Read the summary in the section 00front of this document. / Dissertation (MA (Human Movement Science))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences / unrestricted

The contemporary global system is characterised by the presence of a multitude of International Organisations (IOs) whose relevance is sustained by the roles they play. Among these IOs, the United Nations (UN) is of paramount importance as a result of its universal membership and extensive mandate. Its international role is influenced by its evolving structures, practices and goals. Among its most recent objectives are the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which address the challenge of holistic human development at the global level. This study aims to assess the UN’s role in pursuing the MDGs as they relate to the development of children in West Africa. The first two of the eight goals have been selected for the purpose of focusing the research, namely the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, and the elimination of illiteracy by achieving universal primary education. Children, who bear the brunt of global underdevelopment and whose development is a key element in breaking cycles of poverty, are the focus of the study. The general and historical role played by the UN in advancing child development is therefore assessed with regards to the issue-fields indicated by the two selected MDGs. Specific application is then done in the case of West Africa, chosen as case study because the region is the poorest in the world and arguably indicative of most urgent MDG focus. Clive Archer’s analytical outline, which depicts IOs variously as instruments, arenas and actors, is used as a conceptual framework. Archer contends that IOs can be utilised as instruments by other global actors, serve as arenas for dialogue and cooperation among such actors and also assume proactive, independent identities as actors in pursuit of specific objectives. The study concludes that Archer’s framework is relevant, but that the existence of all three roles in the same functional space has notable and often contradictory implications. While the UN generally plays its roles as actor and arena in achieving its first two MDGs among West African children with relative ease, its role as instrument is dependent on the agendas and political will of other actors in the global system. Notwithstanding the weakness of its role as instrument, however, the UN’s triad of roles towards the development of children, and specifically children in West Africa, is a key element of the organisation’s global relevance. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Political Sciences / unrestricted

Abstract In today’s business world, the delivery of superior information technology services has become an important deliverable for successful organisations. This study focuses on the end user perception of information technology service quality in manufacturing organisations. The study focuses on one manufacturing organisation, namely Nissan South Africa, a supplier of quality vehicles to South African customers. The main research problem describes the necessity of having a tool in place that can measure users’ perception of information technology service quality. The two subproblems describe the change of perception regarding information technology service quality when measured from a functional area or designation level perspective. The functional area represents the various departments within an organisation and the designation level, the hierarchical position of the employee within an organisation. A broad literature review is conducted and a theoretical foundation is developed and relevant service quality models are reviewed and adjusted in order to construct a model to measure information technology from a service quality perspective. The information has been collected by means of a questionnaire, which was distributed to approximately 1200 users. i i The overall perception of the information technology service quality, as experienced by the Nissan user base, is rated as above average customer satisfaction. No significant differences are identified between the demographic levels and the dimensions of the service quality model. Even though the model used in this study provides a good indication of the information technology service quality, it needs to be refined on a continuous basis in order to ensure that it is aligned with the dynamic nature of information technology.

La thèse a pour but de décrire, dans une perspective sociohistorique, la construction du modèle institutionnel de la grande association-gestionnaire du secteur du handicap. La problématique de la thèse consiste à rendre compte de la genèse et de la stabilisation de la gouvernance de ces associations.Les associations-gestionnaires sont présentées comme des formes d’action collective qui hésitent entre l’idéaltype de l’association et celui de l’entreprise. Deux corpus théoriques concurrents et antagonistes se disputent la légitimité de rendre compte des problèmes de gouvernance. Les théories de l’économie sociale et solidaire considèrent l’association comme un système de gouvernance spécifique opposé à celui de l’entreprise. Pour cette théorie, la gouvernance associative a pour fonction de protéger les associations des logiques économiques et managériales susceptibles de détruire la spécificité des associations. Le second corpus des théories de la gouvernance s’intéresse en priorité à l’entreprise et considère que seules les organisations aux systèmes de gouvernance les plus efficients perdurent. Au regard de ces deux corpus, la thèse a pour objectif de rendre compte de l’émergence de la gouvernance managériale des grandes associations-gestionnaires du secteur du handicap.Du point de vue de la méthode, la thèse s’appuie sur l’étude approfondie de deux études de cas longitudinales. Les cas sélectionnés sont deux grandes associations-gestionnaires - l’ADAPEI du Rhône et l’OVE – l’une et l’autre de grande taille (budgets annuels de l’ordre de 100 ME et regroupant chacune environ 1 500 professionnels). La méthode d’analyse utilisée est celle des « monographies historiques », comportant plusieurs phases : (1) analyse des archives (environ 1 000 pages de notes sur archives), (2) entretiens semi-directifs avec les acteurs internes (43 entretiens semi-directifs, (3) entretiens complémentaires avec les partenaires (55 entretiens semi-directifs avec les pouvoirs publics, d’autres associations, etc.).Ce travail de thèse remet en question la pertinence des thèses de l’économie sociale et solidaire sur la gouvernance associative. Quelles que soient les valeurs originelles défendues par les associations étudiées, ces dernières réalisent leurs projets associatifs en militant pour la création et la gestion d’établissements de prise en charge des personnes handicapées et participent activement à la construction d’un secteur économique à part entière.Les processus de structuration et de professionnalisation du management sont engagés en interne par les instances militantes des associations, lesquels introduisent les premiers outils de gestion. Les directions générales formalisent progressivement la gouvernance des associations et participent à renforcer et à réaffirmer les projets associatifs. L’instauration de principes de gouvernance permet de lutter contre l’appropriation du pouvoir par un petit groupe de bénévoles et de mettre en œuvre une gouvernance cognitive favorisant les débats entre dirigeants autour des grandes orientations stratégiques.L’étude historique de la gouvernance des associations-gestionnaires rompt avec l’opposition défendue par l’économie sociale et solidaire entre un premier « âge d’or » reposant sur une solidarité « héroïque » de quelques militants, et le temps de l’efficience où les associations sont considérées comme de simples organisations économiques sans âme et sans morale. / The purpose of this thesis is to describe, from a sociohistorical perspective, the development of the institutional model of the large managing association in the disability sector. The thesis statement is to report on the origin and stabilisation of the governance in these entities.Managing associations are often depicted as sorts of collective actions hesitating between the ideal model of the association and the ideal model of the enterprise. Two competing and antagonistic theoretical corpora are fighting over the legitimacy of governance issues analysis. The theories of social and solidarity economy regard the association as a specific governance system in contradiction with the corporate one. According to these theories, associative governance aims to protect associations from economic and managerial approaches likely to destroy their specific character. The second corpus of governance theories, primarily focused on the enterprise, considers that the organisations with the most efficient governance systems are the only lasting ones. In the light of these two corpora, the thesis aims to report on the emergence of managerial governance in large managing associations in the disability sector.As regards the method, the thesis is based on a comprehensive analysis of two longitudinal case studies. Two managing associations – the ADAPEI du Rhône and the OVE – both of large size (annual budgets in the range of EUR 100m and gathering each about 150 professionals) – were chosen for the case studies. The analytical method, based on “historical monographs”, included several phases: (1) archive analysis (about 1,000 pages of notes on these archives); (2) semi-structured interviews conducted with internal stakeholders (43 semi-structured interviews); and (3) additional interviews conducted with partners (55 semi-structured interviews with public authorities, other associations, etc.).This thesis calls into question the relevance of the theories of social and solidarity economy when it comes to associative governance. Regardless of the original values promoted by the studied organisations, these achieve their associative projects by advocating for the establishment and management of care facilities for people with disabilities, and they actively participate in the development of a full-fledged economic sector.Management structuring and professionalization processes, deployed internally by the entities’ activist authorities, introduce the first management tools. Managing directors, who gradually formalise the governance of the associations, contribute to the strengthening and reaffirmation of associative projects. The implementation of governance principles offers better protection against the appropriation of power by a small group of volunteers, and it also allows the application of a cognitive governance, which facilitates discussions on major strategic focuses between managers.The historical study of the governance of managing associations breaks with the theories of social and solidarity economy, which support an opposition between a first “golden age”, based on a “heroic” solidarity from a few activists, and the age of efficiency, where associations are considered as simple economical organisations void of heart and morals.

The role of International Organisations, military doctrines and some aspects of the history of the Nuclear Disarmament process

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

This research investigates how public service organisations (PSO’s) use public procurement, referred to as the acquisition of goods and services by PSOs, to analyse the processes through which a PSO acquires innovative goods and services in order to improve public services. Despite a number of success stories from the literature (Phillips et al, 2007; Uyarra, 2010; Yeow et al, 2011), PSOs struggle to procure and implement innovation (e.g. Uyarra et al, 2014a). One major reason for this lack of innovation procurement and adoption is the nature of governance of the procurement process in the public sector (Rolfstam, 2009).Drawing from the public sector and organisational governance literature, this research develops a conceptual framework to investigate how internal, managerial and external governance affects the willingness and ability of PSOs to procure innovative goods and services. External governance refers to overarching bodies of organisations and institutions situated outside the PSO which influences policy and organisational arrangements of PSOs. Managerial governance refers to organisational actors and other stakeholders brought together to form governing boards which directly control and support the PSO leader. Internal governance refers to the day-to-day operations and delivery of a public service. This research adopts a positivist approach with a deductive inquiry process. Using the English secondary education system as the PSO under investigation this research utilises a mixture of quantitative (survey to two types of secondary schools in England) and qualitative methods (four case studies). The findings of this research indicate that these three governance levels influence PSOs procuring innovation in a number of ways. External governance can determine the decision-making process and what can and cannot be procured to improve the service and how budgets are used for innovations. External governance can also act as a source of expertise and knowledge, create opportunities and incentivise PSOs by establishing conditions, mechanisms and access to large scale programmes and initiatives. Similarly, managerial governance entails actors to act as gatekeepers in the decision making process, assisting in procurements by leveraging expertise from other positions and improving the chances of procuring innovation through partnership arrangements with internal governance actors. At the internal governance level, procurement of innovation is greatly improved when ‘champions’ support innovative solutions and when staff responsible for the delivery of the service (i.e. teachers) specify requirements. This research makes three contributions. Firstly, it develops a conceptual framework for public procurement of innovation (PPI) with governance at the centre. Secondly, it adds to the growing body of literature of PPI practice and the barriers faced by PSOs. Finally, this research pays attention to education, a public service sector that has been overlooked by previous studies. Consequently, this research may help policy-makers and practitioners to better understand the governance of PPI.

The theme of the re-aggregation of public organisations has been embraced in the recent public sector reforms of some developed countries such as the UK. The re-aggregation of public organisations may benefit the government in terms of focusing its interests on policy coordination. This is an alternative way of reforming the public sector in order to increase greater outcomes and the performance of public organisations with regard to the achievement of particular policy goals. The reform inevitably affects the targeted public organisations in both tangible and intangible ways. Since organisational culture is an important issue that can affect organisational outcomes and performance, including the achievement of policy goals, the research aims to analyse how organisational cultures have been changed following the integration of Thai public organisations. In this respect, the researchers used an integrated model of Competing Values Framework and human paradox theory to assess cultural changes of integrated public organisations.The research was based on quantitative and qualitative data gathered in field research conducted in Thailand’s four integrated public organisations. It was found that, overall, organisational cultures were altered following the organisational integration. Public employees perceived that the hierarchy culture hardly changed following a reform. However, the clan value has largely reduced, while market and adhocracy values have increased rather significantly within the new organisations. In terms of clan value, the research found that the reduction was a result of power struggles between groups of people who came from different organisational backgrounds. Power-struggling between clans could lead to lower team cooperation, a lack of trust and diminished loyalty to organisations. Public officials also perceived that a significant development of market and adhocracy cultures in organisations could be a result of external forces, as well as the integration reform. With regard to these changes, the development of market values was inimical to human relations within integrated organisations. Together with the existence of a patronage system in the Thai public organisations, leadership also contributed to a paradox of competition and cooperation where members of a dominant clan could be favoured over the others. People who came from minor cultures might feel a disadvantage from being part of the minority and then give minimal cooperation to the integrated organisation. In this respect, teamwork and organisational cohesion could be difficult to build if the tension is unbalanced. It can be concluded that the cultural model of the organisations studied changed and seemed to be more balanced than was previously found. The integration of organisations also has a great influence on cultures and paradoxes in organisations. The dissertation hopes to contribute to the existing literature, with regard to the application of a Competing Values Framework and human paradox theory to the underexplored context of integration reform in the public sector. Findings from the use of this instrument can offer a fresh point of view towards the reality of organisational integration reforms, especially for academics, Thai reformers and public employees themselves.

In Zimbabwe, reconciliation has become a contentious process and has been politicised at the international, national and community levels. Criticisms have been raised against the government related to its failure to implement inclusive reconciliation processes that can amend broken relationships in Zimbabwe, particularly at the community level. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) that are traditionally assumed to have a role in bringing about reconciliation on the community level have, in Zimbabwe, become part of the politicisation of reconciliation in various ways. This research has explored the challenges of reconciliation in Zimbabwe, with the Nkayi District in Matabeleland as a case study, because it stands at the intersection of the conflicts that have occurred in Zimbabwe over the past three decades. It serves to illustrate the political debates behind the alleged failure of government to implement reconciliation processes at the community level. Research findings revealed that the complexity of reconciliation in the Nkayi District is rooted in the lack of consensual understanding among stakeholders as to who ought to be reconciled and how the process should occur. This complexity is enhanced by the lack of an enabling environment due to the polarisation of the community by government security agents, a lack of political will by political actors, shortage of resources and a lack of common voice in the undertakings by CSOs. The research concluded that the systematic marginalisation of the Matabeleland region and the fact that the Gukurahundi massacres were never dealt with by the government, undermines any attempts at reconciliation in this region. This research argues that reconciliation in the Nkayi District begins when the government acknowledges all incidents of violence that occurred. / Political Sciences / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / Unrestricted

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / South Africa is a regional hub for international immigration and the main destination for many African descent, a home of high number of refugees ad asylum seekers across African continent. The refugees and asylum seekers communities in South Africa are settled and melting into the city life with the host communities.