Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The development of computer software is a complex and laborious task,
further complicated by the fact that copyright legislation is vague, at
best. If the software is being developed for commercial exploitation then
speed to market is essential and, even then, there is little to prevent
skilled competitors from copying or even cloning the model.
During the course of the year 2000 a team of developers, c ompr t s tn g
Phillip Munday, Chris Vietri and the writer, not only managed to
develop and prototype a complex loan evaluation software model, but
have carried it through to the initial stages of a phased implementation
and are presently involved in negotiations to sell the intellectual
property rights (IPR) to a firm which specialises in the marketing of
software to the banking industry internationally. It is virtually
impossible for a single person to develop a model of this nature as it
requires a comprehensive skills asset, including broad-based financial
knowledge, specialised banking skills as well as a sound knowledge of
information systems architecture, not to mention software p rogramming
skills. The implementation and subsequent sale of the model further
required comprehensive project management skills as well as the human
resources understanding required for the substantial change management
involved. Each of these 3 parties brought not only their particular
exp ert i se to the table, but also a holistic view of the final shap e and
form of the model.
As is the case with projects of this magnitude numerous difficulties were
encountered. These were, however, all overcome, via a series of
iterations, and the model was introduced to the business on schedule. The implementation itself was fraught with difficulty, but the
combination of a phased approach, together with comprehensive training
and support, has led to the acceptance of the model by business users.
There remain some technical difficulties which require to be resolved,
particularly the disappointing performance of the model over a wide area
network and also its integration with existing systems, but the model
itself has exceeded expectations. It is simple to use, allows for a
comprehensive and focused loan assessment and offers the ability to
perform sophisticated sensitivity analysis in a fraction of a second.
The model is now in its final shape and has been formally named Version
1.0, yet a great deal of work remains. We, as a bank, are not ideally
suited to become purveyors of software and need to expedite the
transfer of the IPR to a neutral party, to avoid local banks who might
wish to purchase it from viewing our involvement with suspicion. Once
this has been done, and the final phase of implementation concluded in
March 2001, we will be able to move on to the exciting task of creating
derivatives of the model, aimed at meeting the needs of other elements
of the industry. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die ontwikkeling van rekenaar-sagteware is 'n lang en intensiewe
proses. Hierdie proses word voorts bemoeilik deur onvoldoende en
ongetoetsde patentreg-wetgewing. Wanneer die doel van sagtewareontwikkeling
winsbejag is, is leweringspoed na gebruikers van die
uiterste belang aangesien menige mededinger die vermoë het om 'n
model na te boots en te verbeter.
Gedurende die afgelope jaar het 'n ontwikkelingspan bestaande uit
Phillip Munday, Chris Vietri en die skrywer 'n werksmodel van 'n
gesofistikeerde, krediet-evalueri ng sagteware modelontwikkel. Nie net
is hierdie model deurgevoer tot 'n gefasseerde, interne implementering
nie; dit is nou vêr genoeg ontwikkel om die intellektuele eiendomsreg te
verkoop aan 'n groep wat toegespits is op die bemarking van
bankgerigte sagteware op 'n wêreldwye basis. Dit is bykans onmoontlik
vir een persoon om 'n soortgelyke model te ontwikkel weens die
omvattende finansiëIe - en bankpraktyk kennis wat vereis word. Verdere
vereistes is 'n deeglike kennis van sagteware argitektuur en
programmering. Die implimentering en verkoop van die program vereis
ook wye kundigheid op die gebiede van projekbestuur en
vernuwingsbestuur weens die potensiële strukturele veranderinge in 'n
nuwe gebruiker. Elkeen van die 3 partye het benewens sy eie kundigheid
ook 'n oorsigtige bydrae gelewer tot die finale model.
Soos met elke projek van hierdie omvang was daar groot struikelblokke.
Die uitdagings is oorkom deur menige probeerslae en die model is
betyds aan die besigheid bekendgestel. Die implimentering was moeiliker
as verwag maar deur 'n gefasseerde proses en omvattende opleiding en
ondersteuning is aanvaarding deur gebruikers verseker. Daar is enkele,
onopgelosde tegniese probleme soos die swak werkverrigting oor 'n wye' area-netwerk en die moeilike integrasie met bestaande stelsels.
Desnieteenstaande het die model die meeste verwagtinge oortref. Dit is
maklik om te gebruik, dit verseker deeglike krediet-evaluering en dit
skep die geleentheid om veelvuldige sensitiwiteitsanalises tegelykertyd
te doen.
Die modeI is nou in sy finale weergawe en is bekend as " Version 1.0 "
maar dit vereis nog heelwat skaafwerk. As 'n bank is ons nie geskik om
sagteware te voorsien nie en daarom moet die verkoop van die
intellektuele eiendomsreg na 'n tussenparty bespoedig word. Dit sal
verhoed dat ons bank se betrokkenheid met agterdog deur plaaslike
banke bejeën word. Wanneer dit bewerkstellig is en die finale
implimenteringsfase is voltooi teen Maart 2001, kan ons beweeg na die
opwindende taak om afgeleide modelle te ontwikkel wat sal voldoen aan
wyer sektor-behoeftes.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/49683 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Wright, John Beric |
| Contributors | Gevers, W.R., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 113 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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