Abstract
M.Comm.
The value of Strategic Management in organisation has been realised all across the
world. Strategic Management theory has been proven on all levels of organisation
from corporate, through organisational and also functional areas. It is not uncommon
for organisation to have well-published and effective functional strategies, such as
financial, marketing and human resources. Strategy however in the engineering
functions of organisations is often neglected or even non-existent. Process
Automation is one of these functional areas, which is extremely seldom strategised. This study aims at addressing these shortcomings, by firstly recognising the change
world economy, which illustrate the volatility of the modern economy. The study then
attempt to prove that in order to have a competitive advantage, is it necessary to
establish and implement a strategic plan. The chapter illustrates that operational
effectiveness is a function of strategic planning but not in itself a competitive
advantage. The study continues at evaluating different sources of strategic
management to supply insight and background into the strategic management area. The second part of the study moves away from commercial items and address the
field of process control and automation. It illustrates the scope and importance of
process automation for all modern industries.
Once strategic management and process automation has been adequately
discussed, it is necessary to derive the Process Automation Strategy through
combining the two very different fields of study. It is important to consider Process Automation Strategy not as an isolated subject field, but an integrated part of the
organisation. For this reason was all influences considered on the organisation. A
theoretical guideline to the establishment of a Process Automation Strategy was
derived through the Strategic Management procedure discussed earlier in the study.