Abstract
This thesis addresses innovation of business and management with the purpose of advancing innovation in South Africa. A Design Science Research methodology is utilised to evaluate the current knowledge base of business and management innovation and construct a high level model for Management Innovation that pertains to all management areas of business including technology and innovation management. This thesis evaluates Learn-by-Experimentation (Trial and Error), Van Gundy’s Structured Creative Processes and Mann’s model constructed in practice. The Learn-by-Experimentation is a methodology only suited for physical innovation. The Structured Creative Processes are found to be of a generic nature which is not suitable for Innovation of Business and Management. Mann’s model is a projection of TRIZ onto business and management that addresses a subset of the business areas. The literature study in this thesis showed the identification of innovation opportunities was explicitly addressed by Van Gundy and implicitly treated by Mann. The “General Internet Access” for South Africans, as envisioned in the National Development Plan to stimulate economic growth, has been analysed for systematic innovation potential and did not render the desired outcome. The NDP will require further development to enable systematic innovation. In the course of this research a spiral innovation model for systematic business and management is developed through intensive literature analysis to cover the identified gaps. The model consists of the following steps: 1. Identification 2. Analysis and Definition 3. Select Approach 4. Create Potential Solutions 5. Verify and Validate Solutions 6. Implement the best Verified and Validated Solution with the idea to converge towards an Ideal Final Result. The results of this study is a contribution to the knowledge base of business and management innovation.
D.Ing. (Engineering Management)