Competitiveness and gaining a sustainable competitive advantage are very important factors when analysing the success of companies involved in the aviation industry in South Africa. The success of these companies will depend on their ability to maintain technological capabilities in the areas of human resources and product development. Global aviation currently is concentrated in a few countries, with the USA being the largest contributor to an industry which is regarded as one of the fastest globalizing industries in terms of market structure and production systems. In South Africa, companies have managed to develop skills in aviation manufacturing. The opportunities that will be created, owing to changes in global production chains, will enable South African companies to establish themselves further as global suppliers. The aviation industry contains high risks, especially because it is considered to be the industry which acts as a driver for innovation. Complexity of production, the capital-intensive nature and high risks involved in developing new products and services have linked the industry to inevitable political influence and support. The industry can broadly be divided into two main sectors: military and commercial. Analysts predict that opportunities in the global aviation markets in future will increase considerably. This is attributed to more Asian, African and Latin-American regions capitalizing on opportunities that exist mainly within the commercial sector. They will form strategic alliances which will enable them to perform on low-cost platforms and offer exceptional services to major players in the aviation sector. To capitalize on these opportunities, companies need to analyse their external and internal environment. The main objective of this study is to analyse and to evaluate the competitive environment of a selected aviation company, to ensure that the best strategy is chosen and adopted and to confirm that the company can create and sustain a competitive advantage over competitors. The planning tools utilized in this study are the PEST and SWOT analyses. Both have been used in the strategic planning process of many other firms. These analyses have proved to be the key element needed to formulate an action plan to be and to stay competitive in the aviation industry. This study evaluates both of these planning tools and applies them to the company chosen for this case study. / MCom (Management Accountancy), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Competitiveness and gaining a sustainable competitive advantage are very important factors when analysing the success of companies involved in the aviation industry in South Africa. The success of these companies will depend on their ability to maintain technological capabilities in the areas of human resources and product development. Global aviation currently is concentrated in a few countries, with the USA being the largest contributor to an industry which is regarded as one of the fastest globalizing industries in terms of market structure and production systems. In South Africa, companies have managed to develop skills in aviation manufacturing. The opportunities that will be created, owing to changes in global production chains, will enable South African companies to establish themselves further as global suppliers. The aviation industry contains high risks, especially because it is considered to be the industry which acts as a driver for innovation. Complexity of production, the capital-intensive nature and high risks involved in developing new products and services have linked the industry to inevitable political influence and support. The industry can broadly be divided into two main sectors: military and commercial. Analysts predict that opportunities in the global aviation markets in future will increase considerably. This is attributed to more Asian, African and Latin-American regions capitalizing on opportunities that exist mainly within the commercial sector. They will form strategic alliances which will enable them to perform on low-cost platforms and offer exceptional services to major players in the aviation sector. To capitalize on these opportunities, companies need to analyse their external and internal environment. The main objective of this study is to analyse and to evaluate the competitive environment of a selected aviation company, to ensure that the best strategy is chosen and adopted and to confirm that the company can create and sustain a competitive advantage over competitors. The planning tools utilized in this study are the PEST and SWOT analyses. Both have been used in the strategic planning process of many other firms. These analyses have proved to be the key element needed to formulate an action plan to be and to stay competitive in the aviation industry. This study evaluates both of these planning tools and applies them to the company chosen for this case study. / MCom (Management Accountancy), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The structure of Sanlam Limited is continually changing in order to align with the strategy. The aim of this research report is to determine the effectiveness of the current structure and whether it is aligned with the strategy. The current corporate strategy is to become the leader in wealth creation. This will be done through being a leader in all areas of the financial services industry and not only a provider of life insurance. The strategy is currently supported through a structure consisting of four channels, namely a life insurance cluster, investment cluster, short-term insurance cluster, and independent financial services cluster. An analysis of the life insurance cluster shows that Sanlam is currently struggling in the employee benefits sector of the industry but is a definite force in the individual life sector. In the short-term insurance industry Sanlam is represented through a shareholding in Santam. Analysis shows that Santam is currently the dominant player in this industry and should continue to be so in the future. The investment cluster consists of a number of entities with the biggest being Sanlam Investment Management. They currently have a big share of asset under management in the industry and performances are also improving after corrective measures were taken in 2004. It is difficult to compare the independent financial services cluster with other companies as they are present in so many areas of the financial services industry. Determination of the industry attractiveness has shown that all three focus areas of the clusters are fairly attractive, with the short-term insurance market being the most attractive. Competitive strength analysis indicates that the main players in each of the clusters do have competitive strength in their industry, with Santam once again being the most competitive. The results mentioned in the previous paragraphs definitely indicate that Sanlam is focussing on the correct areas and has the strengths to compete in these areas. The only concern is that growth is slowing down in the main contributor to profits, that is Sanlam Life, and they need to find areas of growth or diversification to address this risk. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die struktuur van Sanlam Beperk is gedurig aan die verander om met die strategie belyn te wees. Die doel van die navorsingsprojek is om te bepaal hoe effektief die strukture is en of dit wel belyn is met die strategie. Die huidige korporatiewe strategie is om die leier te wees in rykdom skepping. Dit kan alleenlik gedoen word deur die leier te wees in alle areas van die finansiele dienste sektor en nie alleenlik 'n verskaffer van lewensversekering nie. Hierdie strategie word tans ondersteun deur 'n struktuur bestaande uit vier kanale, naamlik die lewensversekeringskanaal, beleggingskanaal, korttermynversekeringskanaal, en die onafhanklike finansiele dienste-kanaal. 'n Ontleding van die lewensversekeringskanaal loon dat Sanlam tans sukkel in die werknemersvoordele area van die besigheid maar 'n definitiewe sterk verteenwoordigheid het in die individuele lewens area van die besigheid. In die korttermynversekeringskanaal word Sanlam verteenwoordig deur Santam in wie Sanlam 'n aandeelhouer is. Die analise van die industrie toon dat Santam die dominante leier in die area is en so behoort te bly in die afsienbare toekoms. Die beleggingskanaal bestaan uit 'n hele aantal besighede waarvan Sanlam Beleggingsbestuurders die grootste is. Hulle het tans 'n groot persentasie van die bates onder bestuur in die mark en vertoon ook aansienlik beter na korrektiewe stappe geneem is in 2004. Dit is moeilik om die onafhanklike finansiele dienste-kanaal met mededingers te vergelyk aangesien hulle 'n teenwoordigheid het in baie areas van die finansiele dienste sektor. Bepaling van die industrie aantreklikheidsfaktor het getoon dat al die areas waarop die kanale fokus redelik aantreklik is, met die korttermynversekering die mees aanloklikste. Die analise van die kompeterende sterkte het ook aangetoon dat die grootste eenhede in elke kanaal definitief kompeterend is, met Santam weereens die mees kompeterende. Die resultate uiteengesit in die vorige paragrawe toon aan dat Sanlam op die regte areas fokus en ook 'n sterk teenwoordigheid in die areas het. Die enigste rede tot kommer is die feit dat Sanlam Lewens, wat die grootste bydra lewer tot die groep winste, nie groei toon nie. Daar sal dus planne gemaak moet word om die besigheid te groei.

The topic of this dissertation is employee education in the organizations. This work begins with the description of a comprehensive system of training and education of employees in the organizations. Next chapters are devoted to the business education system with focus on conception of learning organizations. The subsection is also focusing on the concept of strategic human resources development. An important chapter of this dissertation is a description of the process of designing the training of employees in the organizations, which includes parts focusing on the identification and analysis of a need of education, planning and implementation of education and its evaluation. In this framework are defined areas such as learning objectives, selected subgroup of learners, forms and methods of educational events, role of personality motivation and trainers. The practical part is devoted to description, analysis and comparison of the selected small organizations in terms of structure and organization of the education system. This chapter is a survey that focuses on the scope of the education system and degree of the satisfaction of workers with education in selected small organizations. The aim of this dissertation in theoretical aspect is to outline the system of training of staff in the...

A importância dos sistemas de software segue crescendo para grande parte das organizações. A expansão das funcionalidades viabilizadas com a implantação destes sistemas em produtos manufaturados e a emergência das \"mídias digitais\", que compreendem conteúdo digital, software e múltiplos canais de acesso ao mercado, são exemplos recentes nos quais os sistemas de software assumiram posição central para a estratégia corporativa. Grande parte das pesquisas realizadas sobre software não considera explicitamente os vínculos existentes entre o mercado no qual estas empresas atuam e seus processos organizacionais; como conseqüência, tanto pesquisa como prática em engenharia de software tendem a ser realizadas de forma neutra, e na perspectiva de um desenvolvedor de software, diferentes atividades de desenvolvimento são consideradas como igualmente relevantes para a obtenção dos objetivos corporativos. Este projeto de pesquisa analisa como acontece o alinhamento entre objetivos estratégicos e o processo de desenvolvimento em empresas de software e propõe um método para garantir que o processo de desenvolvimento encontra-se alinhado com os objetivos do negócio. O método inclui a categorização de diferentes companhias de software de acordo com as suas habilidades principais e a customização da técnica Technology Roadmapping para empresas de software. O percurso metodológico desenvolvido para atingir os objetivos propostos não é convencional e envolve diferentes etapas nas quais a recuperação de teorias, de conceitos e de modelos foi mesclada com atividades de pesquisa para o detalhamento, teste e ratificação dos diversos elementos que vêm a constituir o produto acima mencionado. Os resultados obtidos são consistentes com os objetivos propostos e incluem um referencial para análise da indústria de Telecomunicações, um referencial para análise da indústria de software, incorporando questões sobre mercado, objetivos estratégicos, produtos e serviços e processo de desenvolvimento, e um método de alinhamento entre objeticos estratégicos e processo de desenvolvimento em empresas de software. / Software importance is growing fast and consistently for many organizations. The growth of software functionality in manufactured products and the emergence of the digital media, convergent spaces comprehending digital content, software, and multi-channels to the market, are recent examples of organizational changes where software assumed a central position for the corporate strategy. Much of current research about software does not explicitly consider the linkages between the software market and their organizational processes; as a consequence, software engineering practice and research is done in a value-neutral setting, and from a developer point of view, different activities are considered equally important for the achievement of corporate goals. This research project analyzes the alignment between strategic objectives and development process at software companies and presents a method to ensure that the development process is aligned with the corporate capabilities required to exploit future market opportunities. The method includes the categorization of different software companies according to their core capabilities and the customization of the Technology Roadmapping technique for software companies. To achieve the proposed goal it was necessary to develop a different approach, in which theories, concepts and models were tested against empirical initiatives, aiming to validate the different elements that constitute the mentioned result. These obtained results are consistent with the proposed objectives, and include a framework to analyze the telecommunication industry, a framework to analyze the software industry, concerning issues such as market, strategic objectives, products and services and development process, and a method to align strategic objectives and development process at software companies.

A trajetória e desenvolvimento de Corporate Foresight, uma competência organizacional que permite estabelecer os alicerces para a construção de vantagem competitiva no contexto estratégico das organizações, têm revelado uma corrente de pesquisa independente no campo de estudos do futuro. A evolução do interesse sobre o tema, nos âmbitos acadêmico e gerencial, remete à necessidade de ampliar suas fronteiras interdisciplinares, permeando estudos concernentes aos elos que envolvem os construtos que delineiam todo o processo estratégico preditivo e decisório. Nesse sentido, esta tese tem por objetivo a proposição de um framework que realça a integração entre a competência Corporate Foresight e as demais etapas do processo estratégico que culmina com o estabelecimento de vantagens competitivas, proporcionando diálogo entre o conhecimento teórico e a observação empírica. Metodologicamente, foi realizada uma extensa revisão bibliográfica sobre os assuntos pertinentes ao tema objeto da tese, a qual serviu de base para a proposição do framework conceitual. Complementarmente, realizou-se uma pesquisa empírica, a qual recorreu a métodos mistos, envolvendo uma etapa qualitativa, com o emprego de entrevistas em profundidade face a face, e uma fase quantitativa. A primeira etapa serviu de subsídio necessário para o desenvolvimento da fase quantitativa, a qual visou a elucidar a relação e integração entre Corporate Foresight e as demais etapas do processo estratégico direcionado à elaboração de estratégias que permitam a consecução de vantagem competitiva e crescimento da organização. Conclui-se que a tese pode proporcionar um avanço no conhecimento sobre o tema, trazendo implicações acadêmicas e gerenciais, pois apresenta um framework aderente com poder explicativo de Corporate Foresight para a obtenção de Vantagem Competitiva Futura, condição necessária, mas não suficiente, pois também constata que apenas a implementação de ações necessárias identificadas durante o período de planejamento estratégico não é suficiente para explicar o estabelecimento de Vantagem competitiva. / The trajectory and development of Corporate Foresight, an organizational competence that allows laying the foundations for the construction of competitive advantage in the strategic context of organizations, has revealed a current of independent research in the field of future studies. The evolution of interest on the subject, in the academic and managerial spheres, refers to the need to extend its interdisciplinary boundaries, permeating studies concerning the links that surround the constructs that outline the entire strategic predictive and decision-making process. In this sense, this thesis aims at proposing a framework that highlights the integration between the Corporate Foresight competence and the other stages of the strategic process that culminates in the establishment of competitive advantages, providing a dialogue between theoretical knowledge and empirical observation. Methodologically, an extensive bibliographical review was carried out on the subjects pertinent to the subject matter of the thesis, which served as a basis for the proposal of the conceptual framework. Also, empirical research was carried out, using mixed methods, involving a qualitative step, using in-depth face-to-face interviews, and a quantitative phase. The first stage served as a necessary subsidy for the development of the quantitative phase, which aimed to elucidate the relationship and integration between Corporate Foresight and the other stages of the strategic process directed to the elaboration of strategies that allow the achievement of competitive advantage and growth of the organization. It is concluded that the thesis can provide an advance in the knowledge on the subject, bringing academic and managerial implications, because it presents an adherent framework with the explanatory power of Corporate Foresight to obtain Future Competitive Advantage, a necessary but not sufficient condition since it also notes that only the implementation of necessary actions identified during the strategic planning period is not enough to explain the establishment competitive advantage.

A importância dos sistemas de software segue crescendo para grande parte das organizações. A expansão das funcionalidades viabilizadas com a implantação destes sistemas em produtos manufaturados e a emergência das \"mídias digitais\", que compreendem conteúdo digital, software e múltiplos canais de acesso ao mercado, são exemplos recentes nos quais os sistemas de software assumiram posição central para a estratégia corporativa. Grande parte das pesquisas realizadas sobre software não considera explicitamente os vínculos existentes entre o mercado no qual estas empresas atuam e seus processos organizacionais; como conseqüência, tanto pesquisa como prática em engenharia de software tendem a ser realizadas de forma neutra, e na perspectiva de um desenvolvedor de software, diferentes atividades de desenvolvimento são consideradas como igualmente relevantes para a obtenção dos objetivos corporativos. Este projeto de pesquisa analisa como acontece o alinhamento entre objetivos estratégicos e o processo de desenvolvimento em empresas de software e propõe um método para garantir que o processo de desenvolvimento encontra-se alinhado com os objetivos do negócio. O método inclui a categorização de diferentes companhias de software de acordo com as suas habilidades principais e a customização da técnica Technology Roadmapping para empresas de software. O percurso metodológico desenvolvido para atingir os objetivos propostos não é convencional e envolve diferentes etapas nas quais a recuperação de teorias, de conceitos e de modelos foi mesclada com atividades de pesquisa para o detalhamento, teste e ratificação dos diversos elementos que vêm a constituir o produto acima mencionado. Os resultados obtidos são consistentes com os objetivos propostos e incluem um referencial para análise da indústria de Telecomunicações, um referencial para análise da indústria de software, incorporando questões sobre mercado, objetivos estratégicos, produtos e serviços e processo de desenvolvimento, e um método de alinhamento entre objeticos estratégicos e processo de desenvolvimento em empresas de software. / Software importance is growing fast and consistently for many organizations. The growth of software functionality in manufactured products and the emergence of the digital media, convergent spaces comprehending digital content, software, and multi-channels to the market, are recent examples of organizational changes where software assumed a central position for the corporate strategy. Much of current research about software does not explicitly consider the linkages between the software market and their organizational processes; as a consequence, software engineering practice and research is done in a value-neutral setting, and from a developer point of view, different activities are considered equally important for the achievement of corporate goals. This research project analyzes the alignment between strategic objectives and development process at software companies and presents a method to ensure that the development process is aligned with the corporate capabilities required to exploit future market opportunities. The method includes the categorization of different software companies according to their core capabilities and the customization of the Technology Roadmapping technique for software companies. To achieve the proposed goal it was necessary to develop a different approach, in which theories, concepts and models were tested against empirical initiatives, aiming to validate the different elements that constitute the mentioned result. These obtained results are consistent with the proposed objectives, and include a framework to analyze the telecommunication industry, a framework to analyze the software industry, concerning issues such as market, strategic objectives, products and services and development process, and a method to align strategic objectives and development process at software companies.

Masters in Public Administration - MPA / The Beginning of the paradigm shift in policing in the South African Police was first seen in 1993 when the concept of Community Policing was first introduced. The South African Police Service that was formed through the Police Act 68 of 1995 subsequently adopted Community Policing as a Corporate Strategy of the organisation. There is a question as to whether some of the efforts reflect the necessary elements of community policing or are merely reactions to a contemporary political thrust for police reform. This study seeks to critically analyse the challenges and contradictions in Community Policing in terms of strategy and organisation. Nyanga SAPS will be use as the case study. Nyanga is one of the Police Stations in the so-called Black Township that has been engulfed by Community-Police conflicts since the democratic dispensation came into existence in South Africa. The highest point of this animosity saw certain people within the community between 1998 and 1999 reporting criminal activities to Taxi Operators rather than to the police. This study will be approached through gap analysis. The author will first describe the desired state of affairs in terms where the SAPS should be, in relation to reform policies put in place by the government. This will be followed by the analysis of the present situation in Nyanga, which will highlight the shortcomings. Then the study will put forward recommendations which should address the identified shortcomings. Based on that, the strategy that should inform policing in the new millennium will be developed. The author will recommend an African approach to policing as it has become apparent that the policing approaches are different for different countries and different communities. The author will propose full participation of the public in policing, in terms of determining policing priorities in their areas.

Although the prevailing viewpoint claims that corporate profitability and environmental regulation are directly at odds, there is a growing base of evidence suggesting that low-carbon companies gain a strategic advantage over dirtier competitors by lobbying for more stringent climate regulations. This paper extends previous analyses of corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and lobbying using toxic releases as a measure of environmental performance to assess the assertion that both clean and dirty firms disproportionately lobby on environmental policies. In my analysis, I find that the same relationship previously found using GHG emissions as a measure of corporate environmental performance holds with toxic releases when examining only the three most widely represented industries in my data—Major Chemical, Power Generation, and Energy Utilities. When combined with findings of a negative linear correlation between firms’ toxic releases and lobbying expenditures using the same sample, my results suggest that clean firms in these industries not only lobby frequently on environmental policies—they actually do so more aggressively than their dirtier competitors. While I deduce that these results are caused by clean firms lobbying for stricter environmental regulations that impose costly compliance costs on dirty competitors, it is evident that my data do not specify if firms are lobbying for or against more stringent regulations or what the implications of those lobbied policies would entail. This inability to distinguish firms’ underlying motivations for lobbying is a fundamental shortcoming of my analysis.