High-profile instances of workplace violence and increased pressure from competitors have threatened the viability of one of the nation's largest employers, the United States Postal Service (USPS). As a result, the USPS began a massive change effort in the early 1990's. One of the initiatives implemented to improve labor-management relations was a derivative of the self-managed work team known as the crew chief program. This study provides a mixed-methods and multi-level approach to understand the impact this unique program had on organizational attitudes. The first aim of this study was to investigate whether the crew chief program reduced employees' stress and strain and improved job and supervisory satisfaction and company and union commitment, while controlling for the nesting of employees within sites and employee demographic characteristics. The second aim was to replicate and extend the stressor-strain-outcome (SSO) model of stress and to determine whether employee perceptions of crew chief support moderated the relationships between stressors, strain, and outcomes. I evaluated Aim 1 using data from 177 mail processors from 27 units matched from baseline to one-year follow-up with hierarchical linear modeling. This was followed up with an implementation analysis of qualitative data to determine the extent to which the program was implemented compared to the original design. I evaluated Aim 2 using structural equation modeling from 538 mail processors who participated at follow-up. There was little quantitative support for Aim 1. However, the results of the implementation analysis suggested that the crew chief program was not functioning as conceived. Aim 2 received strong support, with almost all of the main effects of the SSO model replicated. However, there was no support for the moderator effects. Additionally, I found role ambiguity to have direct relationships with other organizational outcomes beyond the indirect effects via strain and that crew chief support was strongly related to stressors and outcomes. These findings reinforce the notion that employing both quantitative and qualitative methods can dramatically improve the quality of organizational research. Based on these findings, I describe several suggestions for improvements to this specific program and for improving future initiatives aimed at enhancing labor-management relations.

Site-based management (SBM) is recent restructuring initiative in schools. The study is carried out with the aim of investigating the extent to which teachers participate in site-based management in schools. The researcher assumes that teachers are sidelined in site-based management in schools. An extensive literature review provides a theoretical foundation of the study and exposes the nature of site-based management. The qualitative approach is used in the case study. Data are collected through interviews that were conducted between July and September 2004. The interpretive paradigm is used in data collection, analysis and interpretation. The collected data are analysed through inductive analysis. The major research finding is that teachers are marginalised in site-based management in schools and that school-based decision making is still largely in the hands of school principals. It is recommended that principals and SMT's improve their management and leadership styles in order to allow for real participation of teachers in decision-making to take place. / Educational Studies / M.Ed (Education Management)

Poverty, violence, unemployment, the high rate of HIV/Aids and a lack of resources are some of the issues the South African government is currently trying to address. Victims of crime and violence have special needs that require early intervention. Studies show that if left unattended, victims may show maladjustment in their social, marital and work environments; receiving assistance and support following victimisation therefore holds many benefits for the victim. The Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP) announced by government as part of the National Crime Prevention Strategy is meant to address these needs. The VEP is a comprehensive, multifaceted, intersectoral model that brings together integrated service delivery for victims of crime and violence. One of the mandates of the Department of Social Development as the lead department of the VEP is to provide services that empower and meet the needs of communities and individuals who are considered victims. This study seeks to justify why it is beneficial to use a participatory learning approach when designing and conducting „in-service‟ continuing professional development training courses for state-appointed social workers working within the field of victim empowerment (VE) in South Africa. It also advocates for the theoretical approaches of experiential problem-based learning and psychosocial empowerment, and discusses the use of a crossover of theories from the different disciplines of mainstream psychology, community psychology and social work. The vision of a new South Africa based on post-1994 ANC government policies is outlined and the history of the field of socio-economic development and community development is discussed. Mainstream psychology‟s contribution to community development, and the tenets of community psychology, participation and empowerment, are applied in the design of an „in-service‟ short course. The primary focus of the study is on the range of skills and abilities needed to initiate and maintain successful VE services. These include the following: skills in group process facilitation; skills in intersectoral collaboration (referral and networking) with other governmental departments and other healthcare professionals; knowing how to establish and maintain forums; an understanding of the principles and tools of participatory learning and action; skills required for designing, organising and presenting workshops; project management, and the monitoring and evaluation of VE projects. This study elucidates how critical the „in-service‟ training of VE social workers is within the new social development paradigm in South Africa, and offers key considerations and recommendations regarding future „in-service‟ training programmes/short courses for state-employed social workers involved in VE services. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Bemagtiging van verpleegkundiges in gesondheidsdienste in Suid-Afrika bly 'n voortdurende kwessie en die mate waartoe verpleegbestuur verpleegkundiges bemagtig om outonoom op te tree, is onbekend. Wanneer verpleegkundiges bemagtig is, lei dit tot verbeterde pasientsorg deur middel van verhoogde produktiwiteit en werktevredenheid. Die wyse waarop bemagtiging van verpleegkundiges meet geskied is nog nie in SuidAfrika in diepte ondersoek nie. Die doel van hierdie studie was om daardie elemente wat vir die verpleegbestuurder noodsaaklik is om verpleegkundiges te kan bemagtig, te identifiseer. Deur middel van 'n beskrywende, ontdekkende studie wat van 'n vraelys gebruik gemaak het om inligting te bekom, is die nodige elemente gei'soleer. Verpleegbestuurders in gesondheidsdienste in die Gauteng-area het as teikengroep gedien. Definisies van bestuursbemagtiging is geanaliseer ten einde 'n konseptuele raamwerk te ken saamstel. Ses konsepte het die raamwerk vir hierdie studie gevorm, naamlik: • die bydrae van bestuurstrukture tot die bemagtiging van verpleegkundiges; • die rel van magsdeling in die bemagtiging van verpleegkundiges; • deelnemende besluitneming in die bemagtiging van verpleegkundiges; • die verpleegbestuurder se vaardighede en verantwoordelikhede in haar daaglikse taakontwerp en bestuur wat tot die bemagtiging van verpleegkundiges bydra; • motivering- en beloningstrategiee wat tot bemagtiging bydra; en • eienskappe wat kenmerkend van 'n bemagtigende verpleegbestuurder is. Uit die ontleding van die data het die volgende belangrike elemente ender andere na vore gekom: • Daar behoort gedesentraliseerde verspreiding van mag na die laagste moontlike vlak in die gesondheidsdiens plaas te vind; • Die voorstelle van verpleegkundiges behoort erken en indien aanvaarbaar, geimplementeer te word; • Gesag behoort op so n wyse gedelegeer te word dat onafhanklike besluitneming bevorder word; • Verpleegkundiges se take behoort sodanig ontwerp te word dat onafhanklike optrede in die werkplek bevorder word. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie het getoon dat verpleegbestuurders positief ingestel is betreffende die bemagtiging van verpleegkundiges. Hulle beskou dit as deel van hulle bestuursfunksie. 'n Uitdaging waarmee die bestuurder van die toekoms te kampe sal he, is die van 'n omvattende begrip vir personeellede en om van beheer deur middel van streng burokratiese reels, af te sien. / Empowerment of nurses in health services in South Africa remains an ongoing issue, but the extent to which nursing management empowers nurses to act autonomously is not known. When nurses are empowered patient care and nursing services improve through enhanced productivity and job satisfaction. The way in which nurses could be empowered by management has yet to be addressed by researchers in South Africa. The aim of the present study was to identify those essential elements through which nurse managers can empower nurses. By making use of a descriptive exploratory study, utilizing a questionnaire to acquire the necessary information, the essential elements were isolated. Nurse managers in health services in the Gauteng region formed the target group. Definitions of empowerment in management were analyzed and from this a conceptual framework regarding empowerment was formulated. Six concepts served as the basis of this study: • the contribution of management structures, towards the empowerment of nurses; • the role of power-sharing in the empowerment of nurses; • participative decision making in the empowerment of nurses; • the management skills and responsibilities of the nurse manager in her daily task design and management that contribute to the empowerment of nurses; • motivation and reward strategies that contribute towards empowerment; • attributes which characterise an empowered nurse manager. From the analysis of. the data the following important elements among others emerged: • Decentralization of the distribution of power to the lowest possible level should take place in the health services; • The suggestions of nurses should be acknowledged and if found acceptable, to be implemented; • Authority should be delegated in such a way that independent decision making by nurses is enhanced; • Nurses' tasks should be designed in a way that promote independent performance in the work place. The findings of this study revealed that nurse managers are favourably disposed towards the empowerment of nurses. They see this as part of their managerial function. A challenge which confronts the manager of the future is that of comprehensively understanding staff members, and setting aside control through bureaucratic behaviour. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil.

The poor state and failure of the basic education system in South Africa gave rise to this research. The wave of knowledge loss experienced in the last two decades is expected to carry on and will continue to deplete the basic education system’s knowledge base, severely affecting the already poor quality of education as well as the future economic growth and sustainability in South Africa. The main research objective was to establish whether future growth and sustainability in the basic education system in South Africa is achievable; which factors it is influenced by; and how knowledge continuity could impact on future growth and sustainability. A multidisciplinary approach focusing on organisational performance, knowledge management, individual and organisational behaviour and organisational development was followed. The nature of growth and sustainability and knowledge continuity in organisations was explored by following a contextualisation theory-building process. The main objective of the empirical research study was to determine by means of quantitative research the degree to which the influencing factors would enhance or impede growth and sustainability in an organisation. A quantitative survey method was followed. A questionnaire was developed and the survey was performed in 6 primary and secondary schools of the basic education system in South Africa. The questionnaire was found to be reliable with a Cronbach’s alpha of .8060. In the descriptive factor analysis process, principal component factor analysis was conducted, which described the five constructs that would influence growth and sustainability. These constructs’ dimensions produced significant intercorrelations which indicate that the dimensions are for the most part intercorrelated with each other in contributing to growth and sustainability. The multiple regression analysis indicated that knowledge loss would have an exceptionally strong impact on knowledge; and that knowledge, information and performance would significantly predict growth and sustainability. Organisations should change the focus for growth from physical assets to the development of intellectual capital, and knowledge continuity should form part of an organisations’ business strategy and mission. Knowledge continuity will only be successful if a culture conducive of trust and knowledge sharing and transfer exist, and are supported by effective and appropriate human resource practices and incentives. A structural equation model development strategy produced a knowledge continuity model aimed at enabling future growth and sustainability, based on the constructs confirmed in the factor analysis. The model indicated that there is a direct causal relationship between knowledge, information and performance with growth and sustainability. The regression analysis showed that most of the intercorrelations are significant, thus confirming the theory. The newly developed questionnaire and structural equation model should enable organisations to measure the degree to which the enhancing individual and organisational behavioural factors of growth and sustainability are in place and provide the measurement outcomes that would identify the factors that need to be focused on to improve and enable future growth and sustainability in an organisation. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The poor state and failure of the basic education system in South Africa gave rise to this research. The wave of knowledge loss experienced in the last two decades is expected to carry on and will continue to deplete the basic education system’s knowledge base, severely affecting the already poor quality of education as well as the future economic growth and sustainability in South Africa. The main research objective was to establish whether future growth and sustainability in the basic education system in South Africa is achievable; which factors it is influenced by; and how knowledge continuity could impact on future growth and sustainability. A multidisciplinary approach focusing on organisational performance, knowledge management, individual and organisational behaviour and organisational development was followed. The nature of growth and sustainability and knowledge continuity in organisations was explored by following a contextualisation theory-building process. The main objective of the empirical research study was to determine by means of quantitative research the degree to which the influencing factors would enhance or impede growth and sustainability in an organisation. A quantitative survey method was followed. A questionnaire was developed and the survey was performed in 6 primary and secondary schools of the basic education system in South Africa. The questionnaire was found to be reliable with a Cronbach’s alpha of .8060. In the descriptive factor analysis process, principal component factor analysis was conducted, which described the five constructs that would influence growth and sustainability. These constructs’ dimensions produced significant intercorrelations which indicate that the dimensions are for the most part intercorrelated with each other in contributing to growth and sustainability. The multiple regression analysis indicated that knowledge loss would have an exceptionally strong impact on knowledge; and that knowledge, information and performance would significantly predict growth and sustainability. Organisations should change the focus for growth from physical assets to the development of intellectual capital, and knowledge continuity should form part of an organisations’ business strategy and mission. Knowledge continuity will only be successful if a culture conducive of trust and knowledge sharing and transfer exist, and are supported by effective and appropriate human resource practices and incentives. A structural equation model development strategy produced a knowledge continuity model aimed at enabling future growth and sustainability, based on the constructs confirmed in the factor analysis. The model indicated that there is a direct causal relationship between knowledge, information and performance with growth and sustainability. The regression analysis showed that most of the intercorrelations are significant, thus confirming the theory. The newly developed questionnaire and structural equation model should enable organisations to measure the degree to which the enhancing individual and organisational behavioural factors of growth and sustainability are in place and provide the measurement outcomes that would identify the factors that need to be focused on to improve and enable future growth and sustainability in an organisation. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Site-based management (SBM) is recent restructuring initiative in schools. The study is carried out with the aim of investigating the extent to which teachers participate in site-based management in schools. The researcher assumes that teachers are sidelined in site-based management in schools. An extensive literature review provides a theoretical foundation of the study and exposes the nature of site-based management. The qualitative approach is used in the case study. Data are collected through interviews that were conducted between July and September 2004. The interpretive paradigm is used in data collection, analysis and interpretation. The collected data are analysed through inductive analysis. The major research finding is that teachers are marginalised in site-based management in schools and that school-based decision making is still largely in the hands of school principals. It is recommended that principals and SMT's improve their management and leadership styles in order to allow for real participation of teachers in decision-making to take place. / Educational Studies / M.Ed (Education Management)

Poverty, violence, unemployment, the high rate of HIV/Aids and a lack of resources are some of the issues the South African government is currently trying to address. Victims of crime and violence have special needs that require early intervention. Studies show that if left unattended, victims may show maladjustment in their social, marital and work environments; receiving assistance and support following victimisation therefore holds many benefits for the victim. The Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP) announced by government as part of the National Crime Prevention Strategy is meant to address these needs. The VEP is a comprehensive, multifaceted, intersectoral model that brings together integrated service delivery for victims of crime and violence. One of the mandates of the Department of Social Development as the lead department of the VEP is to provide services that empower and meet the needs of communities and individuals who are considered victims. This study seeks to justify why it is beneficial to use a participatory learning approach when designing and conducting „in-service‟ continuing professional development training courses for state-appointed social workers working within the field of victim empowerment (VE) in South Africa. It also advocates for the theoretical approaches of experiential problem-based learning and psychosocial empowerment, and discusses the use of a crossover of theories from the different disciplines of mainstream psychology, community psychology and social work. The vision of a new South Africa based on post-1994 ANC government policies is outlined and the history of the field of socio-economic development and community development is discussed. Mainstream psychology‟s contribution to community development, and the tenets of community psychology, participation and empowerment, are applied in the design of an „in-service‟ short course. The primary focus of the study is on the range of skills and abilities needed to initiate and maintain successful VE services. These include the following: skills in group process facilitation; skills in intersectoral collaboration (referral and networking) with other governmental departments and other healthcare professionals; knowing how to establish and maintain forums; an understanding of the principles and tools of participatory learning and action; skills required for designing, organising and presenting workshops; project management, and the monitoring and evaluation of VE projects. This study elucidates how critical the „in-service‟ training of VE social workers is within the new social development paradigm in South Africa, and offers key considerations and recommendations regarding future „in-service‟ training programmes/short courses for state-employed social workers involved in VE services. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Bemagtiging van verpleegkundiges in gesondheidsdienste in Suid-Afrika bly 'n voortdurende kwessie en die mate waartoe verpleegbestuur verpleegkundiges bemagtig om outonoom op te tree, is onbekend. Wanneer verpleegkundiges bemagtig is, lei dit tot verbeterde pasientsorg deur middel van verhoogde produktiwiteit en werktevredenheid. Die wyse waarop bemagtiging van verpleegkundiges meet geskied is nog nie in SuidAfrika in diepte ondersoek nie. Die doel van hierdie studie was om daardie elemente wat vir die verpleegbestuurder noodsaaklik is om verpleegkundiges te kan bemagtig, te identifiseer. Deur middel van 'n beskrywende, ontdekkende studie wat van 'n vraelys gebruik gemaak het om inligting te bekom, is die nodige elemente gei'soleer. Verpleegbestuurders in gesondheidsdienste in die Gauteng-area het as teikengroep gedien. Definisies van bestuursbemagtiging is geanaliseer ten einde 'n konseptuele raamwerk te ken saamstel. Ses konsepte het die raamwerk vir hierdie studie gevorm, naamlik: • die bydrae van bestuurstrukture tot die bemagtiging van verpleegkundiges; • die rel van magsdeling in die bemagtiging van verpleegkundiges; • deelnemende besluitneming in die bemagtiging van verpleegkundiges; • die verpleegbestuurder se vaardighede en verantwoordelikhede in haar daaglikse taakontwerp en bestuur wat tot die bemagtiging van verpleegkundiges bydra; • motivering- en beloningstrategiee wat tot bemagtiging bydra; en • eienskappe wat kenmerkend van 'n bemagtigende verpleegbestuurder is. Uit die ontleding van die data het die volgende belangrike elemente ender andere na vore gekom: • Daar behoort gedesentraliseerde verspreiding van mag na die laagste moontlike vlak in die gesondheidsdiens plaas te vind; • Die voorstelle van verpleegkundiges behoort erken en indien aanvaarbaar, geimplementeer te word; • Gesag behoort op so n wyse gedelegeer te word dat onafhanklike besluitneming bevorder word; • Verpleegkundiges se take behoort sodanig ontwerp te word dat onafhanklike optrede in die werkplek bevorder word. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie het getoon dat verpleegbestuurders positief ingestel is betreffende die bemagtiging van verpleegkundiges. Hulle beskou dit as deel van hulle bestuursfunksie. 'n Uitdaging waarmee die bestuurder van die toekoms te kampe sal he, is die van 'n omvattende begrip vir personeellede en om van beheer deur middel van streng burokratiese reels, af te sien. / Empowerment of nurses in health services in South Africa remains an ongoing issue, but the extent to which nursing management empowers nurses to act autonomously is not known. When nurses are empowered patient care and nursing services improve through enhanced productivity and job satisfaction. The way in which nurses could be empowered by management has yet to be addressed by researchers in South Africa. The aim of the present study was to identify those essential elements through which nurse managers can empower nurses. By making use of a descriptive exploratory study, utilizing a questionnaire to acquire the necessary information, the essential elements were isolated. Nurse managers in health services in the Gauteng region formed the target group. Definitions of empowerment in management were analyzed and from this a conceptual framework regarding empowerment was formulated. Six concepts served as the basis of this study: • the contribution of management structures, towards the empowerment of nurses; • the role of power-sharing in the empowerment of nurses; • participative decision making in the empowerment of nurses; • the management skills and responsibilities of the nurse manager in her daily task design and management that contribute to the empowerment of nurses; • motivation and reward strategies that contribute towards empowerment; • attributes which characterise an empowered nurse manager. From the analysis of. the data the following important elements among others emerged: • Decentralization of the distribution of power to the lowest possible level should take place in the health services; • The suggestions of nurses should be acknowledged and if found acceptable, to be implemented; • Authority should be delegated in such a way that independent decision making by nurses is enhanced; • Nurses' tasks should be designed in a way that promote independent performance in the work place. The findings of this study revealed that nurse managers are favourably disposed towards the empowerment of nurses. They see this as part of their managerial function. A challenge which confronts the manager of the future is that of comprehensively understanding staff members, and setting aside control through bureaucratic behaviour. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil.

Various governments in post-independent Ghana have attempted to alleviate poverty among the citizenry. In furtherance of this, several poverty reduction strategies have been employed with different results. Even though the rate of poverty has fallen over the years, it is still high at 21,4% (Molini and Paci, 2015) with women unfortunately bearing most of the brunt of this (National Development Planning Commission, 2012). This dissertation looks at filling the gap in information by exploring the role women can play in poverty reduction, using Ghana as a case study. In doing that, the study analyses poverty and the underlying reasons for endemic poverty among Ghanaians. The objective of this study was to contextualize and make a dimension of poverty broadly in Africa and Ghana in particular. It also sought to critique the current policy alleviation policies and programmes, in relation to various factors contributing to endemic poverty among Ghanaian women, with the aim of identifying the roles that women can play in poverty reduction and making recommendations. In this regard, a descriptive research design coupled with qualitative research methodological technique was employed, where relevant publications in the form of government reports, journals, textbooks and internet were used to collect data. Inferences were extracted based on the requirements of the research topic. The study found that women play an important role in food production, trade, and business. It also emerged from the study that there are numerous factors inimical to the reduction of poverty among women in Ghana. They included their inability to negotiate labour matters; a lack of, or limited education; patriarchal culture or customs; and economic sabotage. In addressing the aforementioned factors, the study recommended that in its pre-assessment of NGOs, government tailor their intervention to synchronize with the development strategies to alleviate poverty among women. It also advised educational awareness and public-public partnerships in the establishment of schools targeted most especially at women for empowerment purposes. Finally, there was an emphasis on advocacy for the reservation of land exclusively for women through land reforms. / Public Administration and Management / M. Admin. (Public Administration)