62 research outputs found
Learning systemic management practice
No full textSystems thinking has been proposed as an answer to the question of how management practitioners can best equip themselves to tackle the complexity of management practice. As a body of work intended to transcend disciplinary silos, systems thinking pursues the ideal of generating comprehensive descriptions of real situations. It seeks to do this by embracing a variety of systems approaches and ideas to explain patterns and hypothesise causes of observable empirical events. As systems thinking is a diverse field, there are many knowledge areas and perspectives available to programme designers to facilitate teaching and the learning of systems thinking for management practice. The purpose of this study is to examine students' experience of learning events in the context of an interdisciplinary course designed for the development of management practice through systems thinking. Data was collected from three cohorts of students by observing lectures and class-based group work; and conducting interviews using conversational repertory grid techniques. The interview responses were analysed using grounded theory principles. Based on the findings derived from this qualitative analysis, the process of learning of systems thinking is outlined as a practice involving the selection and interpretation of events which evolve from the starting out phase, where students become interested in learning, and then outlines progress through the phases of assimilation and, changes in knowledge, culminating in more complex learning phases described as integration and adaptation. The synthesis of these phenomena as a theory provided an answer to the primary research objective of investigating how students experience learning events designed to develop systemic management practice. Critical realism, following Bhaskar's philosophy, is used to frame explanations to extend the grounded theory analysis, seeking to account for generative mechanisms that enable and constrain student experience with respect to systems thinking development. As a secondary contribution, this informed the identification of possible mechanisms and emergent properties at the level of the course through an analytical separation of the academic and work environments. These included the discourse of the context of application, academic discourse and professional identity. In combination, these findings make a contribution to understanding the learning of systemic management practice. In addition, applications for this research are suggested for educators, managers and organisations. These applications include: 1) a framework to help educators design meaningful experiences for learners; 2) a basis for understanding what constitutes systemic management practice and explaining differential development; 3) establishment of a basis for understanding what is needed for organisations to support the development of systemic management practice
Management requirements for coordinating the Succulent Karoo Ecosystem Program (SKEP)
No full textIncludes bibliographical references (leaves 99-106)This dissertation takes its lead from the need to add to the debate issues of institutional arrangements when evaluating the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation programs. The particular case in point is the Succulent Karoo Ecosystem Program (SKEP), which was initially set up by a NGO, Conservation International (CI), and thereafter transferred to another host institution, a national parastatal called the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). This dissertation set out to investigate the optimal institutional mechanism for coordinating SKEP. in light of its transition from CI to SANB!. This was done by evaluating the current coordination mechanism. A systems theory approach guided the research. An action research approach ensured that the results would be practical to the coordination unit of the SKEP program. Grounded theory analysis was used to analyze and make sense of the data and provide guidance on the functions and structure of the coordination unit and its supporting structures
An investigation into optimizing nuclear power plant outage durations
No full textThere is a compelling rationale for outage optimization as it presents numerous benefits for the Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and accordingly, for the economy of a country, the environment, and society. An outage delay of one day has been reported to be equivalent to a loss of USD1.5m-2m per day, not to mention the economic costs to a country's economy due to load shedding or disruption of the electricity supply. The reduction of average outage durations from 106 days to 38 days in the USA has been shown to negate the need to build 25-30 NPPs during a defined period. The main aims of this research study were to investigate the value of optimization and to explore practices and methods that contribute to successful outage optimization. There was limited published research on the topic and this dissertation aimed to contribute actionable knowledge to improve outage optimization. Optimization practices were investigated by accessing and reviewing a body of literature, followed by interviews with 12 nuclear outage maintenance specialists or experts from the USA and South Africa, with extensive experience to identify perspectives on trends and key information to answer the research questions. The analysis identified key methods or practices that contribute to successful optimization. The factors that led to longer than required outages and outage delays were found to be closely related to the proposed optimization methods. These included, 1) the need to enhance planning, which includes scheduling, risk management and contingencies; 2) the importance of ensuring the right resources with the right skill levels of those executing outages featured high on the agenda; 3) the need for improved work practices as part of a continuous improvement effort and culture. This study found that NPPs can do more to achieve optimized, best duration outages. There were indeed some key, immediately actionable practices and methods that if replicated, favored optimization success. It is evident that NPPs can do significantly better on outage durations, motivating for further investigation and improvement
Customizing knowledge management systems to accelerate newcomer development
No full textIncludes bibliographical references (leaves 95-98)
Finding creative ways to improve member satisfaction and retain the 18 to 35 year olds within a medical scheme in South Africa
No full textIncludes bibliographical references (leaves 160-164).On the surface it would appear that the Government's intention to attract more members to medical schemes has not been successful as hoped, with membership remaining relatively constant but with an increase shift in the profile of most schemes. More specifically, the 18 to 35 year old population appears to be increasingly reluctant to participate in medical schemes. It has become ever more difficult to attract and retain these members and it seems that the needs of this particular segment are not being met. Due to this apparent lack of both understanding and the meeting of the needs of this segment, the outcome of an investigation into the perceptions, attitudes and needs of these members, together with what motivates these segments, requires closer analysis. The intention of this study is to improve customer loyalty within this segment
Personality profiling and project success factors: a study in the transportation and operations department of an organisation
No full textThe use of personality profiling in various fields, industries and sectors has increased over the last decade. The applications of profiling vary and include assessments as to whether a candidate is suitable for a work opportunity to whether a team's personalities are conducive to achieve their objectives. In the discipline of project management, personality profiling has been used to match project managers to projects as a means to contribute to project success. The organisation in focus in this case study have implemented personality typing in 2012 and the results have shown that since the inception of personality typing there has been improvement in health, environment and safety project success metrics. However, the results have also shown that the implementation of personality typing has had no effect on other project success metrics such as project cost and schedule attainment. This research study addresses the questions of which factors affect the project managers' ability to achieve project success and how personality profiling affects these factors. This study is conducted as a case study in the Transportation and Operations department of the organisation. Literature on the origin and details of personality typing is discussed, its prevalence in the work place and which personality types are more likely to achieve project success. Furthermore, literature on the factors which typically influence the ability to achieve project success are presented. The research design was based on Maxwell's qualitative interactive research design model and the justification for case study methodology is provided. The primary means of data collection was semi-structured interviews. The data generated was analysed using qualitative data analysis using the compare and contrast principles of grounded theory. Consideration of research validation or trustworthiness and ethics were provided. Six factors were found to influence the project manager's ability to achieve project success. These were: the effect of the organisational policies and procedures; the project manager's leadership abilities; the contractor's performance level; the health of relationships with stakeholders; the planning effectiveness and compliance; and the effect of external factors. Secondly it was found that personality typing has mostly a positive influence on these factors and project success. This dissertation concludes with a review of the findings and its implications, the limitations of the study, practical recommendations for the organisation and recommendations for further studies
A systems perspective of the operational management of a mobile communications platform
No full textIncludes abstract.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-82)
Onyeagoziri, O.J., Shaw, C. & Ryan, T., 2021, 'A system dynamics approach for understanding community resilience to disaster risk', Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 13(1), a1037. https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v13i1.1037
No full textThe Western Cape of South Africa is a dynamic province that is disaster-prone, in particular
the vulnerable urban communities in and around its environs. Such communities are more
vulnerable to wildfire, flooding, drought, pandemic and other natural and human-made
disasters because of poverty and, consequently, poor living conditions such as overcrowding
and non-understanding of community resilience. The inability of these communities to
understand community resilience and withstand adversities affects the sustainability of
initiatives to develop them. This study aims to identify the mechanisms influencing the level
of understanding of community resilience in a vulnerable community and to contribute to the
understanding of community resilience to disaster risk. Fieldwork was conducted in an
informal settlement in the Western Cape. The research study was conducted in two cycles of
data collection and analysis (cycle 1 and cycle 2). Data in the form of observation notes,
document analysis and interviews were analysed using grounded theory principles. Ten
inter-related variables or mechanisms emerged from the analysis. The theoretical model
consists of four reinforcing (R) feedback loops (R1, R2, R3 and R4), respectively, which explain
how the understanding of community resilience in the informal settlement maps on to the
relative achievement systems archetype. Negative reinforcing behaviour would explain the
lack of understanding of community resilience, while positive reinforcing behaviour indicates
how an understanding of community resilience develops. In addition, the variable with the
leverage to improve the mechanisms influencing the understanding of community resilience
was found to be the ‘level of public education and public awareness’ of community resilience.
The theory of how these variables behave in context was represented as a qualitative system
dynamics model.Onyeagoziri, O.J., Shaw, C. & Ryan, T., 2021, 'A system dynamics approach for understanding community resilience to disaster risk', Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 13(1), a1037.
https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v13i1.103
Effective construction project communications
No full textLarge construction projects involve numerous participants, many of whom do not participate for the entire duration of the project. Participants often come from very different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. In the case of many large projects, the levels of education of these participants also vary widely, from graduate professionals to labourers with only a basic education. For a project to be developed, executed and handed over to the owner efficiently, the activities and delivered outputs of the project participants need to be coordinated. This requires effective communication to and feedback from all stakeholders. Project communication systems therefore have to take into account the differing backgrounds and information requirements of the participants. The execution of a high proportion of construction projects is negatively affected due to ineffective project communications. This gives rise to the concern that construction project communications can contribute to late or inappropriate actions by participants that can negatively affect project delivery. This informed the research question: "How can project team communication systems be optimised to ensure that all stakeholders have all the information and understanding required to function efficiently, effectively and timeously?" This research study sets out to answer this question. The first objective of this study was to identify the main factors that cause project communications to be ineffective. The second objective was to develop a theory relating to effective project communications systems that could be useful in developing practical solutions to project communication problems
The role of the administrator in the management of data quality in higher education: case study in a health sciences faculty
No full textContemporary universities are increasingly using information technology systems to ensure the smooth and efficient management of a range of administrative and reporting functions. This reliance on data and information systems has particularly become a feature for student enrolment management systems. Within the university sector in South Africa, verifiable data linked to student enrolments, success and throughput, along with staff and infrastructure indices have become a significant mechanism used for national planning, monitoring and funding by the government. Data integrity and the quality of data, especially associated with student enrolment management, means that the role of academic administrators is vital to data management in higher education institutions. Universities have developed increasingly robust and sophisticated information systems to capture and process the varying data required for its reporting and planning activities. However, the crucial role played by academic administrators in ensuring data integrity and quality has been an area of limited concern and research. This study attempts to address this imbalance and explore the current understanding of the role played by academic administrators in ensuring data integrity and quality associated with student enrolment management systems orstudent information systems. The study also seeks to offer insight into how to accentuate internalisation of the crucial role academic administrator's play in data quality and data quality management functions. The research design of this study included an evaluation exercise of a specific programme that involved academic administrators in a faculty at a South African university. The Snyder's model was used to guide and structure the evaluation exercise. This evaluation framework ensured that principles and activities linked to action research and systems thinking were fully incorporated into all aspects of the research design. A participatory approach was adopted by the researcher and the overarching evaluation process sought to address the following research questions; What factors enable the Faculty of Community and Healthy Sciences' academic administrators to enhance data quality and data quality management? and How do the Faculty of Community and Healthy Sciences' academic administrators contribute towards data quality and data quality management? The research is presented as a case study of the Community and Health Science Faculty at a South African university. Data collection strategies included unstructured interviews, focus groups, observations and the reliance on various documentary sources. The thematic analysis approach was used and the findings are presented through the main themes which emerged, namely student enrolment management systems processes such as applications, selection and registration, staff workload and staff training, availability of technology and data accuracy, and effective communication and management changes. The concept analysis presented in each theme shows the interdependence between recognising the vital role played by academic administrators in realising the faculty goals of data integrity and quality, and the need to assist them to internalise their contribution towards ensuring data integrity and quality. The results of the study draw attention to and reaffirms the vital and significant role played by academic administrators who work with student enrolment data and the accompanying information systems used by the university. Also highlighted are some of the key competencies required to ensure that these administrators are able to work in ways that maximize data quality goals and render data quality management systems efficient. Additionally, the study raises interesting insights into the central role that academic programme evaluation, specifically the use of the Snyder's model, can serve in building human resource capacity and enhancing efficiencies in how student enrolment systems can be better managed and improved within a specific faculty at a South African university
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