A practitioner’s guide to establishing and managing a project management office at a South African parastatal
- Authors: Malatji, Masike
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Project management - South Africa , Reengineering (Management) , Industrial productivity - Management
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/82806 , uj:19005
- Description: Abstract: Project management offices (PMO’s) are established to support organizations realize their strategic objectives by aligning project initiatives with organizational goals. This is achieved through standardizing their project management practices, methodologies, tools and techniques. To broadly understand the PMO concept, literature review was conducted to determine the typical services rendered by the PMO, the PMO configuration types appropriate for particular services and at the right capability maturity levels, and also the characteristic PMO personnel skills required to provide such services. These elements, to a large extent, were explored in the context of the South African state-owned entities (or parastatals). While PMO’s can be beneficial, indications are that many organizations struggle to set them up optimally. Consequently, this study investigated the unique challenges encountered when establishing and managing PMO’s at South African parastatals, and how those challenges were prioritised and overcome. This is to ensure that the benefits brought about by the PMO are realised and recognised within the organization. The study followed an interview method where qualifying participants were identified and asked to partake in the research. It was found that the people- and organization-related challenges contributed to the six topmost challenges encountered when establishing and managing PMO’s at the South African parastatals. Most of these top challenges, along with others, remained as challenges yet to be overcome at some of the parastatals. Furthermore, the results also revealed that the parastatals largely operated PMO types that were not optimally configured to render services at the desired levels of maturity to have any meaningful impact. These compounded the legitimacy of the existence of those PMO’s. As a solution, the PMO establishment, management, and process re-engineering guideline was developed to help eliminate or minimise the impact of some of the challenges. , M.Ing. (Engineering Management)
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- Authors: Malatji, Masike
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Project management - South Africa , Reengineering (Management) , Industrial productivity - Management
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/82806 , uj:19005
- Description: Abstract: Project management offices (PMO’s) are established to support organizations realize their strategic objectives by aligning project initiatives with organizational goals. This is achieved through standardizing their project management practices, methodologies, tools and techniques. To broadly understand the PMO concept, literature review was conducted to determine the typical services rendered by the PMO, the PMO configuration types appropriate for particular services and at the right capability maturity levels, and also the characteristic PMO personnel skills required to provide such services. These elements, to a large extent, were explored in the context of the South African state-owned entities (or parastatals). While PMO’s can be beneficial, indications are that many organizations struggle to set them up optimally. Consequently, this study investigated the unique challenges encountered when establishing and managing PMO’s at South African parastatals, and how those challenges were prioritised and overcome. This is to ensure that the benefits brought about by the PMO are realised and recognised within the organization. The study followed an interview method where qualifying participants were identified and asked to partake in the research. It was found that the people- and organization-related challenges contributed to the six topmost challenges encountered when establishing and managing PMO’s at the South African parastatals. Most of these top challenges, along with others, remained as challenges yet to be overcome at some of the parastatals. Furthermore, the results also revealed that the parastatals largely operated PMO types that were not optimally configured to render services at the desired levels of maturity to have any meaningful impact. These compounded the legitimacy of the existence of those PMO’s. As a solution, the PMO establishment, management, and process re-engineering guideline was developed to help eliminate or minimise the impact of some of the challenges. , M.Ing. (Engineering Management)
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An extended PMBoK project management model for companies delivering large multidiscipline mining projects
- Authors: Yates, Michael Edward Brian
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Mine management , Project management , Mining engineering
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/242839 , uj:25060
- Description: D.Phil. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstract
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- Authors: Yates, Michael Edward Brian
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Mine management , Project management , Mining engineering
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/242839 , uj:25060
- Description: D.Phil. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstract
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Factors affecting train inefficiency in rail freight in the Cape-channel of South Africa
- Authors: Magadagela, E.K.
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Railroads - Freight - South Africa , Freight and freightage - South Africa - Management - Case studies , Freight and freightage - Planning , Business logistics
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/233767 , uj:23874
- Description: M.Phil. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: Efficiency is an essential indicator that measures operational performance for improv-ing freight reliability and client satisfaction. In the transportation industry, such as rail freight, it is primarily measured by on-time performance. When trains are performing poorly it affects projected tonnages and consequently results in client dissatisfaction. To broadly understand the operational inefficiencies during execution of the trains’ trip plan, an extensive literature review was conducted to investigate possible factors af-fecting efficient movement of trains and to determine measures which can be imple-mented for the improvement thereof. This is to ensure that challenges affecting on-time performance are managed in a more efficient way while ensuring that an objective of delivering freight reliably is met. Questionnaires, archival records and document analysis were used to collect data in relation to challenges affecting efficient movement of trains. From the results, it was found that the primary causes of trains’ inefficiency were locomotive failures, defective perway and crew shortage. The poor performance of trains from Hotazel to Algoabaai, confirmed that the influence of long transit and high dwell times is affected by different delay conditions. As a solution to some of the problems, computerised scheduling tech-niques together with high quality infrastructure with sufficient capacity that meets cli-ents’ demands can improve train performance. The conclusion can be drawn that dif-ferent operational inefficiencies causes train throughput time to deviate from the sched-ule, resulting in poor reliability of freights. The research has contributed to the limited body of knowledge in South African freight railway operations research by identifying the nature of train inefficiency affecting the on-time performance of trains.
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- Authors: Magadagela, E.K.
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Railroads - Freight - South Africa , Freight and freightage - South Africa - Management - Case studies , Freight and freightage - Planning , Business logistics
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/233767 , uj:23874
- Description: M.Phil. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: Efficiency is an essential indicator that measures operational performance for improv-ing freight reliability and client satisfaction. In the transportation industry, such as rail freight, it is primarily measured by on-time performance. When trains are performing poorly it affects projected tonnages and consequently results in client dissatisfaction. To broadly understand the operational inefficiencies during execution of the trains’ trip plan, an extensive literature review was conducted to investigate possible factors af-fecting efficient movement of trains and to determine measures which can be imple-mented for the improvement thereof. This is to ensure that challenges affecting on-time performance are managed in a more efficient way while ensuring that an objective of delivering freight reliably is met. Questionnaires, archival records and document analysis were used to collect data in relation to challenges affecting efficient movement of trains. From the results, it was found that the primary causes of trains’ inefficiency were locomotive failures, defective perway and crew shortage. The poor performance of trains from Hotazel to Algoabaai, confirmed that the influence of long transit and high dwell times is affected by different delay conditions. As a solution to some of the problems, computerised scheduling tech-niques together with high quality infrastructure with sufficient capacity that meets cli-ents’ demands can improve train performance. The conclusion can be drawn that dif-ferent operational inefficiencies causes train throughput time to deviate from the sched-ule, resulting in poor reliability of freights. The research has contributed to the limited body of knowledge in South African freight railway operations research by identifying the nature of train inefficiency affecting the on-time performance of trains.
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Quality principles and supplier selection during electricity network construction projects : a comparative study
- Authors: Ramohlale, Ntjana George
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Construction projects - Management , Electric power systems , Contractors
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/56966 , uj:16362
- Description: Abstract: Quality principles and supplier selection play an important role in projects especially where the customer is planning to outsource the work to an external organisation. The application of quality principles will help ensure that work that is going to be carried out is planned well in advance and the necessary measures are put in place to ensure that it is carried out as required. Supplier selection is a process where potential suppliers and contractors are invited to submit their information in order to be considered for work that the customer has. With the invitation, requirements will be attached and they need to show that they are capable of turning those requirements to actual output. The customer will have pre-defined criteria that will be used for evaluations and the best capable supplier or contractor will then be selected to execute the job. It has been realised that as much as quality principles are defined and the supplier selection process is adopted on projects, failure can still be experienced. This research looked at two industry cases in the construction of electricity networks. One project was for the construction of four 132kV lines and the other project focused on the relocation of lines which were in the way of some township development. The study adopted a questionnaire as a data collection tool, which was sent to the team members of both projects to complete. The results show that much as the customer was the same organisation with projects in different locations, there were slight differences in the way the projects were handled. From both projects, team members were aware of the level of quality required, requirements were put in place and the evaluation criteria used for the selection of contractors were utilised. The differences that led to project ABC failing and project XYZ being a success, were in the implementation of contract quality plans that were agreed upon before work commenced and in the performance monitoring as work was being executed. Project ABC failed due to lack of experience in enforcing what was agreed upon and not monitoring performance as stated within inspection and test plans. , M.Phil. (Engineering Management)
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- Authors: Ramohlale, Ntjana George
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Construction projects - Management , Electric power systems , Contractors
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/56966 , uj:16362
- Description: Abstract: Quality principles and supplier selection play an important role in projects especially where the customer is planning to outsource the work to an external organisation. The application of quality principles will help ensure that work that is going to be carried out is planned well in advance and the necessary measures are put in place to ensure that it is carried out as required. Supplier selection is a process where potential suppliers and contractors are invited to submit their information in order to be considered for work that the customer has. With the invitation, requirements will be attached and they need to show that they are capable of turning those requirements to actual output. The customer will have pre-defined criteria that will be used for evaluations and the best capable supplier or contractor will then be selected to execute the job. It has been realised that as much as quality principles are defined and the supplier selection process is adopted on projects, failure can still be experienced. This research looked at two industry cases in the construction of electricity networks. One project was for the construction of four 132kV lines and the other project focused on the relocation of lines which were in the way of some township development. The study adopted a questionnaire as a data collection tool, which was sent to the team members of both projects to complete. The results show that much as the customer was the same organisation with projects in different locations, there were slight differences in the way the projects were handled. From both projects, team members were aware of the level of quality required, requirements were put in place and the evaluation criteria used for the selection of contractors were utilised. The differences that led to project ABC failing and project XYZ being a success, were in the implementation of contract quality plans that were agreed upon before work commenced and in the performance monitoring as work was being executed. Project ABC failed due to lack of experience in enforcing what was agreed upon and not monitoring performance as stated within inspection and test plans. , M.Phil. (Engineering Management)
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Requirements elicitation techniques for the development of an underground remote piloted aerial system
- Authors: Green, Jeremy
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Vehicles, Remotely piloted - Industrial applications , Geomorphology - Remote sensing , Mine surveying , Environmental monitoring - Remote sensing , Mineral industries
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/286067 , uj:30947
- Description: D.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstract.
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- Authors: Green, Jeremy
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Vehicles, Remotely piloted - Industrial applications , Geomorphology - Remote sensing , Mine surveying , Environmental monitoring - Remote sensing , Mineral industries
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/286067 , uj:30947
- Description: D.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstract.
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The impact of policy on broadband development : a South African case study
- Authors: Mokwana, Brandon
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Broadband communication systems - South Africa , Broadband communication systems - Government policy - South Africa , Telecommunication policy - South Africa , Internet - Social aspects - South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/212708 , uj:21010
- Description: Abstract: The economic and social benefits of broadband connectivity have become increasingly evident and can no longer be ignored. An increase in broadband penetration contributes to GDP growth as the world bank estimates that a 10% increase in penetration can yield as much as 1.4% in GDP growth. Studies and events around the globe have demostrated that broadband internet has become a power force towards social change, fostering greater social inclusion, improved healthcare, improved education, public participation and political transparency amongst others. Promoting broadband access is no longer a debate amongst policymakers, the mindsets have shifted to how to provide broadband connectivity in an effective manner. The adoption of national broadband plans (NBP) by most countries advocates the importance of broadband and the intent to facilitate the rollout of broadband infrastructure for universal service and access. The purpose of this research is to explore policy and regulatory instruments that are key to broadband development and access. The research identifies the gaps that exist within the policy and regulatory frameworks that are key to broadband development. The research highlights the gaps that exist and identifies the remedies that are key to bridging these gaps for advancing broadband development, the rollout of broadband infrastructure and adoption. The research will contribute to the existing body of knowledge in policy and regulatory development. The policy and regulatory instruments explored and the identified gaps offer further areas of research. , M.Phil. (Engineering Management)
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- Authors: Mokwana, Brandon
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Broadband communication systems - South Africa , Broadband communication systems - Government policy - South Africa , Telecommunication policy - South Africa , Internet - Social aspects - South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/212708 , uj:21010
- Description: Abstract: The economic and social benefits of broadband connectivity have become increasingly evident and can no longer be ignored. An increase in broadband penetration contributes to GDP growth as the world bank estimates that a 10% increase in penetration can yield as much as 1.4% in GDP growth. Studies and events around the globe have demostrated that broadband internet has become a power force towards social change, fostering greater social inclusion, improved healthcare, improved education, public participation and political transparency amongst others. Promoting broadband access is no longer a debate amongst policymakers, the mindsets have shifted to how to provide broadband connectivity in an effective manner. The adoption of national broadband plans (NBP) by most countries advocates the importance of broadband and the intent to facilitate the rollout of broadband infrastructure for universal service and access. The purpose of this research is to explore policy and regulatory instruments that are key to broadband development and access. The research identifies the gaps that exist within the policy and regulatory frameworks that are key to broadband development. The research highlights the gaps that exist and identifies the remedies that are key to bridging these gaps for advancing broadband development, the rollout of broadband infrastructure and adoption. The research will contribute to the existing body of knowledge in policy and regulatory development. The policy and regulatory instruments explored and the identified gaps offer further areas of research. , M.Phil. (Engineering Management)
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