The principles of Total Quality Management (TQM) have been used in the business, commercial and industrial sectors to improve both product and service. In a limited number of schools worldwide, there have been attempts to adapt TQM theory and practice to the educational management of institutions. In this thesis there has been an attempt to adapt the TQM philosophy to the field of educational practice. Quality tools and techniques used in TQM organisations have been studied to ascertain their applicability in schools. During the course of the study, the researcher discerned the need to give TQM a distinct identity within the domain of educational management. In the management of schools, there are philosophies and practices which are different from those encountered in noneducational settings. The concept Total Quality Education (TQE) was used to acknowledge this reality. Action research was done over a three-year period at a South African co-educational public primary school. During the four research cycles of looking, thinking and acting, TQE principles were implemented in the school. Stakeholders such as parents, learners and teachers identified areas for improvement of the quality of education. Areas identified included the curriculum, physical resources, extramural activities, staff development, learning and financial management of the school. Quality tools and techniques were applied by all stakeholders to effect the desired improvements. In the fourth and last cycle of the research a questionnaire was given to a sample of the parent community. Progress made in the improvement of the quality of education provided was noted and areas to be improved further were identified. The researcher submits that TQE can be meaningfully applied in South African schools. The various stakeholders can make contributions to the betterment of schools. Through the application of the principles of the TQE philosophy, it is possible to transform South African schools into institutions where all learners can experience education of true quality. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Educational Management)

This study determined whether local manufacturers of light vehicles in South Africa employ supply chain best practices and strategies. The research design employed was a combination of exploratory and descriptive research design using qualitative and quantitative approaches based on a survey of light vehicle manufacturers in South Africa. A face-to–face, semi-structured interview questionnaire was used, based on purposive sampling. Descriptive statistics using SPSS software were used for the data analysis and interpretation. The findings of the study revealed that across the supply chain, best practices were implemented to a large extent by all manufacturers. Light vehicle manufacturers in South Africa, however face supply chain challenges, which include technological, infrastructural, cost, market/service and production/skills challenges. The most important supply chain performance indicator that contributes to optimisation of performance is quality, followed by final product delivery reliability, and then cost and supplier reliability. All the manufacturers followed a lean strategy for their inbound supply chain and some had a lean supply chain strategy for their outbound supply chain. A number of them also had an agile supply chain strategy in the outbound supply chain which suggests a leagile supply chain strategy. It was also found that in some instances there was a mismatch between strategies and practices in the area of product characteristics, manufacturing characteristics and the decision drivers of supply chain. One of the conclusions of the study was that local manufacturers of light vehicles do not always make decisions and implement practices in line with their chosen supply chain strategies. The study concluded by developing a framework for determining supply chain best practices in line with a chosen strategy that could guide supply chain managers (in locally manufactured light vehicles) in the automotive in South Africa in their decision making. / Business Management / D. Com. (Business Management)

Continuous improvement of various processes within a company is a necessity to remain competitive on the market. There are many different improvement methodologies to streamline work routines; however the different methodologies do not sufficiently embrace administrative processes or the employee motivation regarding changes. The purpose of this thesis has been to develop a model for streamlining administrative processes, while maintaining the employee motivation during the improvement projects implementation phases. The model has been developed theoretically through literature reviews including different improvement methodologies, such as Lean, TQM, Six Sigma, 5S, ISO 9000 and related subjects, while incorporating perspectives of the relations between quality, production and economy. Besides the aspect of continuous improvement, the methodology of Change management has permeated the model development and model outcome. The developed model for improving administrative processes should over time lead to shorten lead-times and streamlined high quality information flows. The first phases in the model have been implemented at Electrolux Laundry Systems providing the company a solid foundation for further implementation of the rest of the model. The results include several highlighted areas, which shall be further reviewed and improved to streamline the current routines at Electrolux Laundry Systems. / Kontinuerliga förbättringar av ett företags olika processer är en ständig kamp för företag som vill behålla en konkurrenskraftig position på marknaden. Det finns många olika förbättringsmetoder för att effektivisera arbetsrutiner men de olika metoderna har sällan tillräckligt fokus på administrativa processer eller anställdas motivation när det gäller förändringar. Syftet med denna uppsats har varit att utveckla en modell för att effektivisera administrativa processer, samtidigt som de anställdas motivation under förbättringsprojektens genomförande tagits i beaktande. Modellen har utvecklats teoretiskt genom litteraturstudier av olika förbättringsmetoder såsom Lean, TQM, Six Sigma, 5S, ISO 9000 och relaterade ämnen, samt även inkluderat perspektiv på förhållanden mellan kvalitet, produktion och ekonomi. Förutom aspekten av ständiga förbättringar, har teorier om Change management genomsyrat modellutvecklingen. Den utvecklade modellen för att förbättra administrativa processer avser att leda till minskade ledtider och effektiviserade informationsflöden. De första faserna i modellen har genomförts på Electrolux Laundry Systems vilka ger företaget en stabil grund för fortsatt genomförande av resten av modellen. I delresultaten finns flera identifierade områden som Electrolux Laundry Systems bör se över för att effektivisera sina nuvarande rutiner.

The quest for excellence in institutions is nothing new. Most of the twentieth century saw management sciences grappling with the question how to improve the productivity and general health of institutions through sound management principles and practice. In recent research, proponents of Total Quality Management have identified it as an essential strategy of successful institutions in a highly competitive and rapidly changing business environment. The overall aim of this study is the development of a framework for the implementation of Total Quality Management in the South African Air Force. As a first prerequisite, a theoretical and conceptual analysis is undertaken of Total Quality Management as it is discussed in a vast volume of published literature. In the process, Total Quality Management philosophy and principles are described within the context of organisational theory, mainly based on so-called quality guru prescriptions. The variety of definitions of Total Quality Management is studied to find an appropriate definition for this study. The primary and supportive Total Quality Management dimensions are identified in the available literature, and integrated into a framework, which is called the "Total Quality Management telescopic framework" for the purposes of the study. This framework is formulated for use in the development of an appropriate methodology to implement Total Quality Management in South African Air Force Bases. As a basis for the understanding of the empirical part of the thesis, the context and nature of the SA Air Force are also discussed, followed by the self-assessment methods already in use in the institution. The Total Quality Management telescopic framework is meant to provide a mechanism for the adoption of a systematic and ordered approach to the implementation of Total Quality Management in SA Air Force Bases. To achieve this objective, a structured questionnaire survey is undertaken to establish the nature and extent of Total Quality Management as an internal organisational arrangement for personnel in SA Air Force Bases. The framework developed from the study of the available literature is used as a basis for the survey research, which attempts to determine the main hypothesis of the study: "The attitude of personnel of the South African Air Force Bases towards the primary and supporting dimensions of the framework for the implementation of Total Quality Management is positive." With the aid of computerised reliability analysis (Alpha Cronbach) for the test, the above hypothesis is proven to be true on a statistical basis. The attitude of personnel at SA Air Force Bases towards the nature and scope of Total Quality Management is that it enables them to perform their daily tasks better, and that they accept the Total Quality Management effort positively, in spite of specific deficiencies, which the study has brought to light. With these deficiencies as a guide, recommendations are made for their elimination. The research undertaken during the course of writing the thesis has led to the deduction that the greater the extent to which Total Quality Management principles is applied, the greater the improvement in work performance among personnel. / Public Administration and Management / DADMIN (PUBLIC ADMIN)

The primary purpose of the study was to investigate the factors that cause most Lesotho secondary schools to perform poorly in the Cambridge Overseas School Certificate examinations. The findings of the study show that the problems that contribute to the ineffectiveness of most secondary schools are multiple and interrelated. These problems can be identified at the macro or policy-making level at the Ministry of Education, and at the micro or the individual school level. At macro level, there appears to be a lack of adequate capacity among the senior management staff to perform the management and governance functions effectively, so that substantive improvement could be realised in the day-to-day operations, and academic results of schools. An upshot of this is that the professional support that the Ministry of Education provides to secondary schools is inadequate. Furthermore, despite the deepening poverty in Lesotho, the state does not provide textbooks to learners in secondary schools. Consequently, many learners do not have all the textbooks, and this affects their learning negatively. At micro level, the problems that contribute to the ineffectiveness of most secondary schools include teacher tardiness, teacher absenteeism and a lack of learner determination. It is contended that these factors indicate that the management of the school principals is weak. Moreover, because of poverty, many parents fail to pay school fees for their children on time. As a result, many learners are frequently sent back home by the principals to fetch money, and this reduces their academic learning time. The study also revealed that prior academic achievement of learners in primary schools is, to a large extent, a major predictor of their achievement in secondary schools. In this regard, the highly effective schools, which have selective admission policies and accept mainly Form A applicants, tend to consistently outperform the average and less effective schools, which have open admission policies. In order to improve the academic performance of secondary schools, it is recommended that the Ministry of Education officials, principals, teachers and learners should work more diligently and refocus their efforts on the core business of schools, namely, teaching and learning. / Teacher Education / D. Ed. (Education Management)

This study determined whether local manufacturers of light vehicles in South Africa employ supply chain best practices and strategies. The research design employed was a combination of exploratory and descriptive research design using qualitative and quantitative approaches based on a survey of light vehicle manufacturers in South Africa. A face-to–face, semi-structured interview questionnaire was used, based on purposive sampling. Descriptive statistics using SPSS software were used for the data analysis and interpretation. The findings of the study revealed that across the supply chain, best practices were implemented to a large extent by all manufacturers. Light vehicle manufacturers in South Africa, however face supply chain challenges, which include technological, infrastructural, cost, market/service and production/skills challenges. The most important supply chain performance indicator that contributes to optimisation of performance is quality, followed by final product delivery reliability, and then cost and supplier reliability. All the manufacturers followed a lean strategy for their inbound supply chain and some had a lean supply chain strategy for their outbound supply chain. A number of them also had an agile supply chain strategy in the outbound supply chain which suggests a leagile supply chain strategy. It was also found that in some instances there was a mismatch between strategies and practices in the area of product characteristics, manufacturing characteristics and the decision drivers of supply chain. One of the conclusions of the study was that local manufacturers of light vehicles do not always make decisions and implement practices in line with their chosen supply chain strategies. The study concluded by developing a framework for determining supply chain best practices in line with a chosen strategy that could guide supply chain managers (in locally manufactured light vehicles) in the automotive in South Africa in their decision making. / Business Management / D. Com. (Business Management)

The principles of Total Quality Management (TQM) have been used in the business, commercial and industrial sectors to improve both product and service. In a limited number of schools worldwide, there have been attempts to adapt TQM theory and practice to the educational management of institutions. In this thesis there has been an attempt to adapt the TQM philosophy to the field of educational practice. Quality tools and techniques used in TQM organisations have been studied to ascertain their applicability in schools. During the course of the study, the researcher discerned the need to give TQM a distinct identity within the domain of educational management. In the management of schools, there are philosophies and practices which are different from those encountered in noneducational settings. The concept Total Quality Education (TQE) was used to acknowledge this reality. Action research was done over a three-year period at a South African co-educational public primary school. During the four research cycles of looking, thinking and acting, TQE principles were implemented in the school. Stakeholders such as parents, learners and teachers identified areas for improvement of the quality of education. Areas identified included the curriculum, physical resources, extramural activities, staff development, learning and financial management of the school. Quality tools and techniques were applied by all stakeholders to effect the desired improvements. In the fourth and last cycle of the research a questionnaire was given to a sample of the parent community. Progress made in the improvement of the quality of education provided was noted and areas to be improved further were identified. The researcher submits that TQE can be meaningfully applied in South African schools. The various stakeholders can make contributions to the betterment of schools. Through the application of the principles of the TQE philosophy, it is possible to transform South African schools into institutions where all learners can experience education of true quality. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Educational Management)

L'objectif initial de l'ergonomie d'adapter le travail à l'homme a progressivement évolué avec la conception d’une santé construite qui souligne la possibilité pour les travailleurs de faire pleinement usage de leurs compétences. Dans ce cadre, notre principal objectif de recherche était de mieux comprendre les possibilités de développement conjoint des personnes et de l'organisation dans une entreprise automobile de type lean production. Trois axes de recherches ont ainsi été poursuivis. Le premier visait à identifier et analyser le modèle sous-jacent du travail dans la théorie de la lean production. Le deuxième s’est intéressé à la manière dont l'activité de travail est appréhendée dans les approches participatives d’amélioration continue. Enfin, le troisième axe visait à comprendre le rôle de l’ergonomie et de l’ergonome dans la transformation des situations de travail guidée par les objectifs d’optimisation de la lean production. Au cours des chantiers, les opérateurs formulent des possibilités de transformations non prévues qui permettraient une réelle amélioration de la production en agissant sur les déterminants de la qualité de leur travail. L’action de l’ergonome orientée vers une « meilleure » participation des opérateurs par la mise en débat des règles du travail semble alors insuffisante. Une intervention au niveau stratégique de l’entreprise serait indispensable pour prendre en compte les véritables enjeux émanant au cours de ces chantiers d’amélioration continue. / The goal of ergonomic of adapting work to Man has gradually broadened in scope, notably with the evolution of the concept of health towards integrating the possibility for workers to make full use of their skills. Following this view, the main goal of our research was to better understand the possibilities of joint development of people and organization within a “lean production” industry. Three perspectives of analysis were fallowed. The first perspective related to the underlying model of work in lean production. The second perspective focused on mobilizing work activity as part of continual improvement approaches. The third perspective focused on the forms and goals of the transformation of work, in order to identify the role of ergonomics and evolutions in the practice of ergonomics in order to act in a context of deployment of a lean production system. Our results suggested that ergonomic action focused on identifying the conditions of improved participation is not enough. One must also provide feedback at the strategic level of management, so as to broaden the goals of projects aiming for continual improvement, by including the goals that had not been previously anticipated, and that had been formulated by operators.

Transparency and information disclosure are important elements in the building strong and confiding relationships between core stakeholders of the hospital, including patients, physicians and hospital management, and allow improving hospital performance on the market. Effects of transparent information environment existence in the medical institution can be wide but the most compelling and attractive are those, which are connected with motivation to improve and change of patients and physicians attitudes towards organisation. On the base of non-for-profit hospital in one of the regions in the Russian Federation, this study examined information flows between hospital, physicians and patients, and their perspectives towards transparency. In order to achieve aims of the research, surveys and interview were conducted in the hospital, according to which results inferences and recommendations were developed.

Introduction : Le cadre de la gouvernance clinique a été développé afin d’atteindre de hauts standards de qualité de soins et de services, en conjuguant les notions d’amélioration continue de la qualité, d’excellence clinique et d’imputabilité corporative. La présente démarche doctorale avait pour objectif de comprendre le processus d’institutionnalisation de la gouvernance clinique dans un centre de réadaptation. Méthodologie : Une synthèse méta-narrative de 65 documents répertoriés dans 4 bases de données bibliographiques sur la conceptualisation et la mise en œuvre de la gouvernance clinique a été menée. Une étude qualitative de cas unique a été menée dans un centre de réadaptation en déficience intellectuelle et en troubles du spectre de l’autisme, au Québec (Canada). En mobilisant les cinq construits du cadre conceptuel basé sur théorie du processus de normalisation (cohérence, participation cognitive, action collective, suivi réflexif et contexte organisationnel), une analyse thématique des entrevues individuelles auprès de 22 participants (5 administrateurs, 11 gestionnaires et 6 cliniciens) et de 3 groupes de discussion auprès de 8 cliniciens et de 4 proches d’usagers a été menée. Enfin, une analyse d’une centaine de documents administratifs du Centre a été effectuée. Résultats : L’analyse de la littérature a permis de constater que le cadre de la gouvernance clinique est un concept en évolution et encore perçu comme une avenue intéressante pour l’amélioration de la qualité des soins. Toutefois, la confusion autour de sa définition et de sa conceptualisation ainsi que les difficultés de sa mise en œuvre demeurent des enjeux pour les organisations. Par la mobilisation du cadre de gouvernance clinique, la haute direction du centre de réadaptation à l’étude a souhaité systématiser le processus d’amélioration continue de la qualité des services offerts aux usagers et à leurs proches par l’adoption des bonnes pratiques de gouvernance. Ce virage a été bien reçu par les administrateurs et les gestionnaires, résultant sur une participation active et un fort engagement aux activités de leur part. La complexité du cadre et l’absence d’implication des cliniciens dans le processus de mise en œuvre ont créé chez ces derniers une appréhension quant à l’apport de la gouvernance clinique pour la pratique clinique et le bien-être des usagers. Les cliniciens ont dénoncé l’absence d’arrimage entre la théorie et les réalités de la pratique clinique ; la grande vitesse d’implantation et une approche décisionnelle de type top-down comme des enjeux de l’institutionnalisation de la gouvernance clinique. Pour les gestionnaires, les défis ont été la mise en place des moyens de communication efficaces ; l’arrimage des mécanismes de gestion et la disponibilité des ressources humaines. Pour les administrateurs, l’enjeu principal a été l’instabilité des contextes organisationnels interne et externe qui a ralenti la mise en œuvre et freiné l’élaboration d’un processus évaluatif. Conclusion : L’institutionnalisation de la gouvernance clinique dans les établissements non hospitaliers offrant des services sociaux passe par la valorisation de ce concept comme un projet commun au bénéfice de l’usager en vue de renforcer la participation et l’engagement de tous et l’adoption d’une approche de partenariat entre les usagers, leurs proches et les autres acteurs de l’organisation. / Introduction: Clinical governance framework was developed in order to achieve high standards of quality of care and services, by combining the concepts of continuous quality improvement, clinical excellence and corporate accountability. The aim of this doctoral thesis was to understand the implementation process of clinical governance in a rehabilitation center. Methods: A meta-narrative synthesis on the conceptualization and implementation of clinical governance was conducted. 65 tittles screened in 4 international databases were analysing. A qualitative single case study was conducted in a rehabilitation center for intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders, in Quebec (Canada). By mobilizing the five constructs of the conceptual framework based on normalization process theory (coherence, cognitive participation, collective action, reflexive monitoring and organizational context), a thematic analysis of individual interviews with 22 participants (5 administrators, 11 managers and 6 clinicians) and tree focus groups with 8 clinicians and 4 relatives of users were conducted. Finally, an analysis of around hundred administrative documents from the Center was conducted. Results: The literature revealed that the clinical governance framework is an evolving concept and still seen as an interesting avenue for improving the quality of care. However, confusion over its definition and conceptualization, and the difficulties of its implementation remain challenges for organizations. By mobilizing the clinical governance framework, the senior management of the rehabilitation center under study wished to systematize the process of continuous improvement of quality of services offered to users and their families, by adopting good governance practices. This shift was well received by administrators and managers, resulting in active participation and a strong commitment to activities. The complexity of the framework and the absence of involvement of clinicians in the implementation process have created in them an apprehension regarding the contribution of clinical governance to clinical practice and the well-being of users. Clinicians have criticized the lack of alignment between theory and the realities of clinical practice; the high speed of implementation and a top-down decision-making approach as issues of the implementation of clinical governance. For managers, the challenges have been the establishment of effective communications; the alignment of management mechanisms and the availability of human resources. For administrators, the main issue was the instability of the internal and external organizational contexts which slowed down the implementation and the development of an evaluation plan. Conclusion: The implementation of clinical governance in non-hospital facility requires the promotion of this concept as a joint project for the benefit of the user with a view to strengthening the participation and commitment of all and the adoption of a partnership approach between users, caregivers and other actors in the organization.