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The emerging role of the human resource manager as strategic partner in South African organisations

Thesis (MA) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South African organisations, just as in other countries, are fighting to gain a
competitive advantage over their competitors. In this struggle, human
resources have become the focus point of debate and intervention in
organisations. The task-related competencies of employees have suddenly
become central with regard to the performance of organisations.
This new-found importance with which human resources have been labeled,
also has a spill-over effect on the importance of the human resources function
in organisations, especially the manager and leader thereof. The aim of this
study is to shed light on the strategic partnership role that senior human
resource managers currently play in South African organisations.
Furthermore, a theoretical framework through which the concept of strategic
partnership can be understood and explored, is introduced.
The data was collected by utilising a survey and consisted of adapted
versions of the Human Resources Role-assessment Survey (strategic
partner), the Human Resources Competencies Scale as well as scales that
measured the dimensions of strategic role motivation and strategic role
opportunity. The results of this study showed that on average, the senior human resource
(HR) managers in South Africa rated themselves significantly higher on the
strategic partnership dimension than senior line managers rated them.
Additionally, it seems that senior HR managers reported higher levels of
professional competencies than of business-related competencies. A
significant positive relationship exists between professional competencies and
business-related competencies. There seems to be a significant positive
relationship between strategic partnership and strategic role motivation as
well as strategic partnership and strategic role opportunities within South
African organisations.
Conclusions are drawn from the results and recommendations are made for
future research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: DIE ONTLUIKENDE ROL VAN DIE MENSLIKE HULPBRONBESTUURDER
AS IN STRATEGIESE VENNOOT IN SUID-AFRIKAANSE ORGANISASIES

Net soos in ander lande, veg Suid-Afrikaanse organisasies vir die verkryging
van 'n kompeterende voordeeloor hul mededingers. In hierdie stryd het die
menslike hulpbron die fokuspunt van debat en intervensies in organisasies
geword. Die taak-verwante bevoegdhede van werknemers het skielik sentraal
geword in die ontleding van die prestasie van organisasies.
Hierdie nuutgevonde belangrikheid waarmee die menslike hulpbron
geëtiketteer word, het gelei tot die toenemende belangrikheid van die
menslike hulpbronfunksie in organisasies, en spesifiek die bestuurder en leier
van hierdie funksie (menslike hulpbronbestuurder). Die doel met hierdie studie
is om die strategiese vennootskapsrol van menslike hulpbronbestuurders in
Suid-Afrikaanse organisasies op te klaar. Verder word 'n teoretiese modelook
ontwikkel waarmee die konsep van strategiese vennootskap beter verstaan
en verder verken kan word.
Die data is ingesamel deur gebruik te maak van 'n opname wat die vorm van
'n vraelys aangeneem het. Hierdie vraelys het bestaan uit aangepaste
weergawes van die Menslike Hulpbron Rol-assesseringsopname (strategiese
vennootskap), die Menslike Hulpbron Bevoegdheidskaal, sowel as vrae oor
die dimensies van strategiese rolmotivering en strategiese rolgeleenthede. Die resultate van hierdie studie toon dat senior menslike hulpbronbestuurders
in Suid-Afrikaanse organisasies hulself gemiddeld beduidend hoër tellings
toeken op die dimensie van strategiese vennootskap as senior
lynbestuurders. Dit blyk dat senior menslike hulpbronbestuurders ook oor
hoër vlakke van professionele bevoegdhede as besigheidsverwante
bevoegdhede beskik. Daar bestaan In beduidende positiewe verband tussen
professionele bevoegdhede en besigheidsverwante bevoegdhede. Daar blyk
ook In beduidend positiewe verband tussen strategiese vennootskap en
strategiese rolmotivering, sowel as strategiese vennootskap en strategiese
rolgeleenthede in organisasies te wees.
Op grond van hierdie resultate is daar bepaalde gevolgtrekkings gemaak
asook aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/50148
Date12 1900
CreatorsPietersen, F. L. (Flozenia Lizzet)
ContributorsEngelbrecht, A. S., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Format133 p.
RightsStellenbosch University

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