The process of leading and managing the worldwide network of Embassies and High Commissions within the South African Department of Foreign Affairs is extremely challenging. It requires knowledge of globalisation and the utilisation of information technology. This knowledge would enable leaders to respond more rapidly and across geographic boundaries, thereby enhancing efficiency within the Department of Foreign Affairs. The speed, accuracy and efficiency of the staff will, however, depend increasingly on leadership as a guided process, which brings out the best in subordinates, exposing their creative talents, skills and qualities that will enhance the image of South Africa, internationally. In this study, an overview of public administration will be given, as the Department of Foreign Affairs is a public institution and is governed by the normative guidelines of public administration. The theories of leadership will be outlined and evaluated. These theories date from the 1950's up to contemporary studies in leadership, which illustrates the changing patterns of leading with changing times and the utilisation of technology in task accomplishment. An overall structure of the Department of Foreign Affairs is outlined, tracing South Africa's foreign policy from the apartheid era to post 1994. The study also demonstrates the effects of changed government policy and its impact on the functioning and makeup of the Department. Theories of organisational performance and quality management, as well as the principles of "Batho Pele" zie. outlined, and their relevance to the functioning of the Department of Foreign Affairs, is given impetus. In this study, research was conducted among sixty officials of different ranks at ten different South African Missions across the world. The results of the survey indicate the dire need for leaders who understand the importance of leadership, and how their leadership styles impact on organisational efficiency and service delivery. A range of recommendations are proposed for diplomatic leaders to personally take responsibility for creating an environment where routine jobs become more meaningful, where the human spirit becomes liberated, and where people are transformed from positions of working to live to living to work! / Thesis (MPA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2005.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Univ., 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Vincent R. Amanor-Boadu / Companies use various methods to prepare their new management recruits to take on and succeed in their jobs. Some are formal, but most involve some form of informal arrangements such as mentorship. This mentorship approach is used by General Merchandising LLC as the principal preparation program for its new management recruits. This program is the Junior Management Trainee Program (JMTP). Apart from building the management capacity of its new managers, the JMTP aims to ensure that the management procedures and managerial skills at all the elevator and terminal locations across the organization are standardized, such that transferring individual across the organization is smooth and demands little or no learning of general operations and procedures. The JMTP has been ongoing for a fifteen years and has, generally, produced excellent results. The factors that contribute to its performance, however, have never been studied. This research seeks to understand the factors that contributed to the success of the program, with the view to streamlining the management and operation of the JMTP. The study was conducted using primary data collected from current participants in the JMTP and people who have served as mentors to new management recruits over the past three years. The survey was on the population of all people in the company who fit the foregoing description. The survey instrument was a structured questionnaire delivered electronically using Axio™, a survey software operated by Kansas State University. The data was analyzed using Stata® 12.0. The effectiveness of the JMTP was determined through an assessment of graduates’ ability to effectively operate their own grain terminal facility upon graduation. The factors considered as explanatory variables for peoples’ responses to this included their current role – whether they were management trainee or a mentor – and their demographic characteristics, as well as their perceived relationship with their mentors or mentees. The learning style of individual mentees was also determined to influence perceptions about the effectiveness of the current program in preparing them to independently run a terminal facility. The results suggest that personality types and learning styles should be taken into consideration and used when recruiting trainee managers and assigning them in order to maximize the effectiveness of the JMTP. It is additionally important that improvements and/or changes in the program be organized in ways that accommodate the different needs of both mentees and mentors in order to achieve high capacity improvement as a result of the training program. The study results specifically point to a sequence of initiatives that may be employed to enhance the outcomes of the JMTP: 1. Implement a psychometric questionnaire for mentors and incoming JMTPs to ensure maximum compatibility between mentors and mentee to enhance learning and capacity development. 2. Use the results from this study to initiate a process of collecting relevant data on performance of new managers and the training program itself on a regular basis to ensure the continuous improvement in the JMTP. 3. Use the results to develop mentorship education programs for the company’s mentors to help mentors do a better job to enhance new managers’ performance.

The objective of this study is to examine the current practices related to performance measurement in service operational settings. Several statistical procedures are utilized to analyse the data collected from Portuguese service organizations. These procedures include multiple regression analysis, cluster analysis, and gap analysis. Overall, the results of this study indicate that service organizations are beginning to view performance from a broad, organizational perspective. However, they are still, to a certain extent, emphasizing financial measures of performance. This study provides managers of service organizations with valuable insights into the organizational role of performance measures and measurement. This line of research is consistent with the significant growth of the service sector in recent years.

The objective of this study is to examine the current practices related to performance measurement in service operational settings. Several statistical procedures are utilized to analyse the data collected from Portuguese service organizations. These procedures include multiple regression analysis, cluster analysis, and gap analysis. Overall, the results of this study indicate that service organizations are beginning to view performance from a broad, organizational perspective. However, they are still, to a certain extent, emphasizing financial measures of performance. This study provides managers of service organizations with valuable insights into the organizational role of performance measures and measurement. This line of research is consistent with the significant growth of the service sector in recent years.

Purpose The objective of this study is to investigate the differences between high and low-performing manufacturing organizations in relation to critical organizational performance dimensions. Design/methodology/approach The types and frequency of performance measures used by the sampled manufacturing organizations are compared using factor and cluster analysis. Findings Based on the results of this study, it appears that high-performing manufacturing organizations, relative to their low-performing counterparts, tend to emphasise more the performance aspects related to employees, customers and market share. As such, these organizations appear to consider employees and costumers related performance aspects as critical elements of the overall organizational performance. Research limitations/implications The sample used in this study is specific in nature. It consisted of Portuguese manufacturing organizations. Thus, the results should be interpreted accordingly. Practical implications This study clearly shows that organizational investments aimed at improving the aspects of organizational performance related to customers, employees and market share are justified. Originality/value This study has both practical and theoretical value, as it empirically explores the practical implications of some important issues related to organizational performance.

Esta pesquisa é um estudo exploratório-descritivo que relaciona avaliação de desempenho organizacional, sustentabilidade e o questionário do Índice de Sustentabilidade Empresarial. A avaliação de desempenho organizacional é um importante instrumento de gestão, que por meio de diferentes modelos teóricos pode auxiliar empresas a realizarem seus objetivos. A incorporação da sustentabilidade na gestão é uma realidade, e têm-se realizado esforços no sentido de aprimorar a gestão socioambiental das organizações. Neste contexto, foi elaborado o modelo de avaliação de desempenho organizacional SIGMA Sustentabilidade, o qual analisa a empresa sob a ótica de cinco diferentes capitais: natural, social, humano, manufaturado e financeiro. A criação do Índice de Sustentabilidade Empresarial, que visa reunir as organizações com destaque em governança corporativa, responsabilidade social e sustentabilidade, também é reflexo deste contexto. O índice utiliza um questionário, enviado à um conjunto de empresas que possuem ações negociadas na bolsa de valores, para avaliar e selecionar as companhias que se encaixam no perfil descrito. Este estudo pretende identificar e descrever a presença dos cinco capitais no questionário do Índice de Sustentabilidade Empresarial. Para tal, foi analisada a teoria acerca de modelos de avaliação de desempenho organizacional, do modelo SIGMA sustentabilidade, bem como levantadas as teorias e indicadores acerca de cada um dos capitais. A metodologia escolhida foi a análise descritiva e qualitativa das perguntas que compõem o questionário, à luz da teoria dos capitais levantada. Os resultados apontam para uma concentração dos capitais natural e social no questionário, bem como para uma presença reduzida do capital manufaturado. A análise do questionário apontou também pontos de alinhamento com o modelo SIGMA, como a presença frequente da prestação de contas e a interdependência dos capitais. Ao final sugere-se um rol de variáveis que podem ser utilizadas para identificação dos diferentes capitais em outros estudos, questionários ou documentos em geral. / This research is a descriptive and exploratory study which relates organizational performance measurement, sustainability, and the Corporate Sustainability Index questionnaire. The measurement of organizational performance is an important management tool, which through different theoretical models can help companies achieve their goals. The incorporation of sustainability management is a reality, and has improved the environmental management of organizations. SIGMA, an organizational performance model, was designed in that context, and it analyses a company from the perspective of five different capitals: natural, social, human, manufactured, and financial. The creation of the Corporate Sustainability Index, which aims to bring together organizations with an emphasis on corporate governance, social responsibility and sustainability, also reflects that context. The index uses a questionnaire, which is sent to a group of companies with publicly traded shares, to evaluate and select those that fit the profile described. This study aims to identify and describe the presence of the five capitals in the Corporate Sustainability Index questionnaire. To this end, the theory about organizational performance evaluation, the SIGMA sustainability model, and the theories and indicators of each capital were analyzed. The methodology chosen employed qualitative and descriptive analysis of the questionnaire questions, based on the capitals theories raised. The results indicate a concentration of natural and social capital in the questionnaire, as well as a reduced presence of manufactured capital. Analysis of the questionnaire also showed points of alignment with the SIGMA model, such as the frequent presence of accountability and interdependence of capitals. At the end a list of variables that can be used to identify the different capitals in other studies, questionnaires and documents in general is suggested.

Esta pesquisa é um estudo exploratório-descritivo que relaciona avaliação de desempenho organizacional, sustentabilidade e o questionário do Índice de Sustentabilidade Empresarial. A avaliação de desempenho organizacional é um importante instrumento de gestão, que por meio de diferentes modelos teóricos pode auxiliar empresas a realizarem seus objetivos. A incorporação da sustentabilidade na gestão é uma realidade, e têm-se realizado esforços no sentido de aprimorar a gestão socioambiental das organizações. Neste contexto, foi elaborado o modelo de avaliação de desempenho organizacional SIGMA Sustentabilidade, o qual analisa a empresa sob a ótica de cinco diferentes capitais: natural, social, humano, manufaturado e financeiro. A criação do Índice de Sustentabilidade Empresarial, que visa reunir as organizações com destaque em governança corporativa, responsabilidade social e sustentabilidade, também é reflexo deste contexto. O índice utiliza um questionário, enviado à um conjunto de empresas que possuem ações negociadas na bolsa de valores, para avaliar e selecionar as companhias que se encaixam no perfil descrito. Este estudo pretende identificar e descrever a presença dos cinco capitais no questionário do Índice de Sustentabilidade Empresarial. Para tal, foi analisada a teoria acerca de modelos de avaliação de desempenho organizacional, do modelo SIGMA sustentabilidade, bem como levantadas as teorias e indicadores acerca de cada um dos capitais. A metodologia escolhida foi a análise descritiva e qualitativa das perguntas que compõem o questionário, à luz da teoria dos capitais levantada. Os resultados apontam para uma concentração dos capitais natural e social no questionário, bem como para uma presença reduzida do capital manufaturado. A análise do questionário apontou também pontos de alinhamento com o modelo SIGMA, como a presença frequente da prestação de contas e a interdependência dos capitais. Ao final sugere-se um rol de variáveis que podem ser utilizadas para identificação dos diferentes capitais em outros estudos, questionários ou documentos em geral. / This research is a descriptive and exploratory study which relates organizational performance measurement, sustainability, and the Corporate Sustainability Index questionnaire. The measurement of organizational performance is an important management tool, which through different theoretical models can help companies achieve their goals. The incorporation of sustainability management is a reality, and has improved the environmental management of organizations. SIGMA, an organizational performance model, was designed in that context, and it analyses a company from the perspective of five different capitals: natural, social, human, manufactured, and financial. The creation of the Corporate Sustainability Index, which aims to bring together organizations with an emphasis on corporate governance, social responsibility and sustainability, also reflects that context. The index uses a questionnaire, which is sent to a group of companies with publicly traded shares, to evaluate and select those that fit the profile described. This study aims to identify and describe the presence of the five capitals in the Corporate Sustainability Index questionnaire. To this end, the theory about organizational performance evaluation, the SIGMA sustainability model, and the theories and indicators of each capital were analyzed. The methodology chosen employed qualitative and descriptive analysis of the questionnaire questions, based on the capitals theories raised. The results indicate a concentration of natural and social capital in the questionnaire, as well as a reduced presence of manufactured capital. Analysis of the questionnaire also showed points of alignment with the SIGMA model, such as the frequent presence of accountability and interdependence of capitals. At the end a list of variables that can be used to identify the different capitals in other studies, questionnaires and documents in general is suggested.

Title:                 Talent Management   Author:             Simon Kjellman Level:               Master Thesis 30, hp Keywords: Talent management, Organizational Performance, Employee engagement, Human resource management Background: Today business is pressured to provide result and profit, but at the same time provide health and stimulate work environment for the employees. Human resource is rising to be the organizations new winner to get a competitive advantage. In order to be successful and continue to grow, companies need to attract and maintain their talent. Research question: Which tensions between organizational performance and employee engagement can arise when using talent management?  Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to develop an understanding of which tensions    between organizational performance and employee engagement that can arise when using talent management. By focusing on employee engagement and organizational performance, I put the emphasis on the approaches used when using talent management and therefore I also developing what characterizes the used approach. Method: A qualitative research approach was applied, which included a case study design consisting of multiple cases. Unstructured interviews and observations were the methods used for collecting the empirical data. The seven respondents were selected from two Swedish companies, based on a theoretical sampling method. The data analysis method included a cross-case analysis. Theoretical framework: Based on the purpose, the concepts that I find most relevant and coherent with Talent Management, Employee engagement and Organizational performance will be introduced and explained in the following sections. At first, Talent Management is defined and explained and then the employee engagement and organizational performance come as following. The theories will provide the basis for a detailed investigation and analysis over Talent Management. Findings: Swedish companies uses a collective approach to talent management. What characterizes the work with talent management in a collective culture are inclusion, democracy, soft culture and communication. They are using democratic and human ways of treating their employees. This causes the tension to be low in overall because usually the desires are met on both sides. Signs of separation in developments plans between different professionals can start a tension. The communication is important when using talent management to get a stable work environment.

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