helen mba _2 - Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

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CHAPTER FOURTHE EMPIRICAL STUDY AND ANALYSIS OF DATA4.1 INTRODUCTIONInformation gathered from the empirical study will help ascertain which factors are themost important for a competitive advantage in the intermodal industry. Thisinformation also highlighted the challenges and issues the industry may need toaddress in the future. These findings, together with the information gained in theliterature study, will help formulate a strategy for the intermodal industry in the NelsonMandela Metropolitan Municipality (NMMM) to sustain competitive advantage. Themethod and design of the empirical study will be addressed in this chapter, followedby a discussion of the findings.4.2 THE EMPIRICAL STUDYThe data obtained from the empirical study helped resolve the sub-problems, namely:• Which factors contribute to a competitive advantage of the intermodal industryin the NMMM?• Which strategy does the intermodal industry in the NMMM need to adopt todevelop and sustain competitive advantage?A structured interview developed from the theoretical analysis in Chapter two wasutilised in obtaining the data. The process will be discussed later.100
4.2.1 The purpose of researchResearch is the process of collecting and analysing data to increase theunderstanding of a problem that concerns or interests the researcher. The focus of thecurrent study is on formal research, aimed at “understanding a specific problem andthen communicating what was discovered to the larger scientific community” (Leedy &Ormrod, 2001:4).One key element in conducting useful research is gathering reliable information. Thebasis for gathering reliable information is designing questions and questionnaires thatwill produce the kind of information from which the researcher can draw validconclusions (Practical assessment, research and evaluation, 2003).Sekaran (2003:7) argues that there are two different purposes of research. One is tosolve a problem demanding a timely solution. Such research is called “appliedresearch.” The other is to generate information to solve problems that occur. This iscalled “basic research.” Thus, research done with the intention of applying the resultsof the findings to solve specific problems currently being experienced is calledapplied research. Research done to enhance the understanding of certain problemsthat commonly occur in organisations and seeking methods of solving them, is calledbasic research. The findings of such research contribute to the building of knowledgein the various functional areas of the organisation to be applied later in organisationalproblem-solving.Based on the definitions by Leedy and Ormrod and that of Sekaran, the research forthis study can be classified as formal applied research. The intention was to apply theresults of the findings to solve specific problems being experienced in the intermodalindustry of the NMMM.101
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THE IDENTIFICATION OF FACTORS THAT
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSI hereby wish to ex
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protection, human resource developm
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2.3.4 Competitive rivalry 372.4 SOU
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4.3.3.1 Section one : Demographics
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Figure 2.1 Porter’s diamond 13Fig
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LIST OF ANNEXURESPAGEAnnexure A Cov
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Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (
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activities at comparable cost but i
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core competences of establishing de
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Firms in every industry have some u
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• A survey was carried out in the
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surprise that the freight transport
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Source: Hill (2002: 159)According t
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attractiveness of a country as a pl
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generalised factor would be a pool
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The second determinant of Porter’
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This is because firms compete globa
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(c)Anticipatory buyer needsA countr
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the service or product buyer needs.
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arely a complete substitute, even i
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firm’s strategy, structure and ri
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Porter (1990:117) says domestic riv
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means of identifying the forces whi
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Page 54 and 55: for the purpose of this study.Figur
Page 56 and 57: According to Strickland and Thompso
Page 58 and 59: cost advantage. Successful cost lea
Page 60 and 61: 2.5.4 Shifting input costs or avail
Page 62 and 63: eduction is regarded as essential t
Page 64 and 65: Organisations that move fastest dow
Page 66 and 67: and Strebel and Porter has, however
Page 68 and 69: options available to organisations.
Page 70 and 71: 2.7.1.2 The hybrid strategy - route
Page 72 and 73: Source : Slack et al (2001 :116)The
Page 74 and 75: • Marketing-based approaches: Her
Page 76 and 77: difficult if the organisation compe
Page 78 and 79: For an efficient multimodal system,
Page 80 and 81: good for all. It is anti-congestion
Page 82 and 83: to another while in transit from or
Page 84 and 85: also road movements, were performed
Page 86 and 87: insurance rates for all parties.•
Page 88 and 89: distributed to everyone involved or
Page 90 and 91: subject to the same terms and condi
Page 92 and 93: TEU's handled at the Port of Port E
Page 94 and 95: as many other long term transport a
Page 96 and 97: encourage foreign direct investment
Page 98 and 99: 2002.The estimated volume of contai
Page 102 and 103: 4.2.2 Types of researchSekaran (200
Page 104 and 105: In evaluating the questions asked,
Page 106 and 107: Leedy (1997:191) states that a comm
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Page 110 and 111: monetary value to the intermodal tr
Page 112 and 113: The size of customers, proximity of
Page 114 and 115: Section two dealt with the factors
Page 116 and 117: The South African intermodal indust
Page 118 and 119: From Table 4.10, the following inte
Page 120 and 121: • Ninety one percent of the respo
Page 122 and 123: • One hundred percent support was
Page 124 and 125: Investment cost in the intermodal i
Page 126 and 127: espondents shows that favourable tr
Page 128 and 129: • Eighty two percent of responden
Page 130 and 131: 5.3 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Page 132 and 133: solutions.• The shipping lines ne
Page 134 and 135: the intermodal industry, have led t
Page 136 and 137: understand and to deliver enhanced
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Page 142 and 143: transporter should have in creating
Page 144 and 145: One of the goals of the National Tr
Page 146 and 147: • Excellent quality service for e
Page 148 and 149: CIMEC. 2000. Annual report 1999/200
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Hellriegel, D., Jackson, S.E., Sloc
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Mattheus, B. 2002. Nelson Mandela M
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Strickland, A. & Thompson, A. 1999.
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19 May 2003For Attention:………
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Structured interview on the competi
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Section 2: Factors promoting compet
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Section 3 : Competitive advantagePl
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Section 5: Advantages and challenge
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helen mba _2 - Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

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