R&D in the national system of innovation : a system dynamics model

There exist some concern regarding the sustainability of the production of R&D output and R&D capacity in South Africa. Recent trends indicated evidence of disinvestments and decay of South Africa’s R&D capacity. Questions arise concerning the detrimental effects these trends could have on South Africa’s ability to generate R&D output. As problems are addressed insufficiently and the system is allowed to decay, the costs of rebuilding the system might increase even further. The main research of objective of this thesis is to develop a computer simulation program of R&D performance and the creation of R&D output in the NSI. This model will in turn produce a tool to be used for policy testing, what-if scenario testing or policy optimisation. The purpose of the model is to simulate R&D output generated in the South African system of innovation and to model and explain the effect the presence/lack of long-term investment in R&D and R&D resources could have on the system’s ability to produce R&D output. In developing this model and by using the corresponding simulation programme, decision-makers in government and industry are provided with a tool to analyse policy alternatives. The model will provide a better understanding of the interrelationships between different elements of the NSI, in particular those interacting as funders and performers of R&D. This model will also aid decision makers in enhancing the efficiency of addressing problem areas within the South African R&D system. The contribution made by this thesis to the body of knowledge is that the development of a system dynamic model will result in the establishment of a dynamic hypothesis of the development of new knowledge through R&D in an R&D performing sector. The dynamic hypothesis will in turn lead to a method for modelling the effect of R&D investment on the development of an R&D capacity, i.e. the system’s ability to absorbed knowledge and produce R&D output. The above is essentially a dynamic description of the process around creating and absorbing knowledge through R&D activities.Thesis (PhD (Engineering Management))--University of Pretoria, 2007.Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM)PhDUnrestricte

Determining the cost of predictive component replacement in order to assist with maintenance decision-making

Asset and maintenance managers are often confronted with difficult decisions related to asset replacement or repair. Various analytical models, such as decision analysis and simulation, can assist a manager in making better decisions. This paper proposes that by combining renewal theory with decision analysis methods, the expected value (EV) of information for non-repairable components can be calculated. Subsequently, it is proposed that this method can be used to determine the expected replacement cost per unit time of predictive maintenance. It is argued that this predicted cost will give the maintenance decision-maker the ability to compare it to the cost of alternative maintenance strategies when choosing between strategies. Although this paper is limited to non-repairable components, the theory and methodology can also be applied to repairable systems.Bate- en instandhoudingsbestuurders word dikwels gekonfronteer met moeilike besluite rakende die vervanging of herstel van fisiese bates. Verskeie analitiese modelle, soos besluitsanalise en simulasie, kan die bestuurder help om beter besluite te neem. Hierdie artikel stel voor dat deur hernubare teorieë te kombineer met besluitnemingsmetodes, die verwagte waarde van inligting vir nie-herstelbare komponente bereken kan word. Gevolglik word dit voorgestel dat hierdie metode gebruik kan word om die verwagte koste per tyd eenheid van voorspelbare instandhouding te bereken. Daar word geargumenteer dat hierdie beraamde koste die instandhoudings-besluitnemer die vermoë sal gee om die koste van verskeie instandhoudingstrategieë te vergelyk wanneer daar gekies word tussen strategieë. Hierdie artikel sal beperk word tot nie-herstelbare komponente, maar deur soortgelyke prosesse te volg, kan die teorie uitgebrei word na herstelbare stelsels.http://sajie.journals.ac.za/pubam201

Integrating eHealth in HIV/AIDS intervention programmes in South Africa

BACKGROUND : With an estimated 12.2% of its population infected in 2012, South Africa has the highest percentage of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in the world. Although the mortality rate of the epidemic is decreasing, it has adverse impacts on the socio-economic development status and human capital of South Africa. OBJECTIVE : The key aim of this article is to explore the status quo of the implementation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in selected intervention programmes in the South African HIV/AIDS care delivery value chain. The contribution of this article is the mapping of key intervention activities along an HIV care value chain and to suggest a roadmap towards the integration of ICTs in service delivery programmes. METHOD : 20 managers of HIV/AIDS intervention programmes were surveyed, followed by semi-structured in-depth interviews with these respondents. A further five in-depth interviews were conducted with experts in the ICT area for exploring the uses of and barriers to integrating ICTs in the HIV/AIDS care delivery value chain. RESULTS : The researchers mapped the barriers to implementation and ICT tools utilised within the HIV/AIDS care delivery value chain, which proves to be a useful tool to explore the status quo of technology in such service delivery programmes. The researchers then considered the wider policy environment and provided a roadmap based on the analysis and the South Africa eHealth strategy for driving development in this sector. CONCLUSION : The authors found that South Africa’s eHealth environment is still nascent and that the South African eHealth strategy does not place enough emphasis on systems integration and stakeholder engagement or the planning and process of uptake of ICTs by target audiences.The primary research in this article was completed as part of B.D.O.’s (University of Pretoria) master’s thesis, as supervised by S.S.G. (University of Pretoria). Both authors contributed to the article conceptually and in the write-up.http://www.sajim.co.zaam201

A review of international bodies that provide science advice to government

The purpose of the report entitled: "A review of international bodies that provide science advice to government" is a comprehensive investigation of international practices of how science advice is provided to governments

Innovation for inclusive development : mapping and auditing the use of ICTS in the South African primary education system

Inclusive education aims to identify and minimise barriers to learning and maximise learner participation in the education system. With a focus on the use of information and communication technologies in the South African primary education system, this study aims 1) to create a framework with which to evaluate the current state of ICT uptake across core functions for a school; 2) to audit the current state of innovation uptake; 3) to use the audit outcomes to identify challenges to the uptake of ICTs; and 4) to identify measures for facilitating an improved uptake of these innovations. The researchers conclude that a need exists for government to ensure consistent ICT uptake and use throughout the education system through a better implementation of standards, policies, and processes that facilitate technology uptake.Inklusiewe onderrig beoog om struikelblokke tot onderrig te identifiseer en te minimeer en om leerderdeelname te maksimeer. Met die fokus op die gebruik van informasie- en kommunikasietegnologieë in die Suid-Afrikaanse basiese onderwysstelsel, is hierdie studie gerig op 1) die skep van ʼn raamwerk waarmee die huidige toestand van die opname van informasie- en kommunikasietegnologie, vir die kernfunksies van ʼn skool, bepaal kan word; 2) om die huidige toestand van innovasie opname te oudit; 3) om die oudituitkomste te gebruik om uitdagings te identifiseer; en 4) om maatstawwe, wat ʼn verbeterde opname van hierdie tegnologieë kan fasiliteer, te identifiseer. Die navorsers het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat daar ʼn behoefte bestaan wat vereis dat die regering seker moet maak dat konsekwente inligting- en kommunikasietegnologie opname regdeur die onderwysstelsel geskied. Dit is moontlik deur ʼn verbeterde implementering van standaarde, beleide, en prosesse wat tegnologie-opname fasiliteer.http://sajie.journals.ac.zaam2021Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM

A conceptual systems dynamic model of research and development activities in South Africa

Research and Development (R&D) is one of the key sub-functions of a National System of Innovation (NSI). It is the primary point of entry for new scientific development and a key focus for industrial innovation. Recent trends show evidence of disinvestments and decay of South Africa’s R&D capacity. The problem investigated in this study is the delayed effect and influence R&D investment has on the system’s ability to produce R&D output. System Dynamics modelling is an excellent tool to assess a system’s ability to adjust to change and the impact of new decisions that have to be made. The conceptual design of a System Dynamics model of R&D activities is presented. The theoretical underpinning and main assumptions made in deriving and developing the model are also discussed.Navorsing en Ontwikkeling (N&O) is een van die sleutelsub-funksies van ‘n Nasionale Stelsel van Innovasie (NSI). Dit is die primêre toegangspunt vir nuwe wetenskaplike ontwikkeling en ‘n sleutelfokus vir industriële innovasie. Onlangse neigings lewer bewyse van disinvestering en agteruitgang in Suid-Afrika se N&O kapasiteit. Die probleem wat in hierdie studie ondersoek word, is die vertraagde effek en invloed wat N&O-investering op die stelsel se vermoë het om N&O-uitsette te lewer. Stelseldinamikamodellering is ‘n uitstekende gereedskapstuk om ‘n stelsel se vermoë om by verandering aan te pas te takseer en die impak van nuwe besluite wat geneem moet word te toets. Die konseptuele ontwerp van ‘n Stelseldinamikamodel van N&O-aktiwiteite word voorgehou. Die teoretiese onderbou en die hoofaannames wat gemaak is in die afleiding en ontwikkeling van die model word ook bespreek.19 page

Issues facing the South African research and development system in the next 20 years

There is some concern about the future ability of South Africa’s Research and Development (R&D) system to produce R&D output. This paper documents a Delphi study that was conducted in order to gain insight into the opinion of experts regarding the most pressing issues facing the South African R&D system in the next 20 years. Two main themes emerge from the study. First, experts foresee poor prospects for the retention and rejuvenation of researchers in the system. The second theme is the poor prospects for sufficient funding for R&D in the next 20 years. In general, there was a high level of agreement that the issues were critical. The exception was the respondents’ opinion on the negative effect current Black Economic Empowerment policies might have on quality and R&D capacity in the private sector.AFRIKAANS: Daar bestaan ’n mate van kommer oor die toekomstige vermoë van Suid-Afrika se Navorsing en Ontwikkeling(N&O)-stelsel om N&O-uitsette te lewer. In hierdie verslag word ’n Delphistudie gedokumenteer wat uitgevoer is om kenners se opinies in te win rakende die mees dringende sake wat die Suid-Afrikaanse N&O-stelsel in die volgende 20 jaar in die gesig staar. Twee temas kom na vore in die navorsing. In die eerste plek, voorsien kenners swak vooruitsigte vir die behoud en vernuwing van personeel van die stelsel. In die tweede plek, word swak vooruitsigte in terme van voldoende befondsing vir N&O oor die volgende 20 jaar voorsien. Oor die algemeen is ’n hoë mate van samestemming ten opsigte van die kritikaliteit van die aangeleenthede gevind. Die uitsondering was die respondente se opinie van die negatiewe effek wat huidige Swart Ekonomiese Bemagtigingsbeleid mag hê op die kwaliteit en vermoëns van N&O in die privaatsektor