No / The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature and extent of management development and training in Palestinian telecommunication organizations using a basic trichotomous (three-stage) model: needs assessment, training development, and evaluation. A survey questionnaires supported by semi-structured interviews was conducted to capture and corroborate the issues raised by middle and senior managers. Subsequently, the valid data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and was tabulated for the purpose of interpretation and comparison with the findings available from literature. Despite the systematic approach to training and development, the findings revealed inadequacy deriving from heavy emphasis on conventional methods throughout the three stages particularly the formal in-house training; the current system does not offer a holistic approach to meet the challenging needs for management development. The study adopts an exploratory in depth empirical investigation in Palestinian telecommunication organizations, it provides insight into management training and development in the private sector in Palestine. It has profound theoretical and practical implications for the increased effectiveness of management in the region and beyond. The use of trichotomous approach explores the entire process, rather than implementation alone, thus the findings will have practical implications for the researcher and practitioners to design, implement, and systematically appraise the effectiveness of training development initiatives. This paper offers both professionals and academics a fresh perspective on training and development in Palestinian telecommunication organizations; it highlights the importance of such activity, and stresses on the need for the design of programmes that can adequately incorporate the individual and corporate needs for development.

Yes / The goal of decent work is best expressed through the eyes of people. It is about your job and future prospects; about your working conditions; about balancing work and family life, putting your kids through school or getting them out of child labour. It is about gender equality, equal recognition, and enabling women to make choices and take control of their lives. It is about personal abilities to compete in the market place, keep up with new technological skills and remain healthy. It is about developing your entrepreneurial skills, about receiving a fair share of wealth that you have helped to create and not being discriminated against; it is about having a voice in your workplace and your community . . . . For everybody, decent work is about securing human dignity (ILO 2001:7 - 8 cited in Green 2006:19 - 20).

Yes

Yes

No / This article briefly outlines the convergence vs. divergence debate before describing research into the potential impact of national culture on the transfer of ''best practice operations management'' to hotels in St. Lucia. The main focus of the paper is on the findings of fieldwork, which supports the contention that national culture does potentially create a barrier to the successful transposition of approaches developed elsewhere. In the case of St. Lucia high uncertainty avoidance and leanings towards high power distance appeared to hinder the adoption of teamworking, empowerment and communication. In addition, attitude towards time and punctuality also mitigated against the provision of a reliable service as and when required. However, with training and supportive HR practices, the end results achieved by International Chains did demonstrate the value of operating ''people friendly'' policies in line with ''best practice''. This article briefly outlines the convergence vs. divergence debate before describing research into the potential impact of national culture on the transfer of ''best practice operations management'' to hotels in St. Lucia. The main focus of the paper is on the findings of fieldwork, which supports the contention that national culture does potentially create a barrier to the successful transposition of approaches developed elsewhere. In the case of St. Lucia high uncertainty avoidance and leanings towards high power distance appeared to hinder the adoption of teamworking, empowerment and communication. In addition, attitude towards time and punctuality also mitigated against the provision of a reliable service as and when required. However, with training and supportive HR practices, the end results achieved by International Chains did demonstrate the value of operating ''people friendly'' policies in line with ''best practice''.

No / One of the central questions in the literature on MNCs is the extent to which their subsidiaries act and behave as local firms (local isomorphism) versus the extent to which their practices resemble those of the parent company or some other global standard (internal consistency). Drawing on the resource-based view and resource-dependency theory, this paper aims to provide an insight into the interplay of several corporate-level organizational factors that affect the transfer of HRM practices across borders. Data collected from 80 European and US multinationals with subsidiaries in Greece are used to test specific hypotheses. Our results indicate that the level of importance attached to HRM by the MNC's top management and international experience have the highest explanatory power for the transfer of HRM practices, while international competitive strategy, informal control and the presence of expatriates also have a marginally significant influence.

No / The purpose of this paper is to critically explore the evidence that human resource management (HRM) could contribute to the improvement of organizational and individual performance. It aims to examine the historical development of HRM and its emergence as a distinct management discipline. The evidence indicates that HRM is the product of several different traditions that range from a concern with employee welfare to the development of workplace relationships. The paper critically re‐evaluates what human performance is and assesses its contribution to organizational effectiveness. What is particularly important is the lack of empirical literature on the contribution of HRM and business performance. This paper will call for the re‐evaluation of more contemporary criteria of how people contribute to organizational performance in private, public and the emerging non‐profit making sectors. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology adopted in this research uses critical literature on the contribution of human resource management performance. Findings: The main finding of this research is the understanding of the problems of research design in measuring the contribution of HRM to develop performance in organizations. Research limitations/implications: The research presented in this paper needs to review and standardize comparative research design to confirm the performance of HRM in organizations. It compares the alternative perspectives of measuring performance in financial criteria. Originality/value: This paper reviews the research between key authors for exploring the correlation between HRM and organizational performance for future research and examines the influence of human resource professional bodies.

Thesis (MMil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Managing any government institution has become increasingly complicated as the requirements for accountability; streamlined operations and greater flexibility have multiplied. As effective and efficient management becomes more complex and the demands of constant change are more insistent, consequently the role of information as an organisational resource assumes greater importance for management on all levels inside the organisation. Management relies heavily on information to thrive. The value of information is derived from the actions that managers take as a result of using information. Information management consumes a large portion of any organisations finite resources and it would be to the benefit of the South African National Defence Force to achieve goal congruence between the information management objectives and the organisational objectives. If information is to be viewed as a resource of comparable importance to staff assets, and finance it must be procured and managed as purposefully as any other resource. Information can be seen as a strategic resource for any organisation and must be managed accordingly. The Public Service Act, Act 103 of 1994, which classifies information as a strategic resource for the public sector, confirms this. The formal information management strategy of the Department of Defence must therefore enable the information systems of the South African National Defence Force to support the military and business objectives of the Department of Defence. This strategy specifies how an organisation matches its scares resources and capabilities with the opportunities in the environment to accomplish its objectives. The structure of the South African National Defence Force, before transformation, was centralised and structured into vertical silos. The current information systems in use are therefore functionally orientated supporting the centralised structure (vertical silos). Transformation restructured the South African National Defence Force into a more integrated forces concept (general support base concept), suggesting emphasis on co-operation, joint planning and joint operations. The management of information must move away from the islands and silos towards an integrated and shared environment that enables the integration of information amongst the integrated forces of the organisation. This joint engagement strategy places certain requirements on the resource information to enable it to support the military and business strategy of the Department of Defence. The South African National Defence Force is moving unavoidably closer to an accountability framework based on transparency and compliance with legislation and regulations. An integral part of this framework is the requirements to provide clear and unambiguous evidence of how and why decisions are made. If managers and commanders are going to be more accountable, information must be available to assist them in decision-making and control. With the introduction of the Public Finance Management Act and the Promotion of Access to Information Act, the ability to adhere to the requirements of accountability and responsibility has become a necessity. Relevant and timely information for decision-making and control purposes therefore must be provided to managers and commanders to assist them in decision-making and control. In its present state the available architecture of the information systems of the South African National Defence Force is inadequate to provide the required information for decision-making and control purposes. The information management practices including the information systems therefore must be improved to ensure adherence to the requirements of accountability and responsibility. This study is directed towards the improvement of the quality of information provided by the information systems of the Department of Defence to assist commanders and managers in decision-making and the provision of information for control purposes inside the general support base concept of the SANDF. This improvement can only be achieved by changing budget priorities to ensure a higher priority on information technology across the organisation. Failure to improve the information management practices will result in the ineffective execution of the defence strategies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die bestuur van enige regeringsinstansie raak toenemend kompleks namate die eise van aanspreeklikheid, operasies en groter buigsaamheid meer word. Soos doeltreffende en doelmatige bestuur meer gekompliseerd en die vereistes vir voortdurende verandering meer veeleisend raak, word die rol van informasie as 'n organisasie hulpbron al hoe belangriker vir bestuurders op alle vlakke binne die organisasie. Bestuurders steun sterk op informasie om suksesvol te wees en die waarde van informasie word dan juis bepaal deur die aksies wat bestuurders neem deur informasie te gebruik. Informasiebestuur neem 'n groot deel van enige organisasie se beperkte hulpbronne in beslag en dit sal voordelig wees vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag om doelwitooreenstemming te bewerkstellig tussen informasiebestuurdoelwitte en organisasiedoelwitte. Indien informasie gesien word as 'n hulpbron van betreklike belang vir personeel, bates en finansies moet dit net so doelgerig as enige ander hulpbron bekom en bestuur word. Informasie is 'n strategiese hulpbron vir enige organisasie en moet dienooreenkomstig bestuur word. Dit word bevestig deur die Staatsdienswet, Wet 103 van 1994, waarin informasie as 'n strategiese hulpbron in die staatsdiens geklassifiseer word. Die formele informasie bestuurstrategie van die Departement van Verdediging moet dus die informasiestelsels van die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag in staat stel om die militêre en besigheidstrategie van die Departement van Verdediging te ondersteun. Hierdie strategie spesifiseer hoe 'n organisasie sy skaars hulpbronne en vermoëns verbind aan geleenthede in sy omgewing om sy doelwitte te bereik. Voor transformasie was die struktuur van die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag gesentraliseerd en in vertikale silo’s gestruktureer. Die informasiestelsels huidig in gebruik is derhalwe funksioneel georiënteer en ondersteun die sentrale struktuur (vertikale silo’s). Danksy transformasie is die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag hergestruktureerd in 'n meer geïntegreerde magtekonsep ("general support base concept") met die fokus op samewerking, gesamentlike operasies en gesamentlike beplanning. Die bestuur van informasie moet wegbeweeg van die eilande en silo’s-benadering na 'n meer geïntegreerde en gedeelde omgewing wat die integrasie van informasie tussen die geïntegreerde magte van die organisasie moontlik maak. Hierdie gesamentlike strategie stel sekere vereistes aan die hulpbroninformasie om die ondersteuning van die militêre en besigheidstrategie van die Departement van Verdediging moontlik te maak. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag beweeg onvermydelik nader aan ‘n aanspreeklikheidsraamwerk wat gebaseer is op deursigtigheid en die nakoming van wetgewing en regulasies. ‘n Integrale deel van hierdie raamwerk is die vereiste om duidelike en betroubare bewyse oor besluitneming te verskaf. Indien bestuurders en bevelvoerders meer aanspreeklik gehou gaan word, moet informasie beskikbaar wees om hulle by te staan in besluitneming en beheer. Met die implementering van die Wet op die Bestuur van Openbare Finansies ("The Public Finance Management Act") en die Wet op Openbaarmaking van Informasie ("Promotion of Access to Information Act") het die vermoë van organisasies om te voldoen aan die vereistes van aanspreeklikheid en verantwoordelikheid ‘n noodsaaklikheid geword. Relevante en tydige informasie vir besluitneming en beheer moet dus voorsien word aan bestuurders en bevelvoerders om hulle by te staan in besluitneming en beheer. Die huidige stand van argitektuur van die informasiestelsels van die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag is onvoldoende om die vereiste informasie vir besluitneming en beheer te verskaf. Die praktyke vir die bestuur van informasie moet dus verbeter word om uitvoering te gee aan die vereistes van aanspreekilikheid en verantwoordelikheid. Hierdie studie is gerig op die verbetering van die gehalte van informasie wat verskaf word deur die informasiestelsels van die Departement van Verdediging om bevelvoerders en bestuurders by te staan in besluitneming, asook die verskaffing van informasie vir beheer doeleindes binne die "general support base"-konsep van die SANW. Hierdie verbetering kan slegs bereik word deur begrotingsprioriteite te verander om te verseker dat ‘n hoër begrotingsprioriteit op informasietegnologie geplaas word reg deur die organisasie. Die onvermoë om die informasiebestuurspraktyke te verbeter sal die bereiking van die verdedigingstrategieë nadelig beïnvloed.

The Tanzania Peoples Defense Force (TPDF) was established as a people's army entrusted with the traditional roles and missions of defending the United Republic of Tanzania against external enemies. The end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union changed the strategic environment. Refugees from conflict torn areas, poaching, small arms proliferation, political fundamentalism, drug trafficking, transnational terrorism, and environmental degradation threaten internal security. At regional level, the Tanzania Peoples Defense Force with the militaries of other countries has been deployed in conflict areas through regional bodies such as the East African Community (EAC) and South African Development Community (SADC) on issues of collective defense and security. Technological developments also call for a military with the capability to operate modern weaponry systems and to operate in a complex environment. This thesis argues that innovative thinking has to be developed to enable the TPDF to meet conventional and unconventional military demands through the development of its human resources. / Tanzania Army author.

Utgångspunkten för denna studie är att mångfald i arbetslivet är ett komplext område som är i ständig utveckling. Syftet med studien är att belysa en kommuns interna mångfaldsarbete   utifrån ett ledningsperspektiv. Detta undersöks utifrån kommunens styrdokument, användningen av dessa och respondenternas uppfattning kring mångfaldsområdet. Empiri har inhämtats genom fem semistrukturerade intervjuer och analyserats med inspiration från hermeneutiken. Resultatet påvisar att styrdokumenten, dess implementering samt uppfattningen kring mångfaldsarbetet och mångfaldsområdet är oförenade. Det råder en enhetlighet kring vilka styrdokument som är kopplade till mångfald och hur dessa ska användas. Den faktiska användningen av dessa är dock sparsam och det råder bristande   överensstämmande kring vad mångfaldsarbete och mångfaldsområdet innebär. Baserat på detta diskuteras utmaningarna kring mångfaldsarbetet i kommunen utifrån bristen av kontextualisering och utifrån mångfaldsarbetet som en förändringsprocess. Avslutningsvis redogörs en slutsats utifrån studien och förslag på vidare forskning inom ämnet. / The approach for this study is that diversity in working life is a complex area which is constantly evolving. The purpose of the study is to investigate a municipality's inhouse diversity work from a management perspective. This is examined by viewing the municipality's governing documents, the use of these and the respondents' perception of   diversity. Empirical data has been gathered through five semi-structured interviews and analyzed with inspiration from hermeneutics. The result shows that the governing documents, its implementation and the perception of  diversity and diversity work are disconnected. There is uniformity around which governance documents that are linked to diversity and how these should be used. However, the actual use of these documents is sparse and there is insufficient consistency about diversity work and the respondent’s perception of diversity. Based on this, the challenges of diversity work in the municipality are discussed based on the lack of contextualization and by viewing diversity work as a change process. Finally, a conclusion for the study is   presented and proposals for further research on the subject is offered.