Jacques van Niekerk
Jacques van Niekerk is a practising CTO and a PhD candidate, with a specific interest in Technology Due Diligence and Knowledge Management. His research aims to answer the question of how the theory of knowledge creation be extended to explain the outcome of technology due diligence on software startups.
His PhD research is expected to contribute a mid-range theory that will provide a basis for the evaluation of technology due diligence frameworks, which will in turn make it possible to develop frameworks that are not purely based on the phronesis of the practitioner. Research in the field of technology due diligence is largely based on case studies and the experience of practitioners, without providing a theoretical basis for evaluating due diligence frameworks. By establishing a theoretical basis for creating such frameworks, it will be possible to develop frameworks that are not purely based on the phronesis of the practitioner. Such a theoretical basis may enable the identification of aspects of software startups that are not usually addressed in a technology due diligence, but which should be addressed. Alternatively, the theory may confirm that the frameworks used by practitioners are sufficient - and will offer an explanation as to why this is the case.
In short - Jacques hopes to establish a theoretical foundation for evaluating a process that plays a key role in the way investors decide to support software startups.