Thesis (M.B.A.)-Business Studies Unit, Durban Institute of Technology, 2005 xii, 127 leaves / The knowledge, attitude and training needs of line managers at the South African Sugar Association (SASA) with regards to the management of HIV/AIDS infected employees. Background: The rapid spread of HIV/AIDS is having an increasingly adverse impact on the operations of companies. Due to the changing environment in which line managers have to operate as a result of HIV/AIDS, line managers will increasingly be faced with handling HIV/AIDS infected employees and all the issues surrounding this epidemic. The research investigates the knowledge, attitude and training needs of line managers in SASA with regards to the management of HIV/AIDS infected employees. Objective: The goals of the research are; 1). To ascertain the prevailing level of knowledge, attitude and training needs of line managers at SASA with regards to the management of HIV/AIDS infected employees. 2). To establish the relationship between the biographic variables and knowledge, attitude and training needs with regards to the management of HIV/AIDS infected employees. / M

The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of the intersection of race, gender and social class on women leaders’ work experience and career progression in order to come up with strategies for gender transformation at leadership level in corporate South Africa. The problem statement of this research study concerns the indication in the annual report of the Commission for Employment Equity (Department of Labour 2012) that there is under-representation of women, especially African and Coloured women, at top management level relative to the economically active population. The Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill was published in the Government Gazette No. 37005 of 6 November 2013. This Bill aims to enforce compliance with the stipulated minimum representation of women at senior levels in both the private and public sectors. This study, with its objective of reaching an understanding of the impact of the intersection of race, gender and social class on women’s career progression, is therefore timeous. Getting the perspective of woman CEOs across race and class on how to transform gender at leadership level could add an important voice to transformation and could be of benefit to decision makers in business and in government. Based on this problem statement the following research questions were formulated: - To what extent does the intersection of race, social class and gender impact on women CEOs’ experience in their work roles and career progression? - How might an understanding of women leaders’ experiences in their roles assist with strategies to transform gender at leadership level in corporate South Africa? Qualitative research methodology was chosen as the appropriate methodology and grounded theory was employed. Purposive, snowball and theoretical sampling methods were used to identify fourteen participants (13 CEOs and one chairman).The life story method was employed for in-depth semi-structured interviews from which rich descriptive data was collected and which was analysed using grounded theory. Findings confirmed that the intersection of race, gender, age and class does have an impact on women’s career progression and their life experiences. The dominant social identity was race for blacks and gender whites; class and age were the overlay. In terms of strategies for gender transformation, first-order constructs from the participants were related to abstract second-order constructs from the literature, which led to the formulation of the WHEEL Theoretical Model. The theoretical model is an integration of different elements required for the formulation of strategies for gender transformation at leadership level. The different elements were women themselves; domestic and family support; the organisation; society and government. Despite some limitations that were encountered, the aim of the study was achieved by making a contribution not only to the development of theory related to strategies for gender transformation at leadership level, which other scholars can build from, but also to the gaining of insights into the intersection of multiple social identities and their impact which can be used by business leaders and policymakers to address inequalities in organisations. In addition, this research study made various recommendations for future research / Business Management / DBL

Thesis (M.B.A.)-Business Studies Unit, Durban Institute of Technology, 2005 xii, 127 leaves / The knowledge, attitude and training needs of line managers at the South African Sugar Association (SASA) with regards to the management of HIV/AIDS infected employees. Background: The rapid spread of HIV/AIDS is having an increasingly adverse impact on the operations of companies. Due to the changing environment in which line managers have to operate as a result of HIV/AIDS, line managers will increasingly be faced with handling HIV/AIDS infected employees and all the issues surrounding this epidemic. The research investigates the knowledge, attitude and training needs of line managers in SASA with regards to the management of HIV/AIDS infected employees. Objective: The goals of the research are; 1). To ascertain the prevailing level of knowledge, attitude and training needs of line managers at SASA with regards to the management of HIV/AIDS infected employees. 2). To establish the relationship between the biographic variables and knowledge, attitude and training needs with regards to the management of HIV/AIDS infected employees.

This research focuses on the experiences of Africans within the management ranks in South African organisations in the private sector. It examines progress (successes and failures) in the implementation of affirmative action programmes. The research further examines power as a concomitant of the managerial role. It argues that the approach that uses the notion of socio-psychological barriers directed to the individual aspirant may be incomplete in explaining lack of mobility if it fails to account for the broader power dynamics and structures within South African organisations. Furthermore, it explores attributes of individual managers as well as those of organisations in order to establish the fit between the individual and the organisation, looks at practices that are often associated with affirmative action programmes and describes empirically the experiences of black managers in such settings. The research concludes that in the absence of programmes that enable aspirant executives to empower themselves psychologically for upward mobility, affirmative action programmes may not be sustainable. The underlying assumption of this research is that the historical legacy which subjected Africans to an official policy of discrimination for decades impeded their upward mobility in the labour market, thus enabling the white labour force to occupy a position of privilege in the private sector. In such settings white managers are confronted with the role of implementing affirmative action programmes which pose a threat to the privileges they have grown accumstomed to. White managers are thus perceived by their black counterparts as reluctant agents of change. The research is guided by the hypotheses that where blacks in managerial positions perceive themselves as being unable to influence organisational decisions, or as having no control over resources, people and information, they would feel that affirmative action is disempowering. To obtain the required information a structured interview schedule with both open ended and closed-ended questions was used. Questions tapped the perceptions of black managers regarding their empowerment in employing organisations. Face-to-face interviews with 100 black managers from the private sector were conducted by the author. The resultant data was captured on a computer data base and then subjected to various forms of statistical analyses. The main predictor of feelings of empowerment was found to be the manager's centrality in decision-making processes. It was also found that positive relationships with superiors and colleagues influenced feelings of empowerment, as did membership of corporate clubs. Job rank was positively related to relationships with superiors and colleagues. It was also found that affirmative action environments presented this group with some contradictions: they advanced much slower than their white colleagues, and supervised largely, or only blacks, and/or are in specialist positions with no budgetary control. Organisational climate factors (negative attitudes and unfair promotional practices) were still perceived to be in place. Educational qualifications were not found to be good predictors of empowerment. The findings suggest that affirmative action programmes need to take the heterogeneity of managers into account. Management must show that managing diversity is crucial to their productivity and competitiveness. It is also important for such programmes to examine the format of corporate clubs, and consider altering them to accommodate the social reality of black managers. Lastly, a fundamental transformation of power relations is necessary so that decision-makers operate from more or less the same level of power. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1996.

Increasing HIV infection rates affect government employees as much as workers in other places. While government has responded to the evolving crisis with a number of policy documents, little is known about the implementation of such policies in government departments. This study assessed the HIV/AIDS policy in the Department of Labour and identified weakness in the implementation. The results of the study may be used by the Dept. of Labour to improve its implementation if necessary.

Dissertation (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.

In contemporary society, work and home represent the two most significant domains in the life of working individuals. South Africa’s socioeconomic, political, and societal circumstances will influence employees’ experiences of work-life balance differently, compared to that of employees in other countries, suggesting that the construction of work-life balance amongst different race and cultural groups may differ. The present study used in-depth qualitative interviews with ten black women and men employed in a customer care environment, to explore their construction of work-life balance. A grounded theory approach was used to analyse the data and identify themes. This study suggests that work-life balance is a unique experience for individuals, which varies over time and in different situations. The study confirmed that attaining work-life balance is a process of balancing ever-changing experiences over time, and in different life stages. The results of this study are also discussed in relation to the relevant literature. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

South Africa comes from an apartheid local government system that was structured to divide the citizens socially, economically, spatially and racially to ensure that only a small minority of South Africans benefited from the development and the resources of this country. Since 1994 government departments have undergone a number of transformation processes. The Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 and affirmative action became instrumental in ensuring racial and gender representation within the local government structures. This study investigates the perceptions of racism, nepotism, fraud and other related problems which were perceived as a hindrance towards the effective implementation of affirmative action. The main findings of the study confirm that the implementation of affirmative action in municipalities is not effective due to lack of commitment from top management. It is anticipated that the implementation of Local Government Systems Amendment Act 7 of 2011, will enforce service delivery within municipalities. / Public Administration and Management / M. Tech. (Public Management)

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Act, Act 53 of 2003, has made it essential that businesses with more than fifty employees become black empowered in the shortest possible time frame (2-3 years) which is both practically possible and economically feasible. The aim with government's introduction of BBBEE is to address inequalities resulting from the systematic exclusion of the majority of South Africans from meaningful participation in the economy. With the introduction of the BBBEE Code of Good Practice, compliance with the requirements as set out by the government was further defined. A balanced scorecard has been introduced by the Department of Trade and Industry that assists companies to measure their level of integration. Compliance to the legislation has become a necessity for businesses in South Africa to be competitive and to grow. The balanced scorecard and the ever mounting pressure to be competitive have resulted in black economic empowerment (BEE) transactions being more focussed on equity deals than on truly empowerment. A hypothesis is that these types of transactions would not be sustainable due to the nature of the relationships and seeming lack of strategic processes. With the current balanced scorecard, there is also no provision made for the measurement of sustainability. To be competitive remains the key to any business' strategic objectives. This would therefore imply that the BEE transactions should hold a competitive advantage for the business and promote the objective of black economic empowerment as a socioeconomic process, ultimately contributing to the economic transformation of South Africa. It is within this context that the study explored the application of growth strategies and the modelling of these strategies to BEE. An exploratory and mainly descriptive research study was conducted to determine whether a model for sustainable empowerment could be developed using the strategic growth strategies as the framework. Each strategy, namely diversification, mergers and acquisition and strategic alliances was evaluated in terms of its contribution to the competitive advantage of a company. Using the principles from a strategic growth perspective it is believed that a number of concerns for small and medium size businesses in South Africa could be addressed. These include amongst others, growing more competitively through diversification into the core business, selecting partnerships/alliances that match the strategy of the company, avoiding fronting through the establishment of strategic alliances based on the improvement of efficiency and effectiveness, transferring skills and knowledge through diversification, strengthening existing business domain through an alliance that enhances the core strengths of a company. The recommendation to apply a more strategic model to BEE also resulted in the recommendation of a more comprehensive tool to measure the effectiveness and the sustainability of the growth strategy. A recommendation is made to apply the balanced scorecard and to integrate the strategic objectives of the company with the BEE objectives defined by government. The result is a model that reflects the sustainable competitive advantage of a business aligned with its vision and mission. Both the competitive advantage and sustainability are therefore addressed through the model application that would, in all likelihood, also prove to have a direct effect on the financial outcome of the business in the future. BEE, in its legislative form, is unique to South Africa and is a strategic tool to contribute to the economic transformation of South Africa. In a country that is in the process of creating a new middle class, this model could have a distinct impact on other developing countries in the world and further research on the application of a sustainable BEE model to create economic prosperity in the developing society could prove to be of significant value. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ingevolge die Algemene Swart Ekonomiese Bemagtigings (BBBEE) Wetgewing, Wet 53 van 2003, is dit vir sake-ondernemings met meer as vyftig werknemers noodsaaklik om swart bemagtiging in die kortste moontlike tydsbestek (2 - 3 jaar) in werking te stel; 'n tydsduur wat beide prakties haalbaar en ekonomies uitvoerbaar is. Die meerderheid Suid- Afrikaners is van enige betekenisvolle deelname in die ekonomie stelselmatig uitgesluit en die regering se oogmerk met die implementering van die BBBEE is om dié ongelykheid uit die weg te ruim. Met die invoering van die gedragskode is die vlak van inskiklikheid meer breedvoerig gedefinieer. Ter wille van mededingendheid en groei het dit vir sake-ondernemings noodsaaklik geword om hierdie betrokke wetgewing te ondersteun. Die ewewigtige meetinstrument en die voortdurende druk om 'n hoër vlak van mededingendheid het tot gevolg dat daar meer gekonsentreer word op gewone aandeletransaksies as op ware bemagtiging. 'n Hipotese is dat hierdie tipe transaksies nie volhoudbaar sal wees nie weens die aard van die verhoudings en skynbare gebrek aan strategiese prosesse. Met die huidige meetinstrument is daar ook geen voorsiening gemaak vir die meting van volhoudbaarheid nie. Van kardinale belang vir enige sake-onderneming is om mededingend handel te dryf. Dit veronderstel dat die BEE-transaksies behoort 'n mededingende voordeel vir die sakewêreld te ondervang en die doelwitte van swart bemagtiging as 'n sosio-ekonomiese proses te bevorder. Hierdie benadering sal mettertyd 'n wesenlike bydrae lewer tot die transformasie van Suid-Afrika. Dit is binne hierdie verband wat hierdie studie die toepassing van groei-strategieë nagevors het en voorts die uitvoering van hierdie strategieë vir BEE toe te pas. 'n Ondersoekende- en hoofsaaklik beskrywende navorsingstudie is onderneem om te bepaal watter model vir standhoudende bemagtiging ontwikkel kan word met gebruik van die strategiese groeistrategieë as raamwerk. Elke strategie, dit wil sê diversifisering, samesmeltings en strategiese alliansies en venootskappe, is in terme van hulle bydrae tot die mededingende voordeel van die maatskappy, beoordeel. Met die toepassing vanuit 'n strategiese groei-perspektief, is die skrywer van mening dat verskeie besorgdhede oor BEE vir klein- en medium sake-ondernemings in Suid-Afrika aangespreek kan word. Dit sluit onder andere in, om mededingendheid te ontwikkel deur diversifikasie in die sake kern, selektering van vennootskappe/ alliansies wat ooreenstem met die strategie van die maatskappy. Ook deur frontering te verhoed deur die vestiging van strategiese samewerking, gegrond op verbeterde doeltreffendheid en doelmatigheid. Voorts deur kennis en vaardigheid oor te dra deur diversifikasie, versterking van die bestaande sakedomein deur samewerking, wat die inherente krag van die maatskappy ondervang. Die aanbeveling om 'n meer betekenisvolle model vir BEE toe te pas het gelei tot 'n aanbeveling vir 'n meer toepaslike instrument om die doelmatigheid en standhoudenheid van die groeistrategie te meet. Ook word aanbeveel dat die ewewigtige meetinstrument toegepas word en die strategiese doelwitte van die maatskappy te integreer met die BEE doelwitte, soos deur die regering gedefinieer. Die uitkoms is 'n model wat die volhoubare mededingende voordeel van 'n sake-onderneming, gerig op sy visie en missie, weerspieël. Beide die mededingende voordeel en volhoubaarheid word dus aangespreek deur die toepassing van die model, wat in alle waarskynlikheid ook sal bewys dat dit 'n direkte invloed op die toekomstige finansiële uitkoms van die sake-onderneming sal uitoefen. BEE, in sy wetgewende formaat, is eie aan Suid-Afrika en is 'n strategiese instrument wat bydra tot die ekonomiese transformasie van Suid-Afrika. In 'n land wat in die proses is van die skepping van 'n nuwe middelklas, kan hierdie model 'n besliste uitwerking hê op ander ontwikkelende lande in die wêreld. Verdere navorsing in die toepassing van 'n volhoudbare BEE-model om ekonomiese vooruitgang in die ontwikkelende samelewing te bewerkstellig kan heel waarskynlik 'n betekenisvolle bydrae lewer.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study was carried out in an effort to determine whether the phenomenon of the socalled 'glass-ceiling effect' is prevalent in the South African banking industry. The major questions asked were whether there are still barriers preventing women from reaching executive management levels in the banking industry and what the main barriers facing these women are. The research method used was that of content analysis. The purpose of the research was to discover the first-hand experiences of the women in the banking industry in South Africa. The aim of the study was not to test hypothesis testing, but an analysis of the experiences of a sample of women in senior management positions within the banking industry. A questionnaire was distributed to six women in senior management positions at four of South Africa's largest banking groups. With the assistance of each banking group's human resources manager, an 83% response rate was achieved. In total, 20 completed questionnaires were received, which served as the sample for this study. Implications of the findings are discussed and the study concludes that although transformation in the country has raised awareness, there is nevertheless gender inequality in companies and progress towards change in the banking sector has been very slow. Career-oriented support structures are being offered to women, but for women with family responsibilities there are very limited, if any, family-support structures. The sample of women identified self-confidence; assertiveness, ambition and a careeroriented mindset as important characteristics for achieving success at managerial level in the banking industry. These women are equipping themselves with the right skills, degrees, and courses and are gaining experience every day, thus making themselves viable candidates for breaking the glass ceiling. Being a woman is not a barrier in itself as it was in years gone by and legislation now provides for the equal treatment of all races and gender. The current culture in the South African banking sector, which is a historic legacy of domination by men and discrimination in the past, seems to be a rnalor barrier. Currently, the focus on achieving racial equity overshadows the importance of attaining gender equity, mainly because of the government's strict requirements of companies in this regard. Taking into consideration the history of South Africa, the majority of the women included in the sample feel it is appropriate for the attainment of racial equity to be addressed first. Most of the women in this sample have considered starting up their own business as an alternative to corporate life, but feel that either their self-confidence or financial requirements present them with major barriers. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie is onderneem om vas te stel of die sogenaamde glasplafon-verskynsel in die Suid-Afrikaanse banksektor voorkom. Die oorhoofse vrae wat gestel was, was of daar steeds hindernisse bestaan en wat hierdie oorhoofse hindernisse is wat vroue verhoed om uitvoerende bestuursvlakke in die banksektor te bereik. Die inhoudsontledingsmetode is as navorsingsmetode gebruik. Die doel van die navorsing was om eerstehands die ervarings van vroue in die banksektor te ontdek. Die studie het nie 'n hipotese probeer toets nie, maar eerder die ervarings van 'n uitgesoekte groep vroue ontleed. 'n Vraelys is aan ses vroue in senior bestuursposte by vier van Suid-Afrika se grootste bankgroepe versprei. Met behulp van die Menslike Hulpbron-bestuurder by elk van die banke, is 83% van die vraelyste terugontvang. Altesame 20 vraelyste is volledig ingevul en in die studie gebruik. Die implikasies van die bevindinge word bespreek. Die gevolgtrekking is dat transformasie in Suid-Afrika beslis die bewustheid aangewakker het dat geslagsdiskriminasie in maatskappye bestaan, en dat verandering in die banksektor stadig verloop. Maatskappye verskaf loopbaangeoriënteerde ondersteuningstrukture aan vroue, maar vir vroue met gesinsverantwoordelikhede is daar min of geen ondersteuning nie. Die groep vroue identifiseer selfvertroue, stelligheid, ambisie en 'n loopbaangeoriënteerde uitkyk as belangrike eienskappe vir sukses in senior bestuursposte in die bankwese. Hierdie vroue rus hulself toe met die regte vaardighede, grade en kursusse en verwerf elke dag ondervinding om sodoende hulself lewensvatbare kandidate te maak om deur die sogenaamde glasplafon te breek. Om vroulik te wees is nie vandag meer 'n hindernis soos voorheen nie. Wetgewing bepaal die gelyke behandeling van alle rasse- en geslagsgroepe. Die kultuur wat in die banksektor in Suid-Afrika geskep is weens die histories mansgedomineerde en diskriminerende geskiedenis word wel as 'n hindernis beskou. Huidiglik oorskadu rassegelykheid geslagsgelykheid, hoofsaaklik omdat die regering sulke streng vereistes aan maatskappye stel met betrekking tot rassegelykheid. Die meerderheid van die groep vroue voel dat as die geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika in ag geneem word, dit gepas is dat rassegelykheid voorkeur geniet. Die meerderheid van die vroue in die groep het dit al oorweeg om hul eie besigheid te begin as "n alterntief vir die korporatiewe lewe. Hulle voel egter dat die gebrek aan selfvertroue en geld hulle verhoed om dit te doen.