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A theoretical construct of servant-leadership and the understanding of the experiences thereof based on qualitative research

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The main purpose of this paper is to give a theoretical construct of servant-leadership
and the understanding thereof based on the life experiences of
selected leaders in various organisations, ascertained by means of qualitative
research.
Servant-leadership as described by Greenleaf (1970) is an emerging value-based
leadership style that attempts to enhance personal growth of workers
and improve the quality of an organisation. This is achieved through a
combination of teamwork and community, personal involvement in decision
making and ethical and caring behaviour.
The methodology applied, involved qualitative research, where qualitative
interviews, as a phenomenological research method in evaluation, were used.
The reasons for the choice of the research methodology as well as the
procedure that was followed in selecting the participants, the role of the
interviewer in relation to the research topic, the participants and the research
setting, was also described.
The research findings reveal that there are many similarities among various
writers regarding qualities· and principles of servant-leaders. In the qualitative
study which included one-on-one interviews with eight participants, similar
information was revealed.
It is recommended that leaders should examine their leadership styles and
"grow" the necessary changes to enable a more approachable leadership
style where the people's needs are met. In addition servant-leadership should
be given greater emphasis at academic level so that the value of the discipline
can be understood and applied and lived. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoofdoel van hierdie referaat is om 'n teoretiese konstruksie van 'servant-leadership'
en die begrip daarvan, gebaseer op die lewenservaringe van 'n
geselekteerde groep leiers van verskeie organisasies, te verkry. Dit is gedoen
by wyse van kwalitatiewe navorsing.
'Servant-leadership' word deur Greenleaf (1970) as 'n waarde-gebaseerde
leierskapstyl gesien wat poog om die persoonlike groei van werkers en die
gehalte van organisasies te verbeter. Dit word bereik deur 'n kombinasie van
spanwerk, gemeenskap en persoonlike betrokkenheid by besluitneming en
etiese en empatiese gedrag.
Die metodologie wat toegepas is sluit in kwalitatiewe navorsing waartydens
kwalitatiewe onderhoude, as fenomenologiese navorsingsmetode gebruik is.
Die redes vir hierdie keuse van navorsingsmetodologie, asook die prosedure.
wat gevolg is, met die keuse van die deelnemers, die rol van die
onderhoudvoerder in verhouding tot die navorsingsonderwerp, die
deelnemers en die navorsings opset, was ook uiteengesit.
Die navorsing bewys dat daar baie ooreenkomste is onder die verskillende
skrywers se sieninge aangaande die kwaliteite en beginsels van 'servant-leadership.'
Uit die kwalitatiewe navorsing wat individuele onderhoude met die
deelnemers ingesluit het, is dieselfde inligting voortgebring.
Dit word aanbeveel dat leiers hul leierskapstyle ondersoek en die nodige
veranderings aanbring on 'n meer benaderingsvolle leierskapstyl te ontwikkel
wat die behoeftes van mense vervul. 'Servant-leadership' behoort ook
onderrig te word by akademiese instellings sodat die waarde van die
dissipline verstaan, toegepas en uitgeleef kan word.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/50580
Date12 1900
CreatorsDavids, Bernadette
ContributorsDenton, Mario, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Format143 p.
RightsStellenbosch University

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