Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The organisations of the 21st century are confronted with continuous changes. It is necessary that organisations respond to these changes to improve the level of their performance. Although the number of change initiatives within organisations is the norm of the day, there are very few successes. One reason for this, the author maintains, is the tendency to usually overemphasise hard elements, and not attend adequately to the soft elements, although the latter often contribute to the success of the organisation. These soft elements are: staff, skills, style of leadership, and shared values. The aim of the study is to enhance organisational performance of the proposal engineering pillar (PEP) of Sizophumelela organisation. This department was chosen because most of the corrective actions requests (CAR) due to non performance at Sizophumelela are from PEP. The main objective of this study is to identify the areas of concern in PEP, to develop an understanding of organisational change and to propose interventions to address and solve problem areas and improve performance. The McKinsey 7S Model was used to analyse the effectiveness of this department at Sizophumelela, an electrical transformer manufacturer and refurbishment business. After the identification of problem areas, interventions are proposed to address these issues. In the literature review an overview of some organisational change models is provided and the limitations of these models are also indicated. Out of these models, the business process re-engineering (BPR) model was viewed as important for this study; hence some aspects of that model form part of proposed interventions to address the identified issues. The McKinsey 7S Model is preferred for the performance analysis of the PEP with its focus on: Strategy, structure, systems, staff, and style of leadership, skills, and shared values. The 7S model is viewed by the author as the model that has the greatest benefit, because both hard and soft elements are focused on. A comprehensive set of material available within the company was used and structured interviews were conducted with all members of the PEP team. With the help of this methodology the strengths and weaknesses were established and some recommendations were made. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die organisasies van die 21ste eeu kom voortdurend te staan voor veranderinge. Dit is nodig dat organisasies op hierdie veranderinge reageer om hul vlak van prestasie te verbeter. Hoewel die aantal veranderingsinisiatiewe binne organisasies vandag die norm is, is daar baie min suksesse. Een rede hiervoor, volgens hierdie outeur, is die neiging om gewoonlik harde elemente te oorbeklemtoon en nie genoeg aandag te gee aan die sagte elemente nie, hoewel laasgenoemde dikwels bydra tot die sukses van die organisasie. Hierdie sagte elemente is: personeel, vaardighede, leierskapstyl, en gedeelde waardes. Die doel van die studie is die verbetering van organisasieprestasie in die voorleggingsingenieurspilaar (PEP) van die Sizophumelela organisasie. Hierdie afdeling is gekies omdat die meeste van die versoeke om korrektiewe optrede (CAR) weens nieprestasie by Sizophumelela uit PEP afkomstig is. Die hoofdoelwit van hierdie studie is om die areas in PEP waaroor daar kommer bestaan, te identifiseer, begrip te ontwikkel van organisasieverandering en intervensies voor te stel om probleemareas op te los en prestasie te verbeter. Die McKinsey 7S Model is gebruik om die doeltreffendheid van hierdie afdeling by Sizophumelela te ontleed. Laasgenoemde is 'n besigheid wat elektriese transformators vervaardig en opknap. Na die identifisering van probleemareas word intervensies voorgestel om aan hierdie kwessies aandag te gee. In die literatuuroorsig word sommige modelle van organisasieverandering bekyk en die beperkinge van hierdie modelle word ook aangedui. Uit hierdie modelle word die model vir besigheidsprosesherontwerp (BPR) beskou as belangrik vir hierdie studie, dus vorm sommige aspekte van daardie model deel van voorgestelde intervensies ten opsigte van die geidentifiseerde kwessies. Die McKinsey 7S Model word verkies vir die prestasieontleding van die PEP met sy fokus op strategie, struktuur, stelsels, personeel, leierskapstyl, vaardighede en gedeelde waardes. Die 7S Model word deur die outeur beskou as die model met die grootste voordeel, aangesien dit fokus op beide harde en sagte elemente. 'n Omvattende stel materiaal wat binne die maatskappy beskikbaar is, is gebruik, en gestruktureerde onderhoude is gevoer met al die lede van die PEP span. Met behulp van hierdie metodologie is die sterk en swak eienskappe bepaal en sekere aanbevelings gedoen.

Magister Library and Information Studies - MLIS / The advent of the 21st century and its dynamic information environment have changed higher education considerably including the library spaces. Library patrons, namely undergraduates, postgraduates, and academics are placing heavy demands on academic libraries requiring support in research, teaching and learning. As a result, academic librarians globally have undertaken major re-evaluations of what they do and how they do it, to ensure relevance amongst their diverse user communities. The new information landscape is fraught with controversies that prompt opposing perspectives towards change acceptance amongst librarians. In Zimbabwe, academic libraries seemed to be lagging behind regarding changes presented by this information landscape. Given this context, the study sought to understand how librarians are adjusting to the 21st century environment against the expectations of the students and academics. The Diffusion of Innovation Theory crafted by Rogers (2003) and the McKinsey 7S model propounded by Waterman, Peters and Phillips (1982) were used as theoretical and conceptual frameworks. The research further applied a conceptual framework from the literature to determine the expectations of students and academics of the academic library in the 21st century. For data collection, the study adopted a case study design and a mixed methods approach using Web-based questionnaires, follow-up interviews and website content analysis. Data was collected from students, academics and librarians at three selected Zimbabwean universities. All data collecting tools were pre-tested amongst librarians, academics, postgraduate and undergraduate students prior to collecting data. Data collected using questionnaires was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel while interview data was analysed using thematic text analysis. Findings of this study revealed that the Midlands State University Library had to a larger extent embraced new trends which are in-line with the 21st century environment compared to the National University of Science and Technology and Lupane State University libraries. The Library and Information Science qualification remains important in service delivery among academic librarians. Inadequate funding, limited time due to multitasking, slow uptake of new concepts and limited knowledge and skills were barriers to keeping up with new trends amongst librarians. Academic librarians collaborated with academics in collection development, Information Literacy Skills (ILS) teaching and uploading theses and research papers into the Institution Repository (IR). / 2018-12-14

The main goal of the master thesis is design and implementation of information system for monitoring purposes. The implemented monitoring system will be able to automatically monitor devices of a certain company. This goal is preceded by strategic analysis using PEST and 7S methods for examination of current state of the company. Another part is the analysis of the efficiency of service processes using the HOS method together with the selection of a suitable monitoring system. An enhancement of service processes is designed by the Lewin model. Finally, the selected information system for monitoring was designed, implemented and tested. A deployment of the system should provide simplification of devices supervision, to save costs as well as to speed-up the response-time to unexpected situations.

The diploma thesis deals with a proposal to improve the marketing mix of the pension with restaurant Koliba pod skalami. The thesis consists of three parts, theoretical part, analytical part and the proposal. The introductory, theoretical part deals with the definitions of basic concepts associated with marketing, marketing mix and forms the theoretical framework of the work. The analytical part of the work deals with the characteristics of the company, a description of the current situation, analysis of the external and internal environment, marketing mix and the results of a questionnaire survey. Based on the results of the analytical part, the proposal part of the thesis contains suggestions for improving the marketing mix.

The submitted diploma thesis deals with a study of business development of AZ KLIMA a.s. focusing on marketing and services. The theoretical part defines basic concepts related to business and marketing. Information is taken from scientific literature that discusses given problematics. This information is then used to create a practical part that deals with a comprehensive analysis of the current state of the above-mentioned company. It includes SWOT analysis, PESTE analysis and McKinsey 7S model. A specific business development strategy is defined based on individual analyses. The solution proposal then defines specific steps leading to a business development. The aim of this work is to create a development strategy that will be effective and beneficial for the company in the long term.

The aim of this diploma thesis is to assess the financial situation of the company James Lakeland Ltd. between the years 2010 and 2015 based on the selected methods of financial and strategic analysis. The results of financial analysis are compared with recommended values, as well as with the results of two competing companies. The thesis also formulates appropriate proposals to solve the problematic areas.

Diplomová práce analyzuje strategickou pozici společnosti ŠKODA AUTO na automobilovém trhu. Ke kritickému zkoumání trhu byly použity analýzy SLEPTE, Porterův model pěti sil a také McKinseyho model 7s, SWOT analýza a Králíčkův rychlý test. Veškeré zjištěné poznatky na tomto specifickém trhu jsou shrnuty v závěru a s ohledem na současnou situaci jsou navržena opatření pro budoucí růst společnosti.

Subject of this diploma thesis is to evaluate financial situation of a production company, which is going to expand its facilities for employees, machines, equipment and ware. On the basis of theoretical knowledge and with use of particular analytical methods, an analysis of current state will be developed. The results of these analysis will then be used to make suggestions for a possible improvement in the company's situation.

This Master’s thesis deals with a strategic and economic analysis of a chosen company with objective to identify risks and formulate proposals and recommendations resulting in decreasing of risks or their potential elimination. The thesis is composed of three parts. First part contains theoretical framework needed for practical application which includes chosen methods of external and internal analysis with their evaluation and analysis of risks using RIPRAN method. Last part contains formulation of precautions based on the risks found.

The object of this master´s thesis is to analyse economic situation in the company Agroroservis s.r.o. by used methods. External and internal structure of the company as well as the financial situation is judged gradually. The last part of the master´s thesis is decided suggestion, which can help to improve actual conditions.