Browsing by Author "Schutte, C."

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    A business framework to network small South African enterprises for sustainability
    (SAIIE, 2007) Brand, R. P.; Du Preez, N. D.; Schutte, C.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This paper describes the role and use of enterprise engineering concepts as a formal approach to the deployment of sustainable networks of small businesses in South Africa. Small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) operating in the informal South African economy struggle to survive for various reasons. A business framework is suggested that supports informal SMMEs through their initial stages of operation, and by doing so, improves sustainable growth and employment opportunities. This implies integration of informal business activities with the formal economy. The business framework is constructed using the Zachman Enterprise Reference Architecture, and is benchmarked by a small-scale fish farming project case study to validate the research hypothesis.
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    Moving beyond the challenges and seizing the opportunities : a study of South African universities’ efforts to protect their research and innovation offerings during the COVID-19 pandemic
    (HESA, 2021) Malherbe, C.; Schutte, C.
    Like all organisations globally, South African universities were caught off-guard by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. To manage its financial and contractual/legal risks when faced with a threat such as a pandemic, an organisation needs integrated insight through the use of available information to assess possible disruptions and to be able to respond appropriately. This study analyses the status of South African universities in respect of their research and innovation offerings, and in particular the nature of their research contracts and their ability to respond to a threat such as COVID-19. Interviews were conducted with senior managers in seven South African universities. Some of the themes that emerged from these interviews were analysed using extracts from the financial management maturity model (FMMM) (Comptroller and Auditor General 2018). It was reassuring to find that the contractual risks can mostly be mitigated. However, the lack of strategic information and lower financial management maturity levels made it difficult for most universities to assess the financial impact of this pandemic and to respond appropriately.
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    Utilizing formal innovation models to support and guide industry innovation projects
    (Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineerg, 2007) Van Zyl, H.; Du Preez, N. D.; Schutte, C.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The high failure rate of innovation projects indicates that many companies are not getting the full benefit from their innovation projects [1], [2]. A research project was carried out during 2005 that explored and compared the existing formal models for supporting innovation, in order to address the identified problem. It proposed guidelines for improving and refining innovation projects. A case study that focused on the front-end of product innovation in the wine industry and the applicability of the formal W-model [3] to innovation activities was used to evaluate how formal innovation models can indeed effectively support industry innovation projects. The innovation life cycle was used to categorize a number of innovation frameworks for product, process, and enterprise innovation. Further research should focus on extending the case study to other industries, such as the automotive sector.