ETD Collection

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Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Toxic leadership, social support and individual and organisational outcomes
    (2018) Middleton, Sarah
    Growing numbers of studies point to the negative impact and stress of Toxic Leadership (TL) on employees, both in their personal and work wellbeing. Such negatives include high levels of stress, reduced self-esteem and increases in alcohol and drug abuse. TL has also been found to reduce job satisfaction, organisational commitment behaviour and organisational citizenship behaviours. In addition, TL has been thought to result in severe health outcomes including; post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation and extreme forms of physical illness such as cancer and heart attacks. This South African study, based on a sample of 258 employees working across a wide range of industries, was conducted to explore Toxic Leadership and its effect on three dependant/outcomes variables. These outcome variables included Voluntary Turnover Intention, Work Engagement and Organisational Commitment Behaviour. In addition, Social Support and its role as a moderator was investigated. Consenting participants filled out six questionnaires namely; a Self-Developed Demographic Questionnaire, Schmidt’s Toxic Leadership scale (2008), Kantor’s (2013) Voluntary Turnover Intention (VTI) Scale, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), Mowday, Steers & Porter (1979) Organisational Commitment Behaviour Questionnaire (OCQ) and Procidano and Heller’s (1983) Perceived Social Support Scale (PSI) (Adapted version). The results of the study indicated that Toxic Leadership was significantly correlated to the outcome variables. The simple regression also showed that Toxic Leadership raised levels of Voluntary Turnover Intention and lowered levels of Work Engagement, Organisational Commitment Behaviour and Social Support. While Social Support was directly related to the three dependant/outcomes variables with it having a positive effect on Work Engagement and Organisational Commitment Behaviour and decreasing levels of Voluntary Turnover Intention within the regressions. However, within the moderated multiple regressions, Toxic leadership relationship with Social Support actually had an inverse effect on the outcome variables. This is because instead of improving levels of Voluntary Turnover Intention, Work Engagement and Organisational Commitment Behaviour, it made negative effects of Toxic Leadership even worse. Some possible reasons for this was argued in this research. Finally, in addition to these findings, limitations and further contributions for future research into Toxic Leadership was also discussed.
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    The role of the principal as an instructional leader in improving learner achievement in township schools: a case study of two primary schools of Soweto in Gauteng province
    (2016-03-09) Khumalo, Sithembile Lucas
    This study explores the role of the principal as an instructional leader in two successful township primary schools in challenging circumstances. It examines instructional strategies used by principals of the two schools that may account for high levels of learner achievement and explores how these successful leaders deploy leadership styles and management approaches to deal with prevailing challenging circumstances that affect their schools academically and other spheres of governance and management. Sixteen participants were involved including 2 principals, 4 Heads of department (HODs), 4 educators, 4 parents from the two schools and 2 district officials under who both schools account. Using qualitative approaches, triangulation of data was achieved through semi-structured interviews, observation and document analysis. The study found that the key instructional leadership approaches used by these principals were promoting teamwork, active participation, collective decision making, sharing of responsibilities, collaboration/collegiality and distribution of tasks amongst multiple leaders or people. The claims made by the principals were corroborated by educators, parents, members of the School Management Team (SMT) and district management teams. Data also indicated that the principals relied on a combination of different leadership styles and efficient and effective management approaches with their subordinates to garner the enthusiastic implementation of instructional approaches which are claimed to yield good learner outcomes in Annual National Assessment (ANA) tests. The study suggests that there might be a strong link between leadership styles and management approaches on one hand and learner performance on the other. Further, the data suggests that the application of appropriate management systems and relevant leadership styles can contribute to institutional resilience against the prevailing challenges which tend to depress performance in many schools in similar circumstances. The findings of the study have several important implications including:  Schools as organisations require the collective effort of all stakeholders in order to achieve their objectives or goals.  That ‘one size fits all’ form of leadership has no place in different environments but that more often than not, a combination of different leadership styles and management approaches should be explored in an attempt to realize a common vision of an organisation. The study makes specific recommendations for a more broad based research agenda to examine factors which contribute to resilience and success in schools operating in challenging circumstances. It also calls for more contextualised studies in specific schools to explore the leadership forms that have greatest potential for delivering better learning outcomes in schools facing challenging circumstances.
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    How principals use distributed leadership in leading and managing teaching and learning : a case study of two primary schools in Gauteng.
    (2015-05-25) Vaz, Maria
    This study investigates the role that principals play in leading and managing teaching and learning through the alternative approach of ‘distributed leadership’ in order to promote quality education. As a qualitative case study of two ‘township’ Gauteng primary schools, data was collected by means of questionnaires and interview schedules. Perceptions of principals, heads of departments (HODs) and teachers on ‘distributed leadership’ were examined, as well as how the concept was applied in the day-to-day running of the school. It was found that the principals interviewed, despite their extensive teaching and managing experience, were not fully aware of the implications of principalship within the new dispensation, vaguely referring to their roles as leaders and managers without specifying how and what they were leading and managing in their respective schools. Recommendations are that distributed leadership strategies could be found in both schools to optimise the leadership and management of teaching and learning, and that time should be allowed for HODs and principals to implement instructional leadership and management.
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    The role of the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa in the young democracy
    (2014-02-17) Masimba, Yuba
    The NARS is the body charged with the proper management and care of the records of all public bodies in the South African public sector. it has been facing steep challenges in pursuing this mandate. Factors such as a shortage of staff, lack of space in the archival repository, and the inability to enforce compliance have rendered NARS incapable of performing its tasks. The premise of this research was based on the assumption that there is a neglect of NARS and record-keeping function in the public sector. The purpose of the research was to gather evidence of this claim and to understand the underlying reasons behind the neglect. A qualitative methodology was used to collect and analyse data using a field study design. The research revealed that NARS is unable to perform its duties in the public sector because its function is not recognised as vital to the pursuance of objectives in the public sector. Records are not valued due to the lack of priority of basic administrative activities, which has resulted in the neglect of records management. The study contends that the influence of the New Public Management (NPM), particularly the aspect of management which focuses on increasing the capacity of managers in order to enhance efficiency, has led to the lack of prioritisation of basic but important administrative activities, records management included.
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    Modelling the differential incidence of child abuse, neglect and exploitation in poor households in South Africa
    (2012-09-19) Mbecke, Za-Mulamba Paulin
    Child abuse is rife and on the increase in South Africa. The review of five theories of child abuse shows that each theory is unitary, limited and isolated and proposes an incomplete understanding of and solution to child abuse. The ineffectiveness of prevention, intervention actions against child abuse and the poor management and control of child abuse cases are the consequence of unfocussed and disintegrated policies and programmes biased towards overestimated poor economic conditions. This research argues that poor economic conditions are not the sole important variables contributing to child abuse. This hypothesis is confirmed by the observation of the Memorial Institute‟s child abuse database. The purpose of this research is therefore to facilitate a clear understanding of child abuse in order to assist decision making for the prevention of, interventions against and management of child abuse cases. The research proposes the Integrated Modelled Theory that combines variables from different theories to facilitate a clear understanding of child abuse and consequently inform prevention, intervention and management actions through integrated and focused policies and programmes.
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    Co-morbidities of hearing loss in the preschool population.
    (2012-09-05) Sewpersad, Varsha
    Background: Many hearing impaired children present with one or more health-related conditions, in addition to hearing loss. Families and professionals are therefore faced with numerous challenges when a child presents with co-morbidities of hearing loss. The implications for assessment, management and educational placement of these children are numerous. Appropriate plans for holistic intervention and education are essential for the development of the child as well as improved life quality. This study therefore aimed to describe the co-morbidities that pre-school children with hearing loss present with at the Centre for Language and Hearing Impaired Children (CLAHIC), and its implications for management. Method: A descriptive, retrospective research design was employed for the purpose of this study. A non-probability, purposive sampling strategy was implemented to select the records of children diagnosed with a hearing loss, and who have attended CLAHIC from 1999 to 2010. The records of 62 children were reviewed. Results: The more prevalent co-morbidities identified in this study were fine motor delay, gross motor delay, visual motor integration disorder, bilateral integration disorder , apraxia of speech and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Further findings of the study indicated that the co-morbidities of hearing loss are independent of the degree of the hearing loss. It was however found that there is an increased risk for fine-motor difficulties across the sample. Implications: The findings of this research suggest that pre-school children with hearing loss, irrespective of degree of hearing loss, should be screened and or monitored for the risk of prevalent co-morbidities, such as fine and gross motor difficulties. A collaborative, holistic and multi-disciplinary team approach should be implemented to ensure that services are provided to improve the life quality and development of the hearing impaired child.
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    Public participation in Integrated Water
    (2006-10-26T08:33:45Z) Sansom-Sherwill, Tamsyn Anita.;
    South Africa’s new water policy and law have introduced the requirement for public participation in all aspects of resource management and decision-making. This policy change is in recognition of the potential benefits of participation in generating more informed, acceptable, equitable and sustainable management of the nation’s water resources. However the new water law does not prescribe the form this participation should take, or offer criteria for evaluating the success of participatory processes. The term ‘public participation’, in its contemporary usage worldwide, is poorly or broadly defined and may thus encompass a range of processes, which differ in the roles and influence afforded to their stakeholder participants, and in their ability to deliver desired outcomes and benefits to government or the public. This study aimed to investigate the influence of this procedural variation on public and stakeholder participation in the implementation of the National Water Act (Act no. 36 of 1998) in South Africa, and thereby recommend a preferred approach to conducting and facilitating these processes in the future. Use was made of a qualitative and primarily inductive research approach. This was designed to gather perspectives of the various role-players (stakeholders, specialists and government) for a desired process and outcome of participation, and to link process and outcome by means of two case studies of the current implementation of participatory processes for water resource management decision-making. Both case studies illustrated the over-riding negative influence of a product-oriented and ‘specialist-centred’ approach to participation, focused on the development of specific statutory products or decisions required by the National Water Act. This approach in turn is being driven by the current fragmentation of participation around these different products and stages of the overall resource management process. A recommended alternative is a more process-oriented, ‘stakeholder-centred’ approach to participatory events, within an integrative, ongoing participatory process. This must be based on mutual learning by all role-players, and an emphasis on inter-sectoral interaction and relationships. A key constraint identified to the achievement of more integrative participatory processes that offer influence to, and generate ownership by, stakeholder participants, is the lack of clarity within government and the South African water sector as to the intent of participation within the new water policy, and thus the process by which this participation should take place. In particular, the role of stakeholders, and how much influence or power they should be afforded in decision-making processes, is subject to individual interpretation. The recommendation from this research is that, given the ideals of equity, sustainability and citizen empowerment aspired to by the Constitution and the new water policy, government should strive to fully engage stakeholders in processes that both offer influence and inspire action. Ideally, linkages should be created to extend this influence to the broader political process.