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The functionality grid as paradigm for management of technology

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Lochner, Frederick Christoffel
Other Authors: Van Wyk, Rias J.
Format: Thesis
Language:en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2011
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access_status_str Open Access
author Lochner, Frederick Christoffel
author2 Van Wyk, Rias J.
author_browse Lochner, Frederick Christoffel
Van Wyk, Rias J.
author_facet Van Wyk, Rias J.
Lochner, Frederick Christoffel
author_sort Lochner, Frederick Christoffel
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/17994
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language en_ZA
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:44:22.712Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2011
publishDateRange 2011
publishDateSort 2011
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/17994 The functionality grid as paradigm for management of technology Lochner, Frederick Christoffel Van Wyk, Rias J. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business. Technological innovations -- Management Functionality grid Technological literacy Dissertations -- Business management Theses -- Business management Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. Technology is a critical component in modern society. Management of Technology (MOT) should be a major focus of management studies. At present the status of MOT is much less than it should be. Part of the reason is that there is little consensus about the body of knowledge for MOT. This can be traced down to as far as an inadequate consensus about the very nature of technology itself. There is a need for a simple and elegant conceptual foundation. There is a need for an accepted paradigm to govern MOT. The paradigm discourse initiated by Thomas Kuhn allows for a comprehensive frame of reference about theory contestation and about the attributes required from a contesting theory to achieve the ultimate status of a paradigm. In order to help create a coherent and streamlined conceptual foundation for MOT, this research evaluates the functionality grid as a paradigm. To realise this goal, this study first assesses the functionality grid’s compliance with the theoretical requirements of a paradigm, and secondly its compliance with the empirical requirements of a paradigm. The theoretical test uses a newly created format, the paradigm template, to establish the necessary criteria. The functionality grid is then subjected to a critical review using the said criteria. It is found that it meets the requirements of a valid paradigm. For measurement of empirical requirements, Kuhn’s own criteria are used. This second part of the study involves three practical exercises to examine the practical descriptive power of the functionality grid, and its ability to help first with the formation of a technology attuned mindset of participants, second with the improvement in technological knowledge and third with an increase in the technological literacy of participants. The outcomes of these tests are positive as well. The dissertation concludes that the functionality grid would be a viable paradigm to serve as a guide for the further development of MOT. The functionality grid becomes confirmed as a paradigm for MOT, because it contains all the attributes to serve as a coherent and streamlined conceptual structure for this discipline. Given this outcome, it is recommended that more effort be invested to understand, promote and popularise the functionality grid; and the various analytical frameworks derived from it. It is recommended that it becomes an explicit part of the book of knowledge for MOT and that it constitutes the basis for an educational curriculum to be shared by every MOT professional and student. Doctoral 2011-11-17T10:21:06Z 2011-12-05T13:18:21Z 2011-11-17T10:21:06Z 2011-12-05T13:18:21Z 2011-12 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/17994 en_ZA Stellenbosch University application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Technological innovations -- Management
Functionality grid
Technological literacy
Dissertations -- Business management
Theses -- Business management
Lochner, Frederick Christoffel
The functionality grid as paradigm for management of technology
title The functionality grid as paradigm for management of technology
title_full The functionality grid as paradigm for management of technology
title_fullStr The functionality grid as paradigm for management of technology
title_full_unstemmed The functionality grid as paradigm for management of technology
title_short The functionality grid as paradigm for management of technology
title_sort functionality grid as paradigm for management of technology
topic Technological innovations -- Management
Functionality grid
Technological literacy
Dissertations -- Business management
Theses -- Business management
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/17994
work_keys_str_mv AT lochnerfrederickchristoffel thefunctionalitygridasparadigmformanagementoftechnology
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