The researcher undertook exploratory research to see whether characteristics of visionary organizations, as discovered in research undertaken by Collins and Porras (2000), are present and applicable to non-profit organizations in Gauteng, South Africa. The characteristics are: - a core ideology (core purpose and core values) - big hairy audacious goals - a cult-like culture - purposeful evolution and continuous self improvement - management continuity - alignment. A schedule was used to interview directors of ten non-profit organizations. Some staff in each organization were given a questionnaire to see whether their answers correlated with the director responses. The research indicated that most characteristics are present, to some degree, in the non-profit organizations. These characteristics could however be explored more thoroughly in further research. The research includes recommendations for management of non-profit organizations to implement, to become visionary organizations. / Social work / M.A. (Social Work)

The point of departure in this study was to find a logical structure to answer the research question. In order to do this, the central concept adequate was defined, clarified and linked to the research question while on the same score, concepts related to it were also defined and clarified. The objectives of the study and the conceptual instruments were combined and thereafter linked to HIV/AIDS as a real life phenomenon. The literature reviewed assisted in accessing sources relevant to the topic, in setting the theoretical framework for the study and selecting appropriate tools to measure and evaluate the adequacy of governmental health and welfare interventions. The theoretical framework of the study is informed by the idea that the Government has obligations in terms of a social contract with society. On this basis, a conceptual instrument was built, bearing in mind section 2 of the 1996 Constitution. The evaluation criteria used involves collection and sifting through information and data while on the same score, making judgements about the validity of information obtained and deriving inferences from such information. / Public Administration and Management / M. Admin. (Public Administration)

This study explored the implementation of the recognition of prior learning (RPL) at Unisa by investigating the strengths and weaknesses of the RPL methodology, instruments and processes when taking students through the RPL process. The successes and challenges experienced by the RPL academic advisors and the academic assessors were determined and guidelines provided for the effective implementation of RPL at Unisa. The empirical research design was exploratory within a qualitative framework employing participant observation, focus group interviewing, individual interviewing and the distribution of questionnaires that consisted of open-ended questions. The research sample comprised 26 purposefully selected participants. With regard to the research findings, the challenges include a lack of administrative support, a lack of support from top management and the academic staff, and a lack of communication between management and the RPL department. The strength of the RPL department lay in its well-documented process manual. / Teacher Education / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie studie is onderneem om die invloed van die veranderingsproses op die funksionering van 'n welsynsorganisasie te bepaal. 'n Literatuurstudie en empiriese studie is onderneem. Die navorsing het aangedui dat die redes vir verandering hoofsaaklik ekstern van aard is, dat 'n hoe persentasie respondente nie altyd die noodsaaklikheid of rede vir verandering verstaan nie, en dat die meerderheid die kommunikasieproses en deurgee van inligting nie altyd duidelik beleef nie. Die ondersoek dui verder aan dat die motivering van grondvlak maatskaplike werkers deur die bestuurders nie onderskat moet word nie. Die deurgee van inligting is positief ervaar, maar die werkers sou meer ondersteuning daarvan van die bestuur wou ervaar. Tydens die studie is daar 'n beperkte mate van weerstand gevind. Weerstand by werkers word egter beperk indien hulle ervaar dat hulle deel van die proses is, voorberei word op verandering, sekuriteit nie be"invloed word nie en hulle oor die nodige redes vir verandering ingelig wor / The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of the process of change on the functioning of a welfare organisation. A literature and empirical study was done. Research showed that reasons for change were primarily of an external kind, that a high percentage of respondents not always understand the necessity or reasons for change, and that most of the respondents experienced the communication channels and information not always as open and clear. The research shows that motivation of ground level social workers by managers must under no circumstances be under-estimated. The way in which information was given, was experienced positively, but workers needed more support with it from management. During the research a limited degree of resistance was further found. Resistance experienced by workers became less when they were part of the process, are prepared for change, their security not threatened and the reasons for change are known to them. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Maatskaplike Werk-rigting)

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van die ondersoek was om 'n beplannings- en beheermodel te ontwikkel en beskikbaar te stel vir benutting deur welsynsorganisasies. Die ondersoek is onderneem binne die konteks van die ontwikkelingsnavorsings- en benuttingsparadigma. Die proses van die ontwikkelingsnavorsingsparadigma verloop volgens 'n analise-, ontwerp-, ontwikkelings-, evaluerings-, benuttings- en verspreidingsfase. Elke fase het ondersoeker in staat gestel om op sistematiese wyse te werk te gaan om 'n beplannings- en beheermodel te ontwerp en om gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings in die verband te maak. In die analisefase wat 'n teoretiese beskrywing van beplanning en beheer as bestuursfunksies behels het, was dit duidelik dat daar nie 'n beplannings- en beheermodel bestaan wat op welsynsorganisasies van toepassing gemaak kon word nie. Bestaande beplannings- en beheermodelle is ontleed en sleutelkonsepte is ge1dentif iseer met betrekking tot beplanning en beheer as bestuurfunksies. Aan die hand van die sleutelkonsepte is 'n empiriese ondersoek na die stand van beplanning en beheer by agt welsynsorganisasies gedoen. Agt kantoorhoofde, 16 supervisors en 32 maatskaplike werkers was met behulp van 'n onderhoudskedule by die navorsing betrek. Hierdie empiriese ondersoek en die literatuurstudie bet die ondersoeker in staat gestel om in die ontwerpfase 'n beplanningsen Leheermodel te ontwerp wat op welsynsorganisasies van toepassing gemaak kan word. 'n Beplannings- en beheermodel is iii ontwerp wat voorsiening maak vir die uitvoering van take op 'n strategiese-, bestuurs- en operasionele beplannings- en beheervlak. Die model maak voorsiening vir die betrokkenheid van al die personeellede van 'n organisasie in die beplannings- en beheerproses. Die model is vir 'n periode van agt maande by een welsynsorganisasie geYmplementeer en geevalueer. Daar is tot die slotsom gekom dat die beplanning- en beheermodel wel deur welsynsorganisasies benut kan word. Die waarde van die model le daarin dat die gebruik daarvan 'n welsynsorganisasie in staat stel om sy eie strategiese, bestuurs- en operasionele beplannings en beheerplan te kan saamstel. Di t sal 'n welsynsorganisasie in staat stel om proaktief op interne sowel as eksterne omgewingsveranderings te reageer / Social Work / D. Phil. (Maatskaplike werk)

The research study focuses on transformation management in a welfare organisation and is aimed at developing a framework for a prospective model for management of a transformation process in a welfare organisation. The research was directed by two components, the nature, and the management of transformation, and was initiated with a literature study on these two concepts. The research study is limited to the Gauteng area, and only child and family welfare organisations which were already active participants of a transformation process were targeted. Data collection process was initiated by means of a structured interview schedule, completed by managers/senior social workers/ Board chairpersons (the target group) . Results of the study indicate that a majority of the twenty targeted organisations had undergone an unstructured transformation process. A structured, well formulated, and planned transformation management process was required as a guideline, with a view to developing a prospective model for the management of a transformation process in a welfare organisation. Results and conclusions drawn from this study can be generalised in the broader spectrum of welfare organisations for the management of a transformation process. Further research is needed to develop the required model. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Social Work)

Text in Afrikaans, summary in Afrikaans and English / Hierdie studie is onderneem om die effek van leierskap op verandering in 'n nie-winsgewende organisasie te bepaal. 'n Literatuur- en 'n empiriese studie is onderneem. Literatuur beklemtoon dat verandering 'n realiteit in 'n organisasie is, 'n veranderingsagent die proses moet dryf en dat die transformasieleierskapstyl die gewenste styl vir veranderingsbestuur is. Navorsing toon dat verandering vanwee ekstreme invloede wel voorkom. Verwarring ten opsigte van wie die rol en verantwoordelikheid as veranderingsagent moet vertolk kom egter in die navorsing na vore. Die wyse en frekwensie waarop kommunikasie ten opsigte van verandering plaasgevind het, word oor die algemeen positief deur die respondente ervaar, maar respondente toon egter ook positiewe en negatiewe gedragsreaksies aan ten opsigte van verandering. Respondente toon dat die transformasieleierskapstyl met leierskapsgedrag/-kenmerke wat verband hou met integriteit, toeganklikheid en objektlwiteit hul tot deelname aan verandering motiveer. Navorsing toon ook dat leierskapspotensiaal en die behoefte aan leierskapsontwikkeling by respondente teenwoordig is. Navorsing het bevestig dat leierskap 'n effek op verandering in 'n nie-winsgewende organisasie het. / This research aims to establish whether leadership has an effect on change in a not-for-profit organisation. A literature and empirical study were conducted. Literature indicated that change in organisations is a reality and that organisations need to appoint change agents in order to facilitate the change process. Research has shown that change in not-for-profit organisation was caused by external influences and indicated that confusion exists as to whom the role and responsibility of change agent belongs to. Respondents indicated that they were generally positive about the frequency and way in which change was communicated but they indicated both positive and negative behavioral reactions to change. The transformational leadership style is highlighted as the best leadership style to manage change. The transformational leadership style with leadership behavior such as integrity, approachability and objectivity motivates respondents to participate in the change process. Research also indicated that respondents have leadership potential and have a need for leadership development. This study confirmed that leadership has an effect on change in a not-for-profit organisation. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Maatskaplike Werk-rigting)

Teenage pregnancy is a global problem and its prevalence in South Africa poses a serious concern to the government, health workers, parents, teachers, communities, and social workers in particular. As such, social work services are crucial in assisting pregnant teenagers to be self-reliant. Social workers employ three primary methods of social work practice when providing services to pregnant teenagers, namely casework, group work, and community work. This study sought to explore social work services for pregnant teenagers. A qualitative research method using an exploratory, descriptive, and contextual research design was employed to gather data from 12 social workers working in both rural and urban settings in the Capricorn District, Limpopo Province. A non-probability, purposive sampling method was used to select a sample. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews, consisting of a list of open-ended questions included in an interview guide. Data was also analysed following Tesch eight steps while Lincoln and Guba’s model was used for data verification. There are several stumbling blocks to effective service delivery, such as complex social problems experienced by pregnant teenagers, lack of formal and informal support, high caseloads, lack of resources, and little cooperation from other disciplines and agencies. Based on these findings, recommendations are made for education, practice, policy, and further research in an attempt to provide solutions to these challenges. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science)

The serious shortage of social workers (nationally) caused by their exodus from the profession at an alarming rate and the resultant classification of social work as a "scare skill" served as motivation for this research project into retention strategies to retain social workers for the profession. A qualitative research approach and an explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was employed to conduct semi-structured interviews with 15 purposely selected participants in the geographically defined boundaries of the Northern Free State and Gauteng. Tesch's (in Creswell, 1994) and Guba's models (in Krefting, 1991) aided the processes of data collection and verification, respectively. The research findings uncovered: general and specific reasons for the social workers' exodus, feelings and emotional reactions of social workers subsequent to the early exodus from the profession, and retention proposals to retain social workers. Based on the findings, recommendation directed to practice, education, policy and further research, were made. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Social Work)

The serious shortage of social workers (nationally) caused by their exodus from the profession at an alarming rate and the resultant classification of social work as a "scare skill" served as motivation for this research project into retention strategies to retain social workers for the profession. A qualitative research approach and an explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was employed to conduct semi-structured interviews with 15 purposely selected participants in the geographically defined boundaries of the Northern Free State and Gauteng. Tesch's (in Creswell, 1994) and Guba's models (in Krefting, 1991) aided the processes of data collection and verification, respectively. The research findings uncovered: general and specific reasons for the social workers' exodus, feelings and emotional reactions of social workers subsequent to the early exodus from the profession, and retention proposals to retain social workers. Based on the findings, recommendation directed to practice, education, policy and further research, were made. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Social Work)