Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögsk.

Zugl.: Zürich, Universiẗat, Diss., 1999.

Bibliography: leaves 170-174. / The study emanated from the needs for (i) effective management systems in the currently changing South Africa, (ii) empirical, "real world" research in the operations management field as well as (iii) the requirement by local management to verify the effects of an implemented intervention. In terms of this background, the study investigates the effects of the implementation of lean Production principles in a South African Government-owned Rail Refurbishing Plant with a Job production system on financial performance as measured by Return On Investment (ROI). The research question formulated for the study investigates the possible differences in financial performance as measured by ROJ between the Transwerk (Bloemfontein) Rail Refurbishing plant, which implemented lean Production Principles, and three similar Transwerk Rail Refurbishing plants which had no lean implementation initiatives. The literature review discusses the constructs Lean Production and Return On Investment (ROI). Emphasis is placed on the elements and transferability of lean Production, as well as the proven and potential effects of lean Production principles on ROI. Despite cited criticism of lean Production, the overall conclusion was reached (on the basis of case studies, research and postulations) that the implementation of Lean Production principles in a South African, Government owned, Rail Refurbishing plant with a job production system can improve ROI The research design (a case study) is reviewed next. Data sources are identified to be financial statements and questionnaires, while data collection methods are listed as the documentary approach and the survey approach. Sampling is non-random, and the generalisation of results is listed as a potential weakness of the study. The richness of in-depth descriptions of lean Production principles as applied in the case study plant accompanied by descriptions of results and obstacles encountered, however, are listed as strong points of the study. A MANOVA is chosen as an appropriate statistical test to evaluate the collected data with α = 5% to answer the research question of the study, while two χ² tests are performed to answer the secondary questions.

Includes bibliographical references. / The purpose of this thesis was to create the model which could be used to optimise the operational effectiveness of the general type of small developing business/system. The small developing organisation is the system which has the same type of components as a big organisation but the structure is much simpler. These components develop a system in the Technical, Economic and Environmental areas. Each of these components has its own purpose and together these purposes optimise the entire system. The identification of the purpose of the components of the small developing organisation should be analysed by: • investigating the component's performance; • investigating the component's behavioural pattern; and • investigating the component's support requirement. Further, the analysis of the general characteristics of the small developing organisation is such that: * analysis of the performance considers only the main point of the component's operation but not the entire operational function; * the behavioural pattern (i.e. failure and repair occurrence) is random; * the evaluation of the support requirements is subjective where the statistical tools may not be applicable; • the relationship between the elements of the aforementioned three activities is often unpredictable; • the components are usually analysed according to the hierarchy of importance to the development of the entire system.

Includes bibliographical references. / Interpretive Structural Modelling is a computer-driven method for dealing with complexity, by allowing individuals or groups to interpret the inter-relationships between different aspects or elements of a problem. In doing this interpretation, the elements are structured, and from this structuring, a graphical model is produced, allowing the modeller(s) to better understand the problem. The main contribution of this thesis was to develop a computer package for Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM), for use at the School of Engineering Management at the University of Cape Town. The package was developed for the IBM PC.

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The concept of student as customer and marrying the concept of treating the student as a customer whilst delivering tertiary education which is both effective and rigorous is an issue which is currently being strongly debated.The objective of this thesis is to consider the student as a principle customer in the delivery of a particular brand of knowledge product, and the level of customer satisfaction they receive relative to the knowledge brand of their choice. Brand refers to the name and reputation of the knowledge provider, Auckland University of Technology, and the level and type of qualification achieved, the MBA degree.The marketing function promotes the brand. The day-to-day management of the process of learning is performed through operations. Thus, in providing tertiary education, how is the brand and the desired objectives of customer satisfaction promoted with the brand, balanced with organisational competencies when applied to the AUT MBA learning process.A triangulation approach has been applied in conducting both qualitative and quantitative research involving MBA students, lecturers and management staff at AUT in order to ascertain whether marketing promises were met. Key findings were that the perception of the quality of the MBA programme showed a statistically significant difference between satisfaction levels of graduate MBA students and undergraduate MBA students in the areas of flexibility, student orientation and support provided with applications and enrolment. Furthermore, the collective responses for both groups of students for all questions showed that although both groups of students appeared to demonstrate a general level of satisfaction with the MBA course, there was a general movement away from strong agreement for graduate students towards strong disagreement for undergraduate students. The results were analysed and recommendations made to enhance the marketing, management, delivery and assessment of the AUT MBA programme.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Texas A & M University, 2003. / "Major Subject: Information and Operations Management." Title from author supplied metadata (automated record created on Apr. 30, 2004.). Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references.