for project management in an SME was developed. This business model is based mainly on the PMBOK. Experienced project management consultants provided inputs for the business model. CAE accepted the business model after a few reviews. The business model was implemented in CAE and the employees trained to perform their daily tasks on Omuzik by using the processes suggested by the business model. The five main processes in the project management business model are Initiating, Planning, Executing, Controlling and Closing. The model is complete with inputs to the processes and the resulting outputs from them. The business model was implemented on Omuzik, and comments were included with every business process. Reports for project management were developed to provide in the information requirements of the project managers. The reports developed and deployed aim at providing detail and summary information to assist project managers in performing project control. The reports were developed and implemented and are currently used by the CAE project managers. The project management business model and reports fit into the bigger project for the complete enterprise with great success. The bigger project has completed the templates and is ready for the first fast implementation where the methodology will be tested. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Behoefte bestaan by kleinsakeondernemings om ERP-stelsels te implementeer om in hulle intydse inligtingsbehoeftes vir transaksieinligting aan werknemers en bestuursinligting aan bestuur te voorsien. Die rede vir hierdie studie het ontwikkel uit die probleme wat in die verlede met ERP-implementerings ondervind is. As 'n eerste stap is 'n generiese besigheidsmodel vir projekbestuur in 'n kleinsakeonderneming ontwikkel. Die besigheidsmodel is hoofsaaklik op die PMBOK gebaseer. Ervare projekbestuur konsultante het insette gelewer vir die besigheidsmodel. CAE het die besigheidsmodel ná 'n paar hersienings aanvaar. Die besigheidsmodel is geïmplementeer, en die werknemers is opgelei om in hulle daaglikse werk Omuzik vir die voorgestelde besigheidsmodelprosesse te gebruik. Die vyf hoofprosesse in die projekbestuur-besigheidsmodel is Inisiasie, Beplanning, Uitvoer, Beheer en Afsluiting. Die model is afgehandel met insette vir die prosesse en die resulterende uitsette daarvan. Die besigheidsmodel is op Omuzik geïmplementeer, en kommentaar is by elke proses ingesluit. Verslae vir projekbestuur is ontwikkel om in die inligtingsbehoeftes van die projekbestuurder te voorsien. Daar word beoog om met die verslae omvattende en samevattende inligting te voorsien aan projekbestuurders om projekbeheer te kan uitoefen. Die verslae is ontwikkel en geïmplementeer en word deur CAE-projekbestuurders gebruik. Die projekbestuur-besigheidsmodel en verslae pas met sukses in by die groter projek vir die totale onderneming. Die groter projek is in die proses om die model te verpak vir die eerste loodsprojek.

Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT "The environment sets many new requirements and SMEs can reactively adapt or they can design themselves to affect and operate in the environment as effective as possible. " - Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin (2000). The objective of this thesis is to assess how applicable transformation methodologies (essentially a design process) are to South African small and medium manufacturing enterprises (SMEs). Enterprise Engineering was chosen as the reference discipline for this study. Enterprise Engineering is an emerging discipline that draws upon a wide variety of reference disciplines as a foundation. Transformation from an Enterprise Engineering perspective is considered as a rigorous engineering approach through careful planning to transform an enterprise from a current state to desired future state. Two methodologies from the Enterprise Engineering discipline were chosen, and their applicability to serve as transformation methodologies was assessed for South African manufacturing SMEs. The thesis starts by stating the thesis objective, problem statement, approach followed, limitations of the research and thesis outline. Global competitive trends for nations and manufacturing enterprises are then discussed. The current South African environment for manufacturing SMEs is reviewed in order to better understand the specific needs for transformation. Current literature on the reference disciplines of Enterprise Engineering is introduced to establish a sound foundation for understanding the transformation concepts. Transformation, Enterprise Engineering methodologies and the type of transformation that each methodology presents are defined, and some important concepts of the methodologies are discussed and evaluated against prevailing South African practices. A pre-transformation assessment method is established to help in the decision process of whether a SME should go ahead with transformation at all, and if so, what the extent and type of transformation approach should be. An application for each of the two transformation methodologies is done. The Transform Enterprise Methodology was applied at a small manufacturer of microwave components for the electronic warfare industry, and the Master Planning methodology was applied to a business unit that specialises in rapid product development. The results of the applications are included in this report. Lessons learnt and conclusions drawn are presented in the sections following. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: "Die omgewing stel baie nuwe vereistes en klein en medium ondernemings kan reaktief aanpas of hulle self herontwerp om die omgewing te beinvloed en om so effektief as moontlik daarin te werk. " - Handel en Nywerheid Minister Alec Erwin (2000). Die doewit van die tesis is om te bepaal hoe toepasbaar transformasie metodologië is tot Suid Afrikaanse klein en medium vervaardiging ondernemings. Ondernemings Ingenieurswese is gekies as verwysings disipline vir hierdie studie. Ondernemings Ingenieurswese is 'n opkomende disipline wat gebaseer is op 'n wye verskeidenheid verwysings disiplines. Transformasie vanuit 'n Ondernemings Ingenieurswese oogpunt kan beskou word as 'n werksintensiewe ingenieurs benadering om 'n onderneming te transformeer van 'n huidige tot 'n toekomstige begeerlike toestand in ooreenstemming met 'n plan. Twee metedologië vanuit die Ondernemings Ingenieurswese disipline is gekies, en hulle toepasbaarheid om as transformasie metedologië gebruik te word is bepaal vir Suid Afrikaanse klein en medium vervaardiging ondernemings. Die tesis begin deur die tesis doelwit, probleem stelling, benadering gevolg, begrensing van die navorsing en oorsigtelike skema te gee. Globale kompeterende tendensies vir nasies en vervaardinging ondernemings word daarna bespreek. Die huidige omgewing vir klein en medium vervaardiging ondernemings in Suid Afrika word dan beskou. Dit word gedoen om beter te verstaan wat die spesifieke behoeftes vir transformasie is. Huidige literatuur oor Ondernemings Ingenieurswese verwysmgs disiplines word bekend gestelom 'n goeie fondasie daar te stel vir begrip van transformasie konsepte. Transformasie word gedefinieer en twee tipes transformasie metedologië word bekendgestel. Die belangrikste konsepte van die twee metedologië word dan bespreek en geevalueer teen algemene Suid Afrikaanse werkpraktyke. 'n Pro-transformasie evalueerings metode is opgestel om te help met die besluitneming of daar voortgegaan moet word met transformasie in 'n onderneming, en indien wel, watter tipe metedologie gebruik moet word en wat die omvang van transformasie moet wees. Toepassings van beide metedologië is gedoen. Die Transformeer Onderneming Metedologie is toegepas op 'n klein vervaardiger van mikrogolf komponente vir die elektroniese oorlog industrie, en die Meester Plan metedologie is toegepas op a besigheids eenheid wat spesialiseer in pas komponent vervaardiging.

Thesis (MPhil (Information Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / It is well understood that the modern business environment has become a very complex and uncertain arena. The only way that the modern organization can survive under these circumstances, is by “crafting” a strategy that will differentiate itself from its competitors. The process of strategy formulation has been the victim of widespread criticism, from practitioners and academics, alike. Competitive analysis has been identified as a tool that can assist and facilitate strategy formulation. The objective of this assignment was to investigate the dynamic relationship that exists between competitive analysis and strategy formulation and to determine how competitive analysis can assist practitioners during the process of strategy formulation. The first part of the assignment consisted of a literature review that focused on the many facets of strategy and strategy formulation. This involved identifying and defining all the pertinent concepts. In order to understand the process of strategy formulation better, an analysis on the concepts of strategy, strategic planning, strategic management and competitive analysis was done. To enhance understanding of the process further, an analysis was done of the business environment that the organization is active in and that could influence strategy formulation. The assignment also focused on the different objectives of competitive analysis and an analysis was made of the different techniques that are available, because it could influence the technique chosen for the process of competitive analysis. Certain pitfalls and blind spots were also identified that could affect the process negatively and that have to be kept in mind when conducting a competitive analysis Finally, certain recommendations are proposed in order to enhance the understanding of competitive analysis and the process of strategy formulation, as it is applied in the modern business environment.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Information Technology (IT) artefacts, such as Enterprise Resource Planning systems (ERPs), promise much with regard to meeting the requirements of organisations. In the knowledge economy, organisations require real time data, information flow and integration of business processes to remain financially viable and competitive. However, organisations often fail to harness ERP systems effectively. This thesis attempts to unpack a section of the complex nature of ERPs with emphasis on the post-adoption phase of the systems’ development life cycle. This study explores the complex interface between rigid IT artefacts like ERPs and the, often unpredictable, reality of organisational work processes. Focus falls, in particular, on the workaround practices that end users of the system perform and the effects these have on the integrity of the business process. Based on an extensive literature review, an integrated framework for business process integrity is developed and formulated. This model is applied to the analysis of a qualitative data set compiled during an empirical investigation of a large Local Government Organisation utilising a proprietary ERP product. The data set includes semi-structured interviews with members of the ERP user community relating to their handling of impositions or deficiencies experienced when using the artefact. To define the relationship between business process integrity and workaround practices, each workaround identified is individually analysed to determine the reasons and outcomes that are associated with its enactment. Results indicate that workaround practices have diverse impacts on the various dimensions of business process integrity. While, in certain scenarios, they pose serious threats to organisational performance, they also play a particularly important role in enhancing the organisation’s ability to handle non-standard business cases. Despite their informal and often covert nature, workaround practices are at the heart of the balance between control and flexibility in organisations and their existence suggests that, contrary to common beliefs, ERPs only have limited agency in determining organisational workflow. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Inligtingstegnologie (IT) artefakte, soos ondernemingshulpbronbeplanningstelses (OHBs), beloof baie ten einde aan organisasies se vereistes te voldoen. In die kennis-ekonomie vereis organisasies regstreekse data, inligtingsvloei en integrasie van besigheidprosesse om finansieel lewensvatbaar en kompeterend te bly. Dikwels faal organisasies egter om OHB stelsels effektief te benut. Hierdie tesis poog om ʼn deel van die ingewikkelde aard van OHBs te ontleed, met klem op die postaanvaardingsfase in die stelsels se lewensiklus. Hierdie studie ondersoek die ingewikkelde koppelvlak tussen rigiede IT artefakte soos OHBs en die dikwels onvoorspelbare realiteit van organisatoriese werk prosesse. Die klem val in besonder op die alternatiewe praktyke wat eindgebruikers van die stelsel gebruik, en die uitwerking wat hierdie praktyke op die integriteit van die besigheidsproses het. Gegrond op ʼn uitgebreide literatuurstudie, is ʼn geïntegreerde raamwerk vir besigheidsprosesintegriteit ontwikkel en geformuleer. Hierdie model is toegepas op die ontleding van ʼn kwalitatiewe datastel wat saamgestel is tydens ʼn empiriese ondersoek van ʼn Plaaslike Regeringsorganisasie wat ʼn privaat patent OHB-produk gebruik. Die datastel sluit semigestruktureerde onderhoude in wat met lede van die OHB gebruikersgemeenskap gevoer is met betrekking tot hul hantering van opleggings of tekortkominge wat tydens die gebruik van die artefakte ondervind word. Om die verhouding tussen besigheidsprosesintegriteit en die toepassing van omweë te definieer, is elke geïdentifiseerde alternatief individueel ontleed om sodoende die redes en uitkomste wat met die uitvoer daarvan geassosieer word, te bepaal. Resultate dui aan dat alternatiewe gebruike diverse uitwerkings op die verskillende dimensies van besigheidsprosesintegriteit het. Terwyl, in sommige gevalle, dit ernstige bedreigings vir organisatoriese prestasie inhou, speel dit ook ʼn besonder belangrike rol in die verbetering van die organisasie se nie-standaard bedryfsake. Ten spyte van hul informele en dikwels verborge aard, is alternatiewe gebruike die hart van die balans tussen beheer en buigsaamheid in organisasies, en hul bestaan dui daarop dat, in teendeel met algemene oortuigings, OHBs net beperkte werking het met betrekking tot die bepaling van organisatoriese werksvloei.

Competitive advantage is crucial for a business to be sustainable, yet many small- and medium-sized enterprises are not engaging in supplier development in order to achieve a competitive advantage. This empirical study was conducted on a sample of 64 small- and medium-sized enterprises in the manufacturing industry in Kempton Park, Gauteng. The factors that influence engagement in supplier development were analysed to assess whether supplier development can lead to competitive advantage and other benefits. The findings indicate that supplier development can create and improve competitive advantage, as well as lead to other benefits. Four factors were found to have a relationship with supplier development, and therefore could influence the decision to take part in supplier development. Small- and medium-sized enterprises can use tools such as supplier development in order to be competitive and have an advantage over their competitors. The awareness of operational performance measures, competitive advantage, judgment of the absence or existence of trust, and a buyer’s relative power can all influence participation in supplier development.

This study has a twofold purpose. The first is to demonstrate the state of the art of corporate planning and forecasting activity, and the second is to determine the existence of any differences between the planning practices of the consumer service industry and the producer service industry. The study is organized into seven chapters. The introduction chapter contains background information, a description of the problem and opportunity followed by a definition of terms, the purpose of the research, hypothesis of the research. It also describes the scope of the research, methodology, significance and limitations of the study and provides a chapter bibliography. The study finds that though certain segments of the service industry have sophisticated planning capability, it is not generally widespread. The study concludes there is no significant difference in the planning methods between consumer services and producer services industries

There is a continued effort for organisations to invest in resources that enable them to reduce costs while increasing productivity to meet the needs of the customers in order to maximise profits. Such investments also empower them to gain competitive advantage in the market. In an endeavour to achieve this, organisations invest in implementing Information Technology (IT) software to assist in increasing efficiency. There are varieties of available software solutions that are used at various stages of the value-chain. One of these is the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. Bakeries are no exception in exploring ways in which operations can be run more efficiently to reduce costs in the various levels of the supply chain through use of ERP systems. Although bakeries have invested many funds in implementing this system, they fail to enjoy the full returns on their investment of this system. The study compares the use of ERP systems between three leading bakers in Port Elizabeth, as part of convenience sampling, to identify any possible ineffective business practice applications and recommend some applicable solutions. In pursuing this study, a qualitative research was conducted. A critical literature review drawing on academic sources was conducted on the Supply Chain Management SCM. It provides an overview of SCM, and the effectiveness of ERP is SCM. Additionally, it provides benefits of using ERP in SCM. Furthermore, various tools that are used in measuring effectiveness of ERP systems were discussed. These tools included, Perceived Ease of Use and Perceived Usefulness, part of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the balanced scored card. This was followed by a content analysis of web-based content of the three bakeries. Interview schedules were conducted using close-ended and open-ended questionnaires with the procurement, production, and distribution officers in the three bakeries to get a deeper understanding of the experience of the respondents. The questionnaires were distributed to twenty-seven (27) potential participants but interviews were conducted with only five (5) respondents. This constitutes a (5/27) 18.5% response rate. The questions on the questionnaires required a deeper understanding of the experiences of the respondents on their use of ERP. The questions were adopted from a balanced score card questionnaire that was previously used in measuring the performance of ERP systems.The study used Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use within the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to measure the effectiveness of ERP systems that are used in bakeries The analysis revealed that some production departments did not use the ERP system altogether while others used it as an archive and stuck to manual tasks resulting in duplication of tasks, which increase the workload of the departments. It also discourages interdepartmental information integration because other departments do not have easy and quick access to information from their production department. This department must share information to other departments through email. It was discovered that some end-users do not undergo formal training that affect their use of the system making it ineffective. Some found that their system was not user-friendly and increased their workload. Recommendations are made to the management of the bakeries on how to make the use of ERP effective for those planning to upgrade their current baking management systems.

Office operations are on the verge of a major technological transition. The current approach of continually adding newer and faster stand-alone office support devices has not solved long term administrative productivity problems. The transition will focus attention on a total integration of office technologies. This dissertation focused upon the key office technologies currently available in the marketplace and then concentrated on Texas-based public corporations1 use and desire for these tools. The major thrust of this research was to examine the relationship of a company's annual sales, industry type and geographic operation type with its present level of technological sophistication, strategies toward office systems and the optimum office configuration.

Business failure should be of concern in most industralised countries and the importance of accurately evaluating the phenomenon from a management and investment point of view is enormous. Were it possible to predict failure with a certain degree of confidence, steps could be taken to rectify the situation and the benefit would accrue to all of the stakeholders in the macroenvironment. In essence, the profitability of a business is influenced by two sets of variables. In the first instance, it is influenced by a variety of internal (microeconomic) variables which are firm- specific and which management is generally able to control. A further distinction in this regard may be made between the financial and non-financial variables. In the second instance, it is generally accepted that profitability will be influenced by a number of external (macroeconomic) variables which are generally beyond the control of management. In the main, however, the profitability of the firm is generally determined by a combination of both sets of factors. To date, a great deal of research has been undertaken in an attempt to establish a reliable model which may be used to predict failure. This has mainly been confined to the microeconomic variables which can be used to predict failure and attempts have been made to isolate either a single financial ratio or a number of financial and non-financial variables which can be used to model corporate failure. The research has met with a certain degree of success although this appears to be confined to the economic environment to which the models have been applied. The models are less successful when applied to other macroenvironments. Limited research has been undertaken into the macroeconomic variables which contribute to business failure or to a combination of the two types of variables. It is appropriate therefore that further consideration be given to the establishment of a model incorporating ALL the variables which could contribute to corporate failure. The purpose of this research is to undertake an investigation of micro- and macroeconomic variables that are freely available to reserachers and which may be used in a failure prediction model. The intention is to obtain a comprehensive, yet simple model which can be used as an overall predictor of PENDING failure.

Talhado Fishing Enterprises (Pty) Ltd is a squid fishing company founded in 1988, with sea and land based freezing facilities. Operating from the East coast situated in the Port Elizabeth harbour, the company processes and packages its caught and bought out product for sales to its export customers situated in Spain and Italy. The company is privately owned, 38.8 percent owned by previously disadvantaged persons. This study examines the whether it would be feasible to expand its operations into the USA, namely into the California area where a squid fishery exists. The study further centres around the company’s existing markets, namely Spain and Italy, to establish whether demand exists to purchase this Californian squid specie. The reason for the study is that due to legislative and political issues growth in the squid industry in South Africa is limited. It is therefore considered pertinent to source further supply of product in order to expand its business. The aim of the study is establish whether it is feasible to expand the company’s operations internationally and does the outcome of this initial study warrant the development of an in depth business plan. In order to achieve these objectives the following approach was followed: A comprehensive literature study was conducted with regard to the industry internationally and locally; Interviews was conducted with independent experts such as attorneys and industry role players situated in California; Potential sellers of businesses were sourced in the California and interviews were arranged with these role players; The response to the interviews was measured against the literature study conducted and financial statements supplied.