Investigating social network analysis as a method to map primary constraints in physical asset management strategy execution
| dc.contributor.advisor | Vlok, P. J. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Schutte, C. S. L. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Baum, Jan-Hendrik | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.other | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Industrial Engineering. | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2012-11-28T14:40:40Z | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2012-12-12T08:11:45Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2012-11-28T14:40:40Z | en_ZA |
| dc.date.available | 2012-12-12T08:11:45Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2012-12 | en_ZA |
| dc.description | Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The successful execution of the Physical Asset Management Strategy (PAMS) is an important value driver for organisations, whose core business is highly dependent on the service delivery of physical assets. However, contemporary research demonstrates that scheduled targets are often not met and the means to detect the constraints that can undermine the strategy execution efforts are deficient. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate Social Network Analysis (SNA) as a method to map primary constraints in Physical Asset Management Strategy Execution (PAMSE). A comprehensive literature review addresses the domains of Physical Asset Management (PAM) and SNA. The review of the literature is supported by interviews with practitioners in the field of PAM. Consequently, the challenges experienced in PAM are contextualised along with the capabilities of SNA and the most important constraints in PAMSE are identified. As an interim result, the study found that dysfunctional information flow and poor decision making are the primary constraints that could hinder the execution of a PAMS. As a consequence thereof, a SNA application methodology was developed in order to scrutinise these areas of concern. The methodology was applied at two research sites in the South African mining industry. Network data for the study was collected by surveys conducted in June and July 2012. The case studies demonstrate that a SNA application in PAM requires a number of prerequisites that are crucial to its success. Nevertheless, a successful SNA application may yield valuable results identifying the problems encountered in PAMSE. Most importantly, the SNA highlights overloaded key employees, collaborative breakdowns and excessive intradepartmental collaboration that have the potential to hinder the PAMSE process. The results were validated by means of dialogue with the individuals involved in the study. This study found that SNA can be used as a method to map the primary constraints experienced by PAMSE. It also emphasises that there are important prerequisites that have to be established for SNA to be successful. Future research could be carried out based on the results of this thesis, in order to design improvement plans for the studied research site and possibly conduct a second SNA to investigate whether the constraints, identified in the study, had been resolved. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die suksesvolle uitvoering van die Fisiese Batebestuurstrategie is ’n belangrike genereerder van waarde vir organisasies waar die kernbesigheid tot ’n groot mate afhanklik is van die dienslewering van fisiese bates. Hedendaagse navorsing wys egter dat geskeduleerde mylpale meestal nie bereik word nie en dat die metodes wat gebruik word om vas te stel watter beperkings die strategie-uitvoering ondermyn, ontoereikend is. Die doel van hierdie tesis is om die aanwending van Sosiale Netwerkanalise as ’n metode te ondersoek, om die primêre beperkings ten opsigte van die uitvoering van Fisiese Batebestuurstrategie te identifiseer. ’n Omvattende literatuuroorsig is uitgevoer wat die gebied van Fisiese Batebestuur en Sosiale Netwerkanalise aanspreek. Die literatuuroorsig is aangevul deur onderhoude met kundiges op die gebied van Fisiese Batebestuur. Sodoende kon die uitdagings van Fisiese Batebestuur bestudeer word in die konteks en vermoëns van Sosiale Netwerkanalise, en gevolglik is die belangrikste beperkings in Fisiese Batebestuurstrategie-Uitvoering geïdentifiseer. Die voorlopige resultate van die studie het bevind dat gebrekkige inligtingsvloei en swak besluitneming die hoofbeperkings is wat die uitvoering van ’n Fisiese Batebestuurstrategie kan verhinder. Gevolglik is ’n Sosiale Netwerkanalise toepassingsmetodiek ontwikkel om dié probleemareas onder die mikroskoop te plaas. Dié metodiek is dan op twee teiken-aanlegte in die Suid-Afrikaanse Mynbou Industrie toegepas. Netwerkdata vir die studie is deur middel van meningsopnames in Junie en Julie 2012 ingesamel. Die gevallestudies demonstreer dat ’n Sosiale Netwerkanalisetoepassing in Fisiese Batebestuur waardevolle resultate kan lewer met betrekking tot die probleme wat ondervind word in die uitvoer van Fisiese Batebestuurstrategie. Onder die belangrikste bevindings van die Sosiale Netwerkanalise tel die oorbelasting van sleutelposwerknemers, mislukte samewerking, asook eksessiewe interdepartementele samewerking met die potensiaal om die uitvoering van die Fisiese Batebestuurstrategie te verhinder. Die bevindings is deur dialoog met die individuele deelnemers in die ondersoek gestaaf. Die studie het bevind dat Sosiale Netwerkanalise geskik is as ’n metode om die primêre beperkings, wat ondervind word in die uitvoering van Fisiese Batebestuurstrategie, te identifiseer. Dit moet egter ook beklemtoon word dat daar belangrike voorvereistes bestaan, wat vir die suksesvolle toepassing van Sosiale Netwerkanalise in plek moet wees. Toekomstige navorsing kan gebaseer word op die uitkoms van dié tesis met die doel om ontwerpverbeteringsplanne vir die teiken-aanlegte op te stel. Daarbenewens kan ’n moontlike opvolg Sosiale Netwerkanalise uitgevoer word om te meet of die beperkings wat deur die ondersoek geidentifiseer is, oorkom is. | af |
| dc.format.extent | 221 p. : ill. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/71816 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_ZA | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.rights.holder | Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Physical asset management | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Social network analysis | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Strategy execution | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Engineering management | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Strategic management | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Organizational network analysis | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Dissertations -- Industrial engineering | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Theses -- Industrial engineering | en_ZA |
| dc.title | Investigating social network analysis as a method to map primary constraints in physical asset management strategy execution | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_ZA |