Supervising students at a distance presents numerous social, mental, professional, and individual challenges on the student- supervisor relationship, and on the substance, progress, and conveyance. From the literature review, several tools and technologies are developed to improve academic quality; however, most of these tools and technologies focus on journal articles’ quality rather than student/supervisor relationships. This study aims to develop an academic rating index (ARI) that will show a supervisor’s review by students and provide an interactive forum. The application will serve as an academic supervision teaching-level index that provides an aggregated measure of supervisors’ past and current impact. Thus, the ARI aims to aggregate all academic supervisor ratings and the number of ratings that they received in the entire academic career to complement their citation index. The study will use quantitative coding and programming tools to ensure a good quality system in the development phase. The application and findings of the study contribute to academic service quality. / Operations Management / M. Tech. (Information Technology)

Within the context of technological development, the needs and preferences of the 21st century student (Generation Y), the changing higher education environment, the increasing use of technology in teaching and learning, and the significant role of online learning facilitators in e-learning, the e-readiness of academic employees became imperative. Thus, considering the importance of academic employees' e-readiness, the primary objective of the study aims to determine the role of key human factors in their e-readiness, with specific focus on personal work profile patterns, preferred learning style and pace and style of technology adoption. The research problem therefore is how to determine the role of these key human factors in the e-readiness of academic employees. In this respect the study argues that the e-readiness assessment of academic employees must be included in the human resource performance appraisal process. The purpose of this research is to develop a framework for assessing the ereadiness of academic employees during their performance appraisals, as well as determining and assessing the role of key human factors in their e-readiness in order to draft an e-profile which will provide guidance in terms of structuring unique training and development approaches for each e-profile. Once accademic employees' e-readiness has been assessed during their performance appraisals, they can be plotted on the framework. The outcome of their e-readiness assessments will reveal their e-profiles, which will portray insight into the presence or absence of particular ereadiness indicators, outlined in an e-readiness construct. Subsequently, a personal development plan can be drafted, making provision for uniquely structured training and development interventions, best suited for each accademic employees' e-profile. The most suitable motivating factors for each employee will also be considered during the drafting of the personal development plan. The empirical research by means of a self-administered questionnaire and a focus group discussion revealed two prominent e-profiles indicating various levels of ereadiness, namely an early adopter-pragmatist-compliance e-profile and an early majority-theorist-steadiness e-profile. The findings made it evident that the traits portrayed by a person belonging to a certain technology adoption category show similarities to traits portrayed by particular learning styles and personal work profile patterns. Certain profiles could be identified, based on trends and similarities pertaining to interpersonal traits. The findings further revealed that with an increase in age and teaching experience of respondents (which also imply an increase in age), the willingness to be assessed on e-readiness declined. It was also determined that the human resource performance management policies and practices at the North-West University (NWU) (which is used as case study), do not make provision for the inclusion of e-readiness in performance appraisals of academic employees. Further it became evident that training and development interventions should not only focus on the technical skill of e-learning, but follow a broader teaching and learning approach, also including the philosophy of e-learning and the use and adaptation of teaching and learning strategies to obtain optimal learner learning. The findings of the study thus supported the need for a framework, providing guidance in this regard. Presently, neither the literature of human resource performance appraisal nor the literature of e-readiness or e-learning makes provision for assessing the e-readiness of academic employees. The study thus contributes to the scholarly discourse and knowledge in the field of public human resource management, as sub-field of Public Administration, by developing a theoretical framework (that currently does not exist), consisting of three matrixes for this purpose to determine the role of the key human factors in the e-readiness of academic employees. / Public Administration / D. Litt. et Phil. (Public Administration)

With the aim of identifying the challenges and determining the extent of the effect of these challenges on the effectiveness of the performance management systems, the performance management practices of selected public universities in Ethiopia were assessed. This assessment informed the identification of workable, customised balanced scorecard measurement variables that would ensure effective implementation of performance management systems and promote institutional success in the selected public universities in Ethiopia. An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was adopted. First, literature was reviewed to learn about major concepts and theories on performance management systems and to establish the laws and directives that regulate performance management at public universities in Ethiopia. Qualitative interviews and quantitative questionnaires were used to collect data on the practices and the challenges experienced in implementing performance management systems in public universities in Ethiopia. The main practices and challenges identified include exclusion of employees from planning activities, management bias, supervisors’ failure to give feedback on performance appraisals, lack of experience among many of the professionals in the execution of performance management systems, and high employee turnover. The study presents and recommends a hexagonal hybrid balanced scorecard measurement model (the newly added variables being leadership and stakeholders) to make Ethiopian higher education institutions effective and efficient in measuring their overall performance. / Met die oog daarop om die uitdagings te identifiseer en die omvang van die uitwerking daarvan op die doeltreffendheid van die prestasiebestuurstelsels te bepaal, is die prestasiebestuurspraktyke van uitgesoekte openbare universiteite in Etiopië geassesseer. Hierdie assessering gee aanleiding tot die identifisering van werkbare, doelgemaakte veranderlikes van gebalanseerdetelkaart-meting, wat doeltreffende implementering van prestasiebestuurstelsels sal verseker en institusionele sukses in die uitgesoekte openbare universiteite in Etiopië sal bevorder. ʼn Verkennende sekwensiële gemengdemetodeontwerp is gebruik. Eerstens is literatuur bestudeer om meer te wete te kom oor deurslaggewende konsepte en teorieë rakende prestasiebestuurstelsels, en om te bepaal watter wette en voorskrifte prestasiebestuur by openbare universiteite in Etiopië reguleer. Kwalitatiewe onderhoude en kwantitatiewe vraelyste is gebruik om data in te samel oor die uitdagings en praktyke in die implementering van prestasiebestuurstelsels by openbare universiteite in Etiopië. Die grootste uitdagings en praktyke wat geïdentifiseer is behels uitsluiting van werknemers by beplanningsaktiwiteite, bestuursvooroordeel, toesighouers wat nie terugvoer gee oor prestasiebeoordelings nie, gebrek aan ondervinding by baie van die praktisyns in die implementering van prestasiebestuurstelsels, en hoë werknemeromset. Hierdie studie bied ʼn verteenwoordiging en aanbeveling van ʼn heksagonale hibriede gebalanseerde telkaartmetingmodel (die nuutbygevoegde elemente is leierskap en belanghebbers) vir hoëronderwysinstellings in Etiopië om hul algehele prestasie doeltreffend te meet. / Ngenhloso yokuhlonza izinselele, kanye nokuthola ububanzi nobukhulu bomthelela walezo zinselele ekusebenzeni ngendlela efanele kwezinhlelo zokuphatha nokulawula ukusebenza (performance), lolu cwaningo lwahlola futhi lwacubungula izinqubo zokuphatha nokulawula ukusebenza ezisetshenziswa ngamanyuvesi omphakathi athile, futhi akhethiweyo, ase-Ethiopia. Lokhu kuhlolwa kwezikhungo kwaholela ekutheni kuhlonzwe izindlela ezisebenzisekayo zombikokusebenza osekelwe phezu kwezinkomba ezine (balanced scorecard), okuyinto eyabe izoqinizekisa ukuqaliswa nokuqhutshwa ngendlela efanele kohlelo lokuphatha nokulawula ukusebenza futhi igqugquzele ukuthi yenziwe kahle, futhi ngempumelelo, imisebenzi yamanyuvesi omphakathi athile, akhethiweyo, ase-Ethiopia. Kulolu cwaningo kwasetshenziswa izindlela zokuhlola nokucwaninga ezixubile futhi ezilandelanayo. Okokuqala, kwabukezwa imibhalo ekhona njengamanje ephathelene nalesi sihloko ngenhloso yokufunda ngemiqondo engumongo futhi enohlonze, kanye namathiyori aphathelene nezinhlelo zokuphathwa nokulawulwa kokusebenza, futhi ukuze kutholakale ulwazi olunzulu mayelana nemithetho neziqondiso ezilawula ukuphathwa nokulawulwa kokusebenza emanyuvesi omphakathi e-Ethiopia. Izindlela zocwaningo ezasetshenziswa, yindlela yokuthola ulwazi ngokuxoxisana okujulile nababambiqhaza bocwaningo (qualitative interviews) kanye namaphephamibuzo ocwaningo (quantitative questionnaires), obekuhloswe ngakho ukuqoqa idatha mayelana nezinselele kanye nezinqubo okudlulwe kuzona ngenkathi kuqhutshwa izinhlelo zokuphathwa nokulawulwa kokusebenza emanyuvesi omphakathi e-Ethiopia. Izinselele ezinkulu kanye nezinqubo ezingumongo ezihlonziwe zibandakanya ukushiywa ngaphandle kwabasebenzi ngenkathi kwenziwa imisebenzi yokuhlela, ukuchema kwabaphathi, ukuhluleka kosuphavayiza ukuhlinzeka abasebenzi ngombiko noma umphumela obonisa ukuthi baqhube kanjani ngenkathi kuhlolwa umsebenzi wabo, ukungabi nesipiliyoni noma ulwazi olufanele kweningi labasebenzi abangogoti bemikhakha ethile (professionals) ngenkathi beqhuba izinhlelo zokuphatha nokulawula ukusebenza, kanye nezinga eliphakeme lokwesula kwabasebenzi emsebenzini. Lolu cwaningo lwethula futhi lwancoma ukuthi kusetshenziswe indlela yokukala ukusebenza ebizwa nge-hexagonal hybrid balanced scorecard measurement model (izinto ezintsha ezengeziwe eziphathelene nocwaningo wubuholi kanye nababambiqhaza) ngenhloso yokulekelela iziKhungo Zemfundo Ephakeme zase-Ethiopia ukuthi zikwazi ukukala kahle, vi futhi ngempumelelo, izinga lonkana lokusebenza kwazo. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

Within the context of technological development, the needs and preferences of the 21st century student (Generation Y), the changing higher education environment, the increasing use of technology in teaching and learning, and the significant role of online learning facilitators in e-learning, the e-readiness of academic employees became imperative. Thus, considering the importance of academic employees' e-readiness, the primary objective of the study aims to determine the role of key human factors in their e-readiness, with specific focus on personal work profile patterns, preferred learning style and pace and style of technology adoption. The research problem therefore is how to determine the role of these key human factors in the e-readiness of academic employees. In this respect the study argues that the e-readiness assessment of academic employees must be included in the human resource performance appraisal process. The purpose of this research is to develop a framework for assessing the ereadiness of academic employees during their performance appraisals, as well as determining and assessing the role of key human factors in their e-readiness in order to draft an e-profile which will provide guidance in terms of structuring unique training and development approaches for each e-profile. Once accademic employees' e-readiness has been assessed during their performance appraisals, they can be plotted on the framework. The outcome of their e-readiness assessments will reveal their e-profiles, which will portray insight into the presence or absence of particular ereadiness indicators, outlined in an e-readiness construct. Subsequently, a personal development plan can be drafted, making provision for uniquely structured training and development interventions, best suited for each accademic employees' e-profile. The most suitable motivating factors for each employee will also be considered during the drafting of the personal development plan. The empirical research by means of a self-administered questionnaire and a focus group discussion revealed two prominent e-profiles indicating various levels of ereadiness, namely an early adopter-pragmatist-compliance e-profile and an early majority-theorist-steadiness e-profile. The findings made it evident that the traits portrayed by a person belonging to a certain technology adoption category show similarities to traits portrayed by particular learning styles and personal work profile patterns. Certain profiles could be identified, based on trends and similarities pertaining to interpersonal traits. The findings further revealed that with an increase in age and teaching experience of respondents (which also imply an increase in age), the willingness to be assessed on e-readiness declined. It was also determined that the human resource performance management policies and practices at the North-West University (NWU) (which is used as case study), do not make provision for the inclusion of e-readiness in performance appraisals of academic employees. Further it became evident that training and development interventions should not only focus on the technical skill of e-learning, but follow a broader teaching and learning approach, also including the philosophy of e-learning and the use and adaptation of teaching and learning strategies to obtain optimal learner learning. The findings of the study thus supported the need for a framework, providing guidance in this regard. Presently, neither the literature of human resource performance appraisal nor the literature of e-readiness or e-learning makes provision for assessing the e-readiness of academic employees. The study thus contributes to the scholarly discourse and knowledge in the field of public human resource management, as sub-field of Public Administration, by developing a theoretical framework (that currently does not exist), consisting of three matrixes for this purpose to determine the role of the key human factors in the e-readiness of academic employees. / Public Administration and Management / D. Litt. et Phil. (Public Administration)

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are now adopting the management styles that are being practised in profit-making organisations in the private sector. The top management in HEIs embark on monitoring performance of all categories of their employees, including academic staff. This has become necessary in order to encourage and enhance quality in teaching and also to achieve increased research productivity. This means that the same principles involved in managing the private sector, such as introducing performance management systems, are now applied in the public sector. Empirical evidence from previous studies suggests that the introduction and implementation of performance management systems in academic institutions often result in tension between academic employees and management, thereby heightening the age-long debate on the necessity for academic freedom in institutions of higher learning globally. The present study evaluated the perception of academic staff members regarding the implementation of a performance management system in an open distance learning institution in South Africa. The study adopted a survey research design, using a quantitative research approach. The total sample of the study comprised of 492 academic staff members of the institution. A structured self-administered web-based questionnaire that was tested for high reliability and validity content was used to collect primary data from the respondents. The data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential (one-way sample t-test) statistics. The research findings indicate that academic staff members at the institution are satisfied with the performance management system implemented by management. The study further found that academics do not consider the resultant performance bonus from the implementation of the performance management system sufficiently motivating and that it should therefore be reviewed by management. Overall, the outcome of the present study was to a large extent inconsistent with the empirical evidence presented by previous studies. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

The purpose of this study was to explore employee perceptions of performance appraisal in two public Technical Education Vocational Entrepreneurship and Training (TEVET) institutions located in the Southern Province of Zambia. This study followed a quantitative research approach using the census method to obtain data. Seventy-three (73) participants out of a total population of 129 at varying employment levels consented and participated in the study. A 59 item self-administered questionnaire was administered to obtain responses. The main conclusion from this study was that employees held positive attitudes about performance appraisal. The study found that the performance appraisal system was integrated into institutions’ culture and that the respondents were satisfied with the performance appraisal process and that 68% of the respondents agreed that the performance system in their institution was fair. However, concerns about the low frequency of appraisal meetings were noted. The frequency of performance evaluation on how well the employees were meeting their targets was mostly once in a year. This called for urgent attention by the management of the institutions to ensure that at least two appraisals were conducted in a year. The study also found evidence of rating standards varying from supervisor to supervisor. The study recommended that supervisor training in rating formed part a continuous process. These findings and the recommendations in this study are expected to be of benefit to the principals and supervisors in the institutions. The findings of the study contributed to the knowledge in the field of education management and leadership by providing empirical evidence about employee’s perceptions about performance appraisal in the two public TEVET institutions in Zambia. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Educational Management)

A teaching portfolio allows lecturers to track their own growth and development in teaching and learning, as it helps to document their career’s journey. This study gained insight into this experience from the lecturers’ perspectives. The research paradigm was qualitative and the study used a sample of lecturers from an independent tertiary institution in Johannesburg. Personal interviews provided rich data and themes were developed from the data to answer the research questions concerning the value of doing a teaching portfolio. Lecturers’ perceptions provided clear evidence of the value of doing a teaching portfolio, because it developed their personal competence, knowledge, skills and higher-order thinking. However, the findings showed that the success of a teaching portfolio remained dependent on individual motivation and how the process was implemented. Any challenges experienced tended to negatively affect motivation, thereby decreasing the perceived value of a teaching portfolio. This study recommended that a teaching portfolio might offer a solution to some of the current education issues within the South Africa context, especially with regard to the lack of content knowledge and the disempowerment of teachers. / ʼn Onderrigportefeulje maak dit vir dosente moontlik om hul eie groei en ontwikkeling ten opsigte van onderrig en leer te monitor, omdat dit hulle help om hul loopbaan te dokumenteer. Hierdie studie gee insig in hierdie ervaring vanuit dosente se oogpunt. Die navorsingsparadigma was kwalitatief en die studie het ʼn steekproef van dosente van ʼn onafhanklike tersiêre instelling in Johannesburg behels. Persoonlike onderhoude het ryk data opgelewer en temas is op grond van die data ontwikkel om die navorsingsvrae oor die waarde van ʼn onderrigportefeulje te beantwoord. Dosente se persepsies was ʼn duidelike bewys van die waarde van ʼn onderrigportefeulje, omdat dit hul persoonlike bevoegdheid, kennis, vaardighede en hoërorde-denke ontwikkel. Die bevindinge het egter getoon dat die sukses van ʼn onderrigportefeulje steeds onderhewig is aan individuele motivering en hoe die proses geïmplementeer is. Enige uitdagings was geneig om ʼn negatiewe invloed op motivering te hê en sodoende die vermeende waarde van ʼn onderrigportefeulje te verlaag. Hierdie studie beveel aan dat ʼn onderrigportefeulje ʼn oplossing kan bied vir sommige van die opvoedingskwessies in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks, veral met betrekking tot die gebrek aan inhoudkennis en die ontneming van onderwysers se mag. / Photefolio ya go ruta e kgontša bafahloši go latišiša kgolo le tšwetšopele tše e lego tša bona ka go goruta le go ithuta, ka ge e thuša go rekhota leeto la mošomo wa bona. Thutelo ye e hweditše tshedimošo maitemogelong a go tšwa tebelelong ya bafahloši. Dikgopolo ka ga nyakišišo e bile tša go hwetša tshedimošo ka go kwešiša le go lemoga mabaka a bothata gomme thutelo ye e dirišitše sampolo ya bafahloši go tšwa institušeneng ye e ikemetšeng ya morago ga marematlou go la Johannesburg. Ditherišano tša motho ka botee di tšweleditše datha ye bohlokwa gomme merero e hlagišitšwe go tšwa datheng go fa karabo ya dipotšišo tša dinyakišišo tše di lebanego bohlokwa bja go dira photefolio ya go ruta. Dikgopolo tša bafahloši di file bohlatse bjo bo kwešišegago bja bohlokwa bja go dira photefolio ya go ruta, ka gobane e godišitše, botsebi, tsebo, mabokgoni tša bona le mokgwa wa go nagana wa maemo a godimo. Le ge go le bjalo, dikhwetšo di bontšhitše gore katlego ya photefolio ya go ruta e dutše e ithekgile go tutuetšo ya motho le ka moo tshepedišo e phethagaditšwego. Ditlhohlo dife goba dife tšeo di itemogetšwego di bile le go huetša tutuetšo, ka gorealo tša fokotša boleng bjo bo lebeletšwego bja photefolio ya go ruta. Thutelo ye e šišintše gore photefolio ya go ruta e ka fa tharollo go tše dingwe tša ditlhagišo tša bjale tša thuto kemong ya Afrika Borwa, gagolo malebana le tlhokego ya dintlhatsebo, dikgopolo le melaotshepetšo tšeo di rutwago le go ithuta ka tšona gammogo le go se be le maatla ga barutiši. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)