A technology deployment strategy using value networking
Date
2008-12
Authors
De Wet, Jacobus Johannes
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
This study intends to develop a decision support tool for new business development
units in South African consultancies. These consultancies endeavour to out‐license their
technology assets.
The enterprise engineering model is examined and the rules and boundaries of the
Cartesian space is used to derive further functionality (susceptibility, segmentation and
competence) from the various enterprise life cycles as measures for business expansion
of knowledge organisations.
The reader is presented with an overview of knowledge organisations, more specifically
consultancy enterprises and its unique challenges and business models. These firms
develop technology for specific market applications to assist them in solving industry
specific problems. These technologies are easily modularised and packaged and can be
transferred as technology assets to licensees.
The bulk of the dissertation deals with the process phases in externally leveraging
technology assets, with a focus on the intelligence phase of this process. The industrial
engineering approach provides a suitable mindset for understanding the complexity of
global strategy problems. Proposed global strategies are based on combinations of
geographic areas that become more desirable over time. Levels of aggregation are
defined, and the global eco‐socio‐political and economical systems are further
investigated. Approaches to global strategy management are investigated, and the PEST framework is
used in its broadest sense to conduct an external environmental analysis. Franchising as
a method of out‐licensing is proposed as a mode of entry into foreign markets.
The development of a decision support tool is supported by the generic system model
and more specifically principles from productivity management. Multiple criteria
decision modelling is discussed and efficiency and effectiveness are used as the
objective and subjective variables. The Brown‐Gibson model is used to calculate a
weighted evaluation, and the countries of the world are ranked according to these
outcomes.
Finally, a sensitivity analysis is conducted on the weighted evaluations providing the
reader with graphs indicating what the long and short term focus of consulting firms
should be regarding their out‐licensing endeavours on a macro environmental level.
In conclusion, this study expands the enterprise engineering model for knowledge
organisations (specifically consultancy enterprises) using analytical decision making
methods in determining global strategy with a focus on the external environmental
analysis.
Description
Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
Keywords
Global strategy, Technology deployment, Mode of entry, Enterprise engineering, Dissertations -- Industrial engineering, Theses -- Industrial engineering