Quass, Eugene (2000-12)
Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2000.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is generally accepted that profitable relationships with customers are increasingly important in determining the long-term success of the modem enterprise. Customer relationship management (CRM) is widely considered as an appropriate methodology for building strong and mutually beneficial relationships with customers and, therefore, the study established the definition and scope of CRM. Customer knowledge could be considered a cornerstone of any CRM strategy and the ability of the enterprise to create and leverage customer knowledge is viewed as a source of competitive advantage. The study aimed at establishing clarity on the methodologies and approaches to the organizational knowledge creation process. Finally, the integration of knowledge creation and leverage processes into the CRM strategy was considered. Scrutiny of the available literature revealed a comprehensive description of the concept of CRM. The various models of CRM presented in the study clearly illustrated the different focus areas and components of CRM. The most prominent characteristics of a CRM strategy were found to be an emphasis on strategy, the networking of key stakeholders, customer intimacy and the use of appropriate technology. The approaches to the creation of organizational knowledge were analysed and it was found that the conversion between tacit and explicit knowledge is key to the creation of organizational knowledge. The generally accepted principles for the leverage of knowledge were adapted for possible incorporation into a CRM strategy. The salient conclusion of this study was that a knowledge creation process could be used to build the enterprise's stock of customer knowledge. It was found that the principles of knowledge leverage could be applied to the customer knowledge base in order to build lasting and profitable customer relationships. Recommendations were offered for the improved leverage of a CRM strategy through the integration of knowledge creation, knowledge leverage and CRM methodologies and principles. Finally, suggestions were made for further academic research on the anatomy and implementation of CRM.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dit word algemeen aanvaar dat kliente verhoudingsbestuur 'n toenemende rol sal speel in die lang termyn sukses van die moderne onderneming. Kliente verhoudingsbestuur word wyd erken as 'n gepasde metodologie om sterk en wedersyds voordelige verhoudinge met kliente te bewerkstellig. Die studie het ten doel gehad om die definisie en omvang van kliente verhoudingsbestuur te bepaal. Kliente kennis is 'n hoeksteen van enige kliente verhoudingsbestuur strategie en die onderneming se vermoeë om kliente kennis te skep en te benut word gesien as 'n bron van kompeterende voordeel. Die studie het gepoog om duidelikheid te verkry oor die metodologieë en benaderings wat gevolg kan word in die ondernemingskennis skeppingsproses. Ten slotte is die oorvleueling tussen die kennis skeppingsproses en die kliente verhoudingsbestuur strategie ondersoek. Gebasseer op die studie van die relevante literatuur is 'n omvattende definisie van kliente verhoudingsbetuur blootgelê. Die onderskeie modelle van kliente verhoudingsbestuur wat ondersoek is in die studie, het die fokus en verskeie komponente van kliente verhoudingsbestuur uitgelig. Die mees prominente karakter eienskappe van die kliente verhoudingsbestuur strategie is aangedui as die fokus op ondernemings strategie, netwerke van belangegroepe, kliente intimiteit en die gebruik van toepaslike inligtingstegnologie. 'n Analise van die benaderings tot kenniskepping in die onderneming het uitgelig dat die oorgang van ontasbare kennis na tasbare kennis die kern uitmaak van ondernemingskennis skepping. Die algemeen aanvaarde beginsels tot die benutting van kennis is daarna aangepas vir die moontlike gebruik in die kliente verhoudingsbestuur strategie. Die belangrikste gevolgtrekking van hierdie studie was dat 'n kennis skeppingsproses gebruik kan word om die onderneming se kliente kennis uit te brei. Daar is ook gevind dat die beginsels van kennis benutting toegepas kan word op bestaande kliente kennis ten einde langtermyn winsgewende verhoudings met kliente te bewerkstellig. Aanbevelings is gemaak vir die verbeterde benutting van die kliente verhoudingsbestuur strategie deur middel van die integrasie van kennis skepping, kennis benutting en kliente verhoudingsbestuur metodologieë en -beginsels. Ten slotte is voorstelle gemaak vir verdere akademiese studies aangaande die struktuur en implementering van kliente vehoudingsbestuur.
Please refer to this item in SUNScholar by using the following persistent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/51816
Masters Degrees (Business Management)