Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In undertaking this research on strategy at work, several key issues emerged and
shaped its course. Firstly, it was essential to understand what strategy is about.
Since the humble beginnings of strategic management in the world of business,
there has been confusion about its definition and basic elements. The number of
definitions, of varying usefulness, is almost as infinite as the number of authors in
this field. This study therefore attempts to pinpoint the commonly agreed upon
underlying elements of strategy. Secondly, the use of strategy and the benefits
accruing to the corporate world were of interest. An investigation into the use of
strategy and its effect on performance was carried out by means of a survey among
German companies in the machine and plant manufacturing industry. Finally, data
gathered were analysed to prove the existence of a relationship between the use of
strategy and corporate performance.
This task was done by means of non-empirical as well as empirical study. The
non-empirical study was undertaken as a literature review, and set out to investigate
the basic principles of strategy in order to establish a common definition regarding
the elements of strategy. On the other hand, the empirical study took place in the
form of a survey, collecting primary data on the matter.
From the literature review it was concluded that strategy can be defined by means of five elements, namely plan, ploy, pattern, perspective and position. While the first
three elements are related more to the 'how' of strategy, by asking in which form
they can be seen, the latter two tell more about the 'what' of strategy, by clarifying
the content. In addition to the elements of strategy, it was established that, for
the purpose of this study, corporate performance can be described by using four
indicators, namely growth, market share, return on equity and innovation.
In the subsequent survey, companies were requested to respond to a questionnaire
regarding these five elements, as well as the four indicators of their performance.
Close analysis showed that companies did indeed utilise one or more elements of
strategy. It is noteworthy that only two companies reported that they did not make
use of strategy at all. More significant is the finding that there is a small positive
relationship between the use of elements of strategy and performance.
In summing up, it can be said that companies indeed utilise elements of strategy.
Furthermore, it can be concluded that companies using more elements of strategy
may do better than companies using fewer elements, since there is a small positive
relationship between the number of elements used and performance. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie navorsingsprojek oor Strategy at Work (Strategie in Werking) het verskeie
sleutelaangeleenthede, wat die verloop daarvan gevorm het, opgeduik. Eerstens
was dit noodsaaklik om begrip te hê waaroor strategie handel. Sedert die nederige
ontstaan van strategiese bestuur in die sakewêreld, heers daar verwarring oor sy
basiese elemente en 'n definisie daarvoor. Die aantal definisies - van afwisselende
nuttigheid - is bykans so ontelbaar soos die hoeveelheid skrywers in hierdie veld.
Derhalwe probeer hierdie studie die algemeen erkende en onderliggende elemente
van strategie haarfyn aanwys. Tweedens was die aanwending van strategie en die
voordele wat gevolglik vir die korporatiewe wêreld aangroei van belang. 'n Ondersoek
na die aanwending van stategie en dié se uitwerking op prestasie is uitgevoer
deur middel van 'n opname onder Duitse maatskappye in die masjien- en aanlegvervaardigingsnywerheid.
Ten slotte is versamelde gegewens geanaliseer om die bestaan
van 'n verband tussen die aanwending van strategie en korporatiewe prestasie te bewys.
Hierdie taak is deur middel van nie-empiriese sowel as empiriese studie uitgevoer.
Die nie-empiriese studie is as 'n literêre oorsig uitgevoer en het 'n ondersoek na
die basiese beginsels van strategie behels - met die skep van 'n algemene definisie
betreffende die elemente van strategie as oogmerk. Daarenteen het die empiriese studie die vorm aangeneem van 'n opname waartydens vername gegewens oor die
aangeleentheid versamel is.
Uit die literêre oorsig is die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat strategie deur middel van
vyf elemente, naamlik plan, metode, patroon, perspektief en posisie, gedefinieer kan
word. Waar eersvermelde drie elemente meer verband hou met die "hoe" van strategie
deur te vra in watter vorm dit gesien kan word, gaan dit by die oorblywende twee
meer oor die "wat" van strategie deur die inhoud te verhelder. Benewens die elemente
van strategie is daar vasgestel dat vir die doel van hierdie studie korporatiewe
prestasie beskryf kan word deur die aanwending van vier aanwysers, naamlik groei,
markaandeel, rendement van ekwiteit en innovasie.
In die daaropvolgende opname is maatskappye versoek om te reageer op 'n vraelys
oor hierdie vyf elemente, asook die vier aanwysers rakende hulle prestasie. Noukeurige
analise het getoon dat maatskappye inderdaad een of meer elemente van strategie
aangewend het. Dit is meldenswaardig dat net twee maatskappye aangedui het dat
hulle geensins van strategie gebruik gemaak het nie. En meer betekenisvol is die
bevinding dat daar 'n geringe, positiewe verwantskap is tussen die aanwending van
elemente van strategie en prestasie.
Opsommenderwys kan aangevoer word dat maatskappye inderdaad elemente van
stategie aanwend. Vervolgens kan die afleiding gemaak word dat maatskappye, wat
meer elemente van strategie toepas, nog beter vaar as maatskappye wat minder elemente
aanwend aangesien daar 'n klein, positiewe verband tussen die aantal elemente
wat aangewend word en prestasie bestaan.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/50336 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Markowski, Alexander |
| Contributors | De Wet, G., 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 | 116 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
Page generated in 0.0027 seconds