Thesis (PhD (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Innovation is important for competitiveness. It thrives on the availability of novel public and private domain knowledge. Thus the ability to access, analyze, synthesize, share, and re-use knowledge is paramount to enabling innovation within the different partners of the supply chain. These activities grow the available pool of knowledge. It also facilitates learning from mistakes, as well as capturing and enhancing opportunities for future innovation. Proactively networking resources within a formal and informal structure improve the ability of any participating enterprise to use/re-use knowledge, in a concurrently growing knowledge base. Such a "Knowledge Network” (KN) enhances knowledge sharing between and among individuals, groups and organizations in informal and formal ways. This network is also scalable in the sense that more individuals and enterprise may join the network as success cases are reported on. It is clear that knowing how to design, deploy and operate a Knowledge Network could be highly beneficial. How to successfully design and deploy a KN is a challenge and has been widely researched to a limited extent within in the past decade. The design, deploy and operate functions require understanding of social processes and how people learn and share knowledge. KN management requires a proactive, systematic approach to the planning and deployment of a formalized network for knowledge creation and transfer. It addresses promoting and improving conditions to cultivate informal and formal networking within a larger collaborative network of enterprises. This dissertation presents a refined methodology for initiating, deploying, managing and operating an Innovation Project based on the available research reported in this domain. It incorporates concepts of generic, partial and specific roadmaps, best practices, templates and examples and allows individual teams to capture knowledge about specific projects and expertise in context for later re-use. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Om mededingend te kan wees, is innovasie belangrik. Laasgenoemde floreer op die beskikbaarheid van nuwe publieke, sowel as private domein kennis. Dus is die kundigheid om kennis te assesseer, te analiseer, saam te vat, uit te ruil met ander en dan weer te gebruik van die uiterste belang om innovasie moontlik te maak vir die onderskeie vennote in die voorsieningsketting. Hierdie genoemde aktiwiteite vergroot die beskikbare poel van kennis. Daarbenewens fasiliteer dit ook leer uit foute, sowel as die vasvang en versterking van geleenthede vir toekomstige innovasie. Deur pro-aktief en vindingryk van netwerk bronne gebruik te maak, binne ʼn formele sowel as informele struktuur, word die moontlikheid van enige deelnemende onderneming om kennis te gebruik of te hergebruik, vergroot in ʼn gelyktydig groeiende kennisbasis. So ʼn “Kennis Netwerk” (KN) versterk die uitruil van kennis tussen individue, groepe en organisasies op informele sowel as formele maniere. Hierdie netwerk is ook meetbaar in die sin dat hoe meer suksesse aangekondig word, deur individue en organisasies wat aansluit, hoe meer ondernemings wil aansluit. Dit is duidelik dat kennis ten opsigte van die ontwerp, ontplooiing en bestuur van ʼn Kennis Netwerk uiters voordelig kan wees. Dit is ʼn uitdaging om ʼn Kennis Netwerk suksesvol te ontwerp en te ontplooi en daar is die afgelope dekade op ʼn wye front beperkte navorsing op hierdie terrein gedoen. Die ontwerp, ontplooiing en bestuursfunksies vereis ʼn goeie begrip van sosiale prosesse met beklemtoning van hoe mense leer en kennis uitruil. Die bestuur van ʼn Kennis Netwerk moet pro-aktief en sistematies benader word, ten opsigte van die beplanning en ontplooiing van ʼn geformaliseerde netwerk vir die skep en oordrag van kennis. Die bevordering en verbetering van omstandighede kan formele sowel as informele netwerkbeoefening binne ʼn groter samewerkende netwerk van ondernemings vestig. Hierdie proefskrif bied ʼn verfynde metodologie vir die inisiëring, ontplooiing en bestuur van ʼn Innovasie Projek wat gebaseer is op die beskikbare navorsing wat in hierdie domein gerapporteer is. Dit behels konsepte van generiese, gedeeltelike en spesifieke padkaarte, asook die beste praktyke, patrone en voorbeelde en gee geleentheid vir individuele spanne om kennis ten opsigte van spesifieke projekte en kundigheid in konteks te bekom vir latere hergebruik.

Thesis (PhD (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research has its roots in Industrial Engineering, where the premise of improving and managing efficiency, effectiveness, productivity and quality is the most common and accepted source of organisational sustenance and furtherance. This dissertation, however, addresses the evolutionary and revolutionary imperatives of a new paradigm for competitive advantage – innovation. The notion of innovation is considered many things. First and foremost, however, it has become the primary differentiator of organisational competitiveness, rendering it the source of sustained long-term prosperity. What may seem ambiguous in the title of this dissertation is essentially the imperative of every organisation functioning within the competitive domain. Where organisational maturity and innovativeness were traditionally considered antonymous, the assimilation of these two seemingly contradictory notions is fundamental to the assurance of long-term organisational prosperity. Organisations are required, now more than ever, to grow and mature their innovation capability. In working towards the fulfilment of this objective, the Maturity Modelling approach was recognised for its ability to describe organisational progression in terms of innovation capability. An Innovation Capability Maturity Model, with the intention of describing generic and evolutionary plateaus of innovation capability maturity, was developed from a comprehensive literature study. This model was evaluated with an initial case study which led to a rigorous refinement initiative that included further literature study, a mapping and comparison exercise, and a detailed analysis of innovation capability themes using a Latent Dirichlet Allocation-based topic modelling approach. The consolidation of these activities and integration with the initial model resulted in the second version thereof – ICMM v2. This second version was then utilised in an additional 5 case studies that would serve to evaluate and validate the content and structure thereof, but also make a fundamental contribution to the application of the model – captured in the so called Innovation Capability Improvement Methodology. The case studies provide evidence that the content and structure of the ICMM v2, including the approach used to convey these aspects, fulfil their intended purpose by appropriately identifying the innovation capability strengths and weaknesses of the represented organisations. The ICMM v2 and accompanying methodology provides an organisation with a systematic approach for identifying organisational innovation capability strengths and weaknesses and a framework for identifying and prioritising innovation capability improvement opportunities in an organised and coordinated manner. This dissertation concludes with a few fundamental findings pertaining to innovation and a discussion of potential future collaboration and research opportunities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingsprojek het sy oorsprong binne die bedryfsingenieursdomain. Bedryfsingenieurswese is primêr gerig op die verbetering en bestuur van doelmatigheid, doeltreffendheid, produktiwiteit en gehalte. Dit is voorts „n vry-algemeen aanvaarde bron van organisatoriese volhoubaarheid en verbetering van maatskappye. Hierdie navorsingsverslag spreek die evolusionêre en revolusionêre vereistes van „n nuwe paradigme vir mededingendheid, naamlik innovasie, aan. Die term innovasie beteken verskillende dinge vir verskillende mense. Dit is sedert die 1930‟s intensief nagevors. Meer onlangs het innovasie ontwikkel tot „n primêre onderskeider van maatskappy-mededingendheid. Dit is vinnig besig om te ontwikkel in „n sleutelbron van volhoubare, langtermyn welvaartskepping. Die titel van hierdie proefskrif mag aanvangklik dubbelsinnig klink, maar dit beskryf eintlik die fundamentele vereistes van elke organisasie wat binne die mededingendheidsdomain funksioneer. Aanvanklik is innovasie en organisatoriese volwassenheid as teenstrydige konsepte beskou. Die versoening van hierdie twee oënskynlike teenstrydige konsepte is egter fundamenteel tot die ontwikkeling van langtermyn organisatoriese mededingendheid en gepaargaande welvaart. Mededingendheid word tans verseker deur die tempo en volhoubaarheid waarmee maatskappye hulle innovasie-vermoeë beoefen en uitbou. Die konsep van volwassenheidsmodelering is identifiseer as „n belangrike element om die innovasie volwassenheid van maatskappye volledig uit te bou, asook om organisatoriese groei in ten opsigte van innovasie-vermoeëns te beskryf. „n Eerste orde innovasie-vermoeë volwassenheidsmodel (ICMM v1) is met behulp van „n uitgebreide literatuur-ondersoek ontwikkel. Hierdie model het ten doel gehad om generiese en evolusionêre plateau‟s van innovasie-vermoeë volwassenheid te beskryf. Die aanvanklike model is geëvalueer met „n gevallestudie waarna dit drasties verfyn is, deur gebruik te maak van „n sekondêre literatuurstudie, die kartering en „n vergelykende evaluering, asook „n gedetailleerde ontleding van innovasie-vermoeë tema‟s. Dit is gedoen deur gebruik te maak van “Latent Dirichlet Allocation”-gebaseerde konsepmodellering. Hierdie aktiwiteite is gekonsolideer en geintegreer met die eerste model in „n weergawe twee, wat bekend staan as ICMM v2. Hierdie weergawe is verder ontplooi in vyf opvolg-gevallestudies wat gebruik is. Die doel hiervan was om die nuwe model te evalueer en valideer ten opsigte van die inhoud en struktuur daarvan. Voorts het die ook „n fundamentele bydra gemaak tot die toepassing van die model waartydens resulutate van die model vervat is in „n sogenaamde innovasie-vermoeë verbeterings metodologie. Die onderskeie gevallestudies het bevestig dat die inhoud en die struktuur van die ICMM v2 hulle aanvanklike doelwitte volledig bereik het deur beide die innovasie-vermoeë sterkpunte en swakpunte van die organisasies te identifiseer en uit te lig. Die ICMM v2 en gepaardgaande metodologie bied aan „n organisasie „n sistematiese benadering tot die identifisering van organisatoriese innovasie-vermoeë sterkpunte en swakpunte. Dit voorsien verder „n raamwerk vir die identifisering en prioritisering van innovasie-vermoeë verbeterings geleenthede binne maatskappye. Hierdie proefskrif word afgesluit met „n aantal fundamentele bevindings met betrekking tot innovasie en „n bespreking van toekomstige samewerking ten opsigte van navorsingsgeleenthede.

Thesis (PhD (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The crucial role of innovation in creating sustainable competitive advantage is widely recognised in industry today. Likewise, the importance of having the required information accessible to the right employees at the right time is well-appreciated. More specifically, the dependency of effective, efficient innovation processes on the availability of information has been pointed out in literature. A great challenge is countering the effects of the information overload phenomenon in organisations in order for employees to find the information appropriate to their needs without having to wade through excessively large quantities of information to do so. The initial stages of the innovation process, which are characterised by free association, semi-formal activities, conceptualisation, and experimentation, have already been identified as a key focus area for improving the effectiveness of the entire innovation process. The dependency on information during these early stages of the innovation process is especially high. Any organisation requires a strategy for innovation, a number of well-defined, implemented processes and measures to be able to innovate in an effective and efficient manner and to drive its innovation endeavours. In addition, the organisation requires certain enablers to support its innovation efforts which include certain core competencies, technologies and knowledge. Most importantly for this research, enablers are required to more effectively manage and utilise innovation-related information. Information residing inside and outside the boundaries of the organisation is required to feed the innovation process. The specific sources of such information are numerous. Such information may further be structured or unstructured in nature. However, an ever-increasing ratio of available innovation-related information is of the unstructured type. Examples include the textual content of reports, books, e-mail messages and web pages. This research explores the innovation landscape and typical sources of innovation-related information. In addition, it explores the landscape of text analytical approaches and techniques in search of ways to more effectively and efficiently deal with unstructured, textual information. A framework that can be used to provide a unified, dynamic view of an organisation‟s innovation-related information, both structured and unstructured, is presented. Once implemented, this framework will constitute an innovation-focused knowledge base that will organise and make accessible such innovation-related information to the stakeholders of the innovation process. Two novel, complementary text analytical techniques, Latent Dirichlet Allocation and the Concept-Topic Model, were identified for application with the framework. The potential value of these techniques as part of the information systems that would embody the framework is illustrated. The resulting knowledge base would cause a quantum leap in the accessibility of information and may significantly improve the way innovation is done and managed in the target organisation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die belangrikheid van innovasie vir die daarstel van „n volhoubare mededingende voordeel word tans wyd erken in baie sektore van die bedryf. Ook die belangrikheid van die toeganklikmaking van relevante inligting aan werknemers op die geskikte tyd, word vandag terdeë besef. Die afhanklikheid van effektiewe, doeltreffende innovasieprosesse op die beskikbaarheid van inligting word deurlopend beklemtoon in die navorsingsliteratuur. „n Groot uitdaging tans is om die oorsake en impak van die inligtingsoorvloedverskynsel in ondernemings te bestry ten einde werknemers in staat te stel om inligting te vind wat voldoen aan hul behoeftes sonder om in die proses deur oormatige groot hoeveelhede inligting te sif. Die aanvanklike stappe van die innovasieproses, gekenmerk deur vrye assosiasie, semi-formele aktiwiteite, konseptualisering en eksperimentasie, is reeds geïdentifiseer as sleutelareas vir die verbetering van die effektiwiteit van die innovasieproses in sy geheel. Die afhanklikheid van hierdie deel van die innovasieproses op inligting is besonder hoog. Om op „n doeltreffende en optimale wyse te innoveer, benodig elke onderneming „n strategie vir innovasie sowel as „n aantal goed gedefinieerde, ontplooide prosesse en metingskriteria om die innovasieaktiwiteite van die onderneming te dryf. Bykomend benodig ondernemings sekere innovasie-ondersteuningsmeganismes wat bepaalde sleutelaanlegde, -tegnologiëe en kennis insluit. Kern tot hierdie navorsing, benodig organisasies ook ondersteuningsmeganismes om hul in staat te stel om meer doeltreffend innovasie-verwante inligting te bestuur en te gebruik. Inligting, gehuisves beide binne en buite die grense van die onderneming, word benodig om die innovasieproses te voer. Die bronne van sulke inligting is veeltallig en hierdie inligting mag gestruktureerd of ongestruktureerd van aard wees. „n Toenemende persentasie van innovasieverwante inligting is egter van die ongestruktureerde tipe, byvoorbeeld die inligting vervat in die tekstuele inhoud van verslae, boeke, e-posboodskappe en webbladsye. In hierdie navorsing word die innovasielandskap asook tipiese bronne van innovasie-verwante inligting verken. Verder word die landskap van teksanalitiese benaderings en -tegnieke ondersoek ten einde maniere te vind om meer doeltreffend en optimaal met ongestruktureerde, tekstuele inligting om te gaan. „n Raamwerk wat aangewend kan word om „n verenigde, dinamiese voorstelling van „n onderneming se innovasieverwante inligting, beide gestruktureerd en ongestruktureerd, te skep word voorgestel. Na afloop van implementasie sal hierdie raamwerk die innovasieverwante inligting van die onderneming organiseer en meer toeganklik maak vir die deelnemers van die innovasieproses. Daar word verslag gelewer oor die aanwending van twee nuwerwetse, komplementêre teksanalitiese tegnieke tot aanvulling van die raamwerk. Voorts word die potensiele waarde van hierdie tegnieke as deel van die inligtingstelsels wat die raamwerk realiseer, verder uitgewys en geillustreer.