OpenUCT :: Browsing by Author "Shaw, Corrinne"

Browsing by Author "Shaw, Corrinne"

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Open Access
A viability study of independent power producers in the South African electricity supply market - A case study of Northern Cape Province
(2019) Nyawo, Bongani; Shaw, Corrinne
The purpose of this study was to understand the factors impacting on South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). At its inception in 2011, the programme received support from the government, the private sector, and renewable energy investors. The programme was considered a success for having secured agreements with independent power producers (IPP) and for having procured much-needed electricity. As the programme matured, some concerns were raised by different stakeholders and interested parties regarding the programme’s design and its capacity to continue facilitating the procurement of energy. Some stakeholders argued that the programme should be institutionalised as a way to increase the stability, continuation, and relevance to Eskom (South Africa’s national power utility company). The sustainability of the programme was also questioned by renewable energy experts who claimed that Eskom was holding the programme back due to its different roles within the programme. The debate around the viability of the REIPPPP formed the basis for this research study, which sought to investigate the factors affecting the programme, as well as how these factors can best be managed to ensure the viability of independent power producers in the South African renewable energy market. The following ten factors were identified using empirical data drawn from interviews and an online survey: 1. Poor programme design 2. Slow renewable energy growth 3. Poor renewable energy demand and technology 4. Lack of competitive and profitable tariffs 5. Insecure programme funding 6. Poor policy implementation 7. Lack of expertise and skills 8. Lack of development in local communities 9. A high rate of project implementation 10. Poor management of economic development criteria The question of how these factors can be managed for the viability of IPPs in the South African renewable energy market was addressed using Beer’s viable system model (VSM). The VSM was used in both the diagnostic (descriptive) and the design (prescriptive) modes. The REIPPPP’s institutional setting was diagnosed to identify deficiencies within the programme. The diagnostic mode of the VSM identified the lack of interaction amongst IPPs in their operating environment, the single-buyer arrangement, low access to capital among IPPs, competitive and profitable tariffs, poor policy implementation, and poor programme funding to be the programme’s main shortcomings, which threatens its viability for long-term survival. Given the deficiencies within the programme, the VSM model was further used to propose a REIPPPP model that would improve the programme’s efficiency and effectiveness, and ensure its survival in a highly competitive environment. The model promotes the collaboration between IPPs, as a means for improving stakeholders’ engagement and communication within the programme, enabling faster decision making on the part of local programme management, and reducing the concerns being escalated to local control. The study also proposes that provincial REIPPPP offices assist in increasing the requisite variety of the programme. Finally, the validity and transferability of the research findings were discussed, and conclusions were drawn. Recommendations for further studies were made based on the limitations of the presented research study.
Open Access
An exploration of mechanical engineering students' perceptions of the influence of their work placement experiences on their employability
(2020) Ngonda, Tiyamike Nyozani; Shaw, Corrinne; Kloot, Bruce
Most researchers agree that work placement has a positive influence on students' employability. Despite this consensus, there has been conflicting research on the factors that contribute to this influence. Moreover, the social mechanisms through which this outcome is realised have not been well understood. To address these shortcomings, this study explores how mechanical engineering students' work placement experiences facilitate or hinder the growth of their occupational competency and self-efficacy, two commonly used indicators of student employability. It provides a clear explanation of the factors and social mechanisms that produce employability outcomes and it is hoped that this would enable the implementation of work placement programs in a manner that would promote rather than hinder students' employability. The study is informed by social cognitive theory's triadic reciprocal causation model, which suggests that student learning arises from interactions of environmental, personal, and behavioral factors. It is further informed by situated cognition, a sociocultural theory that focuses on learning through participation. The study collected qualitative data from a sample of 34 mechanical engineering students from a South African university of technology who were undergoing a year-long work placement. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews as well as document analysis of the students' logbooks and evidence portfolios. Thereafter, a two-phase qualitative analysis comprising thematic analysis and thematic synthesis was conducted. The thematic analysis produced seven themes: the learning environment, the industry mentor, student performance and participation as learning, quality of work affordances, student characteristics, student's agentic role and student learning trajectory. These themes represented elements of students' work placement experiences that they considered influential in the growth of their occupational competency and self-efficacy. The thematic synthesis uncovered work placement as a system with emergent outcomes arising from interactions of its variables. These interactions were represented by a qualitative systems dynamics model with negative and positive reinforcing loops. An enabling reinforcing feedback loop explained the growth of the students' occupational competency and self-efficacy, and a constraining reinforcing feedback loop explained how such growth was hindered. This qualitative systems dynamics model may resolve previous studies' explanatory shortcomings by illuminating the processes through which work placements' occupational outcomes are realised.
Open Access
An investigation into optimizing nuclear power plant outage durations
(2023) Obaray, Shaheed; Shaw, Corrinne
There is a compelling rationale for outage optimization as it presents numerous benefits for the Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and accordingly, for the economy of a country, the environment, and society. An outage delay of one day has been reported to be equivalent to a loss of USD1.5m-2m per day, not to mention the economic costs to a country's economy due to load shedding or disruption of the electricity supply. The reduction of average outage durations from 106 days to 38 days in the USA has been shown to negate the need to build 25-30 NPPs during a defined period. The main aims of this research study were to investigate the value of optimization and to explore practices and methods that contribute to successful outage optimization. There was limited published research on the topic and this dissertation aimed to contribute actionable knowledge to improve outage optimization. Optimization practices were investigated by accessing and reviewing a body of literature, followed by interviews with 12 nuclear outage maintenance specialists or experts from the USA and South Africa, with extensive experience to identify perspectives on trends and key information to answer the research questions. The analysis identified key methods or practices that contribute to successful optimization. The factors that led to longer than required outages and outage delays were found to be closely related to the proposed optimization methods. These included, 1) the need to enhance planning, which includes scheduling, risk management and contingencies; 2) the importance of ensuring the right resources with the right skill levels of those executing outages featured high on the agenda; 3) the need for improved work practices as part of a continuous improvement effort and culture. This study found that NPPs can do more to achieve optimized, best duration outages. There were indeed some key, immediately actionable practices and methods that if replicated, favored optimization success. It is evident that NPPs can do significantly better on outage durations, motivating for further investigation and improvement.
Open Access
Customizing knowledge management systems to accelerate newcomer development
(2007) Gryzagoridis, Lisa; Shaw, Corrinne
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-98).
Open Access
Effective construction project communications
(2016) Freeman, John; Shaw, Corrinne
Large construction projects involve numerous participants, many of whom do not participate for the entire duration of the project. Participants often come from very different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. In the case of many large projects, the levels of education of these participants also vary widely, from graduate professionals to labourers with only a basic education. For a project to be developed, executed and handed over to the owner efficiently, the activities and delivered outputs of the project participants need to be coordinated. This requires effective communication to and feedback from all stakeholders. Project communication systems therefore have to take into account the differing backgrounds and information requirements of the participants. The execution of a high proportion of construction projects is negatively affected due to ineffective project communications. This gives rise to the concern that construction project communications can contribute to late or inappropriate actions by participants that can negatively affect project delivery. This informed the research question: "How can project team communication systems be optimised to ensure that all stakeholders have all the information and understanding required to function efficiently, effectively and timeously?" This research study sets out to answer this question. The first objective of this study was to identify the main factors that cause project communications to be ineffective. The second objective was to develop a theory relating to effective project communications systems that could be useful in developing practical solutions to project communication problems.
Open Access
Evaluating delays in execution of public sector construction projects : a study of roads and highways in Ghana
(2016) Narh, Natasha Afi; Shaw, Corrinne; Windapo, Abimbola
This study investigates delays in execution of public sector construction projects in Ghana. A review of literature revealed that previous studies on construction projects focused on cost, time overruns, as well as the causes of delays. It is against this background that this study assesses the causes and effects of construction project delays and means of averting such delays. The research design used in obtaining empirical data from a sample of 290 respondents was a survey research design. Questionnaires were used as instruments for data collection, and a Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) used for the data analysis. The statistical tools employed in the study include frequencies, percentages, Relative Importance Index (RII), Spearman correlation analysis and Chi-Square Test. The findings of the study revealed that some critical contributors to road construction project delay in Ghana during the project execution phase are clients' low cash flow to complete the project, contractors' financial constraints on the project, and improper planning of the project life cycle especially during the bidding phase. Site restriction, weather effects and changes in governmental regulations were found to be the least contributors to projects delays. These delays have a negative impact on project performance, project duration and force project participants to modify and adjust their finances. Investigating the way forward, the study explored strategies that are for averting the delays in executing construction projects. The study found that respondents were undecided in their rating on adequacy of training for project staff on specific requirements of construction projects. Other factors such as adequate of knowledge of contractors on project task, effective mobilization and release of resources, early engagement of project managers as well as adequate and effective supervision of construction activities were each identified as strategies that are applicable and feasible in averting the delays in executing road construction project activities.
Open Access
Finding creative ways to improve member satisfaction and retain the 18 to 35 year olds within a medical scheme in South Africa
(2008) Deacon, Len; Shaw, Corrinne
On the surface it would appear that the Government's intention to attract more members to medical schemes has not been successful as hoped, with membership remaining relatively constant but with an increase shift in the profile of most schemes. More specifically, the 18 to 35 year old population appears to be increasingly reluctant to participate in medical schemes. It has become ever more difficult to attract and retain these members and it seems that the needs of this particular segment are not being met. Due to this apparent lack of both understanding and the meeting of the needs of this segment, the outcome of an investigation into the perceptions, attitudes and needs of these members, together with what motivates these segments, requires closer analysis. The intention of this study is to improve customer loyalty within this segment.
Open Access
Improving the service delivery of a department through physical role co-location restructuring : an action research approach
(2008) Barnes, Brian; Shaw, Corrinne
The Underlying Problem The management team (hereafter referred to as „management‟) of a leading international oil company identified significant problems within the transport scheduling department operation, extending from concerns related to fragmented roles, the physical location of roles and management isolation, to fragmented department processes and procedures. The resulting poor communication further exacerbated the department‟s inability to provide an effective service to both internal and external customers. Based on this, management decided to act and embark on an extensive restructuring process in an attempt to improve overall service delivery and ensure department sustainability into the future. This action then paved the way for an extensive restructuring process focussing on changes based on role co-location changes. This process began with the appointment of a new scheduling manager to head up the department and to design and oversee the project plan for restructuring. It was obvious to management that, if action was not taken soon, the department would continue to degrade, thus forcing management to decentralise the transport scheduling function within the company that would result in the disbanding of the department. In Part 1 the description of the problem is defined, beginning with a detailed account of the scheduling department restructure, thereby clearly defining the case study as a research topic. The restructuring account describes inter-role communication, co-location changes through cluster team implementation and the communication changes that were made with customers. It outlines how quality assurance and technological advancements were introduced during the restructuring process in an attempt to improve service delivery, together with the improvement of quality of department outputs that define the level of service to customers. After defining the research topic, the problem situation that must be addressed through this study is delineated. The problem situation defined in this study addresses two main areas of concern. Firstly, whether it is possible to achieve an improvement in service delivery of a department through physical role co-location changes. Secondly, whether it is possible to effect such changes without disrupting the motivation and performance levels of the staff necessary to ensure department sustainability into the future. It is hypothesised that restructuring success and staff motivation and performance are inseparable in ensuring the future of the scheduling department, because they are unified enablers for sustainability. The disruption caused by the restructuring process could have a negative impact on staff motivation and performance levels, without which improved service outputs by the department would not necessarily be achieved. Therefore, focusing on both of these factors throughout this research process is very important in order to satisfactorily address the research question and concern that has been raised. The description of the department restructure as a case study for research thus highlights a „problem situation‟. A concern is raised that requires urgent research: If improvements in the service delivery of the department have not been realised through the physical role co-location restructure, and, if staff motivation and performance levels have not been maintained during the restructuring process, then the restructure project will have been a costly waste of time, threatening the future sustainability of the department. This concern, therefore, defines the research question that must be answered by this research process, namely that of the level of service improvement and the „recipe‟ for maintaining staff motivation and performance levels. The answer to this question will be achieved by determining both the level of success of the role co-location restructure against pre-defined service improvement indicators, and the management approach required to ensure sustained levels of staff motivation and performance through the restructuring change process of the scheduling department. In order to complete this investigation, the researcher embarks on a rigorous methodological research process that adopts the main stages of the action research cycle.
Open Access
Investigating critical success factors for project completion in a South African telecommunications company
(2018) Hamdulay, Irfaan; Shaw, Corrinne
With the growth of the internet and the proliferation of mobile devices, network operators are constantly building and upgrading mobile network technologies. To provide quality voice and data services for increasing customer bases, and to cope with the growing demand for data, network operators embark on capital-intensive base station roll-out projects. The success of these technology projects is critical to the success and sustainability of network operators. These projects involve diverse project teams, vendors and contractors who contribute to the success of the project. The project teams consist of different departments within the organisation, each having their own perceptions of the factors required to complete projects successfully. The lack of agreed upon project success factors from these different stakeholders has resulted in project delays. Therefore this study set out to answer the questions of: 1. What are the success factors that are required to ensure successful project completion in telecommunications Company X in South Africa? 2. How can these factors be managed systemically to improve project success? The approach adopted in this study was first, an integrative review of literature on project success and critical success factors to identify the most important success factors that contribute to the success of projects. A context was given to the literature study by focusing on success factors in developing countries. A total of 71 success factors were identified and condensed into nine literature success factors. Thereafter, a survey was conducted to elicit the perceptions of project team members on success factors. A total of 65 success factors were obtained which were condensed into 10 empirical success factor categories. Both sets of data was analysed using qualitative techniques including content analysis and comparing and contrasting. The literature and empirical success factors were synthesised into nine success factor categories. The nine success factor categories developed from the synthesis process were: managing project constraints; aligning projects with strategy; managing external factors; management support; strong leadership; project team competency; continuous learning; implementing project management bodies of knowledge and stakeholder management. To address the second research question relating to the systemic management of the success factors, systems ideas were drawn upon in the form of a causal loop diagram to develop a project success model. Systems theory was used to determine the relationships between individual success factors and their overall effect on the system in focus. The system behaviour of the project success model initially predicts project success, but as the limiting conditions in the balancing loop take effect in the system, the overall success of the system is negatively affected. The system behaviour of the project success model matched the pattern of behaviour of the “limits to growth” systems archetype. The high leverage system intervention for the “limits to growth” systems archetype is at the limiting conditions of the system. Thus, the proposed system intervention targeted the system limiting conditions which were the “Managing project constraints” and “Managing external factors” variables. Through the implementation of the synthesised success factors and the effective management of project constraints and external factors, the project success model contributes to the success of projects in the context of the telecommunications industry of South Africa. The study concluded by finding that the research questions and concerns were addressed. Recommendations were made for the implementation of the synthesised success factors. Lastly, it was proposed that future studies use multiple case studies and examine the various systems archetypes in the project context.
Open Access
An investigation of Business Process maturity: a case study in a South African parastatal
(2017) Nteo, Maleho; Shaw, Corrinne
Business Process Management (BPM) has become one of the management approaches adopted by many organisations that strive to survive in a turbulent and competitive environment. BPM offers the means to manage and optimize business processes with the objective of improved efficiency and effectiveness; thereby improving the potential of business success. However, the extent to which BPM influences business success is a matter of debate with diverse schools of thought finding it difficult to reach consensus regarding the critical success factors of BPM and the extent at which processes and people influence business success. The capability of an organisation or enterprise is the ability to deliver on a desired outcome. In this dissertation, the enterprise capabilities of BPM are investigated. The research sets out to investigate the BPM maturity level of a South African parastatal. The intention is to identify and improve on those factors that influence maturity of the enterprise capabilities and may have negative impact on stakeholders. The approach taken to address the research objectives drew on case study methodology. Fieldwork was conducted using company documents, observation, a questionnaire and in-depth interviews. The questionnaire responses were qualitatively analysed using the categories of Hammer's model of enterprise capability. The research findings identified weaknesses in all categories of enterprise capability though expertise appeared to be thriving. The findings further suggest that weaknesses in leadership and the leadership style in particular impact on the effectiveness of business processes. The leadership style was seen as the major driver to impede process effectiveness. The following themes describing leadership style were derived from interviews: creation of sense of belonging, degree of approachability and extent of collaboration. In order to improve the BPM in the case company, the following recommendations were made: communication sessions, awareness training and process remodelling. The research study also provides the opportunity to understand BPM in a broader context, thus having potential for transferability to other organisations.
Open Access
An investigation of project success factors in the South African petrochemical industry
(2014) Grobbelaar, Gidoen J; Shaw, Corrinne
This study will investigate project success factors in the South African petrochemical industry. The availability of capital for projects was reduced by the 2008-2009 global economic recession. This resulted in additional strain on project performance, since the potential implications of cost and schedule overruns for clients, project teams and project managers became harsher. For project failure, the implications may be even worse. Possible implications include career damage; unemployment; financial loss; or liquidation of companies. Projects in the South African petrochemical industry are faced with many challenges such as unfavourable legislation; lack of competent and experienced project human resources; low quality of work; low productivity; and remoteness of the region and industry. These challenges pose a risk to project success. When projects are completed successfully, it can hold major advantages for clients as well as for project team members. These potential advantages include corporate growth; improved job security; career advancement; and financial gain. There are certain factors which need to be managed effectively on projects to improve the probability of project success. These are referred to as success factors. The research question for this study is: What are the most critical factors that project managers need to manage effectively in the South African petrochemical industry to improve project success? This question will be answered by first considering theoretical data, as well as empirical data collected from project professionals with relevant experience by means of interviews and a survey. Purposive sampling was used to obtain inputs from 61 project professionals with over 1,000 years combined project experience in this region and industry. The sample includes participants from project engineering consultants, client organisations, as well as project professionals working for owner project management companies. From the empirical data, challenges unique or dominant in the region or the industry were identified. Using qualitative content analysis, challenges were coded, which resulted in 30 challenge categories. The 10 highest priority challenge categories were consolidated to form 5 general challenges. These are an unfavourable environment; low competence and experience levels; poor availability of project resources; low quality of work; and low productivity. These challenges are a hindrance to project success.
Open Access
Learning systemic management practice
(2012) Shaw, Corrinne; Ryan, Tom
Systems thinking has been proposed as an answer to the question of how management practitioners can best equip themselves to tackle the complexity of management practice. As a body of work intended to transcend disciplinary silos, systems thinking pursues the ideal of generating comprehensive descriptions of real situations. It seeks to do this by embracing a variety of systems approaches and ideas to explain patterns and hypothesise causes of observable empirical events. As systems thinking is a diverse field, there are many knowledge areas and perspectives available to programme designers to facilitate teaching and the learning of systems thinking for management practice. The purpose of this study is to examine students' experience of learning events in the context of an interdisciplinary course designed for the development of management practice through systems thinking. Data was collected from three cohorts of students by observing lectures and class-based group work; and conducting interviews using conversational repertory grid techniques. The interview responses were analysed using grounded theory principles. Based on the findings derived from this qualitative analysis, the process of learning of systems thinking is outlined as a practice involving the selection and interpretation of events which evolve from the starting out phase, where students become interested in learning, and then outlines progress through the phases of assimilation and, changes in knowledge, culminating in more complex learning phases described as integration and adaptation. The synthesis of these phenomena as a theory provided an answer to the primary research objective of investigating how students experience learning events designed to develop systemic management practice. Critical realism, following Bhaskar's philosophy, is used to frame explanations to extend the grounded theory analysis, seeking to account for generative mechanisms that enable and constrain student experience with respect to systems thinking development. As a secondary contribution, this informed the identification of possible mechanisms and emergent properties at the level of the course through an analytical separation of the academic and work environments. These included the discourse of the context of application, academic discourse and professional identity. In combination, these findings make a contribution to understanding the learning of systemic management practice. In addition, applications for this research are suggested for educators, managers and organisations. These applications include: 1) a framework to help educators design meaningful experiences for learners; 2) a basis for understanding what constitutes systemic management practice and explaining differential development; 3) establishment of a basis for understanding what is needed for organisations to support the development of systemic management practice.
Open Access
Management requirements for coordinating the Succulent Karoo Ecosystem Program (SKEP)
(2007) Hartney, Daphne; Shaw, Corrinne
This dissertation takes its lead from the need to add to the debate issues of institutional arrangements when evaluating the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation programs. The particular case in point is the Succulent Karoo Ecosystem Program (SKEP), which was initially set up by a NGO, Conservation International (CI), and thereafter transferred to another host institution, a national parastatal called the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). This dissertation set out to investigate the optimal institutional mechanism for coordinating SKEP. in light of its transition from CI to SANB!. This was done by evaluating the current coordination mechanism. A systems theory approach guided the research. An action research approach ensured that the results would be practical to the coordination unit of the SKEP program. Grounded theory analysis was used to analyze and make sense of the data and provide guidance on the functions and structure of the coordination unit and its supporting structures.
Open Access
Mindfulness and Job Performance: How is mindfulness perceived to affect job performance, employee wellbeing, and organisational performance in the engineering sector in South Africa?
(2023) Forster, Kai; Shaw, Corrinne
Engineering practice can be demanding and challenging. Recent reports from around the world suggest that there is a global mental health crisis and that many engineers struggle with their well-being, productivity, and job performance, which has the potential to undermine the productivity of engineering organisations. It is important to ensure that engineering employees and organisations deliver high levels of performance to ensure that engineers can continue to contribute value to society. This research study aims to understand mental health in the South African engineering sector, while gaining insights into common sources of stress in the industry, perceptions of mindfulness, and investigating how performance can be enhanced. The research questions for this study aim to investigate how mindfulness could be used to enhance employee well-being, mental health, and individual and organisational performance. The data for this study were collected using a mixed methods approach. Qualitative data were collected through structured interviews and analysed using content analysis, and quantitative data were collected through a survey instrument, and analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Findings revealed that the South African engineering sector was perceived to be highly productive, but also a high stress environment, characterised by tight deadlines and high workloads. Participants suggested that successful engineers should demonstrate effective time management, attention to detail, and ability to learn. Participants perceived mindfulness to be an effective tool for improving the abovementioned traits, as well as productivity, emotional intelligence, focus, teamwork, communication, stress management, resistance to fatigue and burnout, physiological and mental health, quality of work, awareness, and balance to life. Through an improvement in these characteristics and traits, it was proposed that mindfulness could lead to improved employee well-being, individual job performance, and organisational performance. These findings indicate that mindfulness-based interventions could be introduced in engineering organisations and universities to enhance employee well-being, mental health, and individual and organisational job performance. This would allow engineering employees and organisations to continue to contribute value to society and offer solutions to increasingly complex problems.
Open Access
Modeling change in a manufacturing facility in a continously changing environment
(2008) Coleman, Trevor; Shaw, Corrinne
The aim of the study was to examine (using both ethnographic research and the action research methodologies) the issues and processes that were both experienced and observed as a member of this leadership team. The focus of inquiry was to understand how all the sub systems involved interacted upon each other, and how they impacted on the total system. A further reason was to understand the drivers for change, and then be able to use them in a positive way to manage the ongoing complexity that characterizes this facility. The results of this study suggested several areas for improvement, but the two key areas appeared to relate to leadership team dynamics and change management. From the learning's of this study, a model for Managing Change in a Changing Environment is proposed. In this work, the model is then tested and validated.
Open Access
Operational effectiveness of the information technology function in business process change: A case study in a financial services firm
(2016) Ball, Richard; Shaw, Corrinne
In order to address the need to remain flexible in dynamic business environments, organisations must focus on the effectiveness of their core operational processes. The importance of operational effectiveness has been claimed to have a direct influence on business performance. In order to improve their effectiveness, many organisations invest in information technology (IT) systems, even though the extent to which these technological initiatives influence operational effectiveness is considered to be largely misunderstood by the organisations who employ them. In this dissertation, the relationship between the Operations and IT departments of a financial services firm is investigated. This study pays particular attention to the factors that have the potential to influence the ability of the organisation to align its strategies. This enquiry takes the form of two distinct research questions: 1) What factors in the organisation have an impact on the success of business process change proposals? 2) How is the role of IT perceived in the preparation of business process change initiatives? The study involved conducting semi-structured interviews with members of both departments. A qualitative inductive approach was used to analyse the data collected from these interviews in order to identify themes. The emergent phenomena were then considered in conjunction with the literature on organisational effectiveness and strategic alignment, in order to develop a theory that answers the research questions. The findings of the theory that developed resulted in four main relationships. They were: how understanding business processes contributes to improved service delivery; how important communication is in contributing to organisational performance; how effective planning has an impact on product complexity; and the impact that effective organisational planning has on the relationship between IT and operations. The results of this study showed that although there was intention to improve alignment between business and IT strategies, with some noteworthy initiatives emerging, there have been a number of factors inhibiting successful alignment. Some of these factors include: a lack of trust in IT solution delivery, IT remaining ignorant to the impact of process changes, the inability to effectively allocate the business analysis function to the correct change proposals, and the silos of process knowledge that exist within operations. The recommendations of this study include: improvements to the visibility of business processes; methods to improve knowledge sharing; and strengthening the focus of the business analysis function.
Open Access
Personality profiling and project success factors: a study in the transportation and operations department of an organisation
(2017) De Vries, Franco; Shaw, Corrinne
The use of personality profiling in various fields, industries and sectors has increased over the last decade. The applications of profiling vary and include assessments as to whether a candidate is suitable for a work opportunity to whether a team's personalities are conducive to achieve their objectives. In the discipline of project management, personality profiling has been used to match project managers to projects as a means to contribute to project success. The organisation in focus in this case study have implemented personality typing in 2012 and the results have shown that since the inception of personality typing there has been improvement in health, environment and safety project success metrics. However, the results have also shown that the implementation of personality typing has had no effect on other project success metrics such as project cost and schedule attainment. This research study addresses the questions of which factors affect the project managers' ability to achieve project success and how personality profiling affects these factors. This study is conducted as a case study in the Transportation and Operations department of the organisation. Literature on the origin and details of personality typing is discussed, its prevalence in the work place and which personality types are more likely to achieve project success. Furthermore, literature on the factors which typically influence the ability to achieve project success are presented. The research design was based on Maxwell's qualitative interactive research design model and the justification for case study methodology is provided. The primary means of data collection was semi-structured interviews. The data generated was analysed using qualitative data analysis using the compare and contrast principles of grounded theory. Consideration of research validation or trustworthiness and ethics were provided. Six factors were found to influence the project manager's ability to achieve project success. These were: the effect of the organisational policies and procedures; the project manager's leadership abilities; the contractor's performance level; the health of relationships with stakeholders; the planning effectiveness and compliance; and the effect of external factors. Secondly it was found that personality typing has mostly a positive influence on these factors and project success. This dissertation concludes with a review of the findings and its implications, the limitations of the study, practical recommendations for the organisation and recommendations for further studies.
Open Access
Resilience in disasters: a case study of an informal settlement in the Western Cape of South Africa
(2020) Onyeagoziri,Onyekachi John; Shaw, Corrinne; Ryan, Tom
In South Africa, disasters are a crucial impediment to successful sustainable development in communities. Many communities have insufficient capacity to forecast, check, handle and reduce disaster risk. These communities face a growing range of challenges including economic hardship, technological and social impediments, urbanisation, under-development, wildfire, climate change, flooding, drought, geological hazards and the impact of epidemics such as HIV/AIDS and COVID-19, sometimes termed ‘the burden of disease'. The Western Cape of South Africa is a dynamic province that is disaster-prone, particularly the vulnerable urban communities in and around its environs. Such communities are more vulnerable to wildfire, flooding, drought and other natural and human-made disasters because of poverty and, consequently, poor living conditions such as overcrowding. The inability of these communities to withstand adversities affects the sustainability of initiatives to develop them. This study aims to understand the mechanisms influencing the resilience level of the communities faced with disaster risk, which is defined as the likelihood of a disaster having a negative impact on community resilience. Therefore, the primary research question raised in this study is: ‘What are the underlying mechanisms influencing the resilience of communities faced with disaster risk?' In this study, disaster risk is viewed as a complex adaptive system. This view challenges simple cause and effect assumptions and recognises that components in a system are connected and interact in ways that cannot be predicted. Fieldwork was conducted in an informal settlement in the Western Cape. The main sources of data were observation notes, document analysis and interviews. The research study was conducted in four cycles of data collection and analysis. Grounded theory principles and system dynamics modelling were used to analyse data. The nine emergent themes or mechanisms were described as variables influencing the resilience level of the community faced with disaster risk. The answer to the primary research question is described as a theoretical model of community resilience based on a community vulnerable to disaster risk. The theoretical model consists of four reinforcing feedback loops that explains how the development of community resilience in the informal settlement maps on to the relative achievement systems archetype (success of the successful causal loop diagram). Negative reinforcing behaviour explains the lack of community resilience, while positive reinforcing behaviour would indicate the development of community resilience. While this study has identified that the role of individual resilience is important to developing community resilience in the context of disaster risk (that is, individual resilience has the potential for improving management of the identified community mechanisms), it also provides the explanation for how this development happens and what mechanisms are needed for it to take place.
Open Access
Student experiences of learning in a systems thinking course
(2008) Smith, Lucille; Shaw, Corrinne
Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-77).
Open Access
The Student Governance Review (SGR) 2001 at the University of Cape Town (UCT) - a systems perspective
(2005) Leopold-George, Florence; Shaw, Corrinne
The SRC, throughout the years, has organised reviews in order to be effective and relevant to the student population, but has been unable to produce appropriate changes or maintain outcomes to obtain the coordination they need. The 2001 Students Governance Review (SGR), initiated by the SRC leader 2000, seemed to be given adequate planning, resources and effort than the 1970 and 1997 attempts. However, these outcomes were met with huge resistance and later discarded. This problem is also due to the high turnover of student leadership. As an outsider to student governance, I could see there was a pattern of little or no implementation of the outcomes of reviews. My initial question was "why again?" As a researcher in this field, it was necessary for me to approach the problem from a fresh perspective due to this pattern in behaviour and operate within a framework that would allow me to get to the root causes. Systems thinking enabled me do this as it allowed me to get a holistic perspective of the problem.

Browsing by Author "Shaw, Corrinne"

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