N.D. Du Preez

Leveraging unstructured information using topic modelling

Unstructured information in the form of natural language text is abundant in various kinds of organisations. To increase information sharing, organisational learning, decision-making and productivity, large amounts of unstructured text need to be analysed on a daily basis. Full text searching alone is not sufficient as a first approach to help users understand what a collection of electronic documents is about, since it does not provide the user with an overview of the underlying concepts in the document collection.

Utilizing formal innovation models to support and guide industry innovation projects

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The high failure rate of innovation projects indicates that many companies are not getting the full benefit from their innovation projects [1], [2]. A research project was carried out during 2005 that explored and compared the existing formal models for supporting innovation, in order to address the identified problem. It proposed guidelines for improving and refining innovation projects. A case study that focused on the front-end of product innovation in the wine industry and the applicability of the formal W-model [3] to innovation activities was used to evaluate how formal innovation models can indeed effectively support industry innovation projects. The innovation life cycle was used to categorize a number of innovation frameworks for product, process, and enterprise innovation. Further research should focus on extending the case study to other industries, such as the automotive sector. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die groot aantal onsuksesvolle innovasie projekte dui daarop dat maatskappye nie die volle voordele uit hul innovasie projekte kry nie [1], [2]. n Navorsingsprojek is gedurende 2005 uitgevoer om bestaande formele innovasie modelle te evalueer, ondersoek, en vergelyk, met die doel om bogenoemde probleem aan te spreek en riglyne voor te stel wat innovasie sal bevorder en verfyn. n Gevallestudie, wat fokus op produkinnovasie in die wyn-industrie, is uitgevoer om die toepaslikheid en effektiewe ondersteuning van die formele W-model [3] op spesifieke innovasie aktiwiteite te evalueer. Die innovasie-lewensiklus is ook gebruik om n aantal innovasie-raamwerke te kategoriseer in afdelings vir produk-, onderneming- en proses-innovasie. Toekomstige navorsing behoort te fokus op n uitbreiding van die gevallestudie na ander industrisoos die motorindustrie.

Structuring the development process according to the project context: two case studies

A framework is presented to assist in the tailoring of the development process according to the context of the development project. Aspects such as novelty and complexity of the project and the product to be developed have a major effect of the development process. Starting with a brief description of the framework, the paper discusses case studies which illustrate the application of the framework in practice. The paper concludes with a view into the future, illustrating how the framework, as part of a software tool, can assist the management and generation of technology and know-how, particularly in the development of products.

ALIGNMENT OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL BUSINESS AND INNOVATION DOMAINS

“Instead of being really good at doing some particular thing, companies must be really good at learning how to do new things ” . This ability to do new things involves both the identification and the mastery of the next ‘new thing’ as well as the ability to align the rest of the company with this new direction. This paper focuses on the alignment of innovation activities with the overall business strategy and infrastructure. An innovation strategic alignment model is presented that supports alignment in a company by identifying the driver of change and its impact on other areas of the business.

EVALUATION OF THE GRAI INTEGRATED METHODOLOGY AND THE IMAGIM SUPPORTWARE

This paper describes the GRAI Integrated Methodology and identifies the need for computer tools to support enterprise modelling,design and integration. The IMAGIM tool is then evaluated in terms of its ability to support the GRAI Integrated Methodology. The GRAI Integrated Methodology is an Enterprise Integration methodology developed to support the design of CIM systems . The GRAI Integrated Methodology consists of the GRAI model and a structured approach. The latest addition to the methodology is the IMAGIM software tool developed by the GRAI research group for the specific purpose of supporting the methodology.