Abstract
M.Comm.
The South African Transport Services is one of the largest
undertakings in the Republic of South Africa. It is a multi-modal
undertaking employing approximately 212 000 people and has a turnover
in excess of R8 000 million per annum. During a strategic
planning excercise the top management of the South African
Transport Services identified an effective management information
system as a critical success factor to the well being of the
undertaking on the premise that information forms the basis for
sound management decision-making.
The need for relevant information for decision-making has never
been more real than at present. The South African Transport Services
is facing a market situation of ever-increasing competition.
As the move towards deregulation in the RSA gathers momentum, the
competition will become even greater. The information resource
will have to respond to the challenge and provide management with
timely, relevant information to make sound decisions. This study
has as its goal the setting of a number of guidelines which will
enable the management of the South African Transport Services to
prepare a strategic information plan for the undertaking.
As a result of the conclusions drawn from the literature study an
investigation was conducted into the characteristics of the South
African Transport Services with the accent on the present
availability, distribution and use of information. This study was
undertaken at three levels. At the first level stock was taken of
the formal information which is at present supplied to top management.
A number of conclusions were drawn as to the application,
volume, relevance, accuracy and timeliness of the information. At
the same time the views of top management were obtained on their
perception of the most important information problems in the South
African Transport Services.