Thesis (PhD (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research has its roots in Industrial Engineering, where the premise of improving and managing
efficiency, effectiveness, productivity and quality is the most common and accepted source of organisational
sustenance and furtherance. This dissertation, however, addresses the evolutionary and revolutionary
imperatives of a new paradigm for competitive advantage – innovation. The notion of innovation is
considered many things. First and foremost, however, it has become the primary differentiator of
organisational competitiveness, rendering it the source of sustained long-term prosperity.
What may seem ambiguous in the title of this dissertation is essentially the imperative of every organisation
functioning within the competitive domain. Where organisational maturity and innovativeness were
traditionally considered antonymous, the assimilation of these two seemingly contradictory notions is
fundamental to the assurance of long-term organisational prosperity. Organisations are required, now more
than ever, to grow and mature their innovation capability.
In working towards the fulfilment of this objective, the Maturity Modelling approach was recognised for its
ability to describe organisational progression in terms of innovation capability. An Innovation Capability
Maturity Model, with the intention of describing generic and evolutionary plateaus of innovation capability
maturity, was developed from a comprehensive literature study.
This model was evaluated with an initial case study which led to a rigorous refinement initiative that included
further literature study, a mapping and comparison exercise, and a detailed analysis of innovation capability
themes using a Latent Dirichlet Allocation-based topic modelling approach. The consolidation of these
activities and integration with the initial model resulted in the second version thereof – ICMM v2.
This second version was then utilised in an additional 5 case studies that would serve to evaluate and
validate the content and structure thereof, but also make a fundamental contribution to the application of
the model – captured in the so called Innovation Capability Improvement Methodology. The case studies
provide evidence that the content and structure of the ICMM v2, including the approach used to convey
these aspects, fulfil their intended purpose by appropriately identifying the innovation capability strengths
and weaknesses of the represented organisations.
The ICMM v2 and accompanying methodology provides an organisation with a systematic approach for
identifying organisational innovation capability strengths and weaknesses and a framework for identifying
and prioritising innovation capability improvement opportunities in an organised and coordinated manner.
This dissertation concludes with a few fundamental findings pertaining to innovation and a discussion of
potential future collaboration and research opportunities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingsprojek het sy oorsprong binne die bedryfsingenieursdomain. Bedryfsingenieurswese is
primêr gerig op die verbetering en bestuur van doelmatigheid, doeltreffendheid, produktiwiteit en gehalte.
Dit is voorts „n vry-algemeen aanvaarde bron van organisatoriese volhoubaarheid en verbetering van
maatskappye. Hierdie navorsingsverslag spreek die evolusionêre en revolusionêre vereistes van „n nuwe
paradigme vir mededingendheid, naamlik innovasie, aan. Die term innovasie beteken verskillende dinge vir
verskillende mense. Dit is sedert die 1930‟s intensief nagevors. Meer onlangs het innovasie ontwikkel tot „n
primêre onderskeider van maatskappy-mededingendheid. Dit is vinnig besig om te ontwikkel in „n sleutelbron
van volhoubare, langtermyn welvaartskepping.
Die titel van hierdie proefskrif mag aanvangklik dubbelsinnig klink, maar dit beskryf eintlik die fundamentele
vereistes van elke organisasie wat binne die mededingendheidsdomain funksioneer. Aanvanklik is innovasie
en organisatoriese volwassenheid as teenstrydige konsepte beskou. Die versoening van hierdie twee
oënskynlike teenstrydige konsepte is egter fundamenteel tot die ontwikkeling van langtermyn
organisatoriese mededingendheid en gepaargaande welvaart. Mededingendheid word tans verseker deur die
tempo en volhoubaarheid waarmee maatskappye hulle innovasie-vermoeë beoefen en uitbou.
Die konsep van volwassenheidsmodelering is identifiseer as „n belangrike element om die innovasie
volwassenheid van maatskappye volledig uit te bou, asook om organisatoriese groei in ten opsigte van
innovasie-vermoeëns te beskryf. „n Eerste orde innovasie-vermoeë volwassenheidsmodel (ICMM v1) is met
behulp van „n uitgebreide literatuur-ondersoek ontwikkel. Hierdie model het ten doel gehad om generiese en
evolusionêre plateau‟s van innovasie-vermoeë volwassenheid te beskryf.
Die aanvanklike model is geëvalueer met „n gevallestudie waarna dit drasties verfyn is, deur gebruik te maak
van „n sekondêre literatuurstudie, die kartering en „n vergelykende evaluering, asook „n gedetailleerde
ontleding van innovasie-vermoeë tema‟s. Dit is gedoen deur gebruik te maak van “Latent Dirichlet
Allocation”-gebaseerde konsepmodellering. Hierdie aktiwiteite is gekonsolideer en geintegreer met die eerste
model in „n weergawe twee, wat bekend staan as ICMM v2.
Hierdie weergawe is verder ontplooi in vyf opvolg-gevallestudies wat gebruik is. Die doel hiervan was om die
nuwe model te evalueer en valideer ten opsigte van die inhoud en struktuur daarvan. Voorts het die ook „n
fundamentele bydra gemaak tot die toepassing van die model waartydens resulutate van die model vervat is
in „n sogenaamde innovasie-vermoeë verbeterings metodologie. Die onderskeie gevallestudies het bevestig
dat die inhoud en die struktuur van die ICMM v2 hulle aanvanklike doelwitte volledig bereik het deur beide
die innovasie-vermoeë sterkpunte en swakpunte van die organisasies te identifiseer en uit te lig.
Die ICMM v2 en gepaardgaande metodologie bied aan „n organisasie „n sistematiese benadering tot die
identifisering van organisatoriese innovasie-vermoeë sterkpunte en swakpunte. Dit voorsien verder „n
raamwerk vir die identifisering en prioritisering van innovasie-vermoeë verbeterings geleenthede binne
maatskappye. Hierdie proefskrif word afgesluit met „n aantal fundamentele bevindings met betrekking tot
innovasie en „n bespreking van toekomstige samewerking ten opsigte van navorsingsgeleenthede.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/1308 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Essmann, Heinz Erich |
| Contributors | Du Preez, N. D., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Industrial Engineering. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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