Thesis (M.Tech.: Commercial Administration)- Dept. of Office Management and Technology, Durban Institute of Technology, 2004 x, 100, [21] leaves / This study aimed to identify the factors that affect change in attitudes of managers reaching positions of authority in Higher Educational Institutions. Traditionally, managers sat in their office and managed organizations. Today the market place demands something different and there is greater emphasis on leadership qualities for those in positions of authority. Today, leaders are needed who have sound principles, ethics, sound values, integrity, human and communication skills. Individuals in leadership positions who lack the skills listed, experience problems leading and managing a modern organization.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Commercial Administration)- Dept. of Office Management and Technology, Durban Institute of Technology, 2004 x, 100, [21] leaves / This study aimed to identify the factors that affect change in attitudes of managers reaching positions of authority in Higher Educational Institutions. Traditionally, managers sat in their office and managed organizations. Today the market place demands something different and there is greater emphasis on leadership qualities for those in positions of authority. Today, leaders are needed who have sound principles, ethics, sound values, integrity, human and communication skills. Individuals in leadership positions who lack the skills listed, experience problems leading and managing a modern organization.

M.A. (Social Sciences) / Presently a fine balance between South Africa's politics and the industrial situation exists. The South African political focus was aimed at fulfilling the clamouring of America and Europe, and not tailored for the South Africa situation that asks for reciprocity. This immediate way of handling the South Africa political field, has resulted in the industry being at the receiving end of the country's political controversies. What we find in the industry is a total distortion of white male managers occupying 88.2% of all the middle and senior positions, whilst 75% of the South African population consist out of blacks. A very poor representation of African managers is thus visible in the industry that asks for change, reformation and renewal. These changes that are required, will have to take place within a limited accelerated time span, which might be revolutionary rather than evolutionary. Limited research has been done on coping during stressful situations (Feldman & Brett, 1983; Latack, 1986; Burke & Belcourt, 1974; Newton & Keenan, 1985 and Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). The research that had been implemented was taxonomic (Burke & Belcourt in Newton & Keenan, 1985:108). This scientific research is about the stress management and coping skills of Afrocentric and Eurocentric middle managers. These managers are employed by Eskom which implies a working milieu that has been exposed to reorganisation, structural changes and rationalisation. An important component of .this research, is that the Eurocentric middle managers are being compared with the Afrocentric middle managers regarding their work and life circumstances and coping skills one or two months before South Africa's very first democratic election that took place on the 27th April 1994. It was important to assess the climate within Eskom as an organisation regarding the white versus the black managers just before a third world democratisation.

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie navorsing handel oor selfaktualisering as voorspeller van bestuursukses. In die literatuuroorsig is bestuursukses as afhanklike veranderlike en selfaktualisering as onafhanklike veranderlike binne die humanistiese paradigma gekonseptualiseer en geoperasionaliseer. Die persoonlikheidskenmerke verwant aan die veranderlikes is bepaal en geintegreer. Die empiriese ondersoek is binne die funksionalistiese paradigma aangebied. Die gekose meetinstrumente, naamlik die Bestuursvaardigheidsinventaris vir die meet van bestuursukses en die Persoonlike Orientasie-inventaris vir die meet van selfaktualisering is op 'n ewekansige steekproef van 51 middelvlakbestuurders afgeneem. Die betroubaarheid van die Bestuursvaardigheids- inventaris is met behulp van die "Cronbach Alpha Coeffisient"- metode bepaal. Om te bepaal of selfaktualisering 'n voorspeller van bestuursukses is, is stapsgewyse regressieontledings gedoen. Die resultate dui daarop dat die ondersteuningsratio (innerlike orientasie) bestuursukses beduidend voorspel, sowel as 12 van die 18 kenmerke eie aan bestuursukses onderskeidelik. / This research deals with self-actualization as predictor of management success. In the literature review, management success as the dependent variable and self-actualization as independent variable, is conceptualized and operationalized within the humanistic paradigm. The personality chracteristics inhirent in the variables were determined and integrated. The empirical investigation is presented within the functionalistic paradigm. The chosen measuring instruments, namely the Management Skills Inventory for the measurement of management success and the Personal Orientation Inventory for the measurement of self-actualization were administrated by means of random sampling to 51 middle level managers. The reliability qf the Management Skills Inventory was determined by means of the "Cronbach Alpha CoEHfisient"- method. To determine if selfactualization is a predictor of Management Success, stepwise regression analysis was done. The results indicate that the support ratio (inner directedness) predicts management success significantly, as well as 12 of the 18 personality characteristics inherent in management success, respectively. / Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)

Small businesses growth and profitability is a national problem in South Africa (SA) and the Emerging Contractors (ECs) in the construction industry in Gauteng Province are no exception. The SA government expect ECs to become the main players in economic transformation and growth, job creation and income generation. However, ECs fail to live up to the expectations as some are characterised by low performance levels and are at risk of business closure. The purpose of this research is to examine the perceptions of Small Business Executives (SBEs) on determinants of business performance so that a performance model that could guide ECs within the construction business is developed. The researcher used a mixed approach to examine the perceptions of SBEs on determinants of ECs’ performance by applying both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The population from which the sample was drawn comprised of 1890 urban based ECs registered with CIDB in the construction industry in Gauteng. Systematic random sampling was utilized and a sample size of 501 ECs was used. A structured questionnaire and interview guide were administered as the data collection instruments. A pilot survey was conducted where 2 key informants (SBEs) and 15 respondents (SBEs) were interviewed as representatives of ECs. A survey was used to assess the four hypotheses in the study. Content analysis was used to identify themes that emerged from qualitative data. The analysis of qualitative data demonstrated the perceptions of SBEs that financial factors, manpower, materials, machinery and equipment, project implementation, quality of work, legal and environmental and strategic planning were the main determinants that should be addressed when setting up and running construction businesses to reduce the negative impact on business performance. Based on the perceptions of SBEs, in quantitative, the univariate and multivariate statistical methods were performed to measure the level of significance between and among the performance determinants were tested at 5% confidence interval. Multiple linear regressions carried out based on the perceptions of SBEs identified strategic planning, project implementation and project performance as the most statistically significant factors in predicting the performance of ECs in Gauteng Province. The results from both qualitative and quantitative methods were synthesised and analysed through data transformation, typological development and case study analysis and the perceptions of respondents indicated a strong agreement between the qualitative and quantitative results. Based on multivariate results which were a result of the perceptions of SBEs, a performance prediction model was developed which is the core contribution of the study. The structure of the model, how it is used, its advantages and disadvantages were presented. The model provides a platform upon which ECs could predict performance and this would benefit ECs, clients, community and policymakers. In conclusion, the study established three significant determinants that include strategic planning, project implementation and project performance as highly relevant variables to improve construction business performance. Based on the perceptions of the respondents, the study recommends ECs to acquire and develop financial management skills that would enable them to understand and manage financial requirements that stakeholders such as financial institutions need in the areas of budgeting and cash flow management, bookkeeping knowledge, financial policies and controls and project pricing strategy. On the shortage of skills, the study recommends SBEs to take an initiative role in training employees, motivating and retaining competent workforce. The government need to establish technical colleges for training workers (apprenticeship) in order to equip them with appropriate industry knowledge, skills and experience. Lack of collateral security was widely reported by most SBEs and the study recommends the formation of a sector bank that would support emerging contractor businesses. / Business Management / D.B.L.

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie navorsing handel oor selfaktualisering as voorspeller van bestuursukses. In die literatuuroorsig is bestuursukses as afhanklike veranderlike en selfaktualisering as onafhanklike veranderlike binne die humanistiese paradigma gekonseptualiseer en geoperasionaliseer. Die persoonlikheidskenmerke verwant aan die veranderlikes is bepaal en geintegreer. Die empiriese ondersoek is binne die funksionalistiese paradigma aangebied. Die gekose meetinstrumente, naamlik die Bestuursvaardigheidsinventaris vir die meet van bestuursukses en die Persoonlike Orientasie-inventaris vir die meet van selfaktualisering is op 'n ewekansige steekproef van 51 middelvlakbestuurders afgeneem. Die betroubaarheid van die Bestuursvaardigheids- inventaris is met behulp van die "Cronbach Alpha Coeffisient"- metode bepaal. Om te bepaal of selfaktualisering 'n voorspeller van bestuursukses is, is stapsgewyse regressieontledings gedoen. Die resultate dui daarop dat die ondersteuningsratio (innerlike orientasie) bestuursukses beduidend voorspel, sowel as 12 van die 18 kenmerke eie aan bestuursukses onderskeidelik. / This research deals with self-actualization as predictor of management success. In the literature review, management success as the dependent variable and self-actualization as independent variable, is conceptualized and operationalized within the humanistic paradigm. The personality chracteristics inhirent in the variables were determined and integrated. The empirical investigation is presented within the functionalistic paradigm. The chosen measuring instruments, namely the Management Skills Inventory for the measurement of management success and the Personal Orientation Inventory for the measurement of self-actualization were administrated by means of random sampling to 51 middle level managers. The reliability qf the Management Skills Inventory was determined by means of the "Cronbach Alpha CoEHfisient"- method. To determine if selfactualization is a predictor of Management Success, stepwise regression analysis was done. The results indicate that the support ratio (inner directedness) predicts management success significantly, as well as 12 of the 18 personality characteristics inherent in management success, respectively. / Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)

Small businesses growth and profitability is a national problem in South Africa (SA) and the Emerging Contractors (ECs) in the construction industry in Gauteng Province are no exception. The SA government expect ECs to become the main players in economic transformation and growth, job creation and income generation. However, ECs fail to live up to the expectations as some are characterised by low performance levels and are at risk of business closure. The purpose of this research is to examine the perceptions of Small Business Executives (SBEs) on determinants of business performance so that a performance model that could guide ECs within the construction business is developed. The researcher used a mixed approach to examine the perceptions of SBEs on determinants of ECs’ performance by applying both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The population from which the sample was drawn comprised of 1890 urban based ECs registered with CIDB in the construction industry in Gauteng. Systematic random sampling was utilized and a sample size of 501 ECs was used. A structured questionnaire and interview guide were administered as the data collection instruments. A pilot survey was conducted where 2 key informants (SBEs) and 15 respondents (SBEs) were interviewed as representatives of ECs. A survey was used to assess the four hypotheses in the study. Content analysis was used to identify themes that emerged from qualitative data. The analysis of qualitative data demonstrated the perceptions of SBEs that financial factors, manpower, materials, machinery and equipment, project implementation, quality of work, legal and environmental and strategic planning were the main determinants that should be addressed when setting up and running construction businesses to reduce the negative impact on business performance. Based on the perceptions of SBEs, in quantitative, the univariate and multivariate statistical methods were performed to measure the level of significance between and among the performance determinants were tested at 5% confidence interval. Multiple linear regressions carried out based on the perceptions of SBEs identified strategic planning, project implementation and project performance as the most statistically significant factors in predicting the performance of ECs in Gauteng Province. The results from both qualitative and quantitative methods were synthesised and analysed through data transformation, typological development and case study analysis and the perceptions of respondents indicated a strong agreement between the qualitative and quantitative results. Based on multivariate results which were a result of the perceptions of SBEs, a performance prediction model was developed which is the core contribution of the study. The structure of the model, how it is used, its advantages and disadvantages were presented. The model provides a platform upon which ECs could predict performance and this would benefit ECs, clients, community and policymakers. In conclusion, the study established three significant determinants that include strategic planning, project implementation and project performance as highly relevant variables to improve construction business performance. Based on the perceptions of the respondents, the study recommends ECs to acquire and develop financial management skills that would enable them to understand and manage financial requirements that stakeholders such as financial institutions need in the areas of budgeting and cash flow management, bookkeeping knowledge, financial policies and controls and project pricing strategy. On the shortage of skills, the study recommends SBEs to take an initiative role in training employees, motivating and retaining competent workforce. The government need to establish technical colleges for training workers (apprenticeship) in order to equip them with appropriate industry knowledge, skills and experience. Lack of collateral security was widely reported by most SBEs and the study recommends the formation of a sector bank that would support emerging contractor businesses. / Business Management / D.B.L.