Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Constant and aggressive change is a characteristic that has shaped our present day
life and occurs at all levels of society. In a new South Africa, an entrepreneurial
approach has become a means of survival. Modern day South Africans have been
compelled to adopt an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset in order to function
optimally. For the higher education sector, this has meant the commercialisation of
many aspects of their operations due to yearly cuts in subsidy allocations.
Stellenbosch University is not exempt from this and is also affected by these cuts.
The goal of this study is therefore to provide an internationally researched conceptual
model and process for commercialising academic research at Stellenbosch
University. This will require the adoption of an entrepreneurial mindset which views
research differently from its traditional mode. By moving away from an academic
view of research, new partnerships, opportunities and outcomes become possible,
from which new revenue avenues could be opened.
The question arises as to what technological innovations are likely to result in
commercial success and what route should a university then take to successfully
commercialise their research findings? Finding practical answers to these questions
could provide a platform from which a university can make accurate and timely
decisions with regards to the commercialisation of its academic research. Accurate
decision-making is therefore an essential tool in the management of this process.
Commercialisation is not viable without first creating an innovative mindset and
platform. These cannot be created without first understanding the concept of
newness. Consistent newness requires continuous innovation, from which academic
entrepreneurship then stems. The successful commercialisation of this
entrepreneurship can then be understood by considering the various concepts and
basic components involved in commercialisation.
A broad look at literature provided the basis for this platform from which a model
could then be constructed. In constructing the model, the key components were first
identified. Secondly, a brief look at four different commercialsiation models provided
an overview of the thought pattems involved in such a process. The synthesis of
these components and models culminated in a conceptual model for
commercialisation within the Stellenbosch University environment. This model
included the tangible and intangible side of commercialisation, incorporating
organisational mindset, attitudes and culture. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Konstante en omvattende verandering is 'n kenmerk van die eietydse samelewing en
raak alle sosiale vlakke. 'n Entrepreneuriese benadering het in die nuwe Suid-Afrika
'n middel tot oorlewing geword. Eietydse Suid-Afrikaners word genoodsaak om
innoverend en ondernemend te wees ten einde optimaal te kan funksioneer. Dit
impliseer dat tersiere instellings byvoorbeeld baie van hul bedrywighede moet
kommersialiseer, weens toenemende besnoeiings in subsidiering.
Die Universiteit van Stellenbosch word insgelyks deur hierdie besnoeiings geraak.
Die doel van hierdie studie is die ontwerp van 'n konsepsuele model en proses vir
kommersialisering van akademiese navorsing vir die Universiteit van Stellenbosch,
gebaseer op internasionale navorsing. Dit vereis 'n entrepreneuriese denkwyse wat
navorsing anders benader as in die verlede. Deur weg te beweeg van 'n suiwer
akademiese siening van navorsing, word nuwe vennootskappe, geleenthede en
uitkomste moontlik, en skep sodoende ook nuwe bronne van inkomste.
Tegniese innoverings wat prakties en uitvoerbaar is kan moontlik as platform dien vir
hierdie kommersialisering. Dit veronderstel toepaslike besluitneming as
noodsaaklike middel in die bestuur van die proses.
'n Nadere deurskouing van konsepte onderliggend aan suksesvolle
kommersialisering van entrepreneurskap, tesame met 'n bree oorsig van navorsing in
hierdie verband, het die basis gevorm vir die ontwerp van 'n model.
Kernkomponente is eerstens identifiseer. Bestaande modelle het tweedens 'n oorsig
van denkpatrone oor die ontwerp van so 'n proses gebied. 'n Sintese van hierdie
komponente en modelle het kulmineer in 'n konsepsuele model vir kommersialisering
binne die Universiteit van Stellenbosch omgewing. Hierdie model sluit die praktiese
deel van kommersialisering, sowel as die ontasbare deel, naamlik organisatoriese
denkwyses, houdings en kultuur in.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/50241 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | De Abreu, J. M. G. |
| Contributors | De Coning, Tobie, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 132 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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