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Enabling sustainable growth through the transformation of Sasol Synfuels from good-to-great

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The current transformation of Sasol Synfuels in enhancing overall business
performance and realising organic growth is assessed. The framework for the
assessment is based on the ideas expressed by Collins (2001), supplemented by
other ideas found in the literature relevant to business performance improvement
within manufacturing organisations. Gaps and opportunities are identified within the
context of three of the Synfuels strategic elements of operations excellence, worldclass
people and leveraging technology.
Improvement areas identified are the further development of transformational
leadership, reduction in fixed costs to ensure more flexibility and reduction in the
current size of Synfuels.
The development of transformational leadership needs to be extended to create
fanatically driven, sheer workmanlike diligence, as well as determination and tenacity
creating a culture of a strong disciplined work and performance ethic.
Reducing fixed costs to enhance profitability can be achieved by applying risk-reward
agreements and application of value based management principles to enhance the
understanding amongst all employees of the value drivers of the Synfuels business
model. A reduction in the size of Synfuels to facilitate easier change management
and a stronger focus on delivering the same business results through the
employment of fewer resources is also recommended.

Barriers to achieving operations excellence identified are a lack of management
consensus and underestimation of the task required to internalise the change
management process. Neglecting the basics in achieving the fundamental
manufacturing output elements and resistance to daily discipline are identified as the
main focus areas.
It is further recommended to establish a culture of discipline where employees are
allowed to function effectively within the proposed framework of disciplined people,
thought and action in combination with freedom to innovate and achieve growth in
the business through constant adaptation as this is fundamental to enhancing the
current performance of Synfuels. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die transformasie van Sasol Synfuels om die algehele besigheidsprestasie en
realisering van organiese groei te weeg te bring is geevalueer. Die raamwerk vir die
evaluasie is gebaseer op idees uitgespreek deur Collins (2001) en aangevul met
ander idees soos gevind in literatuur relevant tot besigheidsprestasie verbetering in
vervaardigingsorganisasies. Gapings en geleenthede is geidentifiseer om organiese
groei teweeg te bring binne die konteks van drie van die Synfuels strategiese
oogmerke van bedryfsuitnemendheid, wereld-klas mense en die benutting van
tegnologie.
Areas wat geidentifiseer is wat tot 'n verbetenng in die prestasie van Synfuels kan lei
is die verdere ontwikkeling van transformasionele leierskap, vermindering in die
vaste koste om meer buigsaamheid te verleen en om die organisasie se grootte te
verminder.
Die ontwikkeling van transformasionele leierskap moet uitgebrei word om
professionele doelgerigtheid sterker te ontwikkel wat sal lei tot die skep van 'n sterk
kultuur van werks-en prestasie-etiek, spesifiek gerig op drie gedragsaspekte om
fanaties te dryf vir resulate, toegewyde harde werk en vasberadenheid, asook
deursettingsvermoë.
Verskillende wyses waarop vaste koste verminder kan word deur die toepassing van
risiko-vergoeding beginsels en die toepassing van waarde gebaseerde
bestuurstegnieke om die begrip van die ekonomiese beginsels van Synfuels se
besigheid by alle werknemers te bevorder. Verder word ook voorgestel dat na
maniere gekyk word om die grootte van Synfuels te verminder om makliker
veranderingsbestuur en 'n meer doeltreffende fokus te plaas daarop om dieselfde
besigheidsresultate met minder hulpbronne te behaal.
Hindernisse in die bereiking van bedryfsuitnemendheid wat geidentifiseer is, is 'n
potensiele gebrek aan konsensus by bestuur in terme van wat bereik moet word
terwyl die taak van veranderingsbestuur onderskat word. Nalaat om aandag aan die
basiese aspekte om vervaardigingsuitsette te behaal en weerstand teen daaglikse
dissipline is ook aspekte waaraan aandag geskenk moet word.
Dit word ook aanbeveel om 'n kultuur van dissipline te skep waarbinne werknemers
toegelaat word om effektief te funksioneer binne die voorgestelde raamwerk van
gedissiplineerde mense, denke en aksie in kombinasie met innoverende denke en
deurlopende verbeteringsprosesse groei teweeg gebring deur deurlopend aan te
pas aangesien dit fundamenteel is om die prestasie van Synfuels te verbeter.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/50338
Date03 1900
CreatorsSchoeman, H. S.
ContributorsSmith, Johan, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format142 p. : ill.
RightsStellenbosch University

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