D.Com. (Transport Economics) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Comm. / The South African Transport Services is one of the largest undertakings in the Republic of South Africa. It is a multi-modal undertaking employing approximately 212 000 people and has a turnover in excess of R8 000 million per annum. During a strategic planning excercise the top management of the South African Transport Services identified an effective management information system as a critical success factor to the well being of the undertaking on the premise that information forms the basis for sound management decision-making. The need for relevant information for decision-making has never been more real than at present. The South African Transport Services is facing a market situation of ever-increasing competition. As the move towards deregulation in the RSA gathers momentum, the competition will become even greater. The information resource will have to respond to the challenge and provide management with timely, relevant information to make sound decisions. This study has as its goal the setting of a number of guidelines which will enable the management of the South African Transport Services to prepare a strategic information plan for the undertaking. As a result of the conclusions drawn from the literature study an investigation was conducted into the characteristics of the South African Transport Services with the accent on the present availability, distribution and use of information. This study was undertaken at three levels. At the first level stock was taken of the formal information which is at present supplied to top management. A number of conclusions were drawn as to the application, volume, relevance, accuracy and timeliness of the information. At the same time the views of top management were obtained on their perception of the most important information problems in the South African Transport Services.

M.Com. / Please refer to full text to view abstract