Abstract
M.Phil.
The success of organisations has traditionally been measured based on profits and contribution to shareholders funds. However, recent literature indicates that the human factor has become a key element in achieving success. Widely described as soft issues, these human factors potentially have a profound effect on the success of the organisation (Business Report, 7 November 1999:6).
The aim of this study was to icentify which soft issues were prevalent within the organisation, and also to determine what influence these soft issues have on the success of the organisation. The focus was thus on the phenomenon of soft issues within the organisation.
In order to realise this aim, it was required to do research to establish which human factors are described in recent literature in order to establish their
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influence on the success of an organisation. Chapter two dealt with this aim and the research revealed a whole spectrum of soft issues including values, emotional intelligence, ethics and many more (See Table 1, Page 28) The research indicated that emotional intelligence and values were regarded as having a profound effect on the success of the organisation. Chapter three analised these two concepts in more detail with specific focus on the origin and nature of emotional intelligence and values as well as their effect on the success of the organisation.
The study was motivated by the quest to find the co-ordination between the soft issues found within the organisation and the influence it had on the success of the organisation. The study was done from the paradigm of personal and professional leadership which has as main trait, the believe that change should happen from within the individual, and not from the outside (Covey, 1992:42).