THE PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT OFFICE AS INNOVATION ENABLER IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN RAILWAYS

摘要

A turnaround in South African railways will only occur through sustained innovation. This requires effective engineering management of the rail innovation core, which can only occur with the proper operation of a programme management office (PMO). This research builds a model of a PMO for establishing and maintaining innovation in SA rail. It addresses how the PMO integrates management of diverse technologies in the rail environment; the effect of the PMO on innovation processes and the effect on engineering culture of the SA railways. The PMO accomplishes this by translating competing stakeholder definitions of value to the different views of railway technology and asset management, integrating the technology and asset management processes to value innovation initiatives and managing the portfolios of projects. Establishing an innovation culture in the railways requires the introducing a PMO and changing the mindset towards value innovation. The research also profiles the current project management and innovation paradigm of the South African railways and suggests how the PMO can alter this mindset. The research contributes towards the setting goals and values for railway engineering teams faced with the task of redirecting an ailing railway company towards sustainable blue ocean market space.