Thesis (Mcomm)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Technology has become one of the most important factors in the business world today. Information technology is playing an ever-increasing role in all areas of business. Logistics is no exception, and is one of the areas most affected by technological change. Many firms need to adapt technologically, or they might face extinction. This study aims to make firms aware of the power of information technology and the benefits it holds for those who use it. It tries to inform firms about the various uses and applications that exist and how they can improve business processes. It sets guidelines for the implementation of information technology and allows the firm to make an informed choice. It also discusses the growing role that the Internet is playing in logistics and the business world as a whole. Tips for the implementation of an electronic commerce system are also given, and the effects of electronic commerce on logistics are discussed. The firms can use the information to plan their strategies more effectively and hopefully find success in the global digital economy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tegnologie is een van die belangrikste faktore in vandag se sakewêreld. Informasietegnologie speel 'n al groter rol in alle sakegebiede. Logistiek is daarby ingesluit, en is een van die areas wat die meeste deur tegnologiese verandering geaffekteer word. Sakeondernemings moet toenemend aanpas by die nuwe tegnologie om te kan voortbestaan. Die fokus van hierdie werkstuk is om firmas bewus te maak van die voordele wat informasietegnologie inhou en hoe ondernemeings daarby kan baat. Daar word gepoog om firmas bewus te maak van die wye verskeidenheid tegnologiese produkte wat bestaan, en hoe hulle aangewend kan word om besigheidsprosesse te verbeter. Daar word riglyne vasgestel wat firmas die geleentheid bied om tegnologie doeltreffend in te span en om 'n ingeligte keuse te kan maak. Die rol wat die Internet in logistiek en die sakewêreld speel word ook bespreek, asook die effek wat elektroniese handelop logistiek het. Riglyne word ook verskaf oor die implementering van 'n stelsel wat elektroniese handel moontlik sal maak. Die inligting wat verskaf word kan firmas help om hulle strategieë doeltreffend te beplan en om sodoende sukses te behaal in die globale digitale ekonomie.

Thesis (MEng) -- Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The utilisation ofDraglines to remove overburden in surface mining operations is often the process that determines the output of these operations. The bucket and its rigging have been identified as important components where design changes can improve the efficiency of the dragline. It is necessary to create a method to predict the dynamic behaviour of the bucket when various design changes are made to the rigging and the bucket. A rigid multibody dynamic method is formulated that can be used to predict the behaviour of any physical system that can be modelled as a set of connected rigid bodies. This multibody method is verified with analytic test problems and an experiment. A description is given how to use this rigid multibody dynamic method to model the dragline and predict the behaviour ofthe bucket during an operational cycle. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sleepgrawe word gebruik in oppervlakmynbouaktiwiteite om die mineraal neerslae wat ontgin word te ontbloot. Hierdie proses bepaal baie keer die produksie van die mynbou aktiwiteit. Die sleepgraaf se bak en die takelwerk van die bak het 'n groot invloed op die sleepgraaf se werksverrigting. Om die bak se werksverrigting te verbeter is 'n metode nodig om die dinamiese gedrag van die bak te voorspel. In hierdie dokument word 'n metode beskryf waarmee die dinamiese gedrag van enige stelsel bepaal kan word, wat as 'n stelsel van onderling-verbinde onbuigbare liggame beskryf kan word. Die korrektheid van hierdie metode is getoets met behulp van analitiese sowel as eksperimentele metodes. Daar word ook 'n beskrywing gegee hoe hierdie metode gebruik kan word om die beweging van die bak tydens 'n tipiese werksiklus te voorspel.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Technology itself does not currently offer a competitive advantage in this era of technological development. Innovative utilisation and application of technology does, however offer temporary competitive advantages. This innovative utilisation and application of technology is dependant on the creativity and innovation of the entrepreneur. CaliWatch™ makes use of existing technology namely cellular technology, watch technology and medical monitoring technology. The unique application of these technologies gives CaliWatch™competitive advantage in the market. The innovation does not only apply to the technology, but also to strategy and marketing to keep this competitive advantage in the market. This study analyses the different technologies and industries, identifying potential target markets and give projected financial information. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tegnologie op sigself bied tans nie meer mededingende voordele in die era van tegnologiese ontwikkeling nie. Innoverende gebruik en toepassing van tegnologie bied wel tydelike mededingende voordele. Hierdie innoverende toepassing en gebruik berus op die kreatiwiteit en innovasie van die entrepreneur. CaliWatch TM maak gebruik van bestaande tegnologieë, naamlik sellulêre tegnologie, horlosie tegnologie, en mediese monitering tegnologie. Die unieke toepassing van hierdie tegnologieë bied CaliWatchTM mededingende voordeel in die mark. Die innovasie berus nie slegs by die toepassing van tegnologie nie, maar, om die mededinginde voordeel te behou, ook by die strategiese beplanning en bemarking. Hierdie studie ontleed die verskillende tegnologieë en industrieë, identifiseer potentiele teikenmarkte, en maak geprojekteerde finansiële vooruitskouinge.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / Technology is a critical component in modern society. Management of Technology (MOT) should be a major focus of management studies. At present the status of MOT is much less than it should be. Part of the reason is that there is little consensus about the body of knowledge for MOT. This can be traced down to as far as an inadequate consensus about the very nature of technology itself. There is a need for a simple and elegant conceptual foundation. There is a need for an accepted paradigm to govern MOT. The paradigm discourse initiated by Thomas Kuhn allows for a comprehensive frame of reference about theory contestation and about the attributes required from a contesting theory to achieve the ultimate status of a paradigm. In order to help create a coherent and streamlined conceptual foundation for MOT, this research evaluates the functionality grid as a paradigm. To realise this goal, this study first assesses the functionality grid’s compliance with the theoretical requirements of a paradigm, and secondly its compliance with the empirical requirements of a paradigm. The theoretical test uses a newly created format, the paradigm template, to establish the necessary criteria. The functionality grid is then subjected to a critical review using the said criteria. It is found that it meets the requirements of a valid paradigm. For measurement of empirical requirements, Kuhn’s own criteria are used. This second part of the study involves three practical exercises to examine the practical descriptive power of the functionality grid, and its ability to help first with the formation of a technology attuned mindset of participants, second with the improvement in technological knowledge and third with an increase in the technological literacy of participants. The outcomes of these tests are positive as well. The dissertation concludes that the functionality grid would be a viable paradigm to serve as a guide for the further development of MOT. The functionality grid becomes confirmed as a paradigm for MOT, because it contains all the attributes to serve as a coherent and streamlined conceptual structure for this discipline. Given this outcome, it is recommended that more effort be invested to understand, promote and popularise the functionality grid; and the various analytical frameworks derived from it. It is recommended that it becomes an explicit part of the book of knowledge for MOT and that it constitutes the basis for an educational curriculum to be shared by every MOT professional and student.

Thesis (MComm (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / This study recognises that innovation and renewal is instrumental in gaining competitive advantage. However, large firms often face a renewal dilemma. Despite the fact that many firms recognise the need for innovation and renewal, they find it challenging to implement innovation. Thus, the need for renewal is complicated by finding a suitable business development tool to bring about the renewal needed. The problem is further aggravated by a fundamental managerial conflict of exploration and exploitation. This conflict causes a reluctance to engage in exploration activities (searching for new resources, knowledge, and competence), due to the operational focus of exploiting current resources, knowledge, and competence. To overcome the renewal dilemma, this study investigated the relationship and linkages between Internal Corporate Venturing (ICV) and corporate renewal to determine how Internal Corporate Venturing (ICV) can be used as a tool to initiate corporate renewal and overcome the renewal dilemma. The study made use of a qualitative, mixed-method methodology and investigated the research problem in two phases. The first phase of this study used Grounded Theory to propose a theoretical framework that illustrated how ICV provides a firm with a strategic process that effectively balances exploration and exploitation activities, providing the linking mechanisms needed between a firm’s corporate context and its external environment, enabling the firm to initiate corporate renewal. In the second stage of this study, the theory was assessed, by comparing the proposed theoretical framework to a case study involving an internal venturing programme at an established financial services firm in Southern Africa. Based on a comparison between the proposed theoretical framework and the case study, this thesis concludes that ICV could theoretically be used to address the renewal dilemma; however, it was not possible to confirm this proposition, due to the stage in which the corporate venturing programme the case examined found itself,. The case study did however suggest that ICV could enhance a firm’s ability to instigate corporate renewal, through its ability to create idiosyncratic endowments from a firm’s endowment base.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Because Knowledge Management (KM) is seen as the process of formalizing activities relating to the creation and sharing of knowledge in an organization, it is often seen as a hindrance to innovation. Innovation is perceived as the domain of free-thinkers, who are not tied down by formal processes and paperwork, but who allow their imagination to roam free and can conceptualize exciting new ideas. Because of this, organizations which have a very formal KM system often argue that they cannot be innovative, while those organizations which see themselves as innovative are afraid to introduce a KM system, because they are afraid that they will lose some of their freedom. In reality, this view is not strictly correct. While a KM system does require some processes to be formalized, it does not necessarily have to mean the end of innovation. In fact, it can assist innovation in a number of ways. By making knowledge available to a larger part of the organization, more employees are empowered to become innovative. KM systems do this by making knowledge regarding processes, procedures, and products available to employees. In addition, KM systems can assist in ensuring collaboration between various employees in an organization, as well as between employees of different organizations. When these diverse people combine their knowledge, innovation can occur more easily than when a single individual attempts to innovate. KM Systems can also assist innovation by putting knowledge-seekers in contact with the relevant holders of knowledge. When new innovations are first brought into a company, a proper KM system can assist with the dissemination of information regarding these innovations. In this way innovations are easily and quickly diffused in a company. The construction industry is typically a projects-based environment, where teams are created and disbanded on a continuous basis. Because of this project-orientated nature, a lot of innovation takes place because project teams are forever faced with new challenges. At the same time, the fact that teams are seldom maintained after the completion of a project, makes the use of a good KM system all the more relevant, to ensure that knowledge and learning is made available throughout the organization. The construction industry is also very fragmented and, in order to ensure collaboration between various role players, a good KM system should enable employees from different companies to work together across company borders. The role of management in ensuring the success of KM and innovation is vital. Management needs to be seen as providing the thrust for using the KM system, as well as for being innovative and ensuring that the organisation remains open to learning and new ideas. For innovations and KM to be effective in the construction industry, there are a number of prerequisites, not least of which is the culture of the organisation, which should be one of innovation, learning and openness to new ideas. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Omdat Kennisbestuur (KB) gesien word as die proses van formalisering van aktiwiteite wat te doen het met die skep en deel van kennis in 'n organisasie, word dit dikwels gesien as 'n klip in die pad van innovasie. Innovasie word gesien as die area van vrye denkers, wat nie teruggehou word deur formele prosesse en papierwerk nie, maar wat hulle verbeelding vrye teuels gee en wat opwindende nuwe idees kan uitdink. As gevolg hiervan dink organisasies wat 'n baie formele KB stelsel het dikwels dat hulle nie kan innoveer nie, terwyl die organisasies wat hulleself sien as innoverend, dikwels versigtig is om 'n KB stelsel te implimenteer, omdat hulle bang is dat hulle 'n deel van hulle vryheid sal verloor. In werklikheid is dit nie reg nie. Terwyl 'n KB stelsel vereis dat sommige prosesse geformaliseer word, beteken dit nie noodwendig die einde van innovasie nie. Trouens, dit kan innovasie aanmoedig op verskeie maniere. Deur kennis meer beskikbaar te maak aan 'n groter deel van die organisasie, word meer werknemers in staat gestel om innoverend te wees. KB stelsels doen dit deur kennis aangaande prosesse, prosedures en produkte toeganklik te maak vir werknemers. KB stelsels kan ook help om samewerking te verseker, beide tussen werknemers van dieselfde organisasie en werknemers van verskillende organisasies. Wanneer die diverse mense hulle kennis saamvoeg, geskied innovasie makliker as wanneer een individu probeer om te innoveer. KB stelsels kan ook innovasie aanhelp deur die kennis soekers in verbinding te stel met die relevante houers van kennis. Wanneer nuwe innovasie die eerste keer in 'n maatskappy inkom, kan 'n ordentlike KB stelsel help met die verspreiding van die kennis aangaande die innovasie. Op die manier word innovasies maklik en vinnig opgeneem in 'n organisasie. Die konstruksie industrie is tipies 'n projek gebaseerde omgewing, waar spanne geskep en ontknoop word op 'n voortdurende basis. As gevolg van die projekgeorienteerdheid, gebeur 'n klomp innovasie, omdat projek spanne heeltyd nuwe uitdagings moet oorkom. Terselfdertyd maak die feit dat spanne selde bymekaar bly na afloop van 'n projek, die gebruik van 'n goeie KB stelsel nog meer relevant, om te verseker dat kennis en leer deur die organisasie beskikbaar is. Die konstruksie industrie is ook baie gefragmenteer, en om samewerking tussen die onderskeie rolspelers te verseker, behoort 'n goeie KB stelsel werknemers van verskillende maatskappye in staat te stel om saam te werk. Die rol van bestuur om te verseker dat KB en innovasie 'n sukses is, is uiters belangrik. Bestuur moet gesien word as toegewyd aan die gebruik van die KB stelsel, sowel as aan innovasie en om seker te maak dat die organisasie ontvanklik bly vir leer en nuwe idees. Vir innovasie en KB om effektief te wees in die konstruksie industrie, is daar 'n aantal voorvereistes, waarvan die kultuur van die organisasie een is. Die kultuur behoort een van innovasie, leer en openheid vir nuwe idees te wees.

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

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Through the process of innovation, organisations create technological growth. Successful innovation creates customer value through new products and services, and it could give rise to new markets. Successful innovations contribute to better quality, higher productivity, lower costs and increased profits. One of the ultimate goals for implementing innovation is to achieve a competitive advantage that leads to outperforming competitors. Through the understanding of the innovation processes, organisations can bring predictability into their innovation efforts. This comes from understanding and managing the forces that influence the decisions made by managers. Because of globalisation and fierce competition Spescom DataVoice, a South African technology company, is finding it increasingly difficult to compete in an international market. It is against the background of Spescom DataVoice's need to increase its innovation productivity that this research was spawn. The ambitious goal of this study was to investigate what Spescom DataVoice can do to become sustainable, innovative and competitive in its market space. This research firstly captured the important themes and theories around the subject of innovation and how it relates to strategy. The literature study will try to look into all the important work, especially well-known research and its significance. Lastly, the research will apply the knowledge gained by discussing the research questions relating to Spescom DataVoice's particular situation. The research will discuss the innovation capabilities and perspectives that Spescom DataVoice should focus on; the environment that is needed for sustainable continuous innovation; and innovation strategies that Spescom DataVoice could employ to improve its innovation productivity. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Organisasies skep tegnologiese groei deur die proses van innovasie. Suksesvolle innovasie skep waarde vir kliënte deur nuwe produkte en dienste, wat weer kan aanleiding gee tot nuwe markte. Suksesvolle innovasie dra by tot beter kwaliteit, hoër produktiwiteit, laer koste en die verhoging van winste. Een van die uiteindelike doelwitte met die implementering van innovasie is om 'n kompeterende voordeel te bewerkstellig wat kan lei tot die oortreffing van kompeteerders. Deur die proses van innovasie beter te verstaan, bring organisasies meer stelligheid in hul pogings om te innoveer. Dit word meegebring deur die verstaan en bestuur van die kragte wat bestuurders se besluite beinvloed. As gevolg van globalisering en fel kompetisie vind Spescom DataVoice, 'n Suid-Afrikaanse tegnologie-maatskappy, dit al hoe moeiliker om in 'n internasionale mark mee te ding. Dit is teen hierdie agtergrond van Spescom DataVoice se behoefte, om hul produktiwiteit ten opsigte van innovasie te verhoog, dat hierdie navorsingstuk die lig gesien het. Die ambisieuse doelwit van hierdie studie was om te ondersoek wat Spescom DataVoice kan doen om volhoubaar, innoverend en kompeterend in sy mark mee te ding. Eerstens bekyk hierdie studie na die belangrike temas en teorieë rondom die onderwerp van innovasie en hoe dit verband hou met strategie. Die literatuurstudie poog om na al die belangrike werke in die vakgebied te kyk, veral die navorsingsresultate en bydrae wat dit opgelewer het. Verder sal die kennis wat opgedoen is toegepas word deur navorsingsvrae te bespreek wat gerig is op Spescom DataVoice se spesifieke situasie. Die navorsingstudie sal dan bespreek op watter innovasie vermoëns en perspektiewe Spescom DataVoice behoort te fokus; die omgewing wat nodig is vir volhoubare kontinue innovasie; en watter innovasie strategieë Spescom DataVoice kan aanwend om sy innovasie produktiwiteit te verhoog.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this thesis I look at the impact of technology on the concept of sculpture. However, I am more concerned with the principles behind technological change as influence, than looking at high-technology advances. A key issue that I address is the consideration of changes in society and art, and I ask the question, to what extent does three-dimensional art remain in any traditional sense 'sculpture'? It is my objective to show these changes, indicated by the transition from an object-oriented to a systems-oriented approach in art leading to a redefinition of the concept of sculpture. Although I deal with my practical work as a separate part in the thesis, there is a close integration and mutual objectives between the practical and theoretical components. The transition occurring in sculpture can directly be traced to the technological advances in society. Scientific knowledge in any period of history reflects the way people understand their world, thus affecting human perceptions of the natural world and in turn influencing artistic creation. In Chapter One, attention is given in general to some of these scientific discoveries, for example the shift from classical science to an organismic approach with its focus on the interconnectedness of all things. Also of importance is the beginning of Chaos Theory, introducing the element of chance. In Chapter Two, more specific changes in the concept of art and sculpture are dealt with. Referring to some important predecessors earlier in the zo" century. I look at art becoming an interactive system, and find the interrelationship between sculpture and architecture useful in illustrating this, because of the foregrounding of the concept of space. In Chapter Three, I examine the different way that artists deal with the issues of urbanity', for example, the Minimalists putting emphasis on the idea of sculpture as an infinitely malleable category. Shifting definitions of urbanity were responses to specific new conditions in the environment, for example, as seen in the changing features of the city. Chapter Four deals with contemporary artists' response to these conditions, starting with examples of an object-oriented approach to sculpture, moving step by step towards a different systems-oriented approach. To conclude, I speculate on all the possibilities that the virtual environments that modern computers allow us to create may for the first time open up. We are at the beginning of a new century full of promise to artists in all fields. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie tesis kyk ek na die impak van tegnologie op die konsep van beeldhou. Maar, ek is egter meer geintereseerd in die invloed van die beginsels agter tegnologiese verandering as in die gebruik van uiters gevorderde tegnologiese instrumente. 'n Belangrike aspek vir my is die wyse waarop die veranderinge in die samelewing afgedruk work op kuns. Derhalwe vra ek tot watter mate drie-dimensionele kuns op enige tradisionele wyse steed as 'beeldhou' beskou kan word? Dit is my doelwit om hierdie veranderinge uit te wys, soos gesien kan word in die transformasie vanaf 'n objek-gerigte benadering na 'n sisteem-gerigte benadering tot die konsep van beeldhou. Hoewel ek die praktiese werk as 'n aparte deel van die tesis hanteer, is daar in nabye integrasie met gemeenskaplike doelwitte tussen die praktiese en teoretiese komponente. Die transformasie in beeldhou kan direk verbind word met die tegnologiese vooruitgang in die samelewing. Wetenskaplike kennis van enige tydperk, is 'n indikasie van die wyse waarop die mense hulomgewing verstaan. Dus affekteer dit mense se persepsie van die natuur, en in reaksie die persepsie van die kunstenaar. In hoofstuk een, word aandag gegee in die algemeen aan sommige van hierdie wetenskaplike ontdekkings, byvoorbeeld die skuif vanaf klassieke wetenskap na 'n organismiese benadering met sy fokus op die integrasie van alle dinge. Ook belangrik is die onstaan van Chaos Teorie wat klem plaas op die onvoorspelbaarheid van dinge. In hoofstuk twee kyk ek na meer spesifieke veranderinge in die konsep van kuns in die algemeen, asook beeldbou. Daar word terugverwys na sommige belangrike kunstenaars aan die begin van die 20ste eeu. Klem word geplaas op kuns as interaktiewe sisteem, en ek vind die interverhouding tussen beeldhou en argitektuur as 'n belangrike voorbeeld, as gevolg van die benadering tot die konsep van ruimte. Hoofstuk drie ondersoek die verskeie wyses waarop beeldhouers kyk na kwessies soos verstedeliking, byvoorbeeld die Minimaliste met hul beklemtoning van die idee van beeldhou as manipuleerbare kategorie. AI hierdie veranderinge is 'n reaksie op spesifieke nuwe kondisies binne die samelewing, byvoorbeeld soos gesien in die veranderende kenmerke van stede. Hoostuk vier deel dan spesifiek met hedendaagse beeldhouers se reaksie op hierdie kondisies, met die doelom voorbeelde te bespreek van van 'n objek-gerigte benadering tot beeldhou asook 'n sisteem-gerigte benadering tot beeldhou. Om af te sluit, spekuleer ek oor al die nuwe moontlikhede wat 'virtuele realiteif, daar gestel deur die moderne rekenaars, aan beeldhou kan bied. Ons staan aan die begin van 'n nuwe eeu vol potensiaal vir kunstenaars op alle gebiede.

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration