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A competency model for security officers : a qualitative design

Crime is rife in South Africa. Explanations abound for the high crime statistics,
including the weakening of the family unit, the political history of South Africa,
urbanisation and the fast growing urban neighbourhood, a weak criminal
justice system and the abundant availability of firearms. In the quest to
prevent crime, the private security industry has become a key performer in
helping to deter and prevent crime and criminal activities. Yet there are no set
criteria for selecting security officers against the backdrop of the high crime
rates and a growing private security sector. Therefore the purpose was to
develop a competency model for the selection of security officers for the
safekeeping and protection of persons and property in the Thaba Tshwane
area. I chose to do qualitative research using an interpretive approach in an
attempt to understand the views of the participants concerning the work
context and requirements of security officers.
A grounded theory approach to the strategy of inquiry was employed as it was
best suited to keeping the information that was gathered grounded in the
participants’ own opinions. The focus of this research was on designing a
competency model for security officers for selection purposes. Data were
gathered through disciplinary records and open-ended structured interviews
where the repertory grid and the behavioural event interview were applied.Eight subject matter experts, who included security officers, managers and a
client working in the security industry, were used. The result of the study was
a competency model of nine competencies and their definitions, which were
grounded in the data and critical in functioning as an efficient security officer. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/4608
Date11 1900
CreatorsLubbe, Lindy-Lee
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeDissertation
Format1 online resource (xii, 156 p.)

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