Assignment (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In terms of the Higher Education Act, 1997 (Act No. 101 of 1997: Notice no: 1700), the Cape
Technikon and the Peninsula Technikon will merge on 1 January 2005 to become a single
institution known as the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. This merger is part of the
South African government’s effort to streamline education spending priorities, whilst evening
out the differences between historically white and historically black institutions. During the
apartheid era the Peninsula Technikon was established mainly for black (i.e. Coloured and
African) students and the Cape Technikon for white students.
There are a number of problems and challenges that can be expected by these institutions
before, during and after the merger. These include, among others, identity crises that might
result from the clash of different cultures because of the different backgrounds of these two
institutions. If the merger is not handled properly, especially where human and cultural issues
are concerned, it might not be successful. Higher education institutions are recognized as being
in the knowledge business, and libraries play a central role in this regard. Academic librarians
specifically have a significant knowledge management role to play in their institutions. In the
case of the Cape Technikon and Peninsula Technikon libraries, it would thus be very important
to understand each institution’s culture and what their existing knowledge management
practices are, so that by the time of the actual merger they will know how to cooperate
productively and effectively.
Given the complexity of mergers and their wide ranging ramifications, as well as potential
problems that might hamper the smooth operations of the institutions, the aim of this study was
to investigate the knowledge management practices of the libraries of these two institutions.
Thereafter recommendations were made, based on the findings, as to how to apply knowledge
management practices to increase the capabilities of the two institutions’ libraries and enhance
their operational efficiency. The methods of investigation were qualitative in nature and
comprised questionnaires which were filled in by the librarians of both institutions as well as
in-depth interviews with senior staff members of both libraries. The study also made other
observations which related to the feel of the environments and people’s attitude which were
also quite revealing. Although both libraries displayed knowledge management practices, the
Cape Technikon was found to be more advanced in some regards than the Peninsula
Technikon. Finally, recommendations were made on how to apply certain specific knowledge management
practices successfully after the merger. These included a recommendation that both institutions
ensure that there are processes in place to ensure that knowledge is recorded on an ongoing
basis. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In terme van die Wet op Hoër Onderwys, 1997 (Wet Nr 101 van 1997: Kennisgewing Nr:
1700), sal die Kaapse Technikon en die Skiereiland Technikon op 1 Januarie 2005 saamsmelt
om ’n enkele instelling te word, naamlik die Kaapse Skiereiland Universiteit van Tegnologie.
Hierdie samesmelting is deel van die Suid-Afrikaanse regering se poging om die prioriteite op
opleidingsuitgawes te stroomlyn, terwyl die verskille tussen wat histories wit en swart
instellings was, uitgestryk word. Gedurende die Apartheid era was die Skiereiland Technikon
veral vir swart studente (m.a.w. Gekleurdes en Afrikane), en die Kaapse Technikon vir wit
studente.
Daar is talle probleme en uitdagings wat verwag kan word by hierdie instellings voor,
gedurende en na die samesmelting. Hierdie sluit in, onder andere, identiteitskrisisse wat dalk
kan opduik as gevolg van die verskillende agtergronde van hierdie twee instellings. As die
samesmelting nie behoorlik hanteer word nie, veral wat menslike en kulturele kwessies betref,
kan dit onsuksesvol wees. Instellings vir hoër onderwys word erken as in die besigheid van
kennis, en biblioteke speel ‘n sentrale rol in hierdie opsig. Spesifiek akademiese bibliotekarisse
het ’n rol om te speel in die behandeling, of bestuur, van kennis. In die geval van die Kaapse
Technikon en Skiereiland Technikon se biblioteke, sou dit dus baie belangrik wees om elke
instelling se kultuur te verstaan, en om hulle huidige metodes van kennisbestuur te ken, sodat
dit teen die tyd van die samesmelting moontlik is om produktief en effektief saam te werk.
Aangesien samesmeltings kompleks is met verreikende vertakkings, sowel as potensiële
probleme wat dalk die gladde werking van die instellings kan verhinder, is die doel van hierdie
studie om die praktyke van kennisbestuur in die biblioteke van hierdie twee instellings te
ondersoek. Daarna, gebaseer op die bevindings, is voorstelle gemaak met verwysing na die
toepassing van kennisbestuurspraktyke, sodat die twee instellings se biblioteke se
bekwaamhede kan vermeerder en hul doeltreffendheid verhoog kan word. Die metodes van
ondersoek is kwalitatief en bestaan uit vraelyste, ingevul deur senior personeellede van albei
instellings. Die studie het ook ander waarnemings gemaak in verband met die atmosfeer of
gevoel van die omgewings en mense se houdings, wat ook veelseggend was. Alhoewel beide
instellings kennisbestuurspraktyke getoon het, is bevind dat die Kaapse Technikon in sekere
opsigte meer gevorderd as die Skiereiland Technikon is. Ten laaste is voorstelle gemaak met verwysing na hoe om sekere spesifieke
kennisbestuurspraktyke na die samwsmelting toe te pas. Hierdie het ’n aanbeveling ingesluit
dat albei instellings seker moet maak dat prosesse onderweg is om op ’n voortdurende basis
boek te hou van kennis.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/16363 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Khangala, Busisiwe Nobuhle |
| Contributors | Van der Walt, Martin, University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Information Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 12, 86 leaves : ill. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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