Browsing by Author "Heyns, Johannes Hendrik"

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    Correlation and causation : a potential pitfall for efficient asset management
    (South African Institute for Industrial Engineering, 2014) Heyns, Johannes Hendrik; Vlok, P. J.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The successful coordination of activities and practices within a system rely on the organisation’s ability to make informed decisions. Decisions must be made quickly and effectively, while ensuring efficient Physical Asset Management (PAM). Access to processed data, in the form of reliable information, on how sub systems interact greatly simplifies decision-making. Many organisations mistake correlation for causation when analysing this data. Such a mistake carries great consequences for organisations, since important decisions might unknowingly be based on self-invented problems, while the true problem is left unresolved. It is crucial to understand the difference between correlation and causation when practising root cause analysis within a PAM environment. Although root cause analysisis presumed a highly specialised field, organisations can equip themselves to better understand how different events within a PAM system are interconnected. If done correctly this might simplify the process of detecting problems, which might exist within a system.This paper highlights the differences between correlation and causation. Potential pitfalls on how correlation can be mistaken for causation within a PAM environment are identify and explained. Recommendations are made on how to avoid these pitfalls.
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    The township startup : a collaboration platform that bridges the gap between developed and developing South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-12) Heyns, Johannes Hendrik; Schutte, C. S. L.; Louw, Louis; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Industrial Engineering.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There exists a massive gap between developed and developing South Africa. This study introduces The Township Startup which explains how this gap can be breached through enterprise engineering and how a platform was developed to do exactly that. The work superimposes human behavioural sciences, a culture of Ubuntu, exponential technologies and transforming entrepreneurial practices to determine how the source of the gap can addressed. A collaborative approach is proposed through which these challenges can be addressed together and highlights the competitive advantages which can be leveraged to do so. BioTRIZ methodology is used to develop a platform which facilitates collaboration through mutually beneficial partnerships between individuals, organisations and educational institutions. The finer details of the platform and how it is prepared for further development and implementation, are explained. An action learning validation process is used to experimentally test whether the platform would work as it is designed to and whether the platform might serve as a potential solution to help breach the gap between developed and developing South Africa.