Thesis (M. Com.) --University of Limpopo, 2018 / The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficiency and effectiveness of e-business applications when used for the creation and delivering of value propositions that the target markets that businesses desire to achieve in the Limpopo Province. The study had three objectives. (1) To identify the e-business applications that can be used in the development of new value propositions for businesses (2) To identify the benefits that the use of e-business applications offers to businesses (3) To determine the relationship between the use of e-business applications and the operational performance of the value propositions. The study was quantitative in nature. Exploratory and descriptive research were utilised to the use of e-business applications by businesses. A sample size of 330 businesses was used. The questionnaire was based on a thorough theoretical basis and a pilot study was conducted to improve the validity. The Cronbach alpha test was conducted to ascertain the reliability of the research instrument. Data was collected through the use of self-administered questionnaires in a survey. SPSS was used for data analysis. The results indicate the e-business applications, the benefits of e-business and the relationship between the e-business applications and operational performance of value propositions. Recommendations to businesses utilise e-business applications so that they are able to create and deliver value propositions in an efficient and effective manner are made.

Road authorities around the world have been innovating and finding ways to cope with the high cost of road network maintenance, the growing demands of road users and the changing traffic type and volume. A well-maintained road is needed to make the network sustainable for future generations. Improving road maintenance management in the Philippines, based on New Zealand experience, is the goal of this research with the theme of managing the change from method-based specifications to the adoption of performance-based specifications for unsealed low-volume roads. The New Zealand Local Government Act 2002 prescribes the requirements for the provision, operation, and management of the local road network, consistent with the Land Transport Management Act 2002 and the New Zealand Land Transport Strategy. The maintenance management system used by New Zealand road controlling authorities (RCAs) was determined by survey and a profile of RCAs that have adopted performance-based specifications was established. RCAs that adopted performance-based specifications had employed asset managers, used the Road Asset Maintenance Management (RAMM) system as an asset management tool, engaged consultants for specialised skills, employed more engineers, had highly developed performance specifications, conducted customer surveys, and had more resources in terms of rates and revenues than RCAs that had not adopted performance-based specifications. The proposed performance-based specifications for sealed and unsealed roads were also presented in this thesis. The Department of Public Works and Highways of the Philippines has implemented three long-term performance-based maintenance pilot projects, all completed by 2005. The lessons learned from the pilot projects, together with the New Zealand survey results will guide road authorities in the Philippines to improve the implementation of future long-term performance-based maintenance contracts (LTPBMC) on national roads, and possibly apply the same to low-volume roads.

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