Abstract
M.Sc.
Supply chains members are disperser across multiple geographical locations and the competitive effects of
globalisation has provoked the agile capacity of contemporary supply chains. This makes it more difficult for supply
chain organisation to meet consumer demands, especially if supply chain processes are not adequately streamlined.
This confronted supply chain managers with the daunting task to make informed decisions regarding critical
business drivers within their organisations. Incorrect decisions can lead to counter-productive actions. Supply chain
members both upstream and downstream often make decisions based on their immediate environment and
resources available, thereby not considering other factor within the supply chain holistically. This perspective has
change and supply chain managers need to make decision based on the overall information and resources available
within the entire supply chain network. The need to evaluate the appropriate supply chain performance measures
is critical, as it directly affects the performance of the entire supply chain network.
The focus of this thesis revolves around the linear composition of supply chain technology, integration,
collaboration and visibility to maximise supply chain agility. The objective of this thesis is therefore to present a
model that highlights the roadmap to achieving supply chain visibility followed by supply chain agility. This will
allow supply chain members to make informed decisions around key drivers within the supply chain. The intention
of the model is to provide a guideline approach toward achieving supply chain agility through a process of welldefined
analysis in areas such as supply chain technology, integration, collaboration and visibility. The method used
to develop the model in this thesis is build on the scientific principle of adding smaller pieces of the different supply
chain management theories to corroborate the context and value of the model. These supply chain management
theories combined provides valuable guidance for the roadmap towards achieving supply chain agility.
The point of departure is a simple five-step model of which its validity is legitimised through a case study research,
conducted on two supply chain partners. The findings from this case study have contextualised the model into a
definite treasure map towards achieving success in the face of globalisation.