Browsing by Author "Moolman, Benjamin Stephanus"
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- ItemA conceptual framework for the commercial readiness index : start-up enterprises(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-03) Moolman, Benjamin Stephanus; Van der Merwe, A. F.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Industrial Engineering. Dept. of Industrial Engineering.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The unemployment rate in South Africa currently ranges from 27.5% to even higher when considering youth unemployment. It has become more imperative than ever before for new job opportunities to be created. The creation of a start-up enterprise is however not an easy task, with less than 30% of start-ups surviving longer than 42 months. Companies are finding it extremely hard to commercialise their products or services in a sustainable manner. The concept of commercial readiness was explored by ARENA (2014a) and Bezuidenhout (2017), and applied to the renewable-energy and additivemanufacturing sector respectively. This study looks at the potential of applying the commercial readiness index (CRI) to the start-up domain, and in particular the technology sector. This framework was adapted to incorporate existing tools and literature that monitor specific areas of a start-up enterprise’s progression. Through the consultation of 17 different experts the framework currently describing CRI was evaluated and deliberated. Through an iterative approach, a methodology was derived to determine the key concepts that need to be considered when trying to monitor the position of a start-up within the CRI framework. The purpose of the research revolved around deriving a framework that assists an enterprise from conception to commercialisation. By incorporating the operational and strategic aspects of various models and frameworks, and comparing them in a systematic method to various categories and indicators, a better understanding of the enterprise can be derived. The framework gives guidance to the various stakeholders of the enterprise, as to what questions need to be asked, where the development needs to be accelerated, and where the prioritisation of the enterprise should be taking place. In essence this looks at: Where the enterprise is now (As-Is status), where it needs to be (To-Be status), and how this will be achieved. The phases of the CRI framework were adapted to suit the start-up domain, and the methodology for determining the current As-Is state and potential To-Be state was derived. These three phases are the following: Phase 1 – Viable proposition and establishing enterprise, fundamentally considered a startup; Phase 2 – Strategically aligned enterprise, with established foundations; Phase 3 – Commercially scalable and competitive enterprise. These phases are guided by 11 indicators, encapsulating all the different pillars of an enterprise. These independent indicators were used in a comparative matrix with 12 categories to get an estimation of the current As-Is state. Three companies were surveyed in different case studies in an attempt to plot their current As-Is state, and test whether the tools derived within this study could monitor the current As-Is state of each start-up within the CRI. These case studies, along with the literature and experts, serves as validation for this study. Monitoring the progress of start-ups more accurately and in more depth could lead to a greater success rate for startups within South Africa and globally. This study concludes that the CRI can be expanded and elaborated on in the start-up domain.