Formal project management methodologies and processes play a vital role in organisations that run large complex projects and programmes. Is it possible that these methodologies and processes can end up defeating the purpose for which they are introduced? Can these methodologies actually cause projects to fail by becoming the focus of attention? If so, what can be done to reverse this bizarre situation? This study intends to give some insights into these complex questions. Methodologies that are not usually used in such environments are applied to a particular messy situation on a project in an attempt to bring about some relief. The events took place in a conservative, rapidly changing and highly politicised organisation that had embarked on a programme comprising many large interdependent projects that needed to be implemented in an aggressive time frame. A particular large and complex project was running into trouble due to, in no small measure, the strict enforcement of onerous project management procedures. The project team was becoming demoralised and very stressed, which aggravated the situation further. Project managers usually adopt a "hard" approach to making changes. The aim of this research is to see whether using a "softer" approach in the environment described above could alleviate the situation. In this study, systems thinking and action research form the core of the multi-methodological approach to understanding the problem situation and identifying appropriate interventions to bring about improvements. Given the culture of the organisation concerned, will the application of these methodologies improve the situation by bringing the project back on track and improve staff morale? Other concepts that play a role in this study include complexity theory and the learning organisation that are deemed essential to the understanding of the holistic picture. 111 "This we know. The earth does not belong to us; we belong to the earth. This we know. All things are connected like the blood that unites one family. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and the daughters of the earth. We did not weave the web of life; we are merely a strand in it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves." (Chief Seattle) / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

Against the backdrop of the challenges that confront our business organizations today, it seems that the concept of organizational learning has passed the sell-by date. Against the backdrop of entrenched underdevelopment in certain sectors of our communities, the inadequacy of the necessary structures to deal with these challenges, and the lack of required competencies for systemic development, challenges are posed on the Higher Education Sector, in general, and the so-called Historically Disadvantaged Institutions, in particular, for their role to alleviate the prevailing situation. With organization development as a strategy, the study employed the models of impact assessment and sustainable development to reflect and evaluate the Tertiary Education Linkages Project (TELP) programme on Academic Development at the Eastern Cape Technikon. The research study was aimed at assessing the extent to which the Technikon responded to the programme especially on issues of impact and sustainable development. The action research study, designed and conducted parallel to programme management, would also reveal issues of practice-theory both in organization development, the intervention strategy, and in academic development, the field of practice. The study yielded the following 3 major outcomes: The value of ensuring impact and sustainability development in the capacity development efforts that are characterizing HDls. The value of academic development as the mechanism for enhancing organizational learning in the higher education sector. The value of organization development in capacitating the institutions of higher learning to deal with the challenges of transformation. The following constituted the main conclusions: Against the background of structural and historical challenges that confront Historically Disadvantaged Institutions today, intervention strategies should promote the critical and the humanistic issues of awareness, emancipation, action, self-determination, autonomy, and social responsibility. There is an urgent need for demonstrable and visible leadership at all performance levels for sustaining the results of organizational interventions. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

This dissertation explores the applicability of the Critical System Thinking (CST) methodology known as Total Systems Intervention (TSI) version one to the complex problems related to the practice of the Performance Management System at Telkom SA. As a point of departure, this research provides a historical analysis of a non-systemic management approach - Business Process Reengineering (BPR) and several uni-demensional hard and soft systems approaches and their contributions to the emergence and development of CST. It is argued that, given the messy and ill-structured problems that emerge as a result of the implementation of Performance Management Systems (PMS) at Telkom, a pluralist problem solving methodology such as TSI is the appropriate methodology applicable to the problem under concern. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2000.

This study was an evaluation of the approach to change that is used in the public sector. The approach that is chosen ultimately has a bearing on the management of change in an organisation. The study used a case study method to explore the key question of the approach using the six dimensions of change. The South African Revenue Services (SARS) served as a case study typical of a model public sector organisation. The focus was on the KZN region of SARS where there has been an implementation of a change initiative called SlYAKHA (meaning we are building) recently. The whole process from the birth of this initiative was looked at using the six dimensions to evaluate and answer the question of the approach that was used in managing this change. The six dimensions can be classified into the two main theories referred to as Theory E and Theory O. It became evident during the study that there was not enough literature on change management in the public sector particularly in the South African context. What further complicated the issue was that the models as applied in the private sector couldn't be imported and applied in a public sector organisation. The approach that was used in the management of Siyakha at SARS was of a Theory E nature, although not all the dimensions of that theory were applied. In the main the finding was that Theory E approach was used. It also came to light that in the public sector, this might be the logical step to take particularly as the first step to ensure that change does happen. This is because of the unique circumstances that face public sector organisations particularly in South Africa. At the end a suggestion is made that there should be a sequencing of the approaches where Theory E is applied first followed by Theory O. The researcher also suggests a different combination of dimensions in the sequencing exercise that will ensure that the public sector's unique circumstances are taken into account / Thesis (M.B.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

This research is an experiential learning history of a change management process that occurred within the local government Development Management Department of the Ethekwini Municipality in the South African province of KwaZulu Natal. The department is the gatekeeper of development for Ethekwini and offers the plans approval service in the municipal area. The department underwent an internal change management process in 2000, which aimed to streamline the plans approval process and minimize the approval timeframe. The Municipality’s decision to change the existing system was motivated by the lack of foreign direct investment into the city due to the bureaucratic plans approval process. This research used the qualitative framework and case study approach to understand the context of the requirement for the change, the implemented changes and the aftermath of the changes. A sample group of 38% (from the department) was interviewed, their responses consolidated, grouped and graphically represented, enabling the unpacking of the change management experience. The author then analyses the data against systems theory and change management theory to enable a greater appreciation of the complexity of the process and the high impacts of specific choices in the change management process. The findings of the research indicate a high degree of unresolved stress relating to the imposition of the process of change management on employees. The author draws the conclusion from the evidence presented that the inclusion of the recipients of change, in the process of change will mitigate against these stresses. This research documents the experience of the change management process by the recipients of change. In so doing it offers a greater level of insight of the way in which change is experienced, thereby promoting better choices by practitioners in the field of change management. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2009.

The current study fills a gap in the communication and management literature by providing additional insight regarding the effective communication strategies used by church leaders during organizational change. The researcher sought to find out how beliefs held by church members predicted their receptivity to change and their intent to leave their organization. Participants from diverse church denominations (N = 208) completed an online survey questionnaire asking them to think about a particular change they had experienced in their current or former church. The results of statistical analysis showed: (a) Church members´ beliefs regarding discrepancy, efficacy, principal support, and valence, positively predicted their receptivity to change, and negatively predicted their intention to leave the organization; (b) beliefs regarding valence were the most relevant for church members to become receptive towards change, and for them to stay in their church during organizational change; (c) among the trust dimensions, benevolence acted as a mediator in the relationship of principal support and valence with intent to leave. This study provides some evidence regarding organizational change in a volunteerbased church context. Practical applications are discussed for church leaders who are implementing change in their congregation. Additionally, future directions are proposed.

This organizational leadership thesis explored the implementation of a community of practice (CoP) within the Provincial Chronic Disease Management (CDM) team, Alberta Health Services (AHS). This inquiry adhered to research ethics policies of Royal Roads University and the Community Research Ethics Board of Alberta. Applying an appreciative stance within an action research methodology, this inquiry examined how a CoP could facilitate knowledge sharing. Understandings and experiences of CoPs were examined through interviews with AHS Knowledge Management employees. A focus group focused on how the Decision Support and Evaluation Leads of the Provincial CDM Team perceived the potential role of a CoP for the purposes of knowledge sharing and the necessary supports needed for the implementation of a CoP. The following recommendations emerged and were presented to the organization: encourage a learning culture that values relationships and networks, develop a strategy for the implementation of a CoP, and enhance leadership knowledge.

Syftet var att undersöka internkommunikation ur ett ledarskapsperspektiv i samband med organisationsförändring. En kvalitativ metod med semistrukturerade intervjuer användes där nio chefer från olika hierarkiska nivåer intervjuades. För att undersöka fenomenet internkommunikation utgick vi från ett empiriskt fall, myndigheten Jordbruksverket. Det empiriska materialet analyserades med hjälp av tematisering vilket slutligen genererade i slutsatser gällande internkommunikation. Den vetenskapliga utgångspunkten var systemteorin och utifrån den framtogs tre relevanta fokusområden; kommunikation, ledarskap och förändring som varit genomgående teman i hela studien. Studien utgick ifrån tre frågeställningar där resultatet visade hur ledare arbetar med internkommunikation och vilket förhållningssätt ledare har till sitt kommunikativa uppdrag. / The aim with this study was to examine internal communication from a leader´s perspective in relation to organizational change. A qualitative method containing semi structured interviews was used and the empirical case was the Swedish Board of Agriculture. Nine leaders from different hierarchical levels were interviewed. The empirical material was thematised which lead on to several conclusions about internal communication. The scientific general systems theory of organizations was used and three topics were settled; communication, leadership and organizational change. These main themes were guidelines throughout the entire study. Three questions were formulated and the result showed how leaders are working with internal communication and which approach they take on in relation to their communicative assignment.

The increasing competition is making increasing demands of today's businesses to be changeable. Change projects have therefore become increasingly common in order to satisfy market expectations. These projects have often proved difficult to implement and fail rather than succeed. There are many people who reflect on why this is and theorists are increasingly reasoning about the importance of communication in the change process. This is something that has given rise to a new area of expertise called change management. For the most part, it is about developing strategies for management to communicate change to employees and working together with these to reach the intended goals. In the relationship between a third party such as IT consultants and their customers the communicative challenge gets a bit different. The purpose of this study has been to identify important factor that makes communicating change a challenge in this relationship. This has occurred in the context of an IT consulting company and their interactions with the customer in the implementation process of a new web solution. The aim has been to seek greater understanding for the role of communication in the relationship. The study has resulted in a number of factors identified to be important when understanding how communication becomes a challenge in these change projects.

Organizations normally introduce and implement changes in their respective departments. The general assumption is that the changes are meant for the improvement of operations, efficiencies and cost control measures, among other things. This research project was prompted by the fact that Eskom is introducing Shared Services within its Transactional Procurement and Supply Chain Management. It is important that this study is undertaken, through a survey, involving top executives, upper and middle management, as well as operational employees. Perceptions of the inherent successes or failures the new system might have on Eskom as an organization will be ascertained. Perceived difficulties will make the results more interesting, in that the sampling methodology used has to be compatible with the targeted research market. The results of the survey are important for sharing with Eskom’s management as the findings have a direct bearing on the improvement of the project. Whether Eskom should proceed or not with the introduction of Shared Service within the Transactional Procurement and Supply Chain Management is the problem statement of this research project. Although this project is meant for a particular market sector in the organization, the consequences of the benefits accrued and/or losses incurred will reverberate throughout the whole organization as it has multiple independent transactional procurement and supply chain outfits running in all their departments in South Africa. Whether the previous dispensation was beneficial or not, is subject to what is referred to as the ‘burning platform’ in Chapter 1. The researcher was an Eskom employee at the time of the research project, and the project was aimed at looking at Eskom’s corporate challenges. The survey was conducted conveniently among Eskom employees comprising two sets of respondents: executive management and operational employees drawn from upper and middle management together with supervisory and front staff. Convenience Sampling was done among what was believed to be the employees within the value chains of Procurement and the Supply Chain. The survey results have shown the distinct difference between the perceptions of the executive management and operational employees in that the former are more supportive of the project and well aware of its introduction, while the opposite is true for the operational employees. There was also a marked agreement noted where both responding groups regard the current set-up within the procurement and supply chain management as being fraught with problems. Both groups also agree that this section does not yield the required results. These research findings are significant for Eskom’s management to take note for benefits to accrue by virtue of a buy-in from the different stakeholders. The Eskom employees are expected to implement, manage and improve the efficiencies within the Procurement and Supply Chain Department, and this research project can be taken to have served as an unofficial but important research tool on behalf of the company. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2011.