This study investigates the quantitative value of advice added by financial advisors in South Africa; where value is measured through return differentials between advised and non-advised investors. A sample of 3189 individual investors from a large South African investment manager was analysed over a period of approximately five years, from 4 August 2014 to 31 July 2019. The primary focus of this study is to determine whether financial advisors create value for investors relative to the cost of advice, by investigating if a significant difference exists between the net of advisor fee returns earned by advised and non-advised investors. It also examines investor trading behaviour and assesses if any significant correlations exist between the number of trades made and returns earned. Current South African literature has a limited consideration of the cost of advice when considering the overall value added by financial advisors and has been found to consider a limited range of investment funds and asset classes. This study examines a range of ten investment funds that cover a range of asset classes and examines investment performance both before and after advice fees. The data is also analysed to examine the trading behaviour differences with the correlation between trading and investment returns also examined. The results of this study show that overall, the returns generated by non-advised investors are not significantly different from the returns generated by advised investors before advisor fees are considered. When advisor fees are considered, the impact of advisor fees creates a significant difference in performance between advised and non-advised investors; leading to non-advised investors performing the same or better after fees are considered. The trading behaviour showed that advised investors made statistically significantly fewer trades than non-advised investors. The results did not show strong evidence of return differentials arising from the timing of trade decisions, for either advised or non-advised investors.

Abstract ------------- Background ---------------- Like other businesses, the failures and problems faced by the software development industry over the time have motivated experts to look for software process improvement to create quality software rapidly, repeatedly, and reliably. Objective ------------ The purpose of this study is to evaluate if and how Lean thinking and principles primarily associated with auto manufacturing industry can be applied to software development lifecycle for Software Process Improvement (SPI). The secondary aim is to analyze how BPR can be integrated with Lean software development for process improvement. Method ---------- A derived Lean-BPR adoption pattern model is used as a theoretical framework for this thesis. The seven Lean software development principles along with four-step BPR process are selected as process improvement patterns, which effects the KPIs of a software organization. This research study incorporates both Qualitative and Quantitative methods and data to analyze the objectives of this study. The methodological framework of Plan-Do-Check-Act is used in the case study to implement process re-engineering incorporating Lean and BPR principles. The impact of adopting the Lean and BPR principles is assessed in terms of cost, productivity, quality of products and resource management. Results ---------- Application of Lean and BPR principles for software process improvement in the organization under study resulted in 79% improvement in test coverage, 60% reduction in time for test execution and analysis and 44% reduction in cost for fixing defects that were being passed to customer in past. Conclusion ------------- Based on case study results, it can be concluded that Lean, a bottom up approach, characterized by empowerment of employees to analyze and improve their own working process can be effectively combined with IT centric traditionally top down BPR approach for improving KPI’s and software processes. / +45 40968458

The study aims to evaluate the understanding of value – based management (VBM) as a decision making tool, how it is embraced in all management levels and its impact on the performance of a petrochemical company. The application of VBM links business strategy, finance, performance management and management processes all together to create value. VBM is a powerful management framework with the aim to focus all managerial processes on shareholder value creation. It encourages employees at all levels within an organisation to focus on value creation. This study investigated VBM by means of literature study to formulate an understanding of how it can be used as a decision making tool in a petrochemical company. The VBM metrics were presented and some successes and failures of such metrics were considered to provide a better understanding of VBM implementation. A quantitative study was conducted through the use of a standardised questionnaire to collect primary data. The questionnaire was distributed to managers (from junior managers to senior managers) at Sasol. The completed questionnaire was tested for reliability and validity before it was analysed and specific constructs were developed from the literature review together with the respondents’ demographic profile. Even though most respondents indicated that they have not received adequate training and education on VBM, the results of the study indicate that there is a general knowledge and understanding of VBM and its principles in Sasol. After analysis the study provided practical recommendations to ensure that VBM is sustainably used as a decision making tool in a petrochemical company. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The study aims to evaluate the understanding of value – based management (VBM) as a decision making tool, how it is embraced in all management levels and its impact on the performance of a petrochemical company. The application of VBM links business strategy, finance, performance management and management processes all together to create value. VBM is a powerful management framework with the aim to focus all managerial processes on shareholder value creation. It encourages employees at all levels within an organisation to focus on value creation. This study investigated VBM by means of literature study to formulate an understanding of how it can be used as a decision making tool in a petrochemical company. The VBM metrics were presented and some successes and failures of such metrics were considered to provide a better understanding of VBM implementation. A quantitative study was conducted through the use of a standardised questionnaire to collect primary data. The questionnaire was distributed to managers (from junior managers to senior managers) at Sasol. The completed questionnaire was tested for reliability and validity before it was analysed and specific constructs were developed from the literature review together with the respondents’ demographic profile. Even though most respondents indicated that they have not received adequate training and education on VBM, the results of the study indicate that there is a general knowledge and understanding of VBM and its principles in Sasol. After analysis the study provided practical recommendations to ensure that VBM is sustainably used as a decision making tool in a petrochemical company. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Predictive analytics in healthcare has become one of the major focus areas in healthcare delivery worldwide. Due to the massive amount of healthcare data being captured, healthcare providers and health insurers are investing in predictive analytics and its enabling technologies to provide valuable insight into a large variety of healthcare outcomes. One of the latest developments in the field of healthcare predictive modelling (PM) was the launch of the Heritage Health Prize; a competition that challenges individuals from across the world to develop a predictive model that successfully identifies the patients at risk of admission to hospital from a given patient population. The patient-admission predictive algorithm (PAPA) is aimed at reducing the number of unnecessary hospitalisations that needlessly constrain healthcare service delivery worldwide. The aim of the research presented is to determine the feasibility and value of applying PAPAs in the South African healthcare system as part of a preventive care intervention strategy. A preventive care intervention strategy is a term used to describe an out-patient hospital service, aimed at providing preventive care in an effort to avoid unnecessary hospitalisations from occurring. The thesis utilises quantitative and qualitative techniques. This included a review of the current and historic PM applications in healthcare to determine the major expected shortfalls and barriers to implementation of PAPAs, as well as the institutional and operational requirements of these predictive algorithms. The literature study is concluded with a review of the current state of affairs in the South African healthcare system to, firstly, articulate the need for PAPAs and, secondly, to determine whether the public and private sectors provide a suitable platform for implementation (evaluated based on the operational and institutional requirements of PAPAs). Furthermore, a methodology to measure and analyse the potential value-add of a PAPA care intervention strategy was designed and developed. The methodology required a survey of the industry leaders in the private healthcare sector of South Africa to identify, firstly, the current performance foci and, secondly, the factors that compromise the performance of these organisations to deliver high quality, resource-effective care. A quantitative model was developed and applied to an industry leader in the private healthcare sector of South Africa, in order to gauge the resultant impact of a PAPA care intervention strategy on healthcare provider performance. Lastly, in an effort to ensure the seamless implementation and operation of PAPAs, an implementation framework was developed to address the strategic, tactical, and operational challenges of applying predictive analytics and preventive care strategies similar to PAPAs. The research found that the application of PAPAs in the public healthcare sector of South Africa is infeasible. The private healthcare sector, however, was considered a suitable platform to implement PAPAs, as this sector satisfies the institutional and operational requirements of PAPAs. The value-add model found that a PAPA intervention strategy will add significant value to the performance of healthcare providers in the private healthcare sector of South Africa. Noteworthy improvements are expected in the ability of healthcare provider’s to coordinate patient care, patient-practitioner relationships, inventory service levels, and staffing level efficiency and effectiveness. A slight decrease in the financial operating margin, however, was documented. The value-add methodology and implementation support framework provides a suitable platform for future researchers to explore the collaboration of preventive care and PM in an effort to improve healthcare resource management in hospitals. In conclusion, patient-admission predictive algorithms provide improved evidence-based decision making for preventive care intervention strategies. An efficient and effective preventive care intervention strategy improves healthcare provider performance and, therefore, adds significant value to these organisations. With the proper planning and implementation support, the application of PAPA care intervention strategies will change the way healthcare is delivered worldwide. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vooruitskattingsanalises in gesondheidsorg het ontwikkel in een van die mees belangrike fokusareas in die lewering van kwaliteit gesondheidsorg in ontwikkelde lande. Gesondheidsorgverskaffers en lewensversekeraars belê in vooruitskattingsanalise en ooreenstemmende tegnologieë om groot hoeveelhede gesondheidsorg pasiënt-data vas te lê, wat waardevolle insigte bied ten opsigte van ʼn groot verskeidenheid van gesondheidsorg-uitkomstes. Een van die nuutste ontwikkelinge in die veld van gesondheidsorg vooruitskattingsanalises, was die bekendstelling van die “Heritage Health Prize”, 'n kompetisie wat individue regoor die wêreld uitdaag om 'n vooruitskattingsalgoritme te ontwikkel wat pasiënte identifiseer wat hoogs waarskynlik gehospitaliseer gaan word in die volgende jaar en as bron-intensief beskou word as gevolg van die beraamde tyd wat hierdie individue in die hospitaal sal deurbring. Die pasiënt-toelating vooruitskattingsalgoritme (PTVA) het ten doel om onnodige hospitaliserings te identifiseer en te voorkom tem einde verbeterde hulpbronbestuur in gesondheidsorg wêreldwyd te bewerkstellig. Die doel van die hierdie projek is om die uitvoerbaarheid en waarde van die toepassing van PTVAs, as 'n voorkomende sorg intervensiestrategie, in die Suid-Afrikaanse gesondheidsorgstelsel te bepaal. 'n Voorkomende sorg intervensiestrategie poog om onnodige hospitaliserings te verhoed deur die nodige sorgmaatreëls te verskaf aan hoë-riskio pasiënte, sonder om hierdie individue noodwendig te hospitaliseer. Die tesis maak gebruik van kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe tegnieke. Dit sluit in 'n hersiening van die huidige en historiese vooruitskattings modelle in die gesondheidsorgsektor om die verwagte struikelblokke in die implementering van PTVAs te identifiseer, asook die institusionele en operasionele vereistes van hierdie vooruitskattingsalgoritmes te bepaal. Die literatuurstudie word afgesluit met 'n oorsig van die huidige stand van sake in die Suid-Afrikaanse gesondheidsorgstelsel om, eerstens, die behoefte vir PTVAs te identifiseer en, tweedens, om te bepaal of die openbare en private sektore 'n geskikte platform vir implementering bied (gebaseer op die operasionele en institusionele vereistes van PTVAs). Verder word 'n metodologie ontwerp en ontwikkel om die potensiële waarde-toevoeging van 'n PTVA sorg intervensiestrategie te bepaal. Die metode vereis 'n steekproef van die industrieleiers in die private gesondheidsorgsektor van Suid-Afrika om die volgende te identifiseer: die huidige hoë-prioriteit sleutel prestasie aanwysers (SPAs), en die faktore wat die prestasie van hierdie organisasies komprimeer om hoë gehalte, hulpbron-effektiewe sorg te lewer. 'n Kwantitatiewe model is ontwikkel en toegepas op een industrieleier in die private Stellenbosch gesondheidsorgsektor van Suid-Afrika, om die gevolglike impak van 'n PTVA sorg intervensiestrategie op prestasieverbetering te meet. Ten slotte, in 'n poging om te verseker dat die implementering en werking van PTVAs glad verloop, is 'n implementeringsraamwerk ontwikkel om die strategiese, taktiese en operasionele uitdagings aan te spreek in die toepassing van vooruitskattings analises en voorkomende sorg strategieë soortgelyk aan PTVAs. Die navorsing het bevind dat die toepassing van PTVAS in die openbare gesondheidsorgsektor van Suid-Afrika nie lewensvatbaar is nie. Die private gesondheidsorgsektor word egter beskou as 'n geskikte platform om PTVAs te implementeer, weens die bevrediging van die institusionele en operasionele vereistes van PTVAs. Die waarde-toevoegings model het bevind dat 'n PTVA intervensiestrategie beduidende waarde kan toevoeg tot die prestasieverbetering van gesondheidsorgverskaffers in die private gesondheidsorgsektor van Suid-Afrika. Die grootste verbetering word in die volgende SPAs verwag; sorg koördinasie, dokter-pasiënt verhoudings, voorraad diensvlakke, en personeel doeltreffendheid en effektiwiteit. 'n Effense afname in die finansiële bedryfsmarge word egter gedokumenteer. 'n Implementering-ondersteuningsraamwerk is ontwikkel in 'n poging om die sleutel strategiese, taktiese en operasionele faktore in die implementering en uitvoering van 'n PTVA sorg intervensiestrategie uit te lig. Die waarde-toevoegings metodologie en implementering ondersteuning raamwerk bied 'n geskikte platform vir toekomstige navorsers om die rol van vooruitskattings modelle in voorkomende sorg te ondersoek, in 'n poging om hulpbronbestuur in hospitale te verbeter. Ten slotte, PTVAs verbeter bewysgebaseerde besluitneming vir voorkomende sorg intervensiestrategieë. 'n Doeltreffende en effektiewe voorkomende sorg intervensiestrategie voeg aansienlike waarde tot die algehele prestasieverbetering van gesondheidsorgverskaffers. Met behoorlike beplanning en ondersteuning met implementering, sal PTVA sorg intervensiestrategieë die manier waarop gesondheidsorg gelewer word, wêreldwyd verander.

The diploma thesis focuses on the practical use of competitive intelligence, a method increasingly used to support decision making nowadays. The essential key principle is based on collection of precise data and their thourough analysis. The obtained information gives a comprehensive overview of the competitor analysis. The acquired knowledge of the competition is important for company's strategic decision-making processes. At the beginning the thesis gives a theoretical background on different means of data collecting including the ethic kodex. Folowing is the identification of the modern sources of information. Further, various methods and approaches of competitive intelligence are described. And the theoretical background on competitive strategies and their impact on the market wraps up the theoretical part of the thesis. The method is applied to create departmet of competitive inteligence for the company. Then the various options for further go to market activities are described and the scope of cooperation with selected customers is evaluted. The thesis describes the competitive intelligence advantages and the possible ways of aplications for the competitive strategy. At the end, the recommendations for the management of the company are summed up.

El objetivo de esta Tesis Doctoral es estudiar el efecto de las tecnologías de la información (TI) en las organizaciones mediante la adopción de un enfoque integrador y multidimensional: Gestión del conocimiento, productividad y excelencia en la gestión. En particular, se trata de analizar la influencia que tiene el esfuerzo realizado por las organizaciones en tecnologías de la información, consideradas tanto de forma individual como bajo la influencia de variables moderadoras organizativas, en las distintas etapas cualitativas y cuantitativas del proceso de generación de valor / The purpose of this Doctoral thesis is to study the effect of the technologies of the information (IT) in the organizations by means of the adoption of an integration and multidimensional approach: Management of the knowledge, productivity and excellence in the management. In particular, this work studies the influence that the effort realized by the organizations in technologies of the information, considered of a individual form and also under the influence of moderating organizational variables, has in the different qualitative and quantitative stages of the process of generation of value.