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Endogenising change management in South Africa:
facilitating process innovation to improve the value added competitiveness
of South African manufacturers
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University
of Natal |
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Proposal number: |
32251 |
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Focal area: |
Value Addition |
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Total funding: |
R 3,050,000 |
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Funding year 1: |
R 550,000 |
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Funding year 2: |
R 1,000,000 |
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Funding year 3: |
R 1,500,000 |
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One of the most striking features of globally competitive firms
is their ability to continuously innovate production and
organisational processes to respond to shifting market
determinants and increase their value added propensity. Yet,
innovation has often been seen narrowly by domestic manufacturing
firms with innovation viewed as new product development. This is
despite the fact that process innovation and the successful
incorporation of world class manufacturing techniques is a
fundamental weakness of the South African manufacturing industry.
The previously protected domestic economy sheltered firms from
their weakness in this regard, but this is no longer the case. As
the economy liberalises, domestic manufacturing firms need to
inculcate a continuous innovation (change management) culture into
their operations.
Drawing on international and local expertise,
this consortium will over a three-year period set up a suite of
pilot activities in selected firms in order to endogenise change
management. This will be done by using multi-faceted mechanisms to
assist with intra and inter firm learning. Based on intensive
research the consortium will develop tangible products for use
within firms by management and labour, as well as intangible
learning networks between firms to facilitate the process of
change management. Through this process numerous prototypes will
be developed - a self-help CD ROM, self-assessment process
innovation manuals, 'best in class' management/labour guides and a
popularised process innovation manual. These will be generalised
throughout the manufacturing sector, thereby impacting on
industrial and innovation policy as it pertains to manufacturing
competitiveness. |
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Project Coordinator: |
Prof Mike L Morris
Phone: +27 (0)31 260 2361
Email: morrism@un.ac.za |
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