MPM / Oliver Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies / The study investigated the implementation of Quality Assurance as a policy instrument at the University of Venda. Within the study, the researcher critically analyzed the implementation of Quality Assurance policy as a system and the procedures within the University. To universities around the world, quality assurance in higher education institutions has become a matter of great importance. In South Africa, quality assurance roles and practices are closely guided by legislative guidelines, which are primarily structured to report and comply with universities ' obligations to DHET, CHE and SAQA, and so, too the national demand for universities to contribute to the study and advancement of higher education policy. This study used a qualitative research approach which included ethnographic method to address the question on the implementation of quality assurance as a policy instrument using University of Venda as a case in point. The study findings revealed that the illustration of the quality assurance as a policy instrument in higher education context is very critical to enable an institution of higher learning to execute its core business in a way that quality uncompromised. Stakeholders should have faith in the institution and that the university should undertake a syst ematic cycle of external program assessments based on teaching and learning concerns and a ke the necessary steps to build capacity and provide support in curriculum design and program development processes at the school and departmental level. The study concluded by giving recommendations on what are the strategies that the University can apply in enhancing the “quality of its core business of teaching and learning, research and community engagement.” / NRF

No abstract available / Business Management and Entr / M. Tech. (Business Administration)

In order to fill the gap in existing research on the topic, this study was undertaken to establish whether a relationship exists between five sources of power and five conflict handling styles. A theoretical study regarding the concepts of power and conflict was undertaken. In the empirical study these variables were measured using the Power Base Index and Thomas-Kilmann Conflict MODE questionnaires. Reward power was significantly related to the competing and avoiding conflict handling styles; expert power was significantly related to the compromising style; and legitimate power was significantly related to the collaborating conflict handling style. The research contributes towards a better understanding of power and conflict in organisations and in supervisors' day-to-day management. However, the results indicate the importance of wider, more sophisticated research. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial Psychology)

Text in Afrikaans / The being, nature and importance of organisational climate as well as the role of the educational manager in this regard is described. A study regarding cultural differences in the South African milieu was conducted. A pilot study preceded the qualitative, empirical survey for which a questionnaire was designed. Interviews with principals and staff members of different cultural groups were conducted at a primary, secondary and tertiary educational institution. The data is described, analysed and interpreted. Results indicated that a closed organisational climate prevailed at the majority of educational institutions in South Africa with multi-cultural staff. Guidelines for the appointment, training and development of educational managers are given. It is recommended that applicants for educational manager posts are to be selected according to psychometric tests. Current educational managers should be trained with reference to the creation of organisational climate. Management principles, management style, leadership and cultural sensitivity should be addressed. / Na aanleiding van 'n literatuurstudie is die wese, aard en belangrikheid van organisasieklimaat asook die rol van die onderwysbestuurder in die verband beskryf. 'n Literatuurstudie in verband met kultuurverskille in die Suid-Afrikaanse milieu is onderneem. 'n Loodsstudie is gedoen. 'n Vraelys is antwerp vir 'n kwalitatiewe, empiriese ondersoek. Onderhoude is by 'n primere, sekondere en tersiere onderwysinstansie met drie hoofde en elf personeellede van verskillende kultuurgroepe gevoer. Die data is beskryf, geanaliseer en gei"nterpreteer. Daar is gevind dat 'n geslote organisasieklimaat by die meerderheid onderwysinstansies in Suid-Afrika met multikulturele personele heers. Riglyne is verskaf vir die aanstelling, opleiding en ontwikkeling van onderwysbestuurders. Daar word aanbeveel dat aansoekers vir onderwysbestuursposte na aanleiding van psigometriese toetsing gekeur word. Huidige onderwysbestuurders meet indiensopleiding en ontwikkelingsgeleenthede ontvang ten opsigtevanorganisasieklimaatskepping metverwysingnabestuursbeginsels, bestuurstyl, leierskap en kultuursensitiwiteit om hulle toe te rus vir hulle moeilike taak. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Onderwysbestuur)

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the Degree of Doctor of Technology: Business Administration, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / The purpose of the research is to identify key factors influencing employee retention in the South African national government departments as a guide towards developing effective employee retention strategies. The research was conducted in three phases. For the determination of employee turnover rates and benchmarks, 33 national departments were classified into three homogenous subgroups with respect to their number of employees (Phase one). Thereafter the employee turnover rates for each department and benchmarks for each subgroup were determined (Phase two). These employee turnover statistics were analysed for all 33 national departments in the three subgroups and used as guidelines for the selection of cases for the multiple case (Phase three). Four departments were selected from each subgroup for the case study where selection was based on a department‟s turnover rate relative to the benchmark rate. These departments participated in a cross sectional survey. The data from the survey was analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The analysis confirmed a significant relationship between employee turnover rates and responses for the combined subgroups of selected small, medium and large departments. Significant relationships were also observed for the subgroups of small and large departments. Employee turnover has a significant impact on business performance primarily due to the fact that it takes too long to fill vacant posts together with uncompetitive salary scales and the lack of skilled candidates. Further, the lack of human resourcing strategies, recruitment difficulties, problems related to monitoring and measuring of employee turnover and employee retention difficulties were important issues that influence employee retention. Future research on knowledge and systems for managing employee turnover is recommended.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Weather derivatives, a new breed of financial assets, allow firms to manage weather risk that disturbs their activities and may lead to variability in earnings and operating cost. Considering that nearly 20% of the U.S. economy alone is directly affected by the weather, weather derivatives are an important development in the area of risk management. This study project explores the concept, functioning and pricing of weather derivatives by reviewing available literature on the topic. It then investigates international weather derivative markets to establish which markets are thriving and what lessons can be learnt from them. This then forms the basis for a set of requirements for developing a weather derivative market in South Africa. Finally, the study project makes a number of recommendations for developing a weather derivative market in South Africa. The findings suggest that, in the absence of a deregulated energy industry, South African suppliers of weather derivatives need to target small·medium size organisations, specifically within the agricultural industry, in order to grow market liquidity. Furthermore, these suppliers need to attract capital market investors either by marketing weather derivatives as a diversification tool to portfolio managers, or by issuing weather·linked bonds as a more familiar investment product for investors. It also suggests that weather data problems can be resolved through, among others, data cleaning and data enhancement techniques and should therefore not impede the growth of a weather derivative market in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Weer opsies, 'n bundel nuwegenerasie finansiele instruments, stel maatskappye in staat om die invloed van weer op hulle besigheidsaktiwiteite, soos byvoorbeeld die variasie in inkomste en operasionele koste, beter te bestuur. Weer opsies verteenwoordig 'n belangrike ontwikkeling in die area van risikobestuur, inaggenome dat bykans 20% van die V.S.A. ekonomie deur die weer geaffekteer word. Hierdie werkstuk ondersoek die konsep, funksionering, en prysbepaling van weer opsies deur die oorsig en evaluering van die beskikbare literatuur oor die onderwerp. Verder word die internasionale mark vir weer opsies ondersoek om vas te stel waar die grootste suksesse behaal word en watter lesse daaruit geleer kan word. Laastens word daar 'n aantal aanbevelings gemaak vir die ontwikkeling van die weer opsie mark in Suid-Afrika. Die werkstuk bevind dat die verskaffers van weer opsies in Suid Afrika, in die afwesigheid van 'n gedereguleerde energie sektor, klein to medium sakeondernemings (veral in die landbou sektor) moet oormerk en teiken, ten einde mark likiditeit te verhoog. Verskaffers kan kapitaalmark beleggers betrek deur die produk te bemark as 'n diversifisering instrument vir portefeuljebestuurders, of deur die aanbieding van weer geassosieerde verbande as 'n meer alledaagse beleggingsproduk. Daar word verder bevind dat data kwaliteit probleme aangespreek kan word deur gebruik te maak van data-skoonmaak en - verbeterings tegnieke, en dat dataprobleme dus nie 'n effek behoort te hê op die groei van die weer opsie mark in Suid-Afrika nie.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The objective of this study is to determine the optimum number of shares to be included in a well-diversified portfolio of small-capitalised companies listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange. A previous study by Jordan (1998) on South African companies falling in this category found that at least 20 shares should be included in a well-diversified portfolio. Neu-ner and Firer (1997) conducted a similar study of naïve diversification on all shares listed on the JSE with findings that at least thirty shares should be included in a well-diversified portfolio, which concurred with the findings of the study done by Statman (1997) on the NYSE. Findings of numerous studies conducted in the USA yielded different results with suggestions that between eight and twenty random selected stocks make a welldiversified portfolio. Fama and French (1992) conducted a research on risk and return with findings that size of a company is a better proxy for risk than beta. Small companies tend to produce returns that are greater than the returns from portfolios of larger companies. The research for determining the number of shares to be included in a portfolio of small company shares was conducted using naïve or random diversification and efficient diversification based on Markowitz efficient frontier. The results of the study indicate that random diversification of a portfolio in small company shares requires between twenty and thirty shares for a portfolio to be well diversified. The findings also showed consistency for the different investment periods investigated in terms of risk reduction. The research findings concur with the studies done by Statman, and Neu-ner and Firer, which suggest that a well-diversified portfolio should contain approximately thirty shares. The efficient diversification or Markowitz diversification resulted in fewer shares included in a well-diversified portfolio. However the optimum portfolio depends on the investors' preference as to the trade-off between risk and return. Efficient diversification is primarily based on the degree of covariance between asset returns in a portfolio. The results found using this technique indicate that a well-diversified portfolio should have approximately sixteen shares. The CAPM TUTOR programme used for efficient diversification conducted the research on an ex ante basis. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om die optimale getal aandele van 'n goed gediversifiseerde portefeulje wat saamgestel is uit klein gekapitaliseerde maatskappye wat op die Johannesburgse Effektebeurs noteer is, te bepaal. 'n Vorige studie deur (Jordan, 1998) van Suid-Afrikaanse maatskappye wat in hierdie kategorie val, het bevind dat ten minste 20 aandele ingesluit behoort te word in 'n goed gediversifiseerde portefeulje. Neu-ner en Firer (1997) het 'n soortgelyke studie onderneem van naïewe diversifikasie van al die aandele wat op die Johannesburgse Effektebeurs noteer is. Hulle het bevind dat ten minste 30 aandele ingesluit behoort te word in 'n goed gediversifiseerde portefeulje, wat ooreenstem met die bevindings van die studie deur Statman (1997) oor die New Yorkse Effektebeurs. Bevindings van talle studies wat in die VSA gedoen is, het verskillende resultate opgelewer en dui daarop dat tussen agt en 20 lukraak geselekteerde aandele 'n goed gediversifiseerde portefeulje verteenwoordig. Fama en French (1992) het navorsing gedoen oor risiko en opbrengs, en het bevind dat die grootte van 'n maatskappy 'n beter aanduiding vir risiko is as beta. Klein maatskappye neig om opbrengste te lewer wat groter is as die opbrengs van portefeuljes wat bestaan uit groter maatskappye. Navorsing om die getal aandele te bepaal wat ingesluit behoort te word in 'n portefeulje wat bestaan uit aandele van klein maatskappye, is gedoen deur gebruik te maak van naïewe of lukrake diversifikasie en doeltreffende diversifikasie, gebaseer op die Markowitz doeltreffendheidsfront. Die resultate van hierdie studie dui aan dat lukrake diversifikasie, van 'n portefeulje wat uit aandele van klein maatskappye bestaan, tussen 20 en 30 aandele vereis vir die portefeulje om goed gediversifiseerd te wees. Hierdie bevindings het ook gedui op konsekwentheid vir die verskillende beleggingsperiodes wat ondersoek is in terme van risikoverlaging. Hierdie navorsingsbevindings stem ooreen met die studies van Statman, Neu-ner en Firer, wat daarop dui dat 'n goed gediversifiseerde portefeulje uit ongeveer 30 aandele behoort te bestaan. Die doeltreffende diversifikasie, of Markowitz diversifikasie, het tot gevolg gehad dat minder aandele ingesluit is in 'n goed gediversifiseerde portefeulje. Die optimale portefeulje word egter bepaal deur beleggersvoorkeur ten opsigte van die verrekening tussen risiko en opbrengs. Doeltreffende divesifikasie is hoofsaaklik gebaseer op die mate van kovariansie tussen bate-opbrengs in 'n portefeulje. Die resultate dui daarop dat deur hierdie tegniek te gebruik, 'n goed gediversifiseerde portefeulje ongeveer 16 aandele moet insluit. Die CAPM TUTOR-program wat gebruik is vir doeltreffende diversifikasie, het die navorsing op 'n ex ante (vooruitgeskatte ) basis gedoen.

M. Tech. Business Information Systems / Technology has become essential to the running of many enterprises in the modern world as it can enable businesses and help them operate more efficiently and effectively. Information Systems are developed to help in the daily running of business operations. Information systems projects are undertaken to manage the delivery of these Information Systems and enable the business through technology solutions. However, not all projects succeed in delivering their required solution and benefits. This dissertation is about understanding how Information Systems projects are managed and how that could be improved. The study, underpinned by the Work System Theory, explored Information Systems project management; it reveals how Information Systems projects are managed and the factors influencing project failure or success. This goal of this research was to conceptualise a framework for improving the management of Information Systems projects.

M. Tech. Business Administration / The aim of this research focuses on the relationship between organisational culture and quality programmes at an engineering consultancy firm, Parsons Brinckerhoff Africa. The company started its South African operations in 1984. It is a Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) subsidiary of the international Parsons Brinckerhoff group of companies. It provides consulting, engineering, project management and advisory services in the power industry and other infrastructure sectors.

Thesis (PhD (School of Public Management and Planning ))—University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The absence of an integrated risk management programme in local government in South Africa creates the danger that these risks are not identified, which could be catastrophic, and opportunities to minimise losses are not utilised. A further problem is that common risk-management terminology is lacking and management are dependent on diverse legislation as a guide to developing and implementing risk management. In order to achieve the strategic and operational objectives of local government in an effective and efficient manner, a pro-active identification and evaluation of potential risks should be established to minimise their impact. Officials on every level need to be informed about processes and techniques for managing risks and recalibrating activities to enable management to operate more effectively in risk-filled environments. Problems were identified that prevent management from providing reasonable assurance to stakeholders that the most significant risks are being addressed. These problems are as follows: the lack of applying risk management in an integrated manner; the enforcement of integrated risk management due to the lack of relevant legislation; a lack of training in risk management, ethics and risk response plans; a lack of practical techniques to assist officials in taking remedial action to prevent recurrence of risks; the absence of a risksensitive organisational culture; and a lack of commitment and leadership from politicians and management. Relevant legislation on integrated risk management should assist in embedding a culture where everyone in local government is obliged to adhere thereto and to conduct their dayto- day activities accordingly. A mission and vision statement needs to be developed and implemented with the consent of all stakeholders. Integrated risk-management processes, which are generally lacking or incomplete in local government, should be aligned with generic public management functions. An integrated risk-management programme can be enhanced by establishing a risk organisational structure within local government. The establishment of a risk management department and risk committee is essential to the enhancement of corporate governance and the management of risks that might have a negative impact on local government. Internal and external controls should be evaluated regularly to facilitate the riskmanagement programme. An Integrated Risk Monitoring Technique is proposed as a technique to assist stakeholders in identifying root causes of risks and the management thereof. A model of integrated risk management was designed to assist academics and practitioners to get a holistic perspective on integrated risk management and to assist in the management of risks.