Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research report, "Feasibility study of a customer relationship management system in a traditional German mid size trading company", presents both a theoretical and practical overview of customer relationship management. The research methodologies used are described in the introductory chapter. The theoretical part of the report covers relevant customer relationship management theory, and defines and explains the principles of customer relationship management, including the objectives and the strategic intention ofthis approach. Furthermore, the building blocks of customer relationship management systems are explained in detail. In the latter part of the section on theory, managerial aspects like effectiveness, efficiency and the measurability of success with customer relationship systems are discussed. The theory part of this research project concludes with a chapter on the success factors of customer relationship management, describing important aspects of the integration of such a system. The practical part of this research project was conducted in co-operation with the chemical company Lehmann & Voss & Co in Hamburg, Germany. The company was able to provide a division that is interested in the management approach to customer relationship management. They were interested in establishing whether this management approach could be used to their advantage in business. The cooperation with this particular division is regarded as a pilotproject for customer relationship management by the company management. The practical part of this research report begins with general information about the company. Corporate culture, as well as the different aspects of the business, is described. This is followed by information about the division involved in this research project. Business processes, customer base and business performance are covered. In addition, a requirement profile for the division's customer relationship management has been created. This requirement profile is followed by a discussion of the systemic environment in which the company operates. Finally, a conclusion with recommendations for the company situation concerning customer relationship management has been established. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing verslag met die titel "Feasibility study of a customer relationship management system in a traditional German mid size trading company" dek die teoretiese en praktiese deel ten opsigte van kliëntverhoudingsbestuur. Die navorsingsmetodiek word beskryf in die hoofstuk "Research Methodology". Die teoretiese deel dek die teorie van kliëntverhoudingsbestuur ten opsigte van alle belangrike aspekte van hierdie spesifieke bestuursbenadering. Dit verduidelik die definisie en die beginsels van kliëntverhoudingsbestuur insluitend die objektiewe en strategiese doel van die benadering. Verder meer, word die boublokke van 'n kliëntverhoudingsbestuurstelsel breedvoerig bespreek. In die laasgenoemde deel word die teoretiese bestuursaspekte, soos byvoorbeeld effektiewiteit, doeltreffenheid, en vergelyking van sukses met die kliëntverhoudingsbestuurstelsel bespreek. Die teoretiese deel van hierdie navorsingsprojek eindig met 'n hoofstuk oor die suksesfaktore van kliëntverhoudingsbestuur. Dit is 'n beskrywing van kritiese belangrike aspekte van die integrasie van so 'n stelsel. Die praktiese deel van hierdie navorsingsprojek is vasgestel in samewerking met die chemiese firma Lehmann & Voss & Co in Hamburg, Duitsland. Die firma was in staat om 'n afdeling wat belang het in bestuurs- en kliëntebenadering, beskikbaar te stel. Die belangrikheid is om die vraag te beantwoord of hierdie bestuursbenadering tot voordeel van die firma gebruik kan word. Die samewerking met hierdie besondere afdeling word beskou as 'n proef-projek vir kliëntverhoudingsbestuur . Die praktiese deel begin met algemene inligting ten opsigte van die firma. Korporatiewe kulture, sowel as verskeie aspekte van die besigheid, word beskryf. Die algemene inligting omtrent die firma word gevolg met inligting omtrent die betrokke afdeling wat saamwerk. Besigheidsprosedures, kliëntbasisse en besigheidsprosedure is gedek. Verder meer, is ook 'n studie uitgevoer om 'n behoefteprofiel op te stel vir kliëntverhoudingsbestuur in die spesifieke afdeling van die firma. Die profiel word opgevolg met 'n bespreking van die sistimatiese omgewing waarin die firm bedryf word. Ten slotte is 'n konklusie bereik met voorstelle vir die firma se spesifieke situasie ten opsigte van kliënteverhoudings.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Companies within the FMCG sector are continually trying to create value from their brands by increasing their margins and/or selling more of their products. Taking cost out of the value chain gives the company a competitive advantage, but this advantage is short lived as competitors also reduce costs. Differentiating a product through enhanced features and benefits also provides a competitive advantage, but is also subject to imitation by rivals. As competition increases, companies are looking for new avenues to differentiate themselves. Relationships marketing has, as a result, increased its prevalence as a competitive tool to provide that point of difference. This research report analyses the factors that influence the relationship between a Coca-Cola sales representative and his/her customers with the Cape Town region. The geography is unique in that is has a cross section of people who represent different races, religions and languages. This research report examines the impact that age, gender, education and culture have on the ability of a sales representative to build a relationship with a customer. Culture is broken down into four categories. These categories examined the race, language, religion and area of residence of a sales representative relative to a customer and the impact these attributes have on the ability to build a relationship. Positive relationships have an impact on the sales representative's ability to influence the store owner to activate certain in-store drivers which will increase the sales volume of products through an outlet. In-store drivers have been defined as the availability of a product through listing, the amount of forward share allocated to the product and the price of the product. If the profile of a sales representative relative to that of a customer, has an impact on the strength of the relationship, companies could "match" sales representatives to customers based on their respective profiles. This "matching" would have a positive benefit for the sales representative and his/her company. The research showed that there was a correlation between the profile of a sales representative and a customer. It is easier for a sales representative to build a relationship with a customer who is a similar age. It is however easier for the sales representative to influence a younger customer. Gender plays no role in a sales representative's ability to build a relationship. With respect to education, a stronger relationship exists between a customer and sales representative of a similar education. Again it is easier for a representative to influence a customer who has a lower level of education. Race does have an impact on the ability to build relationships. The research showed that an African sales representative should service an African customer. The same applies to a Xhosa speaking sales representative. There is a positive link between matching sales representatives and customers who come from similar areas and have the same religion. Understanding what factors can improve or inhibit a relationship provides important insights into how management can influence a competitive advantage in customer relationship marketing. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Maatskappye binne die FMCG-sektor probeer deurlopend om waarde tot hulle handelsmerk toe te voeg deur hulle winsmarges te vergroot en/of meer produkte te verkoop. Om koste uit die waardeketting te verwyder, gee die maatskappy slegs vir 'n kort tydjie 'n mededingende voordeel aangesien mededingers ook koste verlaag. Om produkte te differensieer deur kenmerke en voordele te verbeter, bied ook 'n mededingende voordeel maar kan eweneens deur mededingers nageboods word. Soos wat kompetisie toeneem, soek maatkappye nuwe maniere om hulself te differensieer. Verhoudingsbemarking kom gevolglik al meer voor as 'n mededingende instrument om daardie klein verskil te maak. Hierdie navorsing ontleed die faktore wat 'n invloed uitoefen op die verhouding tussen 'n verkoopsverteenwoordiger van Coca Cola en sy/haar mededingers binne die Kaapstad-streek. Die geografie is uniek omdat dit 'n verskeidenheid mense van verskillende rasse, godsdienste en tale omvat. Die navorsingsverslag ondersoek die impak wat ouderdom, geslag, opvoeding en kultuur uitoefen op die vermoe van die verkoopsverteenwoordiger om 'n verhouding met 'n klant op te bou. Kultuur word in vier kategoriee verdeel. Hierdie kategoriee ondersoek die ras, taal, godsdiens en woonarea van 'n verkoopsverteenwoordiger relatief tot 'n klant en die impak wat hierdie kenmerke uitoefen op die vermoe om 'n verhouding op te bou. Positiewe verhoudings het 'n impak op die verkoopsverteenwoordiger se vermoe om die winkeleienaar te beinvloed om sekere aandrywers in die winkel toe te pas om die verkoopsvolume van produkte deur so 'n winkel te verhoog. Hierdie aandrywers in die winkel is geidentifiseer as die beskikbaarheid van 'n produk deur notering, die hoeveelheid aandele wat vooruit aan die produk toegeken word en die prys van die produk. As die profiel van 'n verkoopsverteenwoordiger relatief tot die van die klant 'n impak uitoefen op die kwalitieit van die verhouding kan maatskappye verkoopsverteenwoordigers by klante "pas" op grond van hulle onderskeie profiele. Hierdie "passing" kan 'n positiewe voordeel vir die verkoopsverteenwoordiger en sy/haar maatskappy inhou. Die navorsing het aangetoon dat daar 'n korrelasie bestaan tussen die profiel van 'n verkoopsverteenwoordiger en die klant. Dit is makliker vir 'n verkoopsverteenworrdiger om 'n verhouding op te bou met 'n klant van 'n soortgelyke ouderdom. Dit is egter vir die verkoopsverteenwoordiger makliker om 'n jonger klant te beinvloed. Geslag speel geen rol in die verkoopsverteenwoordiger se vermoe om 'n verhouding op te bou nie. Sover dit opvoeding aangaan, is daar ook 'n sterker verhouding tussen 'n klant en verkoopsverteenwoordiger van soortgelyke opvoeding. Weer eens is dit makliker vir 'n verteenwoordiger om 'n klant met 'n laer vlak van opvoeding te beinvloed. Ras het wel 'n impak op die vermoe om verhoudinge te bou. Die navorsing het aangetoon dat 'n swart verkoopsverteenwoordiger beter vaar met 'n swart klant. Dieselfde geld vir 'n Xhosa-sprekende verkoopsverleenwoordiger. Daar is 'n positiewe gevolg waar verkoopsverteenwoordigers en klante uit soortgelyke areas en met dieselfde godsdiens by mekaar gepas word. 'n Begrip vir die faktore wat 'n verhouding kan verbeter of inhibeer bied belangrike insigte in maniere waarop bestuur 'n mededingende voordeel kan meebring deur verhoudingsbemarking op klante toe te pas.

The main aim of this thesis, „An Examination of the Marketing and Relationship Marketing Concepts, by Analysing Power, Disciplining and Compliance in Customer-Provider Relations‟, is to expand knowledge and thinking in the subject area of marketing by researching power, disciplining and compliance in relations between customers and providers. As such, it is part of current developments in marketing theory, as the following discussion will illustrate. Marketing is a dynamic and evolving discipline (Saunders and Lee 2005) and has been enriched by the introduction of significant new topics such as consumer passion, longing, gift giving, and history of ownership (Belk et al. 2003; Lowrey et al. 2004). The „variety and eclecticism‟ in current marketing research (Saunders and Lee 2005) have been achieved partly by drawing on frameworks, concepts and models developed in other disciplines (Baumgartner 2002). In recent years, „a more open minded attitude to research‟ and „methodological relaxation‟ have been encouraged (Tapp and Hughes 2008), and new methodological approaches have been explored (e.g. Thompson 1998, 2002; Sherry and Schouten 2002). Moreover, the supremacy of experimental-nomothetic methodological positions of quantification is being questioned (Fournier and Glenn Mick 1999) and, even though quantitative research continues to dominate (Hanson and Grimmer 2007), previously „unconventional‟ methodologies such as narrative analysis and hermeneutical frameworks demonstrate the growing acceptability of a wider range of methodologies (Saunders and Lee 2005). Such developments in marketing thought and approaches result from the identification of weaknesses or gaps in the conventional received wisdom on the subject (Wells 1993), and so place existing interpretations under scrutiny (Dawes and Brown 2000). However, commentators suggest that further growth and development are required. For instance, while Svensson (2006) argues that traditionalism still predominates, Tapp and Hughes (2004) and Katsiekas et al. (2007) invite scholars to analyse new topics and areas which are pertinent to practitioners and which contribute to a better understanding of marketing practice. At stake is the degree to which marketing research offers practitioners and society something „novel‟ and „of relevance‟ (Gummesson 2005). For marketing thinking to develop further, topics which are as yet inadequately researched need to be analysed more systematically (Katsiekas et al. 2007). An example of such a topic is the expression of power, influencing, disciplining and relational problems during interactions between customers and providers (Brown et al. 2000; Keysuk 2000; Ivens and Blois 2004). Though present in marketing theory, there are aspects of power which deserve greater attention. Examples of such issues are the types of power applied by providers and the ways in which providers design and carry out the disciplining of consumers during interactions in order to make them more compliant. These are the issues addressed in this thesis.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirement for the Masters Degree in Technology: Marketing, Durban University of Technology, 2013. / South Africa is experiencing an expansion of pharmacy chains. Globalization and deregulations have increased competition within the retail pharmacy sector. In this highly competitive sector, the most important strategy for a pharmacy chain to obtain customer satisfaction and maintain market profitability is attributed to customer-focus. The pharmacy chain needs to ensure that the customer remains the cornerstone of their business strategy and that they are able to “delight†the customer. Customer satisfaction has many benefits for the pharmacy chain, such as higher revenues, higher customer retention and increased market shares. Superior service quality and customer satisfaction must be promoted and maintained in order for the pharmacy chain to be the pharmacy of choice. The aim of this study is to measure levels of customer satisfaction at a selected pharmacy chain within the greater Durban area. The instrument to assess the customer’s expectations and perceptions of customer satisfaction is the SERVQUAL questionnaire, measuring expectations and perceptions according to five quality dimensions. These quality dimensions include tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy. Four hundred customers were surveyed using the SERVQUAL questionnaire. The respondents were selected using non-probability sampling within which convenience sampling was applied. Data is analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Conclusions and recommendations are drawn from the literature and the findings of the study. The study shows that customers’ expectations exceeded their perceptions on the five service quality dimensions used in the SERVQUAL questionnaire. Improvements are necessary in certain customer satisfaction dimensions. Therefore, it is recommended that the selected retail pharmacy chain attend to these gaps and ensure that necessary strategies are implemented in order to offer superior customer service in the face of growing competition. / M

Thesis (PhD (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is not a new topic, but the advent of technology based CRM solutions has enabled companies to deal better on an individual level and more efficiently with their large customer base. Seeing the benefits of this competitive advantage many companies have implemented a CRM solution but with the result that many of them have failed to be successful. The problem is that these companies often do not know why they were not successful and other companies will make the same mistakes if these failures are not recognized. There is a great deal of literature and research analysing this phenomenon but they all focus mainly on detailed CRM issues and how they could be performed better. They do not take into account that CRM is a complex topic and that many reasons for failure interact with each other. Based on the need of many companies to implement CRM, the goal of this research is to provide a CRM insight perspective and a strategy to implement CRM more successfully. In contrast to existing CRM research, this study investigates twenty-one reasons for CRM failure in three knowledge areas and explains why each one could threaten the success of a CRM implementation. The first area determines the danger of every risk based on the likelihood of appearance and its potential to fail the complete CRM solution. The second area identifies when these risks are most likely to appear for the first time during a CRM project life cycle. The third area examines all relationships between the twenty-one CRM risks and how they influence each other. It is concluded that every CRM implementation approach will fail to be successful when problems are only addressed once they become visible. It is not possible to solve every CRM problem at the moment it appears. Many issues during the implementation of CRM have to be met before they become a problem because they influence each other and lead to barriers that could result in a complete CRM failure. Based on this perception and the research findings, which included 106 of the top 500 companies worldwide, this study develops a CRM strategy framework including a systemic CRM perspective for businesses.

Thesis (MEcon)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: With heightening competitive pressures in the retailing environment, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty have become barometers of retailer performance. Determining the relationship of all the controllable elements that encourage or inhibit consumers during their contact with a retailer, defined as the Total Retail Experience (Berman and Evans, 1998: 19), with customer satisfaction and customer loyalty, formed the basis of this study. The dimensions ofTRE that were applied in this study were five controllable components, namely personal interaction, merchandise value, internal store environment, merchandise variety and complaint handling. The empirical study was applied specifically to a retailer dealing in health, home and beauty products. Data for this study was gathered via questionnaire from 34 000 of the most loyal card holders which participated in the loyalty program offered by the health, home and beauty retailer. The results of the data study indicated that the TRE instrument was a valid instrument to measure the success of providing a positive TRE for their consumers. Further, the instruments used to measure customer satisfaction and loyalty were deemed highly reliable. Of the five elements of TRE, enhancing the quality of personal interaction should be the primary focus in improving customer satisfaction, and it is significant that this retailer's management need only focus on improving these five dimensions of TRE to enhance customer satisfaction, given that almost three-quarters of customer satisfaction was accounted for by the five TRE dimensions. Results indicated that in contrast to customer satisfaction, customer loyalty was primarily driven by product related issues, with merchandise value being the strongest predictor of loyalty. Again, it was noted that more than half of the retailer's customer loyalty could be accounted for by the five TRE dimensions. Thus, efforts to improve any of the five TRE dimensions would enhance customer loyalty within this retailer's cardholder base. The varying importance of the specific TRE dimensions to both customer satisfaction and customer loyalty allow this retailer to identify the driving forces behind each of these concepts and allow for prioritizing strategies to optimize satisfaction and loyalty within their consumer base. By analyzing the responses of the individual items (questions) that measure each of the TRE dimensions as they appeared in the questionnaire, this study enables the retailer to focus on very specific aspects that influence each dimension of the TRE experience. Overall, it must be noted that respondents had positive experiences at the health, home and beauty retailer, which provides the retailer with a useful indicator of current satisfaction and loyalty levels and a point of comparison in determining the impact of the strategies employed to heighten satisfaction and loyalty. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Toenemende druk van mededinging in die kleinhandelomgewing veroorsaak dat klientsatisfaksie en -lojaliteit barometers van kleinhandelprestasie word. Die basis van hierdie studie is daarin gelee om vas te stel wat is die verwantskap tussen al die beheerbare elemente wat verbruikers se gedrag tydens kontak met 'n kleinhandelaar aanmoedig of inhibeer, gedefinieer as die Totale Kleinhandelervaring (TKE) (Berman en Evans, 1998: 19), en klientsatisfaksie en -lojaliteit is. Die dimensies van TKE wat in hierdie studie toegepas is, is vyf beheerbare komponente, naamlik persoonlike interaksie, handelsware waarde, interne winkelomgewing, handelsware verskeidenheid en klagte hantering. Die empiriese studie is spesifiek toegepas op 'n kleinhandelaar wat handel dryf in gesondheid-, huis- en skoonheidsprodukte. Data vir die studie is ingesamel met behulp van 'n vraelys wat aan 34 000 van die mees lojale kaarthouers wat lid is van die lojaliteitsprogram van die gesondheid-, huis- en skoonheidsprodukte kleinhandelaar, gestuur is . Die resultate van die studie toon dat die TKE instrument 'n geldige instrument is om die sukses te meet indien 'n positiewe TKE vir kliente aangebied word. Voorts is ook bevind dat die instrumente wat gebruik is om satisfaksie en lojaliteit te meet, hoogs betroubaar is. Die verbetering van persoonlike interaksie tussen kliente en personeel blyk die primere fokus te wees indien klientsatisfaksie verbeter wil word. Die vyf dimensies van TKE is verantwoordelik vir byna driekwart van kliente se satisfaksie. Die kleinhandelaar se bestuur behoort dus slegs te fokus op die verbetering van die vyf dimensies van TKE. In kontras met satisfaksie, blyk lojaliteit primer veroorsaak te word deur produk verwante kwessies, met handelsware waarde as die sterkste voorspeller van lojaliteit. Meer as die helfte van die lojaliteit aan die kleinhandelaar word teweeggebring deur die vyf dimensies van TKE. Dus, pogings om enige van die vyf dimensies van TKE te verbeter, sal lei tot 'n verhoogde klientlojaliteit onder die kleinhandelaar se lojaliteit-kaarthouers. Die varierende belangrikheid van die verskillende TKE dimensies vir beide klientsatisfaksie en -lojaliteit stel die kleinhandelaar in staat om die dryfkragte agter elkeen van hierdie konsepte te identifiseer en maak die prioritisering van strategiee om satisfaksie en lojaliteit te maksimeer, moontlik. Die ontleding van die response op die individuele items (vrae) wat elkeen van die TKE dimensies meet soos wat dit in die vraelys voorkom, maak dit vir die kleinhandelaar moontlik om op spesifieke aspekte wat elke dimensie beinvloed, te fokus. Globaal gesien is bevind dat respondente positiewe ervarings by die gesondheid-, huis- en skoonheidsprodukte kleinhandelaar gehad het en hierdie kan as 'n nuttige indikator gebruik word van bestaande satisfaksie- en lojaliteitsvlakke en ook as 'n punt van vergelyking vir die bepaling van die doeltreffendheid van strategiee wat aangewend word om satisfaksie en lojaliteit te verbeter.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is generally accepted that profitable relationships with customers are increasingly important in determining the long-term success of the modem enterprise. Customer relationship management (CRM) is widely considered as an appropriate methodology for building strong and mutually beneficial relationships with customers and, therefore, the study established the definition and scope of CRM. Customer knowledge could be considered a cornerstone of any CRM strategy and the ability of the enterprise to create and leverage customer knowledge is viewed as a source of competitive advantage. The study aimed at establishing clarity on the methodologies and approaches to the organizational knowledge creation process. Finally, the integration of knowledge creation and leverage processes into the CRM strategy was considered. Scrutiny of the available literature revealed a comprehensive description of the concept of CRM. The various models of CRM presented in the study clearly illustrated the different focus areas and components of CRM. The most prominent characteristics of a CRM strategy were found to be an emphasis on strategy, the networking of key stakeholders, customer intimacy and the use of appropriate technology. The approaches to the creation of organizational knowledge were analysed and it was found that the conversion between tacit and explicit knowledge is key to the creation of organizational knowledge. The generally accepted principles for the leverage of knowledge were adapted for possible incorporation into a CRM strategy. The salient conclusion of this study was that a knowledge creation process could be used to build the enterprise's stock of customer knowledge. It was found that the principles of knowledge leverage could be applied to the customer knowledge base in order to build lasting and profitable customer relationships. Recommendations were offered for the improved leverage of a CRM strategy through the integration of knowledge creation, knowledge leverage and CRM methodologies and principles. Finally, suggestions were made for further academic research on the anatomy and implementation of CRM. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dit word algemeen aanvaar dat kliente verhoudingsbestuur 'n toenemende rol sal speel in die lang termyn sukses van die moderne onderneming. Kliente verhoudingsbestuur word wyd erken as 'n gepasde metodologie om sterk en wedersyds voordelige verhoudinge met kliente te bewerkstellig. Die studie het ten doel gehad om die definisie en omvang van kliente verhoudingsbestuur te bepaal. Kliente kennis is 'n hoeksteen van enige kliente verhoudingsbestuur strategie en die onderneming se vermoeë om kliente kennis te skep en te benut word gesien as 'n bron van kompeterende voordeel. Die studie het gepoog om duidelikheid te verkry oor die metodologieë en benaderings wat gevolg kan word in die ondernemingskennis skeppingsproses. Ten slotte is die oorvleueling tussen die kennis skeppingsproses en die kliente verhoudingsbestuur strategie ondersoek. Gebasseer op die studie van die relevante literatuur is 'n omvattende definisie van kliente verhoudingsbetuur blootgelê. Die onderskeie modelle van kliente verhoudingsbestuur wat ondersoek is in die studie, het die fokus en verskeie komponente van kliente verhoudingsbestuur uitgelig. Die mees prominente karakter eienskappe van die kliente verhoudingsbestuur strategie is aangedui as die fokus op ondernemings strategie, netwerke van belangegroepe, kliente intimiteit en die gebruik van toepaslike inligtingstegnologie. 'n Analise van die benaderings tot kenniskepping in die onderneming het uitgelig dat die oorgang van ontasbare kennis na tasbare kennis die kern uitmaak van ondernemingskennis skepping. Die algemeen aanvaarde beginsels tot die benutting van kennis is daarna aangepas vir die moontlike gebruik in die kliente verhoudingsbestuur strategie. Die belangrikste gevolgtrekking van hierdie studie was dat 'n kennis skeppingsproses gebruik kan word om die onderneming se kliente kennis uit te brei. Daar is ook gevind dat die beginsels van kennis benutting toegepas kan word op bestaande kliente kennis ten einde langtermyn winsgewende verhoudings met kliente te bewerkstellig. Aanbevelings is gemaak vir die verbeterde benutting van die kliente verhoudingsbestuur strategie deur middel van die integrasie van kennis skepping, kennis benutting en kliente verhoudingsbestuur metodologieë en -beginsels. Ten slotte is voorstelle gemaak vir verdere akademiese studies aangaande die struktuur en implementering van kliente vehoudingsbestuur.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Relationship Marketing can be defined as an ongoing process of identifying and creating new value with individual customers, and then sharing that value over a lifetime of business association. The definition incorporates a number of key concepts such as long-term commitment, open and ongoing communication, trust and interdependence, collaboration and cooperation, as well as total organisational commitment. A wide range of models and strategies describe the processes and underlying constructs and clearly distinguishes between an organisational process and a behavioral process. The organisational approach focuses on the key organisational processes, technology, culture and values as well as corporate commitment needed to make this a success. The behavioral approach focuses on the key behavioral constructs needed for successful relationship management between buyer and seller, or manufacturer and retailer, for example ongoing communication, joint planning and performance evaluation, and trust and commitment. Customer satisfaction is highlighted as a key driver of the relationship management process and a number of cases clearly indicate that satisfied customers are needed for successful Relationship Marketing. It is not only about the wining and dining, but more about adding real value that will make customers commit their lifetime business. Relationship Marketing in a monopolistic market is discussed and the question is asked why any business should implement a relationship management process when that business is dominating the market. It is quite obvious that the benefits of a relationship marketing approach will drive customer value and satisfaction to higher levels and that the future lies in retaining customers and not recruiting new customers all the time. Even in monopolistic market situations organisations will try to increase or protect market share and developing long-term relationships with customers might just provide that competitive edge needed. Relationship Marketing is clearly not only about behavioral issues ,or on the other hand about organisational systems. It is an integrated approach incorporating all key organisational processes and systems which needs to be cemented in the corporate culture and values of the business. It is also an approach that advocate very specific behavioral constructs for example trust and commitment. - Any organisation that plans to incorporate a relationship marketing approach, needs to focus on the behavioral as well as organisational aspects of business. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: "Relationship Marketing" vertaal as verhoudingsbemarking word gedefinieer as 'n deurlopende proses van waarde toevoeging vir individuele kliente oor 'n lewenslange periode van besigheidassosiasie. Definisies van hierdie benadering beklemtoon 'n aantal belangrike konsepte soos onder andere langtermyn verbintenis, twee-rigting kommunikasie, vertroue en interafhanklikheid, en samewerking. 'n Aantal modelle en strategeë onderskei baie duidelik tussen 'n organisatoriese benadering en 'n gedragsbenadering tot verhoundingsbemarking. Die organisatoriese benadering beklemtoon die belangrikheid van stelsels, prosesse, waardes en kultuur, en implementering op totale organisatoriese vlak. Die gedragsbenadering definieer verskeie gedrags konsepte onderliggend aan 'n suksesvolle verhoudingsbemarking proses. Klientbevrediging as 'n sleutel suksesfaktor word bespreek en die stelling word gemaak dat ongelukkige kliente nie hulle lewenslange besigheid sal toevertrou aan 'n verskaffer wat nie hul behoeftes bevredig nie. Verhoudingsbemarking in 'n monopolistiese mark word bespreek en die voordele van hierdie benadering word uitgelig. Enige organisasie, ongeag die markaandeel, poog voortdurend om verder te groei en 'n verhoudings benadering kan daardie addisionele voordele bied. Ten slotte, word uitgewys dat verhoudingsbemarking beide 'n organisatoriese sowel as 'n gedragsbenadering insluit en enige maatskappy wat poog om hierdie konsep te implementeer, moet beide inag neem.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The networked economy has resulted in the customer having an unprecedented choice and control over how he/she chooses to do business and with whom. In addition, the ever-increasing commoditisation of products and services has forced businesses to re-evaluate their sources of sustainable competitive advantage. The ability to differentiate an organisation from others has therefore become a major business advantage. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is considered the most significant and only remaining differentiator. Given this importance, it is of concern that high failure rates of up to 70% have been recorded with regard to CRM systems implementations. Findings from literature confirm that lack of or insufficient attention to both technical and social aspects contribute to failed implementations. A hypothesis has therefore been formulated that a lack of and/or insufficient attention to a socio-technical approach to CRM-systems is a major contributor to the high failure rate of implemented CRM-systems. The hypothesis was tested based on identifying the social and technical aspects from literature that must be addressed to ensure successful implementation and was utilised as a basis for conducting empirical research to ascertain to what extent these aspects have contributed (or not) to successful implementations. The empirical research entailed circulation of a questionnaire to organisations that have already implemented CRM systems for B2C purposes and are wholly situated in the Western Cape or have a head office in the Western Cape. Due to the limited responses received, it must be noted that the research results are not necessarily representative of the sample in general or the population as a whole. The research did however indicate some important trends. CRM systems have only been implemented in a relatively small number of organisations and are particularly prevalent in industries such as Life Insurance, Financial Services and Retail. This is considered to be directly linked to the cost and complexity of implementing these systems. Based on the responses received, it can be concluded that the nine organisations that responded generally followed a socio· technical approach to their CRM systems implementations and in most instances respondents rated their implementations fully successful. This is contrary to the high failure rates described in literature and CQuid in part be due to the fact that organisations with failed implementations may have opted not to complete questionnaires in this regard. Inconsistencies between the recorded successful implementations relating to, inter alia, certain aspects being addressed by some and not by others or being addressed during as opposed to prior to implementation warrant further research to establish the interrelatedness of the various aspects with one another and the extent to which certain aspects may carry more weight than others in ensuring success. It is recommended that further research be done regarding a socio-technical approach to CRM-systems implementation with a view to obtaining a representative sample and conclusive evidence as to whether this approach does contribute to success or not within South Africa. The research should also focus on the impact that addressing the various social and technical issues during implementation, as opposed to prior to implementation, has on the success of the implementation. This exploratory research can be utilised as a basis for further in-depth research regarding the impact of various social and technical issues on successful implementations. In addition it can be utilised as a guideline or roadmap for implementation by organisations intending to implement CRM-systems or to assist organisations in addressing problems occurring as a result of fa iled CRM systems implementation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die netwerk ekonomie het tot gevolg dat die klient 'n ongeewenaarde keuse en beheer het oor hoe en met wie hy/sy besigheid wil doen. Daarbenewens word besighede gedwing om, as gevolg van die toenemende gebruikersgerief van produkte en dienste, hulle bronne van volhoubare kompeterende voordeel te herevalueer. Die vermoe om 'n organisasie van 'n ander te kan onderskei het dus 'n belangrike besigheidsvoordeel geword. Klienteverhoudingsbestuur (CRM) word beskou as die belangrikste en enigste oorblywende onderskeidingsfaktor. Gegewe die belangrikheid daarvan is dit kommerwekkend dat hoë mislukkingssyfers van tot 70% aangeteken is met betrekking tot CRM stelsel implementerings. Bevindings uit die literatuur bevestig dat gebrek aan/of onvoldoende aandag aan beide tegniese en sosiale faktore bygedra het tot mislukte implementerings. 'n Hipotese is dus geformuleer dat 'n gebrek aan/of onvoldoende aandag aan 'n sosiotegniese benadering tot CRM-stelsels 'n belangrike bydraende faktor is tot die hoë mislukkingssyfer van CRM stelsel implementerings. Hierdie hipotese is getoets deur die sosiale en tegniese aspekte uit die literatuur te identifiseer wat aangespreek moet word om suksesvolle implementering te verseker en dit is as basis gebruik vir die empiriese navorsing ten einde vas te stel tot watter mate hierdie aspekte bygedra het (of nie) tot suksesvolle implementering. Die empiriese navorsing het die uitstuur van 'n vraelys behels na organisasies wat reeds CRM stelsels geimplementeer het vir besigheid tot klient (B2C) doeleindes en wat in die Wes-Kaap gevestig is of 'n hoofkantoor in die Wes-Kaap het. In die lig van die beperkte terugvoering , moet daarop gelet word dat die navorsingsresultate nie noodwendig as verteenwoordigend van die steekproef of die populasie as geheel beskou kan word nie. Die navorsing het egter 'n paar belangrike tendense uitgewys. CRM stelsels is slegs in 'n relatiewe klein aantal organisasies geimplementeer en spesifiek in industriee soos Finansiele Dienste, Lewensversekering en Kleinhandel. Dit wil blyk dat dit direk gekoppel is aan die koste en kompleksiteit verbonde aan CRM stelsel implementerings. Gegrond op die terugvoering wat ontvang is, kan afgelei word dat die nege organisasies wat gereageer het in die algemeen 'n sosio-tegniese benadering tot CRM stelsel implementerings gevolg het. In die meeste gevalle het respondente hulle implementerings as ten volle suksesvol beoordeel. Dit is in teens telling met die hoe mislukkingssyfer wat in die literatuur beskryf word en kan gedeeltelik daaraan toegeskryf word dat organisasies wie se implementerings nie geslaag het nie, moontlik verkies het om nie die vraelys in hierdie verband te voltooi nie. Teenstrydighede tussen aangetekende suksesvolle implementerings met betrekking tot, onder andere, sekere aspekte deur sommige aangespreek en nie deur ander nie en daarmee tesame of dit aangespreek is tydens of voor implementering, regverdig verdere navorsing om die onderlinge verband tussen die onderskeie aspekte te bepaal, asook die mate waartoe sekere aspekte meer gewig dra as ander om sukses te verseker. Dit word aanbeveel dat verdere navorsing ten opsigte van 'n sosio-tegniese benadering gedoen word met die doel om 'n verteenwoordigende monster en onweerlegbare bewys te vind van hierdie benadering se bydrae tot sukses, aldan nie in Suid-Afrika. Die navorsing behoort ook te fokus op die sukses daarvan met betrekking tot die aanspreek van verskeie sosiale en tegniese aangeleenthede tydens implementering teenoor voor implementering. Hierdie verkennende navorsing kan aangewend word as 'n basis vir verdere in-diepte navorsing oor die mate waartoe die onderskeie sosiale en tegniese aangeleenthede bydra tot suksesvolle implementering. Voorts kan dit ook as 'n riglyn dien vir organisasies wat die implementering van CRM stelsels oorweeg en kan van nut wees om probleme wat ontstaan het as gevolg van mislukte CRM stelsel implementerings aan te spreek.