The present study explores career maturity across career stages in the South African military. The Career Development Questionnaire (CDQ) and a biographical questionnaire were administered to a sample of South African military officers (n = 333). The data were statistically analysed for significant mean differences in career maturity according to demographic and military-specific variables. The results revealed an adequate level of career maturity among the participants. The participants’ overall mean scores in career maturity showed no significant mean differences according to demographic variables. Significant mean differences were, however, observed for the sample according to their arm of service in the South African military. Whilst the results did not indicate a developmental progression of career maturity among the participants, it did reflect the equivocal nature of previous career maturity research. Conclusions for the study are made, limitations are discussed, and recommendations are provided for practice and future research. / Industrial and Organizational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organizational Psychology)

The present study explores career maturity across career stages in the South African military. The Career Development Questionnaire (CDQ) and a biographical questionnaire were administered to a sample of South African military officers (n = 333). The data were statistically analysed for significant mean differences in career maturity according to demographic and military-specific variables. The results revealed an adequate level of career maturity among the participants. The participants’ overall mean scores in career maturity showed no significant mean differences according to demographic variables. Significant mean differences were, however, observed for the sample according to their arm of service in the South African military. Whilst the results did not indicate a developmental progression of career maturity among the participants, it did reflect the equivocal nature of previous career maturity research. Conclusions for the study are made, limitations are discussed, and recommendations are provided for practice and future research. / Industrial and Organizational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organizational Psychology)

M. Tech. Business Administration / The aim of this research is to investigate the effectiveness of South African National Defence Force retention of skilled employees scheme. It looks at the service conditions, pay and benefits. It also looks at working conditions, training, development and career management of soldiers.

Thesis (MMil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Managing any government institution has become increasingly complicated as the requirements for accountability; streamlined operations and greater flexibility have multiplied. As effective and efficient management becomes more complex and the demands of constant change are more insistent, consequently the role of information as an organisational resource assumes greater importance for management on all levels inside the organisation. Management relies heavily on information to thrive. The value of information is derived from the actions that managers take as a result of using information. Information management consumes a large portion of any organisations finite resources and it would be to the benefit of the South African National Defence Force to achieve goal congruence between the information management objectives and the organisational objectives. If information is to be viewed as a resource of comparable importance to staff assets, and finance it must be procured and managed as purposefully as any other resource. Information can be seen as a strategic resource for any organisation and must be managed accordingly. The Public Service Act, Act 103 of 1994, which classifies information as a strategic resource for the public sector, confirms this. The formal information management strategy of the Department of Defence must therefore enable the information systems of the South African National Defence Force to support the military and business objectives of the Department of Defence. This strategy specifies how an organisation matches its scares resources and capabilities with the opportunities in the environment to accomplish its objectives. The structure of the South African National Defence Force, before transformation, was centralised and structured into vertical silos. The current information systems in use are therefore functionally orientated supporting the centralised structure (vertical silos). Transformation restructured the South African National Defence Force into a more integrated forces concept (general support base concept), suggesting emphasis on co-operation, joint planning and joint operations. The management of information must move away from the islands and silos towards an integrated and shared environment that enables the integration of information amongst the integrated forces of the organisation. This joint engagement strategy places certain requirements on the resource information to enable it to support the military and business strategy of the Department of Defence. The South African National Defence Force is moving unavoidably closer to an accountability framework based on transparency and compliance with legislation and regulations. An integral part of this framework is the requirements to provide clear and unambiguous evidence of how and why decisions are made. If managers and commanders are going to be more accountable, information must be available to assist them in decision-making and control. With the introduction of the Public Finance Management Act and the Promotion of Access to Information Act, the ability to adhere to the requirements of accountability and responsibility has become a necessity. Relevant and timely information for decision-making and control purposes therefore must be provided to managers and commanders to assist them in decision-making and control. In its present state the available architecture of the information systems of the South African National Defence Force is inadequate to provide the required information for decision-making and control purposes. The information management practices including the information systems therefore must be improved to ensure adherence to the requirements of accountability and responsibility. This study is directed towards the improvement of the quality of information provided by the information systems of the Department of Defence to assist commanders and managers in decision-making and the provision of information for control purposes inside the general support base concept of the SANDF. This improvement can only be achieved by changing budget priorities to ensure a higher priority on information technology across the organisation. Failure to improve the information management practices will result in the ineffective execution of the defence strategies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die bestuur van enige regeringsinstansie raak toenemend kompleks namate die eise van aanspreeklikheid, operasies en groter buigsaamheid meer word. Soos doeltreffende en doelmatige bestuur meer gekompliseerd en die vereistes vir voortdurende verandering meer veeleisend raak, word die rol van informasie as 'n organisasie hulpbron al hoe belangriker vir bestuurders op alle vlakke binne die organisasie. Bestuurders steun sterk op informasie om suksesvol te wees en die waarde van informasie word dan juis bepaal deur die aksies wat bestuurders neem deur informasie te gebruik. Informasiebestuur neem 'n groot deel van enige organisasie se beperkte hulpbronne in beslag en dit sal voordelig wees vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag om doelwitooreenstemming te bewerkstellig tussen informasiebestuurdoelwitte en organisasiedoelwitte. Indien informasie gesien word as 'n hulpbron van betreklike belang vir personeel, bates en finansies moet dit net so doelgerig as enige ander hulpbron bekom en bestuur word. Informasie is 'n strategiese hulpbron vir enige organisasie en moet dienooreenkomstig bestuur word. Dit word bevestig deur die Staatsdienswet, Wet 103 van 1994, waarin informasie as 'n strategiese hulpbron in die staatsdiens geklassifiseer word. Die formele informasie bestuurstrategie van die Departement van Verdediging moet dus die informasiestelsels van die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag in staat stel om die militêre en besigheidstrategie van die Departement van Verdediging te ondersteun. Hierdie strategie spesifiseer hoe 'n organisasie sy skaars hulpbronne en vermoëns verbind aan geleenthede in sy omgewing om sy doelwitte te bereik. Voor transformasie was die struktuur van die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag gesentraliseerd en in vertikale silo’s gestruktureer. Die informasiestelsels huidig in gebruik is derhalwe funksioneel georiënteer en ondersteun die sentrale struktuur (vertikale silo’s). Danksy transformasie is die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag hergestruktureerd in 'n meer geïntegreerde magtekonsep ("general support base concept") met die fokus op samewerking, gesamentlike operasies en gesamentlike beplanning. Die bestuur van informasie moet wegbeweeg van die eilande en silo’s-benadering na 'n meer geïntegreerde en gedeelde omgewing wat die integrasie van informasie tussen die geïntegreerde magte van die organisasie moontlik maak. Hierdie gesamentlike strategie stel sekere vereistes aan die hulpbroninformasie om die ondersteuning van die militêre en besigheidstrategie van die Departement van Verdediging moontlik te maak. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag beweeg onvermydelik nader aan ‘n aanspreeklikheidsraamwerk wat gebaseer is op deursigtigheid en die nakoming van wetgewing en regulasies. ‘n Integrale deel van hierdie raamwerk is die vereiste om duidelike en betroubare bewyse oor besluitneming te verskaf. Indien bestuurders en bevelvoerders meer aanspreeklik gehou gaan word, moet informasie beskikbaar wees om hulle by te staan in besluitneming en beheer. Met die implementering van die Wet op die Bestuur van Openbare Finansies ("The Public Finance Management Act") en die Wet op Openbaarmaking van Informasie ("Promotion of Access to Information Act") het die vermoë van organisasies om te voldoen aan die vereistes van aanspreeklikheid en verantwoordelikheid ‘n noodsaaklikheid geword. Relevante en tydige informasie vir besluitneming en beheer moet dus voorsien word aan bestuurders en bevelvoerders om hulle by te staan in besluitneming en beheer. Die huidige stand van argitektuur van die informasiestelsels van die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag is onvoldoende om die vereiste informasie vir besluitneming en beheer te verskaf. Die praktyke vir die bestuur van informasie moet dus verbeter word om uitvoering te gee aan die vereistes van aanspreekilikheid en verantwoordelikheid. Hierdie studie is gerig op die verbetering van die gehalte van informasie wat verskaf word deur die informasiestelsels van die Departement van Verdediging om bevelvoerders en bestuurders by te staan in besluitneming, asook die verskaffing van informasie vir beheer doeleindes binne die "general support base"-konsep van die SANW. Hierdie verbetering kan slegs bereik word deur begrotingsprioriteite te verander om te verseker dat ‘n hoër begrotingsprioriteit op informasietegnologie geplaas word reg deur die organisasie. Die onvermoë om die informasiebestuurspraktyke te verbeter sal die bereiking van die verdedigingstrategieë nadelig beïnvloed.

Thesis (M. Tech. (Fashion, Dept. of Visual Arts and Design)--Vaal University of Technology / This study was contracted by the African Warrior Project of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The goal was to explore and describe fit in terms of ease of selected female military upper garments, namely the closely fitted dress jacket and the loosely fitted combat shirt issued by the SANDF. The objectives of this study were firstly, to determine and interpret the amount of tolerance that will comply with the functional requirements related to the activities and comfort of an optimum number of wearers and result in an aesthetically acceptable fit; secondly to analyse and interpret the suitability of the key dimensions used to determine the current size designation in terms of body shapes and gender; thirdly, to determine and interpret the relevance and the validity of the currently used sizing system with regard to representativeness of the current population's measurements. The findings indicated that satisfaction with fit was influenced by fit preferences. Insufficient as well as excess case in a particular location resulted in discomfort or restricted movement and an aesthetically unacceptable garment. Insufficient or excess ease at one location impacted on the comfort experienced in another location on the same horisontal level. Subjects wearing smaller sizes were satisfied with less ease than plus-sized subjects wearing larger sizes. The key dimensions used for the dress jacket and the combat shirt did not ensure sufficient ease at other locations. It was therefore recommended to include the waist and hip dimensions as key dimensions in the size designation to accommodate various body shapes and assist with size allocation. Garments for female wearers carmot be issued according to male body dimensions. The sizing system needs to be revised to represent the population's measurements. / ERGOnomics TECHnologies; Vaal University of Technology

<p>Background: Officers in the Swedish Armed Forces educates their soldiers in various skills and arenas. The Officers get their educational training in officer training courses conducted by the Swedish Armed Forces or the Swedish national defence college. The aim of this study was to find out how the cadets, belive that they are formed into educators, their views on the literature being used in the Swedish armed Forsces, and their views on leadership and educational science.</p><p>Methods: The data for analysis were collected in spring 2010, by use of a questionnaire among cadets studying the tactical/operational program Ta/Op 07/10 at the Swedish national defence college. The respons rate was 69, 6 %.</p><p>Results: The majority of the cadets thought that experience was the most important factor in becoming a good educator. Most of the cadets also thought that the literature being used by the Swedish armed forces was good, however, few cadets stated that they will use the material for reflection on their own teaching when working as officers.</p><p>Conclusions: The Cadets had a positive attitude towards the educational philosphy and literature being used, but few will use the literature in reflecting on themselves as teachers. Cadets belive that they mainly will become good educators through experience, and that it is important that leaders and managers in Swedish armed forces have knowledge about educational science.</p>

Background: Officers in the Swedish Armed Forces educates their soldiers in various skills and arenas. The Officers get their educational training in officer training courses conducted by the Swedish Armed Forces or the Swedish national defence college. The aim of this study was to find out how the cadets, belive that they are formed into educators, their views on the literature being used in the Swedish armed Forsces, and their views on leadership and educational science. Methods: The data for analysis were collected in spring 2010, by use of a questionnaire among cadets studying the tactical/operational program Ta/Op 07/10 at the Swedish national defence college. The respons rate was 69, 6 %. Results: The majority of the cadets thought that experience was the most important factor in becoming a good educator. Most of the cadets also thought that the literature being used by the Swedish armed forces was good, however, few cadets stated that they will use the material for reflection on their own teaching when working as officers. Conclusions: The Cadets had a positive attitude towards the educational philosphy and literature being used, but few will use the literature in reflecting on themselves as teachers. Cadets belive that they mainly will become good educators through experience, and that it is important that leaders and managers in Swedish armed forces have knowledge about educational science.

Thesis (MCom)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Military Skills Development System (MSDS) of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is the military contribution towards the South African National Skills Development Strategy. The purpose of this study was to determine if the SANDF is succeeding in contributing towards youth development, by investigating the career maturity (CM) of MSDS members. The adolescent years are a critical time for youth to explore and confirm their career choices, and to make major decisions at what can be perceived as a turning point in their lives. The factors that influence CM were investigated in order to determine the most suitable focus for possible career guidance programmes or interventions within the MSDS. A sample of 310 MSDS members was used to gather information on CM and the most prominent factors that have an impact on CM were identified from the literature review. Data was collected by means of administering five questionnaires; The Career Maturity Inventory- Revised short form (CMI-R), The Career Decision Self-Efficacy scale short form (CDSE), The Military Hardiness Scale (MHS), the Seven Habits Profile (SHP) and a Biographical Information Form (BIF). The CM of the MSDS members was found to be moderate. MSDS members seem to have high levels of confidence in their abilities to make career decisions (self-efficacy) and they perceive themselves as being hardy and having very good life skills. Moderate and weak, positive relationships were discovered between all twenty of the factors (scales and subscales of independent variables) and CM (dependent variable); however, they were not all significant. Multiple regression analysis resulted in a set of predictor variables (factors) which were used as the focus for recommendation on how CM may be improved for MSDS in the SANDF. These factors include: self-efficacy, seeking occupational information, self-appraisal, commitment, challenge, conscientiousness and continuous improvement. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar.

Thesis (MCom)--Stellenbosch University, 2015 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT : The continued and ever growing involvement of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to complex peacekeeping operations over the African continent has opened a platform in the academic field to better sharpen the SANDF’s performance and contribution to achieve peace in Africa. Previous deployments to various African countries has tested the SANDF’s level of preparedness. Although the organisation gives effort to train its forces to reach the desired level of combat readiness, the nature of the operations to which soldiers partake in has proven to be more demanding. This study was driven by the need to explore and provide a broader perspective of what constitute combat readiness. Utilising the SANDF, the study aimed to explore the relationship between the soldier’s relationship with the spouse (RWS) and the soldier’s relationship with the unit (RWU), and hardiness as a possible mediator variable to combat readiness (CR). Previous research and theories were explored to provide a theoretical background for the study variables. A non-experimental controlled inquiry was used to test the hypothesised relationship among the variables. A sample of 363 participants (across ranks, gender and race) was randomly selected from South African Infantry Battalion Group mobilising for a deployment to Sudan. Hypothesised relationships among the independent variables, mediator variable and dependent variable was determined using the correlational analysis (Spearman correlation). Partial Least Squares (PLS) – measurement and structural model was used to test the study model for combat readiness. The results showed significant correlations between the soldier’s RWS and CR. Furthermore, significant correlations were found between soldier’s RWU and CR. Partial mediation was explained by the path coefficients from RWU>hardiness>CR. No full mediating effect was found. The results also showed insignificant correlations between soldiers RWS and hardiness (rather than between soldier’s RWS and CR. These results were in support to previous research and proved to add insight to future research on CR. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Geen opsomming beskikbaarbaar nie.

Magister Artium (Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science) - MA(SRES) / The job demands of naval members are such that they experience high levels of stress. Stress is often introduced during military training so that real-world stress is more familiar and easy to mitigate. This is often referred to as “train how you fight”. In order to train a stressful task, a stressful environment is often created in the military. The aim of the study was to develop a standardised appraisal tool for the Therapeutic Recreation Stress Management Intervention Model measuring stress, stress coping and leisure behaviour of military staff in the South African context. This study utilised a qualitative research design and followed a multi stage procedure in developing the appraisal tool while making use of the model of instrument development to achieve the aim. The model identified four stages of instrument development: Phase 1, preliminary phase; Phase 2, questionnaire development, Phase 3 pilot testing, Phase 4 Evaluation phase. For the purpose and scope of this study, the researcher focused on phases 1 and 2. Phase 1, the Preliminary phase focused on the translation of the study needs into variables, current literature, interviews and focus group discussions. Three focus groups comprised of eight participants per group and were purposefully selected from military naval staff. In addition, semi-structured interview guides were used for interviews conducted with key informants. Five senior officers and two psychologists from the Institute of Maritime Medicine (IMM) were interviewed. Data was analysed deductively due to the existence of pre-determined themes. In Phase 2, based on the data collected in phase 1, the researcher developed the appraisal tool. The appraisal tool was constructed within the scope of the theoretical framework focusing on the perceptions of naval staff on stress; previous and current leisure experiences; knowledge, skills, resources, behaviour; leisure-coping beliefs; and stress- coping strategies. The literature in the present study revealed that there were six pre-determined themes. The themes included: Theme 1 – Stressors in the military, Theme 2 –support in the military, Theme 3- operational deployment of military members, Theme 4- Impact of stress on military families have been identified as theme four, Theme 5- leadership and Theme 6- sport and recreation in the military. Salient topics included the following: Stress assessment salient topics are personal stress, occupational stress, wellness and operational deployment. Leisure behaviour salient topics include social activities, passive activities, physical activities and outdoor activities. The findings in the study revealed that stress had an adverse effect on military readiness and the wellbeing of staff. This study reiterated the need for greater attention in the rendering of support services needed to military members and their families, preparing families for separation and improved communication between deployed soldiers and the home front. Job-induced separations affect not only the soldier and the spouse, but also their children. The role of the supervisor played a large part in how satisfied and committed the members were regarding their job. Sport and Recreation programs are vital to alleviate the symptoms of stress. The appraisal tool developed needs to be piloted and evaluated in order to recommend it for use in SANDF information systems.