M.Ed. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

spending is regarded to be one of the major contributors to economic growth. The purpose of the study was to investigate how infrastructure projects could engender professional skills development. The topic is focused on a human resource (HR) perspective as it is one of the knowledge areas in project management. In order to achieve the research objectives and also establish the breadth of the subject issues in the literature review, a qualitative methodology was employed. Interviews were conducted and the majority of the participants were working towards professional registration in the built environment professions. The empirical findings that emerged from the study show that the majority of the respondents agreed that HR units should be aware of the legislation related to professional training and education. The interviewees further elucidate that, although professional registration is the primary duty of the candidate, HR units should ensure that interns are doing what is in line with their professional requirements, according to different councils, to ensure compliance. However, the lack of a structured approach in administering training programmes is a key factor that contributes to the lack of development of professional skills on government sponsored infrastructure projects. This must be addressed to attain the desired professional development outcomes among historically disadvantaged individuals (HDIs) that are keen on professional registration and development in the built environment professions. Other empirical findings showed that most of the respondents showed some concern regarding job security with their present employment. They explained that once the status of professional registration is attained, securing employment in the industry should be relatively easy. South Africa needs a highly skilled workforce to ensure growth of the economy therefore HR departments in organisation should adapt a systematic approach in their HR planning in order to ensure skills are engendered to HDIs as well.

Downsizing is one of the most common organisational reactions to organisational change. The effects of global competition, mergers, and the privatisation of public sector companies, among others, are forcing organisations in South Africa to resort to workforce reduction. The purpose of the present study was to address the lack of research on the impact of downsizing on survivors. Specifically, the study examined the interactive effects of job insecurity, locus of control and sense of coherence on the organisational commitment of survivors.

Downsizing is one of the most common organisational reactions to organisational change. The effects of global competition, mergers, and the privatisation of public sector companies, among others, are forcing organisations in South Africa to resort to workforce reduction. The purpose of the present study was to address the lack of research on the impact of downsizing on survivors. Specifically, the study examined the interactive effects of job insecurity, locus of control and sense of coherence on the organisational commitment of survivors.

Thesis (M. Tech. (Labour Relations Management)--Vaal University of Technology / When the South African authorities decided, in the 1970's, to recognize statutorily other Black workers who were engaged in other spheres of employment as employees, domestic workers were excluded from all Industrial Legislation. This resulted from the fact that domestic work, as an occupation, had been excluded from the definition of an employee. It is estimated that over one million people are engaged in this service, comprising eleven percent of overall employment in the informal sector of the South African economy. This significantly large sector of the labour market performs its work under some of the most oppressive working conditions and such exploitation is unchallenged, as it has been noted that some domestic workers do not sign contracts of employment with their employers on appointment, which can lead to insecurity in the domestic worker sector. The purpose of this research was to determine the efficiency of the contract of employment and its effect on the job security of domestic workers. Through a theoretical foundation, a number of studies have advocated that the contract of employment can be trusted to be the perfect instrument in securing jobs in the domestic sector. A survey was carried out for measuring job security. The research instruments used for data collection from 203 domestic workers, were interviews and questionnaires. The SPSS program was used to analyze the data. The results of the empirical study are presented and discussed in detail. Findings of this study revealed, that the majority of domestic workers don't have contracts of employment while a very small percentage of domestic workers do have contracts. Conclusions drawn, indicated that domestic workers who have signed contracts, enjoy reasonable conditions of employment and employment benefits than those without contracts. Recommendations based on this study are that the government encourages a very strong Trade Union Movement in the domestic sector services. The Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) and/or the Department of Labour facilitates annual workshops for employers of domestic workers. The CCMA, Trade Unions and/or the Department of labour facilitate training programmes for domestic workers. The government makes it a binding norm, for every employer in the domestic sector, to conclude a contract of employment with his/her domestic worker and furnish such employee with a copy of the contract, regardless of the nature of services rendered by employee. Ongoing research on many aspects of domestic workers will enhance better conditions of employment in making the lawmakers aware of other hidden agendas that require attendance in the domestic sector.

Entrepreneurial skills stimulate entrepreneurial activities. An increase in entrepreneurial activities culminates in high economic growth, creation of employment, and alleviation of poverty. South Africa’s entrepreneurial activity ratio stands at 9.1%, far below 14.3% of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries. Entrepreneurship is a national priority endeavour which helps absorb individuals searching for employment. Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) provide employment to approximately 61% of households in South Africa. SMME shutdowns have increased and can be attributed to lack of entrepreneurial proficiencies. Hence, contingent employees in small retail businesses face poor working conditions, are unprotected by labour legislation, low remuneration, skills redundancy, and discrimination. They are also not affiliated with a union. The foregoing variables lead to job insecurity. Job insecurity leads to job dissatisfaction, disloyalty, and low organisational commitment. The study investigated whether contingent employees in Roodepoort have entrepreneurial skills to be entrepreneurial, as an avenue to offset job insecurity. The question why contingent employees are not entrepreneurial in Roodepoort was posed. A sample composed of 129 contingent employees from 60 small retail businesses in Roodepoort was used. Results showed a positive relationship between entrepreneurial skills and entrepreneurship, job insecurity and entrepreneurship, and contingent employees and job insecurity. However, it appears that contingent employees in Roodepoort were not affected nor concerned about job insecurity. They possess a significant understanding of entrepreneurial skills, yet they are not entrepreneurial. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Thesis (D. Tech.) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2007 / The focus of this study is on a Model of Co-operative Education on Peace Support Operations (PSO) in Africa. PSO are multi-functional operations involving military forces and diplomatic humanitarian agencies. They are designed to achieve humanitarian goals or a long-term political settlement, and are conducted impartially in support of a UN mandate. These include peacekeeping (PK), peace enforcement (PE), conflict prevention, peacemaking, peace building, and humanitarian operations. Since the advent of democracy in 1994, domestic and international expectations have steadily grown regarding a new South African role as a responsible and respected member of the international community. These expectations have included a hope that South Africa will play a leading role in a variety of international, regional and sub-regional forums, and that the country will become an active participant in attempts to resolve various regional and international conflicts. Peacekeeping is becoming more and more important as South Africa plays a vital role in African missions, mandates, deployment and restructuring. The core of peacekeeping operations in Africa is no longer about the deployment of armed forces, but the focus is shifting towards a more integrated approach including reconstruction, development, stability, civilian involvement and humanitarian aspects. While skills required for peace operations overlap with those required for war, there is increasing recognition that additional peace operations training is needed to successfully conduct these missions. The demand, advancement and application of peacekeeping evolve worldwide, especially in Africa, where enormous funding is being poured into local research and development, testing and training. The market for Education, Training and Development (ETD) in the field of PSO is growing, as South Africa is becoming increasingly involved in peacekeeping missions on the African continent. At present, there is no Co-operative Education programme on generic PSO on the operational/strategic level presented by any of the major universities in South Africa in order to enhance other PSO training. The objectives of this research project are in phase one: • To determine the need for and feasibility of a Co-operative Education Program on PSO. • To write a instructional design (ISD) report for a Co-operative Education Model on PSO and, • To draft possible curriculum content. • The second phase of the project could involve the development of learning material, and the evaluation of the proposed Co-operative Education Model on PSO by running a pilot programme. The principal product (output) of this research will consist out of an ISD report on a Model for Co-operative Education on PSO in Africa, presented by means of Correspondence Instruction with contact sessions. The key factors in production of the learning program include geo-political and security studies in order to create an understanding of the African battle space, PSO as presented by UNITAR POCI, the assessment of international practice with regards to PSO in order to relate the information to operations in Africa, PSO on the African continent, and Civil-Military Cooperation.