This study uses a practitioner research approach to focus on poorly performing schools in grades 10
–12 in the Samungu Ward, and looks at the value of using a systems thinking approach to address
the problems of poor performance, as compared to the traditional, reductionist approach that is
usually applied by the schools and the Department of Education in the implementation of its
policies.
The research moves from the premise that schools are complex learning organisations and that their
problems should be addressed within the context of the systems thinking approach, in which the
organisation is seen as a whole with emergent properties, a layered structure, and with processes
which enable it to adapt in response to environmental pressures (Checkland, 1999:21).
The research has used some aspects of the Soft Systems Methodology as a tool to process the
information collected from the participants, because the Soft Systems Methodology “concentrates
on learning from organizational and contextual ambiguity and appreciating socially conditioned
problem situations with a view to changing relationships and making improvements.” (Jacobs
2004:140) The study has looked at the problem formulated during the discussion with the
stakeholders and has juxtaposed the value of the use of Systems Thinking with that of the traditional
approach, either in the intervention programmes or in the formulation of solutions.
The research concludes with recommendations made in terms of the systems thinking approach,
having discovered that the traditional approach fell short in yielding the desired outcome during the
implementation process of the policies. From a practitioner research perspective, the study has also
led to the implementation of some of its recommendations, which seem to be viable and has
produced the desired outcome. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2009.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/6801 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Xulu, Sipho Lawrence. |
| Contributors | Pillay, Kriben. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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