Purpose The purpose of the research was firstly, to determine the competencies required of risk managers and secondly, to consider the implications of such competencies in determining possible modules for inclusion in the design of a specialised undergraduate qualification in Risk Management. Methodology A qualitative research approach was followed, involving focus group interview sessions as part of an Interactive Qualitative Analysis (IQA) research study. Focus Group 1 comprised of academics teaching risk management at public universities in South Africa, and Focus Group 2 comprised of risk management practitioners in South Africa. Findings The competencies identified are business management and risk management knowledge; attributes such as assertiveness and courage; values such as ethics and integrity; as well as people, business and technical skills. Research implications The unique contribution of the current research was the innovative use of IQA for data collection, the removal of subjectivity and the rigour in analysing and presenting the results. The results are a starting point or foundation for the design of a specialised undergraduate degree in risk management that will both meet the requirements of the risk management profession and will equip learners with the best possible combination of knowledge, skills, attributes, values and attitudes to effectively manage risk in organisations. The implications for further research are that a study of the design, benchmarking and validation of a curriculum framework for a specialised undergraduate degree in risk management could be conducted. The development of a curriculum framework or curriculum did not form part of the scope of this study. / Okokuqala inhloso yocwaningo, ukuthola amakhono adingekayo kubaphathi bezinhlekelele kanti okwesibili, ukubheka imiphumela yalokho kusebenza ekunqumeni amamojuli angafakwa ekwakhiweni kweziqu ezikhethekile ezingakaphothulwa ngabafundi ku-Risk Management. Kwalandelwa indlela yocwaningo efanelekile, ebandakanya izikhathi zokuxoxisana zamaqembu njengengxenye yocwaningo lwe-Interactive Qualitative Analysis (IQA). I-Focus Group yoku-1 inabafundi abafundisa ukulawulwa kwezinhlekelele emanyuvesi vi kahulumeni aseNingizimu Afrika, kanye neFocus Group yesi-2 inabasebenzi bokulawulwa kobungozi eNingizimu Afrika. Amakhono ahlonziwe ukuphathwa kwebhizinisi nolwazi lokulawulwa kobungozi; anezimpawu ezinjengokuzethemba kanye nokuba nesibindi; ubugugu obufana nokuziphatha nobuqotho; kanye nabantu, amakhono ebhizinisi nezobuchwepheshe. / Die doel van die studie was eerstens om die bekwaamhede waaroor risikobestuurders moet beskik te bepaal, en tweedens, wat die implikasies van sodanige bekwaamhede inhou vir die modules vir insluiting in die ontwerp van ‘n gespesialiseerde voorgraadse kwalifikasie in Risikobestuur. Die studie het ‘n kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering gevolg deur gebruik te maak van fokusgroepsessies as deel van ‘n Interaktiewe Kwalitatiewe Ontleding (IKO) navorsingstudie. Fokusgroep 1 het bestaan uit akademici wat risikobestuur by openbare universiteite in Suid-Afrika doseer, en Fokusgroep 2 het uit risikobestuurpraktisyns in Suid-Afrika bestaan. Die bekwaamhede wat identifiseer is, is kennis van ondernemingsbestuur en risikobestuur; eienskappe soos selfgeldendheid en moed; waardes soos etiek en integriteit; asook mense, sake en tegniese vaardighede. / Finance, Risk Management and Banking / M. Com. (Risk Management)

Globalisation, technological advancements and changing social needs result in virtual work arrangements becoming more prominent. Virtual work is conducted away from the traditional office setting and usually occurs in employees’ personal home environments. Virtual work has been called virtualling in this study, and virtual employees are referred to as virtuallers. A phenomenological orientation was adopted in studying completely virtual workers in a completely virtual context; sourcing of participants and data collection were also conducted completely virtually. This study presented new ways of conducting research in the modern, virtual world of work. An autoethnography was included, as the researcher is also a virtualler and insider of virtualling. Four key case studies are presented to provide a holistic picture of virtualling and virtuallers. Thematic results indicate key influencing factors that originate from virtualling, as well as factors and mindset requirements that pertain to the virtualler personally. It was further found and proposed that the resulting virtual environment changes virtuallers’ ways of doing things and viewing the world, hence results in changes in their lifestyle and career identity. The abstract psychological structure as it resulted from the thread of meanings was presented as virtualness. Authentic psychological identification with virtualling and adopting a boundarylessness employability mindset oriented towards psychological success are highlighted as key requirements in order to experience virtualness. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.Comm. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The study focused on the role of the local community in the management of wetland. The study was triggered by the lack of participation of the local community in the management of the wetland. It is important to note that wetlands perform a number of ecosystem services, some of which are well recognised, others less so, and are internationally recognised as being one of the most important ecosystems for the conservation of biodiversity. South Africa is a signatory to the international obligations, which makes it a legal responsibility to make sure that wetlands are managed appropriately. It is therefore important for these natural resources to be managed appropriately. Information for generating data was obtained through the assessment of the wetland health and from the investigation of the management of the local community. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, qualitative method was used to gather the necessary data. The findings indicate that the current state of the wetland is severely modified, which means large loss of natural habitat, biota and basic ecosystem functions has occurred. The results also indicate that the community is ill-equipped to manage the resource appropriately. The findings therefore imply that immediate management interventions must be developed to improve the health of the wetland. In improving the state of the wetland, the study recommends, amongst others, that mitigation measures aimed at improving the wetland health and participation of wetland users be promoted. An establishment of a community-driven and multi-stakeholder intervention mechanism to help the community manage and utilise the wetland properly is also recommended. The study concludes by indicating that the community must comply with the environmental legislation and takes a lead in the management of the wetland, for the aim of restoring the functionality and integrity of the wetland. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are considered facilitators of knowledge management processes in organizations. This study investigated ICTs for knowledge management processes at the State Department of Infrastructure in Kenya. The study’s objectives were to: establish the level of knowledge management awareness, find out knowledge management processes, identify types of ICTs used for knowledge management processes, and identify challenges experienced by State Department of Infrastructure in the use of ICTs for knowledge management processes. The study findings were determined after applying a qualitative research approach and a case study research design. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 21 participants who were heads of sections at the State Department of Infrastructure in Kenya. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, analyzed and interpreted thematically according to the objectives of the study. Findings of the study revealed that most participants were aware of the meanings of the concepts of knowledge and knowledge management, types of knowledge and importance of knowledge management in the department. Knowledge management processes in the State Department of Infrastructure entail knowledge creation, codification, retention, sharing and storage. ICTs mostly used for knowledge management processes in the department include: emails, mobile phones, desktop computers, computer servers, and flash disks. The department is faced with the challenges of lack of knowledge management strategies, policies and adequate staff awareness on the use of ICTs for knowledge management processes. In conclusion, the State Department of Infrastructure has a functional ICT infrastructure. However, the department is not using ICTs provided by this study’s Web 2.0 driven SECI model for knowledge management processes such as blogs, wikis, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. The study therefore proposes that the State Department of Infrastructure should increase its use of Web 2.0 technologies, collaborative content systems and e-learning technologies. The department should also digitize its records; automate its library services; set up intranet, and adopt a centralized knowledge-based system. Further, Public Service Commission of Kenya should formulate a knowledge management strategy and policy to guide on the use of ICTs for knowledge management processes. This strategy and policy can then be cascaded to public sector organizations such as the State Department of Infrastructure. / Information Science / M.A. (Information Science)

The private security industry is tasked with protecting lives and property against an evolving array of personal and property threats. Rendering such services comes with many market related challenges for private security providers. These services are rendered to various types of clients like government departments, hospitals, universities and shopping malls amongst others. These clients have unique and different needs and expectations, therefore shopping malls as clients of the private security industry were selected for the purpose of this research. The qualitative research approach was used for this study wherein a questionnaire was used to obtain information from private security and shopping mall personnel working in shopping malls in Gauteng. The findings of this study reveals that there are indeed client retention challenges that are facing private security companies providing services to shopping malls. Based on the findings, recommendations for the private security providers and further research in shopping mall security management are made. / Security Risk Management / M.Tech. (Security Management)

The study focused on the role of the local community in the management of wetland. The study was triggered by the lack of participation of the local community in the management of the wetland. It is important to note that wetlands perform a number of ecosystem services, some of which are well recognised, others less so, and are internationally recognised as being one of the most important ecosystems for the conservation of biodiversity. South Africa is a signatory to the international obligations, which makes it a legal responsibility to make sure that wetlands are managed appropriately. It is therefore important for these natural resources to be managed appropriately. Information for generating data was obtained through the assessment of the wetland health and from the investigation of the management of the local community. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, qualitative method was used to gather the necessary data. The findings indicate that the current state of the wetland is severely modified, which means large loss of natural habitat, biota and basic ecosystem functions has occurred. The results also indicate that the community is ill-equipped to manage the resource appropriately. The findings therefore imply that immediate management interventions must be developed to improve the health of the wetland. In improving the state of the wetland, the study recommends, amongst others, that mitigation measures aimed at improving the wetland health and participation of wetland users be promoted. An establishment of a community-driven and multi-stakeholder intervention mechanism to help the community manage and utilise the wetland properly is also recommended. The study concludes by indicating that the community must comply with the environmental legislation and takes a lead in the management of the wetland, for the aim of restoring the functionality and integrity of the wetland. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)

This study explores the creation of the control system in a hi-tech corporation that seeks to be modern and efficient, to see how managers create a new managerial system by combining Western theories with the Chinese context. All social action is constituted by a multiplicity of discourses and meanings. Understanding this action requires knowledge of the ways in which people in specific circumstances connect these discourses and negotiate their complex meanings. Here the concept of organizational culture is seen as a process rather than a stable structure or system. This case study views corporate management as a complex and uneven historical process that entails heterogeneous cultural practices shaped by diverse meanings, sentiments, and representations. In the study I find the managerial practice is presented and constructed through the manipulation, interpretation, and discourse of socio-cultural meanings. Thus it concludes that the managerial practice in the hi-tech company actually involves the integration of a constructed cultural tradition with an idealized managerial modernity. / This study explores the socio-cultural meanings behind the managerial behavior of the hi-tech corporation and how it is presented and practiced in people's daily-life. As a kind of social phenomenon, managerial control and management's attempt to seek the commitment of employees towards the organizations is universal, but in daily practice, it takes on different forms and content due to the different cultural context. This study can help better understand how China's socio-cultural traditions influence the managerial practice and the cultural discourse in contemporary Chinese corporations. / This thesis is an ethnographic study of the organizational behavior and managerial culture in China's Silicon Valley, Zhongguancun Hi-Tech Park, located in northwestern Beijing. It focuses on one corporation to explore how a scientific, effective and standardized managerial system is being created, interpreted and practiced. The study is based upon nearly one year of fieldwork in two corporations that manufacture mobile communication equipment. / 田宏亮. / Adviser: Joseph Rosco. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-09, Section: A, page: . / Thesis (doctoral)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 219-231). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / School code: 1307. / Tian Hongliang.

The advent of democracy in the Republic of South Africa has brought about fundamental changes in the spheres of governance. One of these changes is the implementation of the employee performance management and development system in the public service. One of the Constitutional imperatives of the country requires all government institutions to cultivate good human resource management and career development practices to maximise human potential. The Gauteng Department of Social Development and in particular, Father Smangaliso Mkhatswa Centre, is also expected to implement the employee performance management and development system. The study seeks to examine to what extent performance management can enhance employee‟s performance. To achieve this, a semi-structured interview was conducted with employees of Father Smangaliso Mkhatswa Centre. The findings indicate that managers use performance management as a tool to control and discipline subordinates, whilst subordinates use performance management as a means of getting extra money through performance bonuses. This could be the reason that performance assessment period is viewed as a period of high tension between supervisors and subordinates. / Public Administration & Management / M.P.A.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since 1995, despite the consultative processes with regards to Rationalisation and Redeployment, many stakeholders did not accept, nor understand the rationale behind the government's drive to redistribute human resources. It is widely known that there existed immense tensions and conflicts between educators and bureaucrats on the issue, which played itself out in the Grove Primary School case, as well as the withdrawal of regulations because of a 'threatened strike', due to government's disregard for participatory democracy. Using a case study, within the Gauteng province, this research investigated the experiences and perceptions of key policy actors on the policy planning and implementation processes by tracking the development of social dialogue during this process. The conceptual framework for this study was provided in the work of Cheng and Cheung (1995), who provided a generic empirical education policy analysis model, which tracks the policy processes within linear phases. Fifty indicators were identified, which were used to measure the efficacy of the policy-making process, as well as the evolution of social dialogue in the policy discourse. This study argues that in an endeavour to implement redress and equity, the policy employed had its inherent weaknesses. The researcher used a structured questionnaire to measure key policy actors (formulators and implementers), experiences and perceptions of the process employed. The qualitative methodology, which was supported by the quantitative data analysis approach, exposed that bureaucratic attitude towards socio-political participation, a technocratic approach to educational imperatives, strong union organisation, empowered parents, and the lack of capacity at certain levels of administration to deal with resistance directly and indirectly, contributed to the ambiguous success of this policy intervention. The purpose of this research was to assist in improving the efficacy of the policy pathways, by proposing a modified strategy, which includes dialogue with all relevant role players. In focusing primarily on the analysis of the Rationalisation and Redeployment Policy process, the findings of this empirical research have therefore shown how opinions and perceptions about the efficacy of a policy process are directly linked to the experiences of policy actors with regards to social dialogue during the process. As any interventionist policy is a negotiated responsibility of all educational role players, in order to promote an enabling educative environment, the consultative, as well as the policy processes proposed in this study, are based on principles grounded in research which makes optimal use of existing structures. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sedert 1995, ten spyte van die konsultatiewe proses rakende rasionalisasie en her-ontplooing, het min van die rolspelers die proses aanvaar, of die rasionaal agter die regering se poging om menslike hulpbronne te herversprei verstaan. Dit is alombekend dat daar reuse spanning en konflik tussen opvoeders en burokrate, gesentreer rondom die Grove Primêre Skool saak, bestaan het. Dit het saamgegaan met die ontrekking van regulasies -as gevolg van 'n beoogde staking weens die regering se miskenning van deelnemende demokrasie. Hierdie studie maak gebruik van 'n gevalle studie in die Gauteng provinsie. Hiervolgens is daar 'n ondersoek na die ervarings en persepsies van sleutel beleidsrolspleers ten opsigte van beleidsbeplanning en implementeringsprosesse. Die hoofidee is om die ontwikkeling van die sosiale dialoog binne die provinsiale onderwys na te spoor. Die konsepsuele raamwerk word verskaf deur Cheng and Cheung (1995), wie se werk 'n generiese empiriese onderwysbeleidsontleding model voortgebring het. Hierdie model volg die beleidsproses binne liniêre fases. Vyftig aanwysers word geïdentifiseer, wat gebruik word om die effektiwiteit van die beleidsformuleringproses sowel as die evolusie van sosiale dialoog te meet. Hierdie studie voer aan dat in die poging om herverspreding en gelykberegtiging te implementeer, die rasionalisasie en her-ontplooing proses opsigself inherente swakhede gehad het. "n Gestruktueerde vraelys, om sleutel rolspelers se ervarings en persepsies van die beleidsproses te meet, is gebruik. Hierdie navorsing bring na vore die feit dat burokratiese houdings jeens sosiopolitiese deelname, "n tegnokratiese benadering tot opvoedkundige imperatiewe, sterk vakbondorganisasie, bemagtigde ouers, en bestuursvlak se onvermoë om weerstand te hanteer, bygedra het tot die dubbelsinnige sukses van hierdie beleidsintervensie. Die doel van die navorsing is om die effektiwiteit van die beleidsweë te verbeter. Dit word gedoen deur die voorstel van 'n gewysigde strategie, wat die dialoog van alle relevante rolsplers insluit. Deur primêr te fokus op die rasionalisasie en her-ontplooing proses, wys die navorsing dat opinies en persepsies rondom die effektiwiteit van 'n beleidsproses direk gekoppel is aan die ervarings van beleidsrolspelers met betrekking tot sosiale dialoog. Die konsultatiewe sowel as die beleidsprosesse wat voorgestel word in hierdie studie is gebaseer op beginsels wat opsigself gefundeer is in navorsing wat van die bestaande strukture optimaal gebruik maak.

Ip, Chung Yan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 146-153). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.iii / CONTENTS --- p.v / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Empirical Puzzle and Theoretical Questions / Chapter 1.2 --- Casing a Case: The Life Insurance Industry as a Critical Case to Study the Labor Process in Interactive Service Work Organizations / Chapter 1.3 --- Literature Review and Theoretical Framework / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Marxist Labor Process Theories / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Labor Control in Interactive Service Work / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Emotional Labor in Interactive Service Work Context / Chapter 1.3.4 --- The Deterministic Description on the Negative Consequences of Emotional Labor / Chapter 1.3.5 --- The Missing Subject in Labor Process Theory / Chapter 1.3.6 --- "Gender, Work, and Identity" / Chapter 1.4 --- The Research / Chapter 1.5 --- Overview of the Thesis / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- An Overview of Life Insurance Industry in Hong Kong --- p.27 / Chapter 2.1 --- Life Insurance Market in Hong Kong / Chapter 2.2 --- Organizational Structure: Agency Management System / Chapter 2.3 --- The Commission System / Chapter 2.4 --- Nature of Services and Public Perception of the Industry / Chapter 2.5 --- My Cases: Mutual Trust and Synergy / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- Ideological Control in Life Insurance Industry --- p.38 / Chapter 3.1 --- Comprehensive and Ail-Round Training: Teaching Practical Sales Techniques and Cultivating a Mind of Success / Chapter 3.2 --- Money and Motivation: Transforming Labor Power into Labor / Chapter 3.3 --- Dedicatory Ethics: Serving Your Clients and Contributing the Society / Chapter 3.4 --- Missionary Sales Personnel: Maximizing Exploitation and Minimizing Resistance / Chapter 3.5 --- Entrepreneurial Spirit and Partnership Metaphor: Securing Profits and Obscuring Control / Chapter 3.6 --- Altruistic Work Culture: Releasing Work Stress and Retaining Agents / Chapter 3.7 --- """Love, Care, and Concern"": Eliciting Cooperation and Generating Consent" / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- Managing the Selves in Selling Life Insurance --- p.76 / Chapter 4.1 --- Impression Management or Surface Acting: Doing Trust- and Relationship-Building Activities / Chapter 4.2 --- Deep Acting: Selling Life Insurance plus Selling One's Soul / Chapter 4.3 --- "Managed Feelings: Commercialization of Selves, Human Relations, and Interpersonal Trust" / Chapter 4.4 --- "Alienation, Burnout, and Emotional Exhaustion: Understanding the Negative Consequences of Emotional Labor" / Chapter 4.5 --- Emotions in Relational Service Exchanges: Refining the Concept of Emotional Labor / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- Searching for the Subjectivities of Life Insurance Agents --- p.106 / Chapter 5.1 --- Bringing the Subject Back In: Workers as Victims versus Workers as Actors / Chapter 5.2 --- Shifting Alliances: The Three-Way Dynamics of Control / Chapter 5.3 --- Maintaining a Sense of Self: Gendered Strategies of Resistance / Chapter 5.4 --- Job Satisfaction: Gendering Consent and Autonomy / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- Theorizing the Labor Process in Service Work Organizations --- p.134 / Chapter 6.1 --- Motivations in Work Organizations / Chapter 6.2 --- Three-Way Dynamics of Control / Chapter 6.3 --- A New Form of Emotional Labor / Chapter 6.4 --- Subjects in the Workplace / Chapter 6.5 --- Limitations of the Present Study / Appendix 1 List of Authorized Life Insurers in Hong Kong --- p.141 / Appendix 2 Career Path in Life Insurance Industry --- p.143 / Appendix 3 Personal Information of Informants --- p.144 / Bibliography --- p.146