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Modeling of Spaza shop operations using soft and hard operational research techniques
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-93).
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Department of Statistical Sciences
2014
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| _version_ | 1867613182739087360 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Sabwa, Jean-Marie |
| author2 | Stewart, Theodor J |
| author_browse | Sabwa, Jean-Marie Stewart, Theodor J |
| author_facet | Stewart, Theodor J Sabwa, Jean-Marie |
| author_sort | Sabwa, Jean-Marie |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-93). |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/7698 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:32:05.102Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publishDateRange | 2014 |
| publishDateSort | 2014 |
| publisher | Department of Statistical Sciences |
| publisherStr | Department of Statistical Sciences |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/7698 Modeling of Spaza shop operations using soft and hard operational research techniques Sabwa, Jean-Marie Stewart, Theodor J Operations Research in Development Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-93). Globalization has transformed the world into a big village in which the rich are becoming richer and the poor getting poorer. In the commercial world the trend is for big business to buy out the smaller companies and consequently get bigger. Yet it is arguable that small businesses have assisted in providing much needed services to small communities that occupy informal settlements and exist on or below the poverty datum line. The South African government has amongst its main objectives the alleviation of poverty and the improvement of life in previously disadvantaged communities. The government has allowed the micro-enterprises and small businesses in the informal sector to thrive and in this sector are Spaza shops that supply a wide range of grocery commodities to informal settlements. This paper is about an application framework of soft and hard operational research (OR) techniques used to address the performance of micro-enterprises with Spaza shops in Western Cape as a specific case study. The techniques include Strategic Options Development and Analysis (SODA) using Causal mapping and Soft System Methodology (SSM). These were chosen because of their suitability to understand performance problems faced by Spaza shops owners and find ways of improving the current situation by modelling the intervention of stakeholders. The improvement of Spaza shop businesses is a matter for all stakeholders. Causal mapping, helped to identify and structure the multiple conflicting aspects of Spaza shops business. Soft System Methodology made it possible to conceptualize the intervention model based on the rich picture and root definitions for relevant world-views and see what changes are culturally feasible and systematically desirable. Computer simulations were used to help design and test performance measurement indicators for the Spaza shops so as to enable decision-makers to choose the optimal strategy. Statistical analysis came into account to enable us to capture the seasonality and bring up clustering patterns. 2014-09-26T07:18:07Z 2014-09-26T07:18:07Z 2009 Master Thesis Masters MSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7698 eng application/pdf Department of Statistical Sciences Faculty of Science University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Operations Research in Development Sabwa, Jean-Marie Modeling of Spaza shop operations using soft and hard operational research techniques |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Modeling of Spaza shop operations using soft and hard operational research techniques |
| title_full | Modeling of Spaza shop operations using soft and hard operational research techniques |
| title_fullStr | Modeling of Spaza shop operations using soft and hard operational research techniques |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modeling of Spaza shop operations using soft and hard operational research techniques |
| title_short | Modeling of Spaza shop operations using soft and hard operational research techniques |
| title_sort | modeling of spaza shop operations using soft and hard operational research techniques |
| topic | Operations Research in Development |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7698 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sabwajeanmarie modelingofspazashopoperationsusingsoftandhardoperationalresearchtechniques |