Influence of Personal Epistemology on Research Design: Implications for Research Education

This study was aimed at determining whether a specific research methodology was dominant within a cohort of master’s level engineering management students and, if so, whether this preference was directed by their personal epistemology, rather than the dictates of their research questions. Secondary data were used to determine the dominant research approaches. Interviews with a selected sample of students were undertaken to obtain a more detailed understanding of how personal epistemology impacts on the students’ methodological approaches to research. It was found that empirical-analytical approaches account for 72% of all studies within the student cohort, indicating a strong preference for such approaches. Furthermore, it was revealed in the interviews that the students tended to overlook methodological considerations, focussing only on research design. There was a general lack of self-reflection and awareness of personal epistemology, despite the latter being an important influence over the type and topic of the research, its purpose, research design, analytical techniques, and even the interpretation of results. The rather superficial approach could result in research designs biased by personal epistemologies and ill-suited to the research problems. This suggests possible changes to the teaching of research methodology in order to improve the research practice of students

Patents and profits : a disparity of manufacturing margins in the tenofovir value chain

Registered in 2001, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) has quickly become a mainstay of first line regimens for the treatment of HIV. Initially only available in developed countries at a cost of US$5 000 per person per year (ppy), Gilead’s Access Programme (GAP) has extended the use of the product to 2.4 million patients in low and middle income countries. The programme has two components: distribution of the branded product at reduced prices and licensing partnerships with generic manufacturers. The licensing partnerships now supply 75market by volume, at a treatment cost of US$57 ppy (1% of the branded cost). From Gilead’s perspective, GAP must be considered a huge success. It has enabled the company to maintain high prices in developed countries whilst reducing its input costs and deflecting criticism of its failure to provide essential medicines for the poor, hence risking the possibility of compulsory licensing. Over the period 2001 to 2011, TDF in its various forms has generated for Gilead more than US$31 billion revenue at a gross margin of 80US$25 billion. Analysis of the TDF value chain, from preparation of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) to sale of the formulated product, shows that manufacturing margins are highly skewed in favour of the originator, with the latter’s profit being US$3.2 billion vs. US$4 million for API manufacturers and US$39 million for formulators (2011). The data argues for a more rational approach to drug pricing including possible regulation in developed countries and more sustainable margins for the generic producers.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/raar20hb201

Determining quantitative targets for public funding of tuberculosis research and development

South Africa’s expenditure on tuberculosis (TB) research and development (R&D) is insignificant relative to both its disease burden and the expenditure of some comparator countries with a minimal TB incidence. In 2010, the country had the second highest TB incidence rate in the world (796 per 100,000 population), and the third highest number of new TB cases (490,000 or 6% of the global total). Although it has a large TB treatment program (about $588 million per year), TB R&D funding is small both in absolute terms and relative to its total R&D expenditure. Given the risk and the high cost associated with drug discovery R&D, such neglect may make strategic sense. However in this analysis it is shown that TB R&D presents a unique opportunity to the national treasuries of all high-burden countries. Using two separate estimation methods (global justice and return on investment), it is concluded that most countries, including South Africa, are under-investing in TB R&D. Specific investment targets for a range of countries, particularly in areas of applied research, are developed. This work supports the outcome of the World Health Organization’s Consultative Expert Working Group on Research and Development: Financing and Coordination, which has called for “a process leading to the negotiation of a binding agreement on R&D relevant to the health needs of developing countries”.http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content/11/1/10am2013ai201

Teaching on the edge of chaos : report on ‘The future of universities in a post-COVID-19 world’

You might well ask, what more could or should be said about COVID-19? Don’t we all have COVID-fatigue? Is it not clear that everything, not just universities, will change post-pandemic? Yes, to all of these questions, but in this latest edition (number 5) of the ASSAf Presidential Roundtables on ‘Science, Scholarship and Society’, Professor Jonathan Jansen, ASSAf President and Distinguished Professor in Education (Stellenbosch University), chaired a lively, engaging and important discussion on ‘The future of universities in a post-COVID-19 world’.http://www.sajs.co.zahj2020Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM

Determining research and development expenditure targets based on an affordability index

Gross domestic expenditure on research and development (GERD), usually expressed as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), is a widely used indicator to reflect the research intensity within a national economy, and hence its capacity to develop new and innovative products or services. It is also used as a key target in the management of national innovation systems. For instance, the South African National Research and Development Strategy set a target of raising GERD/GDP to ‘somewhat over 1%’, and in 2002 the Barcelona European Council set an EU target of 3%. Despite its widespread usage, there is little discussion or agreement on how this target should be derived within a broad range of economic contexts and levels of affordability. In this paper, a composite indicator based on GERD/GDP, normalised for GDP per capita, is developed and its use in a number of countries explored and explained. As a result, a set of GERD/GDP targets for various categories of developing countries is proposed

Weaknesses in policy to support technology diffusion : a study of additive manufacturing in South Africa

Rapid and pervasive technology diffusion presents one of the more difficult challenges for innovation policy and South Africa is no exception. In this study, the diffusion of additive manufacturing (AM) in a single geographic cluster of the main manufacturing province was studied. It was established that adoption of AM within this cluster is slow with only 5% of the sample reporting lease or ownership of AM devices, and it is predicted using the Bass model that the market's full potential may only be reached by 2045. The majority of firms in the sample were either poorly informed or misinformed about the technology, reflecting a general weakness in terms of knowledge, learning and market understanding. Policy instruments in support of doing, using and interacting need to be considerably strengthened if further decline in the manufacturing sector of middle-income countries such as South Africa, is to be avoided.http://www.inderscience.com/jhome.php?jcode=IJTLID2017-12-30hj2017Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM

Too many actions, too few priorities : commentary on the ministerial review of the STI landscape

The final report of the Ministerial Review Committee on the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Landscape is the latest in a series of documents seeking to review South Africa's National System of Innovation (NSI) and to identify the important actions that are required to enhance innovation within the system and 'deliver a sustained and durable knowledge-based economy'.http://www.sajs.co.zaai201

Policy mixes and overcoming challenges to innovation in developing countries : insights from a mixed methods study of South Africa’s manufacturing sector

Although innovation policy mix as an analytical framework has been widely used and reported for developed countries, its application to developing countries has been minimal. In this study, an exploratory sequential approach has been followed in order to initially profile the policy mix in South Africa and then develop an understanding of how the policy mix could be rebalanced, and hence be more effective, in addressing the requirements within its manufacturing sector. The characterization followed the typology as used by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in order to allow a cross-case comparison with two other countries (India and Canada). This analysis has concluded that South Africa’s policy mix is dominated by supply-side measures which support early stage research with more limited assistance for market development. Rebalancing the innovation policy mix towards the use of more demand-side instruments, combined with generic rather than population targeted policies, could address these deficiencies and improve the prospects for the sector. It is further proposed that the methodology be routinely applied in developing countries, particularly as a means of ensuring policy cohesion and synergy.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rajs202020-12-25hj2019Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM

Draft White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation neglects to prioritise issues of performance and human capability

The release for public comment of the Draft 2018 White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation marks the culmination of a lengthy internal process within the Department of Science and Technology (DST). As noted in the Minister’s Foreword to the Draft White Paper, the document is intended to replace both the 1996 White Paper on Science and Technology and the 2008 Ten-Year Innovation Plan. Its publication is the outcome of a strategic project initiated and driven several years ago by the then Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, which has involved several cycles of input from members of the DST and its associated entities, such as the National Intellectual Property Management Office and the National Advisory Council on Innovation, and wide consultation with external experts and consultants.http://www.sajs.co.zaam2019Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM

Success factors for the commercialisation of Gas-to-Liquids technology

Notwithstanding the 2014/15 plunge in crude oil prices, Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) technology has been acclaimed as an important alternative to existing sources of liquid fuels, leading to significant efforts by many oil and gas companies, including Sasol, Shell, Axens, BP, GTL.F1, JOGMEC and Rentech, to develop GTL processes. However, only two companies, namely Sasol and Shell, have been successful with these endeavours. In this research, a mixed methods approach has been used to explore the reasons for this success, including the influence of commercial and technical factors. A framework consisting of five commercialisation success factors was developed and an analytical hierarchy process used to compare and rank the different success factors following interviews with a diverse set of role players in the GTL industry. It is clear that large-scale GTL projects require massive capital investment and carry large techno-economic risks. Moreover, an accurate return on investment is impossible to predict due to uncertainties in technology performance and market factors. As a consequence, project developers and financiers mitigate their risk by securing co-investment from GTL operators. Shell and Sasol dominate the GTL industry not necessarily because their technologies offer higher returns, but because they have jointly invested in GTL projects, an approach which subscribes to a model of technology push with risk sharing. It is recommended that other licensors should pursue the large scale validation of their technology at an existing syngas facility as a strategy to gain entry into the GTL market.http://reference.sabinet.co.za/sa_epublication/busmanam2016Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM