Investigating social network analysis as a method to map primary constraints in physical asset management strategy execution

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The successful execution of the Physical Asset Management Strategy (PAMS)is an important value driver for organisations, whose core business is highly dependenton the service delivery of physical assets. However, contemporary researchdemonstrates that scheduled targets are often not met and the means todetect the constraints that can undermine the strategy execution efforts are deficient.The purpose of this thesis is to investigate Social Network Analysis (SNA)as a method to map primary constraints in Physical Asset Management StrategyExecution (PAMSE). A comprehensive literature review addresses the domains ofPhysical Asset Management (PAM) and SNA. The review of the literature is supportedby interviews with practitioners in the field of PAM. Consequently, the challengesexperienced in PAM are contextualised along with the capabilities of SNA and themost important constraints in PAMSE are identified. As an interim result, the studyfound that dysfunctional information flow and poor decision making are the primaryconstraints that could hinder the execution of a PAMS. As a consequence thereof, aSNA application methodology was developed in order to scrutinise these areas of concern.The methodology was applied at two research sites in the South African miningindustry. Network data for the study was collected by surveys conducted in June andJuly 2012. The case studies demonstrate that a SNA application in PAM requiresa number of prerequisites that are crucial to its success. Nevertheless, a successfulSNA application may yield valuable results identifying the problems encounteredin PAMSE. Most importantly, the SNA highlights overloaded key employees, collaborativebreakdowns and excessive intradepartmental collaboration that have the potential to hinder the PAMSE process. The results were validated by means ofdialogue with the individuals involved in the study. This study found that SNA canbe used as a method to map the primary constraints experienced by PAMSE. Italso emphasises that there are important prerequisites that have to be establishedfor SNA to be successful. Future research could be carried out based on the resultsof this thesis, in order to design improvement plans for the studied research site andpossibly conduct a second SNA to investigate whether the constraints, identified inthe study, had been resolved.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University