M.Ing. (Engineering Management) / It is apparent that understanding the link between the role of innovation in competitiveness and economic development is essential. This is because innovation ultimately holds the key to addressing the most pressing social and human challenges of nations. In the past, some organizations viewed research and development (R & D) as an intangible process that is difficult to manage and measure. However, the upsurge in enabling technologies such as the internet is changing such perceptions of managing R & D processes, which is now moving from a technology-oriented model to one that is more interactive and collaborative. Moreover, organizations that have a clear understanding of R & D management have great successes in exploiting it to speed up the commercialization of new technologies that enable them to achieve numerous competitive benefits such as first-to-market advantages, greater market shares for their innovations, premium prices and dominant designs relative to their counterparts. While it is evident that there is increased focus on fine-tuning R & D management processes, the majority of these efforts were confined to the USA, Europe, Asia and other developed economies, with limited developments in the less developed economies like those in Africa. This dissertation explores the five generations of R & D management practices and attempts to predict the best practices that managers will adopt in the R & D sixth generation. The findings suggest that the sixth generation will be characterized by greater multi-disciplinary approaches emphasizing cross-functional communication, collaboration, as well as greater inclusion of stakeholders such as suppliers, customers and partners in the full life cycle of R & D process.

Successful organisations have a well-defined mission and a strategy for accomplishing that mission. The organisation strategy involves the building of a competitive advantage in a defined market. Activities are oriented around this business strategy. When utilised effectively, technology is a powerful instrument for enhancing the organisation’s competitiveness. Technology management is the application of managerial techniques most suitable for ensuring that the technological factor is exploited for achievement of an organisation's goals. It is critical to correctly implement appropriate practices related to technology and innovation management at organisational level. Most organisations are technology intensive and deliver products or services. The research investigates, through the use of technology auditing, the present and future technology needs of the organisation. It also tried to establish the impact of technology auditing on the competitive advantage of the organisation. The research attempts to set a strategic context for the array of tools, technologies and standards emerging to support the organisation. The research analysed the potential of technology auditing to facilitate a dynamic scale of economy where the organisations take on the tasks of managing its technology. Basic theoretical principles of a technological audit were applied when the researcher conducted the technology audit. Because there is no organisation that is an exact replica of another, a technology audit must be custom made for the specific organisation where it is conducted. A micro business, MP Engineering, in the Port Elizabeth Metropole was chosen to conduct the technology audit at for the purpose of this research project. The research results confirmed the literature currently available.

This research investigated technology change management at Bridgestone/Firestone in the Port Elizabeth metropole. From a manufacturing organisation’s point of view it is clear that technology change is a constant force that determines competitiveness. The thesis outlines the specific requirements needed for utilising the concept of technology change management at Bridgestone/Firestone. The literature survey was aimed at placing the concept of technology change management and the correct organisational structure and organisational focus points in perspective to ensure successful technology change and its implementation at Bridgestone/Firestone. The purpose of the empirical study was to test managements perseptions of technology change management at Bridgestone/Firestone and to contribute useful information to the organisation. From the findings improvements and recommendations were suggested as guidelines for any tyre manufacturer to follow to improve technology change management. The empirical study results show that there is room for improvement. The responses to statements outlined areas that need improvement and those that do not according to the views of Bridgestone/Firestone’s management.

This study recognises that both metrics and innovation lead to superior performance. It explores the marketing activities and processes followed by innovative companies, in particular those involving customers, and proposes the key metrics aligned to these; thereby formalising marketing’s role in the innovation process. Qualitative expert-interviews were done using the Critical Incident Technique; 11 professionals from a South African company, recognised for its innovation, were asked to share their personal experiences of a recent company innovation. The findings highlight the value of a strong corporate culture of collaboration and inclusion, as well as an unwavering focus on creating value for the client, and conclude by proposing a finite marketing dashboard of 12 metrics that align people and processes as key indicators of success to guide the marketer during the innovation process. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / lmgibs2014 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

M.Tech. (Operations Management) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Tech. (Engineering: Electrical) / In this study, we explore the DRC ICT environment and propose an ICT Innovation System. We also explore the RSA ICT Innovation System for comparability. The theoretical frameworks used are Actor-network Theory (ANT) and Capability Approach (CA). These frameworks allows us to understand interaction and interrelationship between different actors (human and non-human) i.e. actor-network with aligned interest which is ICT and socio-economic environment for producing successful network. CA allows us to understand ICTs as a commodity that provides opportunities by increasing capability. We use a mixed methods approach, consisting of qualitative and quantitative methods to collect and analyse the data. The interpretation was made in an integrative manner, findings of qualitative and quantitative are mixed for interpretation. Participants involved in the study were two DRC organizations for qualitative study: Ministry of Health (MoH) and Free University of Great Lakes (FUGL) with which we conducted four interviews. Other participants in the quantitative study are individuals that completed survey questionnaires with one hundred people at Eldorado Park in Gauteng province (RSA) and one hundred at Lemba in Kinshasa province (DRC). The emerged themes from our sampling were ICT partnership public-private; ICT Human resources; ICT Infrastructure; ICT4D (e-health, e-education, e-agriculture, universal access); Government ICT initiatives and ICT services and applications used. Findings as well as recommendations, based on themes and building block, consisting of actors and networks – institutions – knowledge, related to Sectoral Innovation System (SIS) applied to DRC ICT sector realities, showed: the necessity of transnational network between DRC Government - Private ICT Company & Investors - International & Regional Organizations for the establishment of models of ICT innovative projects, ICT legal framework and ICT finance. These actors and network will respond to socio-economic challenges such as poverty, illiteracy and disease through ICTs. We propose an ICT Innovation System for the DRC where the Government agencies, R&D centres, NGOs, public and private ICT companies, international and regional organisations will work together for ICT knowledge diffusion, cheap ICT solutions and an innovative legal for ICT framework specifically for DRC.

This study focuses on entrepreneurs within the SME sector using large format digital printing (LFDP) because of the changes in technology that influences the decisionmaking processes of the entrepreneur in the purchasing of a new LFDP. These fast changes are likely to continue and can cause technologies to become obsolete overnight. The entrepreneurs within the LFDP industry find themselves in the midst of these fast changes and are faced with a dilemma. On the one hand, they need to make sure that the technology used produces consistent and quality products. On the other hand, the entrepreneur needs to ensure an optimal return on investments. From the literature and the findings of the study, the researcher recommends a change to an existing model on a consultant involvement purchase of high technology products, which is then adapted to integrate resource-forecasting areas together with timing and type of information required as well as external environment scanning. The existing model’s focus is on the individual’s ability to make decisions based on their own knowledge. However, by integrating technology forecasting components, and scanning the business environment and resource forecasting needed the decision-maker will be better equipped to make decisions that also takes into account the external environment. This will also allow them to plan and manage growth in a systematic way. Therefore the proposed model takes into account individual capabilities and technology forecasting components that can facilitate the decision-making process. The adapted model on decision-making clearly delineates that the combination of entrepreneurial qualities and technology forecasting techniques in the LFDP industry will ultimately assist the entrepreneur on various levels in deciding on a new LFDP.

Resources devoted to science, or rather to "new science" or research and development and related technical activities have undergone a remarkable rate of increase over the past two decades throughout most of the world. This phenomenon has been symptomatic not only of the development of the majority of nations in the 'western world' but also of the Soviet bloc, and furthermore, all the indications are that this expansion of scientific activities will continue throughout the present decade. Intro., p. 1.

In this digital age many listeners of music now purchase albums from online digital music stores instead of buying a physical album from the record store. This has created a concern with many regarding the future of the album as a physical medium. This study investigates the impact of the possible death of the album on certain listening habits, the activity of record collecting, the creation of large-scale musical works, music consumerism, and its implications for the creative process on music as art and sound-recording quality. Three realisations have led to the problem statement. Firstly, the album might not have a future in the digital age. Secondly, downloadable songs might not be able to recreate an album experience. The third realisation is that the possible death of the album could create new, exciting challenges to artists as they strive to create art. This study is exploratory in nature - and no hypothesis was generated. The research necessitates qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual approaches. Furthermore, the investigation has led to the collection of mostly new data, constituting a “primary data design” through the implementation of qualitative listening experiments and a focus group, using full-time NMMU students between 18 and 25 years of age. It is herein argued that digital distribution might possibly have an effect on the perception of the album format and might possibly still be a relevant listening experience, valued by young people. Singles and albums are collectable; and good albums are considered artistic and comparable to the large-scale musical works of the past. If the concept of an album does not die out, then high fidelity formats should be able to re-invent the album experience. Listening experiences other than the album experience do exist, and they could generate new ways for artists to create musical art.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality implemented a new regulated public transport system with the objective to support the Economic and Social development of the City. The system will be done by transforming current diversified minibus taxi and bus operations into integrated city wide system which will provide the citizens with efficient, affordable, accessible and safe public transport services. The decision was based on the 2006 Public Transport Plan (PTP) prepared by Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The long term strategy is based on the Nelson Mandela Bay 2020 Vision taking into account national and provincial transport policies. (Public Transport Operational Plan Draft 2008). The plan has been developed by the municipality in collaboration with the Eastern Cape Department of Roads and transport supported by the National Department of Transport.