Measuring the effectiveness of research and development on avocado, Persea Americana Mill, in South Africa

Abstract

The measurement of research and development (R&D) presents unique challenges. No method had yet been identified to best measure South African avocado R&D effectiveness. The research question was which criteria were best in measuring R&D effectiveness and what was the level of satisfaction with these criteria. The situational analysis showed that the R&D function provides competitive advantage to the avocado industry. The literature review concluded that a combination of quantitative and qualitative metrics was superior in measuring R&D and the study addressed a gap in the literature. The research methodology explained the experimental design and analysis of the survey questionnaire. A difference existed in importance and satisfaction levels of R&D criteria. The data could be generalised to the population and showed avocado R&D was moderately effective. A combined total of 16 R&D criteria were recommended for use as a measurement tool to assess avocado R&D effectiveness in South Africa.