Browsing by Author "Rasmussen, Erica L"

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    The use of data mining as a decision making tool for municipal performance management in the Western Cape
    (2007) Rasmussen, Erica L; Scott, Leanne; Stewart, Theodor
    This thesis proposes the use of data mining tools within an operations research process, allowing the integration of ever increasing amounts of data collected worldwide. It is further argued that the wealth of information delivered by DM tools, with their strong visual emphasis, can be used by enhance the transfer of knowledge of stakeholders. The discipline of operations research could benefit greatly from the methods offered within the field of data mining, used to analyse the ever increasing amounts of data collected worldwide. However, the subject also offers a wealth of information that could aid in decision making, along with visual representations of this information that might assist in the transferral of knowledge to problem stakeholders. The advantages offered by data mining are not limited to problem contexts containing high-quality data, but could also assist within the development contexts containing high-quality data, but could also assist within the development context where traditionally resources and relevant skills are scarce. The benefits of data mining within this context are illustrated through the use of municipal performance data supplied by the Department of Local Government and Housing in the Western Cape of South Africa. The results of these analyses are presented to the department in order to assess the potential contribution of data mining to decisions surrounding municipal support.