Text in English with abstracts in English, Afrikaans and Zulu / The study was conducted within the interpretive research paradigm. Anchored in organisational justice theory, the study explored the incapacity management practices at an open distance learning (ODL) institution in South Africa. A qualitative research methodology, which applied a case study design, was used in this study. A purposeful sample of 16 (N=16) participants was chosen based on their experiences, knowledge and understanding on the topic of incapacity management. Semi-structured interviews were used as the primary data collection method, and documents were used as a secondary data collection source for triangulation purposes. The data analysis and reporting of the participants’ lived experiences drew on the thematic analysis technique. At theoretical level, the study provided insight into the notions of incapacity management in the workplace; the regulatory obligations in managing incapacity; and lastly, reasonable practices to accommodate incapacity. The literature review confirmed that an effective incapacity management framework should have four main dimensions, namely a supportive institutional culture; a policy and procedure providing for incapacity management practices; provisions for reasonable accommodation; and a multidisciplinary approach. From the empirical phase it emerged that although the literature presupposes a healthy institutional culture to ensure well-managed incapacity in the workplace, the current institutional culture at the institution under study was negative. This study also found several challenges relating to incapacity management in the ODL institution, namely a lack of knowledge and understanding of incapacity management due to the absence of a policy and procedure; a lack of understanding of the incapacity condition; and a lack of reciprocal communication among the key role players. The findings also demonstrated that reasonable accommodation practices could be improved and that the management of incapacity in the workplace requires a multidisciplinary approach. The study proposes an incapacity management framework for the ODL institution that encompasses the identified prerequisites and challenges. The study also added insights to the human resource management body of knowledge, especially knowledge of the management of incapacity due to ill health in the workplace, with specific reference to the ODL institution. / Hierdie studie is binne die interpretiewe navorsingsparadigma uitgevoer. Geanker in organisatoriese geregtigheidsteorie, ondersoek hierdie studie die onbekwaamheidsbestuurpraktyke by 'n opeafstandsonderriginstelling in Suid-Afrika. 'n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodologie wat 'n gevallestudie-ontwerp toegepas het, is in hierdie studie gebruik. 'n Doelgerigte steekproef van 16 (N=16) is gekies op grond van hulle ervarings, kennis en begrip van die onderwerp van onbekwaamheid bestuur. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gebruik as die primêre data-insamelingsmetode, en dokumente is gebruik as ’n sekondêre data-insamelingsbron vir trianguleringsdoeleindes. Tematiese ontledingstegniek is aangewend in die data-ontleding en -verslagdoening van die deelnemers se geleefde ervarings. Op teoretiese vlak, het die studie insig gebied in die opvattings van onbekwaamheidsbestuur in die werkplek; die regulatiewe verpligtings in onbekwaamheidsbestuur; en laastens, redelike praktyke om die onbekwaamheid te akkommodeer. Die literatuuroorsig het bevestig dat 'n effektiewe onbekwaamheidsbestuurraamwerk vier hoofdimensies moet hê, naamlik 'n ondersteunende kultuur in die instelling; ’n beleid en prosedure wat voorsiening maak vir onbekwaamheidsbestuurspraktyke; redelike akkommodasie; en 'n multi-dissiplinêre benadering. Uit die empiriese fase het dit geblyk dat alhoewel die literatuur 'n gesonde institusionele kultuur vooronderstel wat onbekwaamheid in die werkplek effektief bestuur, die bestaande institusionele kultuur by die instelling wat bestudeer is, negatief was. Hierdie studie het bevind dat daar verskeie uitdagings is wat verband hou met onbekwaamheidsbestuur in die opeafstandsonderriginstelling, naamlik 'n gebrek aan kennis en begrip van onbekwaamheidsbestuur as gevolg van die gebrek aan 'n beleid en prosedure; 'n gebrek aan begrip van die onbekwaamheidstoestand; en 'n gebrek aan wedersydse kommunikasie tussen die sleutelrolspelers. Die bevindings het ook getoon dat redelike akkommodasie praktyke verbeter kan word en dat die bestuur van onbekwaamheid in die werkplek 'n multi-dissiplinêre benadering vereis. Die studie stel 'n onbekwaamheidsbestuurraamwerk vir die opeafstandsonderriginstelling voor wat die geïdentifiseerde voorvereistes en uitdagings insluit. Die studie het ook insig gebied in die menslikehulpbronbestuur-kennisgeheel, veral kennis oor die bestuur van onbekwaamheid in die werkplek te wyte aan swak gesondheid, met spesifieke verwysings na die opeafstandsonderriginstelling. / Ucwaningo lwaqhutshwa ngokocwaningo womgomo wokuhumusha. Yakhelwe phezulu kwethiyoriyezobulungiswa, ucwaningo lwagxila ekunqundweni kwezindlela zokuphatha ezaziwa ngokuthi ukufunda okuvulelekile ngezobuchwepheshe okuthiwa yi-ODel esikhungweni saseNingizimu Afrika. Ucwaningo oluyindlela yokuklama oluphathelene nesimo, okuyinto esetshenziselwa ukufunda ngocwaningo lwesiqephu esithile, luye lwasetshenziswa. Kuye kwenziwa isampule olubalulekile lapho kuye kwakhethwa abantu ababebambe iqhaza abayishumi nesithupha (N=16) olwabe lwakhelwe phezulu kwesipiliyoni, ulwazi kanye nokuqonda ngodaba lokunqundwa kokuphatha. Izinhlolokhono ezihleliwe ezingaphelele ziye zasetshenziswa ngendlela yukuqoqa izibalo zangempela, kwabuye kwasetshenziswa imiqulu yemithombo yokuqoqwa kwedatha yesibili ukuqinisekisa okuhlosiwe. Ukuhlaziywa kwemininingwane kanye nokubika ebantwini abambe iqhaza ngezinto abahlangabezana nazo ezimpilweni zabo ix kwadala ukulethwa kokuhlaziya kwamasu okuhlaziya ezingqikithi ezithile. Ezingeni lesayensi, ucwaningo lusinikeza ukuqonda imibono yokunqundwa kokuphatha emsebenzini; izibopho zokulawula ukunqunda kokuphathwa; okokugcina,izindlela ezamukelekile zokubhekana nokunqundwa kokuphathwa. Ukubuyekezwa kwemibhalo kuqinisekise ukuthi uhlaka olusebenzayo lokunqundwa kokuphatha kumele kube nezinhlangothi ezine, okunguyisiko lokusekela izikhungoinqubomgomo nenqubo yokuhlinzeka izindlela zokunqunda ukuphatha; ukuhlinzeka izindlela ezamukelekile; kanye nenqubo ezihlukene yezifundo. Kusukela esigabeni somqondo wesasayensi kuye kwavela ukuthi nakuba imibhalo igcizelela isiko elihle neliphilasayo lemfundo ukuqinisekisa ukunqundwa kokuphatha kahle emsebenzini, isiko olukhona manje ezikhungweni alulungile. Ucwaningo luye lwathola ukuthi ziningi izingqinamba ezihambisa nokunqundwa kokuphatha ukufunda okuvulelekile ngezobuchwepheshe kuyizikhungo okuthiwa yi-ODL, okungabi khona kolwazi kanye nokuqonda mayelana nokunqundwa ukuphatha okudalwa ukungabikhona kwengqubomgomo nezingqubo ezithile; ukungaqondi izimiso zokunqunda; kanye nokuntuleka kokuxhumana ngokuvumelana phakathi kwabantu abadlala indima ebalulekile. Okuye kwatholakala kuye kwakhombisa ukuthi izindlela ezamukelekile zingathuthukiswa nokuthi ukunqundwa kokuphatha emsebenzini kudinga inqubo ehlukene yezifundo. Ucwaningo luhlongaza ingqubomgomo yokunqundwa kokuphatha kwezikhungo zemfundo evulelekile okuthiwa yi-ODL ezohlanganisa izinto ezidingekayo nezinselelo ezikhona. Ucwaningo lubuye lwafaka ukuqonda kokuba khona kwabantu abazoba umgogodla wolwazi abazoqashwa, kakhulukazi kulwazi lokunqunda ukuphatha okuzodalwa ukungabi esimweni esihle ngempilo emsebenzini, kakhulukazi uma kubhekiswa ekufundeni okuvulelekile ezikhungweni ezaziwa ngokuthi yi-ODL. / Human Resource Management / D. Com. (Business management)

The aim of this study is to conduct a thorough theoretical study on mobile learning (mlearning) in order to achieve the primary objective of the study which is to develop a general framework to implement and manage mobile technologies in a higher education environment. The focus of the literature study was to research the state of mobile technologies and their relevance to teaching and learning. The literature study investigate the implications of mobile technologies for students, lecturers and thus for the institution and provided an overview of frameworks found in literature with the emphasis on the management of m–learning within the higher education institution. M–learning is part of a new mobile conception of society, with the mobility of the technologies impacting on the mobility of the students, the lecturers and ultimately on the mobility of higher education. Literature suggests that, while m–learning is proving to be innovative, the factors that most strongly impact on the ultimate success or failure of mlearning will depend on human factors, the balancing of technological ideals and pedagogical imperatives, and the successful management of the interface between human educational systems and technology systems. The proposed general framework focuses on addressing key issues related to m–learning from the perspective of the student, the lecturer and thus the institution. In order to remain competitive higher education needs to be diligent in maintaining the complex technology infrastructure that supports a thriving mobile culture that will meet and exceed the expectations of both lecturers and students. The empirical research conducted had as objectives to investigate the mobile technology assets of respondents with regard to the hardware and the software that they own, the mobile technology actions of respondents in regard to what they do with the mobile technology that they own and to investigate the respondent's attitude towards mobile technologies. A survey was designed and distributed to a sampling of the academic staff and students of the North–West University (NWU) in South Africa, specifically the Potchefstroom Campus. There is ample proof from the empirical study that there is a gap with regard to the level of accessibility, usage, and attitude with regards to the different interest groups in the higher education environment. Higher education institutions should invest in investigating these gaps further and in leveraging off the benefits of the effective management of these technologies to improve teaching and learning. The final chapter concludes with a summary of the secondary objectives researched in the literature (Chapter two) and empirical research (Chapter three) chapters in order to support recommendations towards the primary objective of this study. The rapid pace of adoption and advancement of mobile technologies creates opportunities for new and innovative services provided through such mobile devices. Higher education finds itself in the early innings of the mobile Internet pulling both lecturers and students towards the same place: smaller, faster, cheaper devices working together in a web of connectivity. Recommendations were made in this final chapter on how higher education institutions can leverage the benefits of the effective management of mobile technologies to improve teaching and learning. M–learning has the potential to increase the capacity of higher education through improving efficiency and productivity of teaching and learning. Mlearning could address challenges related to quality of teaching such as continuous professional training, lifelong upgrading, connecting with academics worldwide and communicating effectively with students. Higher education is discovering the potential of mlearning to promote student engagement and improving the quality of learning. Management of higher education institutions and systems, management of policymaking including storage and analysis of data, construction and assessment of policy scenarios, and tracer studies or academic tracking systems can be improved through the use of m–learning. Mobile technologies will continue to increasingly become an integral part of students' and lecturers' private and day to day lives and m–learning will be integral in educational content delivery. Additional research is required to study the effective and optimal implementation of m–learning. A better understanding of the benefits and leverage thereof is required and additional research should provide answers to these questions. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The aim of this study is to conduct a thorough theoretical study on mobile learning (mlearning) in order to achieve the primary objective of the study which is to develop a general framework to implement and manage mobile technologies in a higher education environment. The focus of the literature study was to research the state of mobile technologies and their relevance to teaching and learning. The literature study investigate the implications of mobile technologies for students, lecturers and thus for the institution and provided an overview of frameworks found in literature with the emphasis on the management of m–learning within the higher education institution. M–learning is part of a new mobile conception of society, with the mobility of the technologies impacting on the mobility of the students, the lecturers and ultimately on the mobility of higher education. Literature suggests that, while m–learning is proving to be innovative, the factors that most strongly impact on the ultimate success or failure of mlearning will depend on human factors, the balancing of technological ideals and pedagogical imperatives, and the successful management of the interface between human educational systems and technology systems. The proposed general framework focuses on addressing key issues related to m–learning from the perspective of the student, the lecturer and thus the institution. In order to remain competitive higher education needs to be diligent in maintaining the complex technology infrastructure that supports a thriving mobile culture that will meet and exceed the expectations of both lecturers and students. The empirical research conducted had as objectives to investigate the mobile technology assets of respondents with regard to the hardware and the software that they own, the mobile technology actions of respondents in regard to what they do with the mobile technology that they own and to investigate the respondent's attitude towards mobile technologies. A survey was designed and distributed to a sampling of the academic staff and students of the North–West University (NWU) in South Africa, specifically the Potchefstroom Campus. There is ample proof from the empirical study that there is a gap with regard to the level of accessibility, usage, and attitude with regards to the different interest groups in the higher education environment. Higher education institutions should invest in investigating these gaps further and in leveraging off the benefits of the effective management of these technologies to improve teaching and learning. The final chapter concludes with a summary of the secondary objectives researched in the literature (Chapter two) and empirical research (Chapter three) chapters in order to support recommendations towards the primary objective of this study. The rapid pace of adoption and advancement of mobile technologies creates opportunities for new and innovative services provided through such mobile devices. Higher education finds itself in the early innings of the mobile Internet pulling both lecturers and students towards the same place: smaller, faster, cheaper devices working together in a web of connectivity. Recommendations were made in this final chapter on how higher education institutions can leverage the benefits of the effective management of mobile technologies to improve teaching and learning. M–learning has the potential to increase the capacity of higher education through improving efficiency and productivity of teaching and learning. Mlearning could address challenges related to quality of teaching such as continuous professional training, lifelong upgrading, connecting with academics worldwide and communicating effectively with students. Higher education is discovering the potential of mlearning to promote student engagement and improving the quality of learning. Management of higher education institutions and systems, management of policymaking including storage and analysis of data, construction and assessment of policy scenarios, and tracer studies or academic tracking systems can be improved through the use of m–learning. Mobile technologies will continue to increasingly become an integral part of students' and lecturers' private and day to day lives and m–learning will be integral in educational content delivery. Additional research is required to study the effective and optimal implementation of m–learning. A better understanding of the benefits and leverage thereof is required and additional research should provide answers to these questions. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

With reference to the demands for innovation facing the systems of tertiary education internationally, the Department of Higher Education in South Africa has been revamped since the realization of the democratic Government. In recent years, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College institutions became the potential learning institutions of choice that could revitalize the economy. This resulted in merging the former 152 TVET Colleges into 50 with the intention to streamline access in order to accommodate a larger number of students for technical and vocational training. The purpose of this study was to determine how student retention and success in the TVET Colleges can be effectively managed. The study was mainly guided by the theoretical framework of Bronfenbrenner’s (1979, 1995) ecological systems theory that explains individuals’ relationships with their environments by means of interrelated ecological systems functioning. Secondly, applied to this study was the principles of systems theory which supplemented Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. A mixed-methods research approach was used in determining the perceptions of TVET College personnel from different levels of institutional functioning and from students from different years of registration to determine the main factors influencing student retention and success at TVET Colleges. The empirical investigation comprised of a quantitative research approach (as phase 1) using questionnaires administered to students which was followed by a qualitative research approach (as phase 2) entailing semi-structured individual interviews with TVET College employees. The researcher used the chi-square and analysis of variables tests as analysis techniques in analysing and presenting the results in in this study. The research findings indicated a strong need for relevant career guidance provided to prospective TVET College students from primary school onwards, and the establishment of a constructive student support unit at TVET Colleges to promote student retention and success. Factors that promote the management student retention and success were identified as relating to the image and reputation of TVET Colleges, sources of effective communication, and student support activities that initially and continuously motivate or hinder student retention and success in the TVET College institutions. / Na aanleiding van die oproepe om vernuwing wat tersiêre-onderwysstelsels op internasionale vlak in die gesig staar, het die Departement van Hoër Onderwys en Opleiding in Suid-Afrika sedert die instelling van 'n demokratiese regering verskeie verbeteringe ondergaan. In die afgelope aantal jare het instellings in die tegniese en beroepsonderwys- en opleidingsektor potensiële voorkeurleerinstellings geword wat die vermoë het om die ekonomie nuwe lewe te gee. Dit het gelei tot die samesmelting van die voormalige 152 kolleges in die sektor tot 50 kolleges, met die doel om toegang te vergemaklik sodat meer studente vir tegniese en beroepsopleiding ingeneem kan word. Die doel van hierdie studie was om te bepaal hoe faktore wat studentbehoud en -sukses beïnvloed, doeltreffend in die tegniese en beroepsonderwys- en opleidingskollegesektor bestuur kan word. Die studie is gerig deur die teoretiese raamwerk van Bronfenbrenner (1979, 1995) se ekologiese-stelselteorie. Hierdie teorie verklaar individue se verhoudings met hul omgewings met behulp van ekologiese stelsels wat in verhouding met mekaar funksioneer. Tweedens, aan die studie was beginsels van stelsels teorie toegevoeg wat Bronfenbrenner se ekologiese stelsels teorie aanvul. Die empiriese ondersoek het bestaan uit ʼn kwantitatiewe navorsingsbenadering waarby vraelyste aan studente uitgedeel is, gevolg deur ʼn kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering wat semi-gestruktureerde individuele onderhoude met werknemers by tegniese en beroepsonderwys- en opleidingskolleges behels het. Die navorsingsbevindinge het gedui op ʼn sterk behoefte aan die voorsiening van toepaslike beroepsvoorligting aan leerders op laerskool en verder wat voornemens is om aan tegniese en beroepsonderwys- en opleidingskolleges te studeer, asook die vestiging van ʼn konstruktiewe studentesteuneenheid by hierdie kolleges om studentebehoud en -sukses te bevorder. Faktore wat studentebehoud en -sukses bevorder is geïdentifiseer as dié wat verband hou met die beeld en reputasie van tegniese en beroepsonderwys- en opleidingskolleges, bronne van doeltreffende kommunikasie, en studentesteunaktiwiteite wat aanvanklik en deurlopend as motivering vir studentebehoud en -sukses in hierdie sektor dien of dit belemmer. / Mayelana na xilaveko xa vutumbuluxi lebyi mafambiselo ya swikolo le ya langutiseneke na wona misava hinkwayo, Ndzavisiso ya tidyondzo ta le henhla ya Afrika Dzongayi cincile ku sukela loko hi ri eka mfumo wa xidimokirasi, Eka masiku ya namuntlha, tikholichi ta Vuthikiniki na dyondzo na vuleteri (TVET) ti hundzukile swikolo leswi nga langiwaku ku pfuxelela ikhonomi. Leswi swi endlile leswaku ku katsiwa tikholichi to ringana 152 leswaku ti va 50 ku ri ku endlela leswaku ku tekiwa na ku leteriwa vana va ku tala. Xikongomelo a ku ri ku endlela leswaku machudeni va nga lawuriwa na ku humelerisiwa njhani eka ti kholichi ta ti TVET. Dyondzo leyi yi rhangeriwa hi mavonelo ya malavisiselo ya Bronfenbrenner’s (1979, 1995), mavonelo ya matshamelo na mahlamuselo ya vuxaka eka mpfanganyiso wa matirhiselo, xavumbirhi, Dyondzo leyi yi tirhisile milawu ya mafambiselo na mavonelo lama tatisaku maendleo ya matshamelo na mafambiselo ya Bronfenbrenner. Malaviseselo ya maendlelo yo pfanganana ya tirhisiwile eka mavonelo ya va tirhi ya tikholichi ta ti TVET ku suka eka matshamelo na matirhelo yaku hambana hambana ku sukela eka malembe ya ntsariso ku endlela ku kuma nsusumeto wa ku humelela ka machudeni etikholichi. Ndzavisiso lowu wu katsakanya maendlelo ya khwalithethivhi, eka xiyenge xo sungula hi ku tirhisa swivutiso leswi nga ta xiyisisiwa eka machudeni swi tlhela swilandelerisiwa hi maendlelo ya malavisiselo ya khwalithethivhi (eka xiyenge xa vumbirhi) hi ku kandzelerisiwa hi nwangulano wa xiphemu na vatirhi va ti kholichi ta ti TVET. Mulavisisi u tirhisile xikwere xa chi na ku xopaxopa swiphemu swa swikambelo leswi a swi xopa xopiwa loko ku bumabumeriwe / hlayiwe mbuyelo wa ndzavisiso. Mbuyelo wu kombisa swinene leswaku kuna ku yelana eka ndzetelo lowu nyikiwaku machudeni ya ti kholichi ta TVET ku suka eswikolweni swa le hansi ku ya ehenhla, na ku tumbuluxiwa ka xiyenge xa mpfuno wa machudeni etikholichini ta ti TVET ku tlakusa ku tiyisa na ku humelela ka machudeni. Swi nwana leswi susumetaku ku tlakusa na ku tiyisa vufambisi eku tlakuseni na ku humelerisa machudeni ya ti kholichi ta ti TVET swikombisa swi fananisiwa na xiyimo na xindzhuti xa swikolo leswi, swipfuno swa mavulavulelo, na swipfuno swa switirhisiwa swa mpfuno wa machudeni wa masungulo kumbe wa ku yisa nkucetelo kumbe xirhalanganyi xa ku tlakusa na ku pfuna ku humelela eka tikholichi ta ti TVET. MARITO NKULO / Educational Management and Leadership / D. Ed. (Education Management)