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M.B.A. / This dissertation evaluates the aim: Organisations engaged in transformation need to connect competency with their change framework and that this influences the quality of the contribution made towards competitive advantage Companies who use change methodologies actually cultivate their distinct capabilities / competencies through these initiatives and if 3m are these similar to actual theories documented and if no how can this be incorporated into a model. This dissertation places the research into context by focusing on the identification of past theory, methodology and examples and by comparing this to three chosen companies to establish its credibility and usefulness. Primary data for the comparison was obtained through separate case study interviews. This data surrounded areas such as — core competency development, retention and acquisition and its association with competitive advantage, the basic understanding of the change initiative, method used and finally the actual change process employed. An extensive literature research was conducted to review current global thinking and knowledge on change, distinct capabilities and competencies. It was concluded that although the companies reviewed did change well only one of the three linked competence through its change processes. The other developed its capabilities through a variety of change programmes ( in this case intentional), it could therefore qualify that it had in fact used change to develop a competence, and that therefore a model such as the one formulated has a basis for development

M.Com. / Various ethical challenges occur in the performance appraisal process. It was postulated that the lack of transparency that often characterises performance appraisal could be a major contributing factor to the occurrence of ethical challenges in appraisal. Transparency in performance appraisal is described as an attempt to optimally reveal all relevant information regarding the performance appraisal process to key stakeholders concerned, without putting anyone at risk. A dearth of research on the role of transparency in performance appraisal prompted an attempt to isolate and describe transparency in relation to the performance appraisal process. An exploratory phenomenological approach was selected as research strategy, and within this strategy, semi-structured in-depth interviews (n=7) were utilised to explore the nature of transparency in the performance appraisal process. The participants were in a managerial role with experience in conducting performance appraisal, and have been subject to performance appraisal themselves. Systematic content analysis of data produced results that indicated that transparency does not operate in isolation but in conjunction with other ethical dimensions (trust, fairness, integrity, maturity, respect, responsibility, and honesty). Effective and sufficient communication of information before, during, and after the performance appraisal process was identified as a crucial element in creating a perception of transparency with key stakeholders involved. An adherence to principles of transparency in performance appraisal could potentially build trust between parties involved, increase fairness in the appraisal process, validate the organisation's integrity, and create mutual respect amongst stakeholders. Although applying transparency in appraisal has many benefits, it should be handled with caution as sensitive information has the potential to cause harm or put stakeholders at risk.

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Taking as its focus the ‘actor-creator’s’ process in devising practices, this study explores the notion of the ‘poetic body’ developed by French theatre pedagogue Jacques Lecoq (1921 - 1999) and the writings of French philosopher Gaston Bachelard (1884 - 1962) on the ‘poetics of imagination.’ The overarching aim is to originate a new ‘embodied poetics’ whereby the sensate, feeling body actively explores correspondences with the ‘material elements’ of earth, air, fire and water. These are experienced as ‘poeticising substances’ – catalysts and conductors for an embodied imagination. More specifically, this thesis asks the following question: What new understandings can a relational encounter between Lecoq’s pedagogy and Bachelard’s ‘poetic imagining’ reveal about the ’poetic body’ and how might these new understandings originate a devising process? I combine three solo practical projects with accompanying written analysis, to first interrogate the working methods I have inherited as a practitioner and teacher since my time as a student at the Lecoq School, from 1987 to 1989. This is followed by an embodied exploration of Bachelard’s ‘poetic imagining’ process through my own practice. In the final project, I develop an ‘embodied poetics’ for devising, based on the ‘actor-creator’s’ active participation with the world and a recognition that the poeticising ‘I’ is intimately entwined with the material elemental substances that comprise it. In considering the material elements as originating substances for an imagining body, their dialectic qualities offer infinite possibilities for a permanent renewal, expansion and transformation of practice. This study also proposes a new reading of Lecoq’s notion of the ‘poetic body’ from an embodied perspective. Equally, in applying Bachelard’s ‘poetic imagining’ to the devising process, I seek to revivify and reposition his philosophical standpoint from a contemporary perspective within the field of interdisciplinary practices.

Best Company to Work For (BCTWF) survey promoters argue that participation in the survey results in higher productivity and profitability of organisations. The BCTWF survey essentially follows the universalist Human Resources Management (HRM) approach and this is in conflict with the contingent HRM view. The research investigated whether participation in the BCTWF survey leads to superior financial performance. Data from thirty two companies was eventually used in the research. Bivariate fits and pairwise correlations are examples of two of the statistical tools that were used to establish if a relationship exists between the BCTWF rankings and various financial ratios. The research showed that good financial performance does lead to a high rating in the BCTWF survey and that a higher ranked company does not necessarily perform financially better than a lower ranked company.<p/> / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

The topics of leadership and strategy have attracted considerable interest from both academics and practitioners. Much of the interest in the two areas is based on explicit and implicit claims that both leadership and strategy are linked to organisational performance. This paper examines the nature of the relationship between participative leadership style and performance, and authoritative leadership style and performance. The study hypothesised that authoritative leadership style leads to achievement of the objectives of a strategic plan (hypothesis 1), and that participative leadership style leads to achievement of the objectives of a strategic plan (hypothesis 2). The research was a quantitative study. Data was collected by means of a questionnaire, which was emailed to 200 randomly selected respondents. 48 responses were received. This represents a total response rate of 24%. Of the total 48 responses, 10 were eliminated from the study due to errors. A linear regression method was used to test the hypotheses. The regression analyses have revealed that participative leadership style and performance, and authoritative leadership style and performance are not related. The two variables each explain less than 1% of the variance in performance. As a result, both null hypotheses were not rejected. The paper concludes with a number of implications for future research studies. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

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Partita No 4 in D Major, BWV 828 - Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Sonata No 23 in F minor, Op 57 - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Scherzo No 1 in B minor, Op 20 - Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

Vado, ma dove? W.A. Mozart (1756-1791) Auf dem Strom Franz Schubert (1797-1828) Canciones clásicas españolas Fernando Obradors (1897-1945) Del cabello más sutil La mi sola, Laureola Al amor INTERMISSION Quatre Poémes Hindous Maurice Delage (1879-1961) I. Madras II. Lahore III. Benares IV. Jeypur Wild Swans Ricky Ian Gordon (b. 1956) The Red Dress Once I Was