Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African business arena forms a rich platform for tertiary research in strategic management to post graduate students attending South African business schools. The problem exists, however, that very few of these case studies are written up and therefore available as research material to the students. The researcher contributes with this case study to the lean body of research material available for research of South African businesses. The chosen company for research purposes are Pick 'n Pay Stores Limited. This company is typically a leader in the food retailing industry. Information regarding this company is readily available, which increases the learning experience for the student. The study project is presented in the form of a case study that urges the student to work through the material and answer the questions. The questions are formulated with the purpose of guiding the student through the logical steps of a strategic analysis of a company. The case study also includes a model answer that serves the purpose of guiding the lecturer towards the expected answers to the questions of the case study. Initially the student is introduced to a model that could typically be used in the strategic analysis of a company. This model serves as a framework for the strategic analysis of Pick 'n Pay. The student is invited to use this model in the strategic analysis of the company. In so far as this model is not adequate, the student may introduce a new model as long as business-minded and/or academic arguments underpin it. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse besigheidsarena skep 'n ryk platform vir tersiêre navorsing in strategie bestuur aan nagraadse studente by bestuurskole. Die probleem bestaan egter dat min sodanige gevallestudies opgeteken is en derhalwe beskikbaar is as leerstof. Die navorser dra by wyse van hierdie werkstuk by tot die uitgedunde bron van leermateriaal beskikbaar vir strategiese analises van Suid-Afrikaanse gevallestudies. Die gekose maatskappy vir analise, is Pick 'n Pay Stores Limited. Hierdie maatskappy is tipies 'n leier in die kleinhandel voedsel industrie. Daar is baie inligting beskikbaar en opgeteken aangaande hierdie maatskappy, wat die leerervaring vir die student vergroot. Die werkstuk word opgeskryf in die vorm van 'n gevallestudie wat die student noop om , deur die leesstof te werk en die opgestelde vrae te beantwoord. Die vrae is geformuleer met die doel om die student deur die logiese stappe van 'n strategiese analise van 'n maatskappy te lei. Die gevallestudie sluit ook 'n modelantwoord in wat ten doel het om die dosent te lei in die antwoorde wat verwag word in die gevallestudie. Die student word aanvanklik voorgestel aan 'n model wat gebruik kan word in 'n tipiese strategiese analise van 'n maatskappy. Hierdie model dien as raamwerk vir die strategiese analise van Pick 'n Pay. Die student word uitgenooi om hierdie model te gebruik om die strategiese analise van die maatskappy te doen. In soverre hierdie model nie voldoende is nie, kan die student 'n nuwe model bekend stel, solank dit met weldeurdagte akademiese en/of besigheidsbeginsels onderstreep word.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Ongoing business sustainability today is one of the major issues facing the management of organizations. How to remain in the profit zone, that area where a company will be allowed to make high profit in its industry, is a constant challenge. Continued profitability in a fast changing industry, where the profit zone moves as competitors offer the same solutions, requires constant innovation, implementation of new ideas and heavy financial commitments. The key is to identify clear and rational business design choices that are responsive to customers and that will ensure profitability. This document will illustrate how the four major food retail companies in South Africa, and their visionary leaders, have reinvented their business designs in ways that kept or returned them to the profit zone. Shoprite's target market is the middle to lower income group. The company has built up core competencies within its business to serve this segment. There are currently a number of issues facing Shoprite's core market, and as a result the company is diversifying its income streams to be less dependant on a vulnerable target market. . The visionary leadership of Raymond Ackerman, who applied principles of customer sovereignty long before his peers, has resulted in one of the best-run companies in South Africa. Pick 'n Pay's ability lies within the middle to upper segment of the market. The company has built its business on one core element - the customer, and has adapted the company business design to meet the needs of the customer and capture value . .Spars' philosophy of giving the small retailer the power to compete with the larger retailer, who buys in bulk, has proved to be a successful formula and is threatening the traditional hierarchy. Owners who are in close contact to customers have the flexibility to align their businesses with the customer requirements. 'Woolworths has one of the strongest brands in the South African retail industry. However, the company has in recent years been in serious trouble having lost its way because it lost touch with its customers. Concentrating back on the core customers and building back confidence in its goods, have taken considerable focus. Each of the business designs are built on a deep understanding of what the customer needs are of the target market they serve and how they will be allowed to make a profit. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Een van die grootste knelpunte vir organisasies vandag is volhoubare besigheidsbestuur. Die uitdaging is om in die area te bly waar die organisasie toegelaat sal word om hoë wins te maak. Voortgesette winsgewendheid in 'n industrie waar die wins area veskuif as gevolg van mededingers wat oplossings naboots, vereis voortdurende vernuwing en strawwe finansiële verpligtinge. Die sleutel is om duidelike en rasionele besigheidsontwerpbesluite te neem wat kliente behoeftes aanspreek en wat na 'n wins sal lei. Hierdie dokument beskryf hoe die vier groot voedselhandelaars en hulle leiers hul besighede herontwerp het sodat hulle winsgewend kan bly. Shoprite se teiken mark is die middel - tot lae inkomste groep. Die firma het kern bevoegdhede binne sy besigheid ontwikkel om hierdie segment te bedien. Shoprite diversifeer huidiglik sy inkomste stroom as gevolg van die kwesbaarheid van sy teiken mark. Pick 'n Pay word as een van Suid Afrika se beste bestuurde firmas beskou. Die sukses word toegeskryf aan die leierskap van Raymond Ackerman wat die beginsels van kliënte soewereiniteit lank voor sy portuurgroep geïmplimenteer het. Pick 'n Pay se fokus is die middel - tot hoë inkomste groep. Die firma is op een kern element gebou, die kliënt, en sy besigheids ontwerp is aangepas om die behoeftes van die kliënt te bevredig. Spar se filosofie is om die kleiner handelaar in 'n posisie te stel om met die groot handelaar, wat in grootrnaat aankoop, te kan meeding. Die groei wat Spar toon bedreig die traditionele hiërargie en bewys die sukses van hierdie formule. Winkel eienaars wat noue kontak met kliënte het, kan hulle besighede aanpas om in kliënte se behoeftes te voorsien. Woolworths het een van die sterkste handelsmerke in die Suid Afrikaanse handels industrie. Die firma was in die laaste paar jaar in groot moeilikheid omdat hy tred verloor het met sy kliënte. Deur weer te konsentreer op die kern kliënt en om vertroue op te bou in sy goedere het beduidende fokus vereis. Elk van die besigheids ontwerpe is gebou op 'n intieme begrip van die behoeftes van die teiken mark wat bedien word en hoe die firma toegelaat sal word om 'n wins te maak.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this report is to create a better understanding of the new pharmacy initiatives in the South African market, with specific reference to the Nuclicks and Pick 'n Pay groups. In order to understand the respective business concepts better the following abstracts from each chapter of the study is given. Chapter one is basically the introduction to the study and describes the events that lead to the above mentioned corporate retailers to enter the pharmacy market place. An introduction to Hamel's business model theory is also discussed and identified as a possible means of evaluating the corporate retailers' business concepts. In Chapter two the strategic analysis of the South African retail pharmacy industry is performed. This analysis is performed to create an understanding of the different forces at work in the industry. Some of the key findings in this chapter are that changes to the pharmacy act and the way dispensing licences are going to be awarded creates uncertainty. The profit outlook of retail pharmacy, though on the decline, still compares favourably to other retailers. In chapter three the core concepts of Hamel's business model are presented in more detail and applied to the retail pharmacy environment. In his view, a strategy needs to change the industry rules. This chapter ends with the concept of wealth potential based on Hamel's teachings. The wealth potential concept is about creating cash flow and profits. A business model that is able to create customer benefits well below the cost of the competitors is regarded as efficient. By utilising the Hamel way the Nuclicks (chapter four) and Pick 'n Pay (chapter five) business concepts is unpacked. Both Nuclicks and Pick 'n Pay pharmacy business models are presented within the corporate framework of the groups. Nuclicks bought an established pharmacy franchise while Pick 'n Pay launched Healthpharm. Nuclicks creates a possible choke point by buying UPD. The Nuclicks pharmacy strategy is a more comprehensive health strategy, while Pick 'n Pay follows a more cautious approach. As franchising will playa major role in both pharmacy concepts, the theory of franchising is presented in chapter six. Telephonic interviews with Link franchisees are conducted and the possible reasons for the ambiguity that crept into the Link business model are discussed. As the Healthpharm franchise is a new concept, it is evaluated based on information gathered from press releases and the Healthpharm web-site. In chapter seven universal conclusions and recommendations, based upon the literature study and this investigation, are presented. One of the key findings are, success in the face of changes requires more than the current way of doing business. It requires an innovative thinking process. New business models have to be formulated that allows retail pharmacists to establish a focused and well-differentiated value proposition. This value proposition needs to be meaningful for consumers and must strengthen a pharmacy outlet's competitive position. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie verslag is om 'n beter begrip vir die nuwe apteek inisiatiewe in die Suid-Afrikaanse mark te ontwikkel, met spesifieke verwysing na die Nuclicks en Pick 'n Pay groepe. Om die onderskeie besiqheidskonsepte beter te verstaan, word die volgende opsomming van elke hoofstuk van die studie uiteengesit. Hoofstuk een is 'n inleiding tot die studie en beskryf die gebeure wat aanleiding gegee het tot die bogenoemde korporatiewe kleinhandelaars se toetrede tot die apteek mark. 'n Inleiding van Hamel se besigheidsmodel teorie is ook bespreek en is geïdentifiseer as evaluering van die korporatiewe kleinhandelaars se besigheidskonsepte. Hoofstuk twee bied 'n strategiese analise van die Suid-Afrikaanse kleinhandelaars apteek industrie. Hierdie analise is geskep om beter begrip te ontwikkel vir die verskillende kragte wat inwerk in die industrie. Van die bevindinge in die hoofstuk is die veranderinge in die apteek wetgewing en die wyse waarop resepteer lisensies toegeken gaan word, en hoeveel onsekerhede dit tot gevolg het. Die wins vooruitsigte van kleinhandelaars apteke, alhoewel aan die afneem, vergelyk steeds gunstig met ander kleinhandelaars. In Hoofstuk drie is die kern konsepte van Hamel se besigheidsmodel in meer detail uiteengesit en toegepas op die kleinhandelaar apteek omgewing. Uit sy oogpunt, is 'n strategie nodig om veranderinge te weeg te bring in die industrie reëls. Hierdie hoofstuk eindig met die konsep van waarde potensiaal wat gebaseer is op Hamel se teorie. Hierdie waarde potensiaal konsep is gebaseer op die skep van kontantvloei en 'n Besigheidsmodel wat in staat is om die kliënt te begunstig heelwat laer as die koste van die teenstander, word beskou as effektief. Hamel se teorie is gebruik om Nuclicks (hoofstuk vier) en Pick 'n Pay (hoofstuk vyf) se besigheidskonsepte te analiseer. Beide Nuclicks en Pick 'n Pay se besigheidsmodelle word aangebied binne die korporatiewe raakwerke van die groepe. Nuclicks het 'n gevestigde apteek konsessie gekoop terwyl Pick 'n Pay vir Healthpharm begin het. Nuclicks het 'n moontlike 'wurgpunt" geskep deur die aankoop van UPD. Die Nuclicks apteek strategie is 'n meer omvattende gesondheidstrategie, terwyl Pick 'n Pay 'n meer versigtige benadering volg. Aangesien besigheid konsessie 'n belangrike rol speel in beide apteek konsepte, word die teorie van konsessie in hoofstuk ses behandel. Telefoniese onderhoude is gevoer met Link konsessiehouers en die moontlike redes vir die twyfelagtigheid van die Link besigheidsmodel word bespreek. Aangesien die Healthpharm konsessie 'n nuwe konsep is, word dit geëvalueer op grond van inligting wat versamel is uit die media en die Healthpharm webtuiste. In Hoofstuk sewe word universele afleidings en aanbevelings, gebaseer op die literatuurstudie en die ondersoek, uiteengesit. Een van die hoof bevindings was dat sukses benodig meer as die huidige manier van besigheid doen. Nuwe besigheidsmodelle moet geformuleer word, wat dit vir kleinhandelaar apteke moontlik sal maak om 'n gefokusde en goed gedifferensieerde waarde voorstel tot stand te bring. Hierdie voorstel moet betekenisvol wees vir die verbruiker en moet die apteek kompeterende posisie versterk.