The use of the critical path and critical chain methods in the South African construction industry

The purpose of this article is to report on an investigation of the use of critical path and critical chain methods in the South African construction industry. Through a questionnaire survey, data was collected to establish which construction sectors apply these methods, the percentage of construction professionals using these methods, the reasons why these methods are applied, and the factors that influence the use of these methods. Based on the findings, the critical path and critical chain methods are mostly used in the South African construction industry by the building sector, in comparison to the civil and industrial sectors. The critical path method is used more than the critical chain method, with over 70% of the responding companies applying the critical path method and only 22% applying the critical chain method. The latter method is considered to be a relatively new project management tool and requires a culture change in the company. Users of the critical path method believe that the method mainly improves their project understanding, planning, scheduling and control, with all these improvements ultimately leading to better on-time completion of projects and cost saving

Aspects of coloured precious metal intermetallic compounds

This paper provides a review on coloured gold, platinum, and palladium intermetallic compounds, and discusses the models that were developed to obtain these materials. These compounds have a crystal structure of high symmetry, such as the CaF2 or CsCl structures, ensuring distinct electron band structures. Various examples of coloured gold, platinum, and palladium intermetallic compounds are provided. More in-depth discussion is provided on the purple gold (AuAl2) and yellow platinum-aluminium (PtAl2) compounds with CaF2 structure, as well as the purplish-pink palladium-indium (PdIn) compound with CsCl structure. Precious metal intermetallic compounds are used in jewellery and provide a new dimension to design. Some of these compounds have also found use as barrier coatings on turbine blades for jet engines, and more recently, research has been conducted into their potential use as catalysts, electro-catalysts, sensors, capacitors, and for decorative coatings.This paper was first presented at the, Precious Metals 2013 Conference, 14–16 October 2013, Protea Hotel, President, Cape Town, South Africa.http://www.saimm.co.za/journal-papersam201

THE OPEN BUSINESS MODEL IN A DYNAMIC BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT: A LITERATURE REVIEW

The open business model is the integration of open innovation with a business model. It is an important bridging construct between innovation and organisational performance in public and private organisation environments. The open business model is characterised by consistent change in the pursuit of competitiveness. Organisations’ inability to navigate environmental changes and challenges successfully, or their complacency about doing so, are major issues that have proved costly or life-threatening for many firms. Organisations constantly face two issues: competitiveness, and changes in the business environment. The literature points to numerous contentions about the open business model construct, about which the professional and academic fraternities have not yet reached a conclusion. Interestingly, there is near-homogeneity in the findings that business models are naturally stable and that, therefore, the open business model requires conscious effort and ingenuity to adopt. The open business model is a rising construct of public and private organisation environments, arousing interest and raising a plethora of questions from multiple groups

The use of the critical path and critical chain methods in the South African construction industry

The purpose of this article is to report on an investigation of the use of critical path and critical chain methods in the South African construction industry. Through a questionnaire survey, data was collected to establish which construction sectors apply these methods, the percentage of construction professionals using these methods, the reasons why these methods are applied, and the factors that influence the use of these methods. Based on the findings, the critical path and critical chain methods are mostly used in the South African construction industry by the building sector, in comparison to the civil and industrial sectors. The critical path method is used more than the critical chain method, with over 70% of the responding companies applying the critical path method and only 22% applying the critical chain method. The latter method is considered to be a relatively new project management tool and requires a culture change in the company. Users of the critical path method believe that the method mainly improves their project understanding, planning, scheduling and control, with all these improvements ultimately leading to better on-time completion of projects and cost saving.Die doel van die artikel is om die Suid-Afrikaanse konstruksiebedryf se gebruik van die kritiesepadmetode en die kritiesekettingmetode te ondersoek. Data is deur middel van ’n vraelys ingewin om te bepaal watter konstruksiesektore die metodes gebruik, asook die persentasie-gebruik deur professionele persone in die konstruksiebedryf, die onderliggende redes vir die toepassing van die metodes en die faktore wat die gebruik hiervan beïnvloed. Die navorsing het bevind dat die kritiesepadmetode en die kritiesekettingmetode in die Suid-Afrikaanse konstruksiebedryf meer in die bousektor gebruik word as in die siviele en industriële sektore. Die kritiesepadmetode word deur meer maatskappye en op meer projekte gebruik as wat die kritiesekettingmetode deur die konstruksiebedryf gebruik word, met meer as 70% van die responderende maatskappye wat van die kritiesepadmetode gebruik maak teenoor 22% wat die kritiesekettingmetode gebruik. Die laasgenoemde metode word as ’n jong metode beskou en implementering vereis kultuurveranderinge in die maatskappy. Gebruikers van die kritiesepadmetode glo dat die metode help met die verbetering van projekbegrip, beplanning, skedulering en beheer, met al die verbeteringe wat lei tot beter optydafsluiting van projekte en kostebesparing.http://reference.sabinet.co.za/sa_epublication/structam201

Business model framework for education technology entrepreneurs in South Africa

BACKGROUND: Education technology (EdTech) has been proven to make a positive impact on education outcomes in developed economies. There is an immense untapped opportunity to introduce more EdTech into the basic education ecosystem to help with the education crisis in South Africa. AIM: This study aimed to develop a framework that can be used to identify key considerations for EdTech entrepreneurs to create sustainable ventures. SETTING: The South African Government issued a clear e-Education policy white paper in 2004, but not enough progress has been made to improve education. The EdTech entrepreneur is the entity in the education ecosystem with the highest level of agility to take on this opportunity, if properly positioned and supported. METHODS: A multi-case study approach explored inputs from small business EdTech entrepreneurs. Qualitative analysis compared empirically based results, as identified themes with three predicted propositions. RESULTS: Four themes emerged: mature product, complex support network, multiple infrastructure considerations and multiple sources of revenue. The findings confirmed teacher distrust as having the greatest impact on value creation, mobile networks as only one of the key impacts on value delivery and both private and public sectors providing value capture opportunities. CONCLUSION: Education technology entrepreneurs should develop mature products that teachers can endorse; build a support network, which would include an advisory board and low-cost infrastructure providers; and source multiple revenue streams from the private and public sectors. Better government policy and procurement implementation would also enhance the provision of simpler and predictable revenue streams to EdTech providers.https://sajesbm.co.za/index.php/sajesbmdm2022Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM

Determinants of emerging technologies adoption in the South African financial sector

PURPOSE : The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) enables firms to leverage various emerging technologies to reduce operating costs, improve business efficiencies and gain competitive advantage. This article uncovers the determinants influencing emerging technology adoption, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and distributed ledger technologies (DLT), in South African (SA) financial services firms. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH : Seventeen technology experts from the SA banking, insurance, financial technology and financial regulation and compliance sectors were interviewed. A semi-structured interview was used to conduct one-on-one interviews, followed by a focus group interview. Qualitative data were analysed using a thematic network analysis. FINDINGS/RESULTS : The results revealed that the determinants – adopter traits, technology usability, industry characteristics, organisational leadership and organisational characteristics – were influential towards technology adoption. It is suggested that the new model could be strengthened further by incorporating a new construct, leadership diversity, which had not been previously proposed in the literature. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS : By understanding the influential adoption determinants, leaders can take bold, calculated risks in adopting AI, cloud computing and DLT. However, the importance, prior to adopting these technologies, of clearly understanding the need for them, and their business benefits is also emphasised. ORIGINALITY/VALUE : Research on the adoption of AI, cloud computing and DLT in the SA financial sector is limited. This article leverages the models of the diffusion of innovations (DOI), the technology–organisation–environment (TOE) and the technology readiness index (TRI) to propose a new model that illustrates technology adoption in the SA financial sector at individual and firm levels.http://www.sajbm.orgam2023Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM

Effect of platinum group metal addition on microstructure and corrosion behaviour of Ti-47.5 at-%Al

Plain and alloyed titanium aluminides of composition Ti–47?5 at-%Al were prepared with the addition of 1?0 at-% platinum group metals (PGMs). The as cast alloys were subjected to potentiodynamic scans in 5, 15 and 25 wt-%HCl solutions at room temperature, and the PGM containing alloys were assessed for their abilities to spontaneously passivate by cathodic modification. Plain titanium aluminide had a duplex microstructure consisting of lamellar (a2 and c alternating lamellae) and c-TiAl phase grains. The introduction of 1?0 at-%PGMs (platinum, palladium and iridium) led to the formation of a new phase, developing more in the c-TiAl phase grains and a general improvement of corrosion resistance by increasing the corrosion potential to nobler values. Platinum group metal additions to plain TiAl resulted in the corrosion potentials falling in the passive region of plain TiAl, indicating spontaneous passivation of PGM alloyed TiAl in 5 and 15 wt-%HCl solutions. In 25 wt-%HCl solution, the addition of PGMs shifted the cathodic process in the transpassive or active region of plain TiAl, resulting in either case in the dissolution of the alloy due to the absence of an extended passivation region. The cathodic modification of PGM alloyed TiAl occurred as a result of PGM accumulation on the surface of the TiAl alloys, which simultaneously improved the hydrogen evolution efficiency and inhibited anodic dissolution.Department of Science and Technology, Advanced Metals Initiative-Precious Metals Development Network and Mintek.http://www.maneyonline.comhb201

A review of remote-sensing unmanned aerial vehicles in the mining industry

The increased adoption of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) may improve the productivity and costeffectiveness of remote sensing in the mining industry. This review’s objective is to enable stakeholders to identify possible application adoption, improvement, and innovation opportunities. The review merges a building block strategy and practical screening criteria to identify possible avenues of research to answer the review questions. After the screening process, 72 documents were included in the review. Papers were classified into four categories: exploration, development, exploitation, and reclamation. Fifteen applications were identified, the majority of which were in the exploration phase. The most often researched applications were topographic surveys, reclamation monitoring, and slope management. From the two UAV types identified, multi-rotor vehicles were the most favoured for all applications. From the eight remote sensing techniques identified, photogrammetry was the one most often used. Other techniques were limited because of complexity, cost, or the incompatibility of sensors and UAVs. The review was limited to published papers in academic journals. Future studies could aim to include empirical data on the latest UAV applications used in the mining industry.https://journals.co.za/journal/saimmam2023Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM

Addition of PGMS to improve high temperature oxidation resistance of titanium-aluminium alloys

Ti-Al alloys have the potential to be used more widely in aerospace applications, but their main problems are poor ductility at room temperature and low oxidation resistance above 800°C. In an effort to improve these properties, two approaches are being used to ascertain the effects of different alloying additions on the oxidation resistance, and to attempt to improve the ambient hardnesses, as an indication of the mechanical properties. The mining industry in South Africa, a major source of platinum group metals (PGMs), is seeking to expand the uses of these metals. As PGMs are relatively oxidation resistant, the first approach was to add 0.2, 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0 at.% platinum, palladium, ruthenium or iridium to 47.5 at.% Al TiAl. In the second approach, 10 at.% nickel, with or without 0.2 at.% ruthenium, was added to 52.5 at.% Al TiAl. The alloys were cast in a button arc furnace. Samples were prepared metallographically, then analysed using SEM-EDX and XRD. Thermogravimetric analyses were done in air up to 1050°C, and isothermal oxidation tests were done in air at 950°C for 120 and 720 hours. After the oxidation tests, the samples were sectioned and analysed using SEM-EDX. This work seeks to explain the different effects of the alloying additions in the two series of alloys by comparing the microstructure, mass change and mechanical properties

Towards a new model of grit within a cognitive-affective framework of self-regulation

Grit – passion and perseverance for long-term goals – has been empirically shown to be a positive predictor of success across multiple contexts. The current study developed a new framework of grit within a framework of self-regulatory behaviours. Here, a qualitative approach was assumed to obtain interview data from chief innovation officers and chief information officers within technologically intensive industries. Empirical evidence was used to inductively determine the underlying cognitive-affective processing that influences gritty behaviour. Overall, six strategies were identified: temporal perspective, perpetual evaluation, motivational orientation, strength and resource gathering, system thinking and framing. Organisations may utilise the grit model developed here to enhance the grittiness of their innovation leaders by building effective cognitive-affective strategies