Pfeffer (1981) contends that the role of the manager is chiefly symbolic. The purpose of this study was to investigate his claims that the manager's effect is primarily on symbolic outcomes and less on substantive outcomes; that external power holders have a small effect on symbolic outcomes; and that substantive and symbolic aspects of organizational activity are loosely linked. Two hospital laboratories in Western Canada (similar along many dimensions) were chosen for inclusion in the study. Through observation, interviewing and examination of records, the researcher obtained information on relationships between the actions of managers and other power holders and substantive and symbolic outcomes. Pfeffer's theory was used to form the classification system for categorizing findings. In addition to a deductive approach, the researcher attempted to discover patterns from the data. Steps were taken to check potential sources of invalidity. Study findings indicated that external power holders have a small effect on symbolic outcomes. Pfeffer's claim that management has a greater impact on beliefs, attitudes and feelings than on tangible outcomes was not supported. Reasons for this may be that managerial effect on symbolic outcomes is contingent on managerial motivation, type of symbolic action, level of management, type of organization and time in the organizational life cycle. There was little evidence to support Pfeffer's claim that substantive and symbolic aspects of organizational activity are imperfectly linked. The explanation of this appears to be that factors affecting the strength of coupling differ with the type of symbolic action employed and with the existence (or absence) of efforts to make the use of power unobtrusive. Concepts which emerged from data captured ideas not contained in Pfeffer's writings. For example, managers and external power holders may have an intentional and unintentional influence on beliefs and attitudes; and proximity to/distance from the organization influences the extent to which external power holders affect symbolic outcomes. Increased understanding of the variables affecting the relationship between symbolic and substantive outcomes and the magnitude of the manager's impact on substantive versus symbolic outcomes, may be utilized by future researchers. / Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies / Graduate

The relationship between the organisation and its members is governed by what motivates them to work and the fulfilment they derive from it. The manager needs to know how best to elicit the co-operation of staff and direct their performance towards achieving the goals and objectives of the organisation. Managers need to understand the nature of human behaviour and how best to motivate staff so that they can work willingly and effectively. This study was conducted at the KwaZulu-Natal Police Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL-KZN). The aim of the study was to evaluate and investigate the status of employee motivation within this environment. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect and influence of employee recognition, communication processes and social interaction on employee motivation. The relationship between the organisational reward systems and employee motivation was also investigated as well as identifying current motivating and de-motivating factors. The quantitative method was used for this study. Information was gathered from the sample which comprised of employees from all levels of the KwaZulu-Natal Police Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL-KZN). The population for this study was 163 FSL-KZN employees, of which 79 actually completed and returned the questionnaires (n=79). The research instrument (questionnaire) comprised 3 demographic questions, 22 closed ended likert scale type questions and 3 open ended questions. The simple random sampling technique was employed in this study which was then statistically analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) programme. The key statistical findings of the study were the organisation needs to urgently improve its career ‘pathing’ strategy and a significant percentage cited an improvement was urgently needed in terms of communication and social aspects within the organisation. A fair percentage also recommended improved financial rewards and incentive programmes as the general consensus was that management fails to effectively recognise employee contribution and input to the organisation and most employees are of the view that they are not suitably rewarded for their efforts. Though the study was too small for the results to be generalized to other forensic science laboratories, the recommendations made will certainly address current and pertinent issues at the KwaZulu-Natal Police Forensic Science Laboratory. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

Diante do atual contexto econômico enfrentado pelas organizações, ações que visam a redução de custos e desperdícios são cada vez mais evidentes. No setor de saúde, em especial no ramo da medicina diagnóstica, a pressão financeira exercida tanto no âmbito público como privado, o aumento da demanda por exames, o avanço da tecnologia, e consequentemente, o aumento do investimento associado ao seu uso fizeram com que os custos aumentassem de forma crescente. Dessa forma, um dos maiores custos dos laboratórios se refere a materiais (insumos), inclusive equipamentos, sendo assim, os estoques representam importante quesito a ser administrado uma vez que a gestão de materiais tem o objetivo de conciliar os interesses entre as necessidades de suprimentos e a otimização dos recursos financeiros e operacionais das empresas. Nesse sentido o presente estudo objetivou o estudo e análise do sistema de planejamento e controle de materiais (mais especificamente os reagentes utilizados na realização dos e hemogramas e contagem de reticulócitos) do Laboratório de Hematologia do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. A pesquisa caracterizou-se por ser uma pesquisa aplicada, qualitativa e quantitativa, bem como exploratória. Para tanto foram utilizadas como técnicas de coleta de dados observação in locco, entrevistas e análise documental de dados secundários. Os dados coletados foram relacionados ao processo de realização dos exames e da gestão e controle dos reagentes, além da gestão do contrato. Para realização das análises quantitativas foram levantadas informações sobre a quantidade de reagentes adquiridos bem como demanda de exames realizados ao longo dos anos de 2013 e 2014, período das análises compreendido durante o estudo. Os resultados analisados permitiram concluir que a forma de estruturação do contrato com fornecedor dificulta a gestão eficiente dos recursos. / According to the actual economic context faced by organizations, pressures for cost and waste reduction are increasingly evident. In the healthcare sector, especially in diagnostic medicine, the financial pressure, the increased demand for test, the advance of technology and the high investment associated to it use induced to an incrementally increase of the costs. Thus, one of the biggest costs of laboratories refers to materials (inputs), including equipment. Therefore, stocks represent an important issue to consider, once materials management aims to reconcile the interests of the supply needs and the optimization of financial and operational resources of the companies. In this sense, the present research aimed the study and analysis the materials and control system (specifically the reagents used in clinical blood count tests and reticulocyte count) on the Hematology Laboratory of the Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine Clinical Hospital. The study was considered an applied, exploratory, qualitative and quantitative research. It was used as data collection techniques in loco observation, interviews and document analysis of secondary data. The collected data were related to the process of the examinations and the management and control of reagents, as well as contract management. To perform the quantitative analyzes information about the amount of reagents purchased and demand for tests performed over the years 2013 and 2014 have been raised. Therefore, it was concluded that the form of contract suppliers structuring does not allow an efficient management of resources.

Diante do atual contexto econômico enfrentado pelas organizações, ações que visam a redução de custos e desperdícios são cada vez mais evidentes. No setor de saúde, em especial no ramo da medicina diagnóstica, a pressão financeira exercida tanto no âmbito público como privado, o aumento da demanda por exames, o avanço da tecnologia, e consequentemente, o aumento do investimento associado ao seu uso fizeram com que os custos aumentassem de forma crescente. Dessa forma, um dos maiores custos dos laboratórios se refere a materiais (insumos), inclusive equipamentos, sendo assim, os estoques representam importante quesito a ser administrado uma vez que a gestão de materiais tem o objetivo de conciliar os interesses entre as necessidades de suprimentos e a otimização dos recursos financeiros e operacionais das empresas. Nesse sentido o presente estudo objetivou o estudo e análise do sistema de planejamento e controle de materiais (mais especificamente os reagentes utilizados na realização dos e hemogramas e contagem de reticulócitos) do Laboratório de Hematologia do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. A pesquisa caracterizou-se por ser uma pesquisa aplicada, qualitativa e quantitativa, bem como exploratória. Para tanto foram utilizadas como técnicas de coleta de dados observação in locco, entrevistas e análise documental de dados secundários. Os dados coletados foram relacionados ao processo de realização dos exames e da gestão e controle dos reagentes, além da gestão do contrato. Para realização das análises quantitativas foram levantadas informações sobre a quantidade de reagentes adquiridos bem como demanda de exames realizados ao longo dos anos de 2013 e 2014, período das análises compreendido durante o estudo. Os resultados analisados permitiram concluir que a forma de estruturação do contrato com fornecedor dificulta a gestão eficiente dos recursos. / According to the actual economic context faced by organizations, pressures for cost and waste reduction are increasingly evident. In the healthcare sector, especially in diagnostic medicine, the financial pressure, the increased demand for test, the advance of technology and the high investment associated to it use induced to an incrementally increase of the costs. Thus, one of the biggest costs of laboratories refers to materials (inputs), including equipment. Therefore, stocks represent an important issue to consider, once materials management aims to reconcile the interests of the supply needs and the optimization of financial and operational resources of the companies. In this sense, the present research aimed the study and analysis the materials and control system (specifically the reagents used in clinical blood count tests and reticulocyte count) on the Hematology Laboratory of the Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine Clinical Hospital. The study was considered an applied, exploratory, qualitative and quantitative research. It was used as data collection techniques in loco observation, interviews and document analysis of secondary data. The collected data were related to the process of the examinations and the management and control of reagents, as well as contract management. To perform the quantitative analyzes information about the amount of reagents purchased and demand for tests performed over the years 2013 and 2014 have been raised. Therefore, it was concluded that the form of contract suppliers structuring does not allow an efficient management of resources.