Browsing by Author "Steyn, H. J."

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    Advanced analytics strategy formulation
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014-12) Steyn, H. J.; Nel, J. H.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Despite the high potential impact of advanced analytics on the performance of businesses around the world, its uptake and application in an integrated and strategically aligned manner has been limited. This problem is more pronounced with specific reference to optimization. Optimization methods lag behind other analytical methods such as data visualization and predictive models in terms of their level of adoption in organizations. This research suggests that part of the problem of limited application and integration lies in an overall inability of companies to develop and implement an effective advanced analytics strategy. The primary objective of this research is therefore to establish an approach for the development of an advanced analytics strategy for a company. Due to the absence of well described examples or published research on the subject it was necessary to generate insight and knowledge using a research approach that allowed for the development, testing, and improvement of a strategy over multiple cycles. Such a research approach presented itself in the form of action research. An initial advanced analytics strategy was developed for one of the subsidiary companies in a group of companies. The subsidiary company specializes in the importation, distribution, and marketing of industrial fasteners and has branches throughout South Africa. The strategy document was presented to the senior decision makers in the holding company for evaluation. The feedback from the evaluation was used to formulate changes to the initial strategy aimed at improving its alignment with the decision makers’ thinking on advanced analytics and increasing the probability of its implementation. The suggested changes from the first research cycle were used to define the second cycle strategy framework. The second cycle strategy framework included a strategy development process that consisted of three main steps: • Establishing business focus and relevance which included an assessment of the value creating potential of the business, identifying and prioritizing of value creating opportunities, and an assessment of key underlying decision processes, • Developing business relevant concept applications which included determining their potential value impact and creating a ranked pipeline of decision optimization applications. • Selecting concept applications and moving them into production. The strategy development process was informed by a number of different models, methods and frameworks. The most important model was a detailed valuation model of the company. The valuation model proved to be invaluable in identifying those aspects of the business where an improvement will result in the highest potential increase in shareholder value. The second cycle strategy framework will be used to develop an improved version of the advanced analytics strategy for the researched company. Moreover, the generic nature of the framework will allow for it to be used in the development of advanced analytics strategies for other companies.
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    Investigation of two-stage electrostatic precipitation for silver removal from a helium stream
    (2010) Steyn, H. J.; Dobson, R. T.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In high temperature gas cooled nuclear reactors various unwanted particles have been found to plate out onto the surfaces of the primary cicuit components. A simple deterministic deflection model is outlined in this paper to describes the deflection of charged silver nanoparticle particles in helium using the principle of electrostatic precipitation. An apparatus, consisting of a charging region and collection region, as in the case of two-stage electrostatic precipitators, was built to validate the applicability of the model. Not withstanding its simplicity, it showed that it is able to favourably capture the experimentally determined particle deflection trajectories.