M.. Tech. (Human Resource Management, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology / In today’s globally competitive and modern environments, organisational plans often fail due to the lack of succession planning. However, numerous organisations often fail to prepare for the inevitable departure of employees, especially in strategically high-level positions. Succession planning is a means of identifying critical management positions starting at lower level management and extending up to the highest position in an organisation. Unlike workforce planning, succession planning focuses more on advancing the employees’ skills in order to achieve the organisational objectives. There is no organisation that can exist forever in its present composition as there must be some form of succession or else the organisation will become obsolete. Succession planning plays an imperative role in today‘s competitive world. There are many factors that influence the stability of an organisational workforce, among which are illness and attrition. Another essential factor, which has taken the world by storm, is the retirement of the baby boomer generation in both in the private and the public sector. This is presenting a challenge within organisations, as they are going to lose talented and experienced employees and makes succession planning more needed more than ever before. Succession planning is an ongoing process that assists the organisation to align its goals with its workforce, as well as preserving the best talent for the future. It makes the organisation ready to face the challenges presented by the vacant key and critical positions. Succession planning is one of those human resource planning strategies utilised to forecast the talent demand that the organisation will require for achieving its future goals. The main purpose of this study was to examine the succession planning current practices and internal succession barriers, and determine their relationship with intentions to leave within the public service of a developing country. The research methodology used to conduct the study is a combination of a literature review and an empirical study. The probability sampling technique, which involves using simple random sampling, was utilised to select the sample for the study. The primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The measuringinstrument contained 25 items. The instrument was pilot-tested with 87 respondents one month prior to the main survey. The questionnaire was hand delivered to all the participants. For the main survey, data from 250 respondents were collected and analysed. Participants in the study involve officers, managers and directors in the public service of a developing country. Data were analysed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of the various sections of the measuring instrument were computed to establish construct validity. Content validity of the scale was ascertained by pre-testing the questionnaire with employees in the public service. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted for variables in Section B of the research instrument. Convergent validity was assessed through correlation analysis using Pearson’s correlation coefficient in order to establish relationships between succession planning current practices and intentions to leave, as well as between internal succession barriers and intentions to leave the public service. Analysis was done using descriptive statistics on the demographics information of respondents. The results were also interpreted through the exploratory factor analysis, correlation and regression analysis. The results showed that two major factors of succession planning, namely replacement planning and grooming, correlate negatively with intentions to leave. The internal succession barriers also have a negative correlation with intentions to leave. Subsequent to these findings, it is recommended that the public service implement succession planning appropriately and eliminate the barriers thereof in order to retain its workforce. Based on the findings emanating from the empirical survey it was revealed that if succession planning is implemented appropriately and factors such as replacement planning and grooming are taken into consideration, employees holding key positions may be likely to be retained. Therefore, it was recommended that prior to undertaking succession planning a mission, vision and values that accommodate the contributions of employees should be developed. It was recommended also that when implementing succession planning, clear, transparent and objective criteria should be followed to achieve the optimal results. It is further recommended that the following succession planning best practices should be adopted by the public service to ensure that succession planning is implemented and practised successfully: Facilitation of an outside private consultant − for succession planning to be effective and rewarding in the public service it should be facilitated by an outside private consultant. Understanding of factors that influence succession planning − the public service should understand the necessity to know and address factors that influence willingness to share knowledge by employees. The study concludes by recommending that barriers that hinder succession planning should be avoided by adhering to the following suggestions: Longer terms of appointment should be provided for top public service employees Succession planning should be listed as one of the priorities in the public service strategic plan in order to be included in the budget Young vibrant and competent employees be motivated, groomed and prepared to apply for leadership or key positions in the public sector

Thesis (MPA. (Industrial Psychology)) --University of Limpopo, 2010 / In recent years, the South African government has put a lot of energy into the transformation of public sector departments. Effective leadership is a prerequisite in any effort to transform an organization. However, research findings indicate that there is a critical need to develop and train managers in the public sector to deal with numerous challenges in a fast changing world. They do not only need technical competencies but also soft skills to manage interpersonal relationships. This means that the public sector in South Africa needs to develop its leaders effectiveness in dealing with the human side of enterprises. Research in the first world countries on effective leadership behaviour has indicated the following: Firstly, leaders with high levels of emotional competence are more effective in interpersonal situations than those with low levels of emotional competence. Secondly, transformational leadership behaviour has a significant positive relationship with a leader s emotional competence. Lastly, a leader s conflict handling style is associated with his/her effectiveness as a leader. The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship between managers transformational leadership style effectiveness, their level of emotional competence (emotional expression and constructive discontent) and their conflict management skills within the public sector in South Africa. A survey design was employed to collect data. Questionnaires were completed by 126 managers in a public sector department in the Limpopo Province. The questionnaires included items to assess transformational leadership, emotional competence and conflict management skills, and also to siphon demographic information of the managers. Frequencies for demographic information were computed, as well as correlations for transformational leadership, emotional competencies and conflict management styles in order to test out hypotheses about the relationship between the variables of interest.Findings indicated that the majority of the respondents were Black males under the age group of 41-50, on job levels 11-12, with managerial experience of 1-5 years. The main findings of the study showed the following: (a) There is a very weak,significant positive relationship between transformational leadership and emotional expression, and a negative relationship between transformational leadership style and constructive discontent; (b) There is a relatively weak but significant positive relationship between the transformational leadership style and the constrictive conflict management skills (collaborating and compromising interpersonal conflict management styles); (c) There is a weak but significant negative relationship between the compromising interpersonal conflict management style and emotional expression, and a very weak, non-significant negative relationship between collaboration interpersonal conflict management style and emotional expression; and (d) There is a weak but significant negative relationship between the compromising interpersonal conflict management style and constructive discontent, but a very weak non-significant negative relationship between collaboration interpersonal conflict management style and constructive discontent. These findings led the researcher to believe that the respondents are neither transformational leaders nor emotionally competent, and thus could not either compromise or collaborate with others when they are in an interpersonal conflict situation. It is recommended that managers should be trained to develop their leadership, as well as emotional and conflict management competencies. Even though small sample size was used in this study, there results will be generalized to the whole South African population of public service managers. Further research study with different research methodology is recommended within other public sector departments and provinces within the country.

Issues of diversity are receiving significant attention within the National Park Service recently, due in large part to a growing awareness that its future as a relevant and viable agency is dependent upon improving its response to and management of diversity. A diversity assessment of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site was undertaken to assist the site in its diversification efforts involving three interrelated areas: historical interpretation, visitor services, and workforce management. Data from research and semi-formal interviews with staff and volunteers were analyzed to identify appropriate, site-specific strategies for expanding dynamic interpretation of diverse groups within the historical context, improving the quality of visitation for diverse audiences, and more fully utilizing personnel and community organizations to strengthen the two topics outlined above. Historical interpretation is the main focus of the analysis, not only because it forms the fundamental duty of the historic site, but also because diversifying an interpretive program carries the most potential for forming emotional and intellectual connections with diverse visitors, thus increasing participation, financial security, and continued relevance. / Graduation date: 2000

<p>1946 infördes en ny befattning i flygvapnet – Fältflygare. Dessa korttidsanställda piloter utbildades fram till och med 1982, året innan den Nya Befälsordningen infördes i försvarsmakten vilken innefattade alla officerare i en och samma kategori – yrkesofficerare. År 2008 reviderades dock befälsordningen, och sedan dess delas försvarsmaktens officerare in i två kategorier: specialistofficer respektive officer. Blivande stridspiloter rekryteras idag till den senare kategorin och anställs som officerare. Denna uppsats syftar till att belysa de argument som var bidragande till införandet av fältflygare och testa dessas validitet som argument för en applicering av tvåbefälssystemet på flygvapnets piloter idag. Uppsatsen utreder fältflygarsystemets framväxt, utformning, genomförande och avslutande samt jämför förutsättningarna mellan 1946 och 2010 inom områdena säkerhetspolitik, uppgifter samt ekonomi. Dessutom jämförs det svenska flygvapnets personalfördelning med ett antal andra länder. Genom att sätta de funna argumenten i dagens kontext, försöker validiteten av dessa avgöras. Uppsatsen avslutas med en diskussion rörande resultatet samt behovet av framtida forskning inom området. Resultatet i uppsatsen pekar på ett antal huvudsakliga argument för införandet av fältflygarsystemet, vilka samtliga kan härledas till flygvapnets expansiva fas under 30- och 40-talet. Uppsatsen visar att inget av dem är giltigt som ett argument för ett införande av ett tvåbefälssystem för flygvapnets piloter idag. Detta är främst på grund av skillnader mellan 1946 och idag rörande den säkerhetspolitiska situationen samt flygvapnets uppgifter. Det huvudsakliga syftet med fältflygarsystemet, att rekrytera en stor mängd individer till ett flygvapen under uppbyggnad, speglar inte dagens situation. Vidare är försvarsmaktens uppgifter idag betydligt fler än de som fältflygarna utbildades för att lösa: försvar av landet i händelse av krig.</p> / <p>In 1946, the Swedish Air Force (SwAF) introduced a new position open for pilot applicants. These pilots were trained and hired as non-commissioned officers and served in during a limited period of time. Influenced by the British RAF system with short service personnel, this system was in use until 1982. That year, it was decided that the Swedish Armed Forces would consist only of commissioned officers. However, in 2008, the non-commissioned officers were re-introduced into service. Today, the officers of the Armed Forces serve either as non-commissioned officers (“specialistofficerare) or commissioned officers (“officerare”). Aspirants who are applying to figher pilot training within the SwAF go through a three-year-long academic education in order to become commissioned officers. This essay aims to elucidate the key arguments used to introduce the system of non-commissioned fighter pilot officers and to test the validity of these arguments for applying the “new” system of officer ranks/other. The essay investigates the evolution, shaping, implementation and termination of the Fältflygare-system. It also compares 1946 and 2010 on three different aspects: the air force’s economic situation and tasks as well as the security policy-situation of the country. Also, a comparison of how officers are organised is made, between the SwAF and the air force of five other countries. The end of the essay consists of a discussion of the results. The result of the essay shows that none of the previous arguments are valid for implementing a system of non-commissioned fighter pilot officers for the SwAF pilots today. The main reasons for this are major differences in the tasks given to the armed forces and the differences of the security policy-situation. The main purpose of the Fältflygare-system, to recruit and train a large quantity of pilots for an air force that was being developed, does not reflect the situation today. Furthermore, the armed forces and air force today must be ready to solve a wider range of tasks today than before, particularly when it comes to peace keeping and peace enforcement missions. The older system trained for a more specific task - defending the Swedish country’s borders in case of a war between NATO and the Warsaw Pact.</p>

1946 infördes en ny befattning i flygvapnet – Fältflygare. Dessa korttidsanställda piloter utbildades fram till och med 1982, året innan den Nya Befälsordningen infördes i försvarsmakten vilken innefattade alla officerare i en och samma kategori – yrkesofficerare. År 2008 reviderades dock befälsordningen, och sedan dess delas försvarsmaktens officerare in i två kategorier: specialistofficer respektive officer. Blivande stridspiloter rekryteras idag till den senare kategorin och anställs som officerare. Denna uppsats syftar till att belysa de argument som var bidragande till införandet av fältflygare och testa dessas validitet som argument för en applicering av tvåbefälssystemet på flygvapnets piloter idag. Uppsatsen utreder fältflygarsystemets framväxt, utformning, genomförande och avslutande samt jämför förutsättningarna mellan 1946 och 2010 inom områdena säkerhetspolitik, uppgifter samt ekonomi. Dessutom jämförs det svenska flygvapnets personalfördelning med ett antal andra länder. Genom att sätta de funna argumenten i dagens kontext, försöker validiteten av dessa avgöras. Uppsatsen avslutas med en diskussion rörande resultatet samt behovet av framtida forskning inom området. Resultatet i uppsatsen pekar på ett antal huvudsakliga argument för införandet av fältflygarsystemet, vilka samtliga kan härledas till flygvapnets expansiva fas under 30- och 40-talet. Uppsatsen visar att inget av dem är giltigt som ett argument för ett införande av ett tvåbefälssystem för flygvapnets piloter idag. Detta är främst på grund av skillnader mellan 1946 och idag rörande den säkerhetspolitiska situationen samt flygvapnets uppgifter. Det huvudsakliga syftet med fältflygarsystemet, att rekrytera en stor mängd individer till ett flygvapen under uppbyggnad, speglar inte dagens situation. Vidare är försvarsmaktens uppgifter idag betydligt fler än de som fältflygarna utbildades för att lösa: försvar av landet i händelse av krig. / In 1946, the Swedish Air Force (SwAF) introduced a new position open for pilot applicants. These pilots were trained and hired as non-commissioned officers and served in during a limited period of time. Influenced by the British RAF system with short service personnel, this system was in use until 1982. That year, it was decided that the Swedish Armed Forces would consist only of commissioned officers. However, in 2008, the non-commissioned officers were re-introduced into service. Today, the officers of the Armed Forces serve either as non-commissioned officers (“specialistofficerare) or commissioned officers (“officerare”). Aspirants who are applying to figher pilot training within the SwAF go through a three-year-long academic education in order to become commissioned officers. This essay aims to elucidate the key arguments used to introduce the system of non-commissioned fighter pilot officers and to test the validity of these arguments for applying the “new” system of officer ranks/other. The essay investigates the evolution, shaping, implementation and termination of the Fältflygare-system. It also compares 1946 and 2010 on three different aspects: the air force’s economic situation and tasks as well as the security policy-situation of the country. Also, a comparison of how officers are organised is made, between the SwAF and the air force of five other countries. The end of the essay consists of a discussion of the results. The result of the essay shows that none of the previous arguments are valid for implementing a system of non-commissioned fighter pilot officers for the SwAF pilots today. The main reasons for this are major differences in the tasks given to the armed forces and the differences of the security policy-situation. The main purpose of the Fältflygare-system, to recruit and train a large quantity of pilots for an air force that was being developed, does not reflect the situation today. Furthermore, the armed forces and air force today must be ready to solve a wider range of tasks today than before, particularly when it comes to peace keeping and peace enforcement missions. The older system trained for a more specific task - defending the Swedish country’s borders in case of a war between NATO and the Warsaw Pact.

Following the publication of Perry and Wise’s essay on public service motivation (PSM) in 1990 and Perry’s PSM measurement scale in 1996, the concept of public service motivation has attracted wide attention and empirical research on its definition, measurement and incidence in the past twenty years. However, little empirical research has been conducted on PSM in Hong Kong. This research is intended to examine the dimensionality and generalizability of PSM in Hong Kong by using self-administered survey instruments with two groups of different respondents. Group 1 consisted of 55 students of Master of Public Administration of the University of Hong Kong (mostly full time public servants) whilst Group 2 consisted of 78 undergraduates from different faculties in the same university. Two separate survey instruments were used for group 1 and group 2 respondents. All 40 items of Perry’s PSM dimensions were included in the two survey instruments with additional 7 items and 8 items added for group 1 and group 2 respectively. The additional items were introduced to measure the relationship of variables including organizational commitment and job expectation and PSM dimensions. The findings did not reveal the PSM level of group 1 was higher than group 2. However, females were found having relatively higher PSM level than males under the dimension of Attraction to Public Policy Making. The independent variable of Organization Commitment was strongly and positively correlated with the dimensions of Commitment to Public Interest, Civic Duty and Self Sacrifice while Job Expectation was strongly and positively correlated with the dimensions of Attraction to Public Policy Making, Social Justice, Civic Duty and Self Sacrifice. This research contributed to provide better understanding and knowledge of PSM in the Hong Kong context especially on the influence of the independent variables of organizational commitment and job expectation on PSM dimensions. / published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

The purpose of this study was to develop an integrated model for evaluating training and development initiatives used by the Botswana public service. To achieve this goal, the following actions were taken: A literature study was conducted to identify the scope and impact of an effective training and development initiative and its evaluation; A literature study was conducted to identify strategies for evaluating training and development initiatives. The theoretical study focused on effective training and development strategies and their evaluation and critical organisational factors that contribute to successful training evaluation; The findings from the literature study were integrated into a model for evaluating training and development initiatives to be used by the Botswana public service; and  This model was used as the basis for the development of a survey questionnaire to determine whether trainers, training managers and supervisors who were responsible for training and development in the public service agreed with the effective strategies for evaluating training and development developed in the study. The survey was conducted in ministries and departments in the south east district of Botswana, mainly in Gaborone, where ministries and government departments are located. The empirical results from the study showed that the majority of respondents’ training and development activities were not evaluated and that there is no link between training and development and performance management. In particular, disagreements were shown with regard to ten strategies and critical organisational factors. Evaluation of training and development in general, is an issue that organisations are challenged with on a daily basis. Lack of skills by trainers on how to evaluate training and development is one major contributing factor to this problem. An integrated and strategic approach towards the evaluation of training and development is required to effectively and constructively train and development employees according to strategic organisational goals, rather than according to individual trainee’s goals.

Many historians have conducted oral history interviews with Vietnam War veterans in an attempt to offer a more personal perspective to the study of the Vietnam War; however, most historians do not consciously differentiate between drafted and volunteer veterans. Identifying whether a veteran was drafted into service or volunteered is critical because the extent to which this service was voluntary or coerced may affect the way a veteran remembers his military service. By conducting oral histories, one can consciously delineate service members who volunteered as opposed to those who were drafted to determine if the veterans‟ experiences change based on the nature of their entry into the military. Additionally, examining the implementation of a national draft and its effects on service members‟ experiences will offer a better understanding of American military history. While much of the attention of scholars has been on drafted soldiers in Vietnam, little research has been conducted on the experience of the volunteer soldier. This study relies on oral history interviews conducted with volunteer and drafted service members of the Vietnam War to determine if there were differences between draftees and volunteers based on their entrance into the military. The research and oral history interviews with the two veteran groups establishes that the dissent detailed by draft protesters was not always the case and service members, volunteers and draftees alike, more often than not accepted their military service. The interviewed veterans‟ responses suggest that resistance to military service during the Vietnam War may not have been as great as one might think given the attention that has been placed on the anti-draft movement.

M. Tech. (Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of presenteeism on job satisfaction and organisational commitment among government employees within the Cacadu district. Research on presenteeism has been conducted and the majority of research on presenteeism has predominantly focused on its prevalence, determinants and economic effects, in the process neglecting important attitudinal results. Sickness presenteeism may signify physical presence and mental absence and can be associated with affective-motivational states such as job satisfaction and organisational commitment. The research methodology used to conduct the study is a combination of a literature review and an empirical study. A quantitative research paradigm and a descriptive research method were used to investigate a sample size of 220 employees within government departments in the Cacadu district. In order to minimise the study bias, simple random sampling was used to ensure that the sample accurately reflects the larger population (N=1025). Data were collected by means of a structured questionnaire. The instrument was piloted with 40 respondents and the instrument was hand delivered to all the participants. The results of the correlation analysis indicated that there is a moderate relationship between presenteeism and job satisfaction and a moderate relationship between presenteeism and organisational commitment. Regression analysis showed mixed results among presenteeism, job satisfaction and organisational commitment. Findings and recommendations of this study are significant to employees as they provide essential information regarding the influence and impact of presenteeism within the working environment and how these affect the performance of employees in delivering quality service within the Cacadu district. Given that there is presently little available research on the attitudinal consequences of sickness presenteeism and also non-work related presenteeism, these findings offer further opportunity for conducting research in the area.

The morale of the federal workforce is probably at an all time low. The malaise that shrouds the federal workforce is primarily caused by a sense of alienation that many federal workers feel. They feel alienated from themselves and from a community. In this book I approach the problem of alienation from theoretical, personal and empirical perspectives. To gain a deeper understanding of the alienation of the organizational employee, one must look at the individual holistically. Using Carl Jung as my guide and employing his theories of the unconscious, spirituality, individuation and psychological type, I develop what I call an organizational personality typology. This organizational personality typology is contrasted with the more conventional and more one-dimensional organizational role typologies developed by organizational theorists such as Anthony Downs in Inside Bureaucracy and Robert Presthus in The Organizational of contact with their environment and themselves, a sense of meaninglessness and alienation, and an obliviousness to messages from their unconscious. Other people choose the journey of heroism. The heroic journey as portrayed in the heroic myth serves as a model for those people in search of psychological health and spiritual sustenance. It is a journey that has three primary stages: the calling, the encounter with death, and the return to the community. Each of these stages has applicability to the American public administration tradition. The heroic journey is not merely confined to the world of myth. The heroic journey, as practiced in the public service, has current exemplars in both novels and in real life. Furthermore, it is a journey that is open to both the GS-3 clerk and the agency administrator. It is an attitude reflective of a life-affirming stance towards oneself and others. / Ph. D.