Thesis (J.C.L.)--Catholic University of America, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 55-59).

Thesis (J.C.D.)--Catholic University of America, 1932. / "Biographical note." Bibliography: p. 125-129.

Thesis--Catholic University of America. / Vita. Bibliography: p. 109-116.

Thesis (J.C.L.)--Catholic University of America, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-62).

Thesis (J.C.L.)--Catholic University of America, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-62).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1973. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Originally presented as the author's Thesis (M.B.A.)--Harvard School of Business Administration, 1921.

Due to the developmental approach and other macro-environmental factors in South Africa, welfare organisations are faced with specific challenges and the managers of these organisations are required to meet them. These challenges include aspects like the development and adjustment of the organisation’s policies and strategies, delivering a quality service by following a preventative approach, the integration of the service with other providers forming part of the service delivery process, the sourcing of funding, information management, identification of best practices and eventually ensuring the accountability of the organisation. The total functioning of welfare organisations is therefore influenced by these changes. Managers must not only be able to manage these changes, but also ensure that a quality service is delivered that satisfies all role players. A total quality management framework enables the management of welfare organisations to render a quality service. Total quality management is a holistic management framework including all the elements that determine the functioning of an organisation. The aim of the management approach is to create a culture of improving processes, people, systems, team work and service delivery to satisfy both clients and employees. Although welfare organisations are not profit driven and often function with limited resources, total quality management is recommended in order to ensure that limited resources are optimised, funding is acquired and a quality service is rendered to the needy. The management framework enables managers to eliminate inefficiencies, involve people in decision-making, and encourage individuals and companies to provide funding and to achieve the desired results. Total quality management is based on important principles, but this sometimes fails because these principles are not defined and measured. The excellence model is used as a self-assessment framework for determining to which degree total quality management principles are applied in an organisation and to which extent certain results are achieved. The framework offers best practices in terms of each of the quality principles. This study comprises both a quantitative and a qualitative investigation to determine to what degree these principles are applied in organisations as a regular management tool. Despite the fact that the excellence framework is not formally utilised by welfare organisations, the principles of excellence are indeed applied to a medium to high degree. This study reveals areas receiving limited attention, for example the management of finances, resources, processes and results. The organisations displayed a limited ability to implement excellence due to insufficient resources. A qualitative study was done in order to propose a framework unique to welfare organisations and to enhance the existing excellence framework. Practice guidelines for welfare organisations with regard to the various elements of excellence were investigated. The study resulted in an adapted excellence framework complete with practice guidelines and a self-assessment framework that is to be proposed to welfare organisations. With this framework the study provides the opportunity to give recognition to welfare organisations and individuals who offer excellent service. In addition, it allows organisations still striving for excellence, to continuously improve their service delivery and to satisfy all role players. In organisations striving for service excellence, this aim, based on quality-mindedness, will become part of their service delivery and encourage their clients to live a quality life. / Dr. Emmerentie Oliphant

The research study acknowledges that life is possibly full of conflict, be it psychological, spiritual or otherwise. Conflict is an inescapable reality that confronts Churches and societies regardless of how loving and caring the people are. Conflict brings both the negative and positive impact on the life of Church and society. Conflict presents us with challenges and choices that reflect and shape our personal identity. Technically the challenge is not to avoid conflict, but rather to deal with it constructively. Conflict could be dangerous and destructive. Conflict could also be an opportunity for self-examination, for growth, service to people and giving glory to God. Hence the serious need for developing a theological approach to conflict resolution within the Church and society. Generally, there are two methods to conflict resolution namely: the Law court and Atonement Models based on human and divine effort to conflict respectively. Using mere psychological and legal experience, the Law court models deal with immediate substantive offenses, injustices and inequity faced by people. The Law court methods are sometimes unproductive, unprofitable and short-lived, while the Atonement methods radically deal with deep rooted matters and sinful motivations of the human heart such as idolatry, lusts and cravings. The Atonement models are reliable, fruitful and long-lasting. The purpose of conflict resolution must be to uproot the negative elements and destructive results of conflict, while at the same time preserving it’s beneficial, life- giving qualities to achieve genuine reconciliation. Therefore this new theology of conflict resolution calls for radical change. Change of the heart and on how to deal with conflict in order to accelerate transformation, growth, maturity and peace. Chapter one will provide a general background to the research study. Chapter two before looking at the case of disputes between the Livingstonia and Nkhoma Synods, it will firstly, cite briefly some conflicts in the history of the Church to get an appreciation of the impact of conflict in the life of the Church. Secondly, the chapter will outline the historical background of the Church of Central Presbyterian (CCAP) Blantyre and Livingstonia Synods, Nkhoma Synod and the General Assembly and how the boundary disputes between the two rival Synods started in Malawi. Chapter three will discuss the question of sin and its effects. Humanity cherishes sin in the heart (Ps 51:3-10, 66:19). Milne (1982:107) asserts that sin causes racial prejudice and antagonisms. The problem of sin is the world’s biggest problem. The study will also define conflict and its root causes using Marxist’s conflict conception. The argument of the study will base on the fact that sin brings conflict and produces great divisions among human beings. Therefore, if sin brings conflict with God, His will and between humans, God has provided a divine means to deal with the problem. Chapter four will discuss the answer to question of sin and conflict. There are two dimensions to conflict resolution namely: the Law court and Atonement Models based on human and divine efforts respectively. Contemporary Christian conflict theories are deficient in the God ward dimensions of conflict and most theories and practices come from within the human legal or political professions. Deep rooted matters and motivations of the human heart such as idolatry, anger, revenge, lusts and cravings in opposition to God are better addressed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The study will review and critique contemporary models of conflict resolution including the atonement with a view to understand the antithesis of conflict. The study will lastly formulate a synthetic model from various aspects of atonement to bring about a better understanding of conflict resolution. Chapter five will discuss the general application of the full concept of atonement. The question for discussion will be: how can the life, sufferings and death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ that occurred almost 2000 years ago affect us today? How can the atonement conception be applied to resolve human conflict? The atonement of Christ will be ineffective unless it is applied to the lives of human beings. The actualization of the atonement could be done through power of the Holy Spirit who unites a person with Jesus Christ and in their close relationship, the penalty for the person’s sin is paid both together, so by Christ (Stott 1986:256ff). As we relate to God in through confession, repentance of sin and sanctification, we relate to each other that removes the cause of conflict between persons. Chapter six will discuss the application of atonement and reconciliation aspects to specific disputes in Malawi. It will also suggest recommendations on how to deal with those disputes. Christianity is not just a creed, it involves action. What is needed in Christian salvation is the practical restoration of broken relationships between God and creation, the removal of rupture within human race in order to facilitate reconciliation. Reconciliation in Malawian context means restoration, amendment, making up, settling an argument of boundary and bringing back lost relationship between the Livingstonia and Nkhoma Synods. Chapter seven will just deal with summary and conclusion. The theology of conflict resolution calls for change. Change of the heart and on how to deal with conflict. All human efforts in conflict are sometimes unproductive, unprofitable, and short-lived while divine efforts radically deal with deep rooted matters and motivations of the human heart. Divine efforts are fruitful and long-lasting.

Affiliate councils provide a platform for professional connectedness in ways that are often more difficult to achieve through national memberships. Through professional endeavors, affiliate councils provide opportunities for collaboration, networking, and engagement. Although the benefits of affiliate councils are clear, they can often be difficult to sustain when councils have a small infrastructure. Through roundtable discussions, the current project will share avenues by which the Southeastern Council on Family Relations, the southeastern affiliate of the National Council on Family Relations, has been successful in maintaining their mission to provide a network for collaboration among family professionals. This roundtable discussion will also explore areas of improvement within the affiliate council’s effort to fulfill their mission and will prompt attendees to engage in a meaningful exchange on the ways in which barriers to affiliate council success can be overcome.