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High performance organisation : a quantitative inquiry at a specific metropolitan municipality in the Gauteng province

  • Authors: Molefe, G.N. , Roodt, G. , Schurink, W.J.
  • Date: 2011-02
  • Subjects: High performance culture , World-class organization , Business excellence models , South African local government , Service delivery of municipalities , Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:5783 , ISSN 1993-8233 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7790
  • Description: Since the dawn of the new democracy in South Africa, the media has been fraught with episodes of dissatisfaction among stakeholders about the service delivery record of municipalities. The aim of this study is, therefore, to explore employees’ experiences and perceptions, particularly at the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, regarding the service delivery performance of this municipality. The study was particularly motivated by the apparent lack of a scientifically tested intellectual tool to assist municipalities in improving service provision to residents. A quantitative research design was adopted to ensure uniformity and consistency of the data gathering and analysis processes. To this end, a population of 800 participants was targeted and at least 474 participants responded, thus, registering a response rate of 59%. The main findings of this study was the High Performance Organisational Culture model applicable to local government, whose factors yielded Cronbach Alpha coefficients of between 0.703 and 0.964. The managerial implication of the results of the study is a potential to equip the decision makers in the municipal sector with an empirically tested tool to assist the municipalities to ascend to a high performance status and thus, improve the quality of life of residents. The study is poised to provide a useful framework for policy formulation on high performance in the municipal sector.
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Enhancing service delivery in local government: the case of a district municipality.

Frontline police employees' social construction of client service.

  • Authors: Schwartz, G.J. , Schurink, W.J. , Stanz, K.J.
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Frontline employees , Client services , Organisational change , Employee satisfaction
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:6491 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1601
  • Description: The social construction of frontline employees’ client service plays a major role in organisational success. This study illuminated why frontline personnel are reluctant to accept organisational change which is in line with new policing philosophies. Applying modernist qualitative methodology, and particularly grounded theory within a case study design a ‘process satisfaction model’ was developed with the aim to improve employee satisfaction with internal processes and ultimately service delivery. This model may be used for change in the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other government departments.
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Towards a substantive theory of synergy.

  • Authors: Benecke, G. , Schurink, W.J. , Roodt, G.
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Synergy , Competitive performance , Diversification , Co-ordination
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:6389 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1131
  • Description: The literature on synergy suggests that synergy is systemic and hence should be viewed in the context of processes, but that an integrative definition of this phenomenon does not exist. Against this background the article explains synergy as a concept describing the systemic processes whereby business units of diversified organisations may generate greater value through working as one system rather than working as separate entities. Through the application of grounded theory in a modernistic qualitative context and the use of a case study a substantive theory is presented for leading change towards synergy in a diversified organisation that has business units in three continents.
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Exploring the social construction of life roles of career-oriented women.

  • Authors: Franks, K.M. , Schurink, W.J. , Fourie, L.
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Women in organisations , Women employees , Career orientated women
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:6489 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1599
  • Description: The ever-growing number of women in the contemporary workforce is presenting numerous challenges to organisations, employees and their families. The aim of this study was therefore twofold, namely, to explore how 21st century career-oriented women attach meaning to their different life roles, as well as how they visualise integrating these over the next decade. A modernist qualitative methodology and grounded theory were applied. Rich, interesting data was obtained from which four themes were inferred implying career-oriented women still placing importance on the traditional mother role. The article concludes with indicating key implications of the findings and recommendations.
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Male menopause and decision-making: a qualitative study.

  • Authors: Claassen, G. , Schurink, W.J.
  • Date: 2005
  • Subjects: Financial sector , Physical dimensions , Psychological dimensions , Sexual dimensions , Menopause , Decision-making power
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:5698 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/2944
  • Description: The purpose of this study was to explore how a small group of white South African men going through menopause attached meaning to this major event in their lives, and also how it affected the decisions they took as leaders in the financial sector. The findings indicated that menopause symptoms in particular (physical, psychological and sexual dimensions) had a profound influence on the systemic male. A provisional substantive theory was developed – “work power trade-offs result in decreased decision-making power during the male menopause” – and a number of recommendations were proposed.
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The social construction of systems applications products (SAP) R/3 by employees of a South African chemical industries company.

  • Authors: Beyleveld, A. , Schurink, W.J.
  • Date: 2005
  • Subjects: Enterprise resource planning , Systems applications products , Organisational culture
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:5696 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/2942
  • Description: Many companies that have implemented an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system do not reap the intended benefits of the potential inherent in these systems despite their exorbitant implementation cost. The reasons for this are numerous. This study is aimed at understanding the social impact a Systems Applications Products (SAP) R/3 implementation had on the end users of a South African Company in the Chemical Industry. A qualitative process evaluation study was undertaken to obtain a clearer understanding of the underlying organisational cultural factors that emerged from such an implementation. The objective was to provide a framework for companies considering such an implementation to ensure better system productivity and to assist companies already using an ERP solution with continuous improvement.
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"From the worst to the best": an exploratory qualitative study of the process of social change at a South African secondary school.

  • Authors: Van Aswegen, B. , Schurink, W.J.
  • Date: 2003
  • Subjects: Organisational change , Social change
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:5692 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/2938
  • Description: The primary aim of the study is to describe an initiative to effect organisational change at a previously disadvantaged school in South Africa’s Gauteng Province. Qualitative methods were used to collect and analyse data on the social process of change in the school. Essays of role players in the change process on their experiences led to important insights. This exploratory study points to a process that was effective in bringing about change at a school and holds promise for constructing a theoretical model of how change could be effected in ineffective schools.
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A gay woman's experiences during her career in the department of defence Part 1: - Fleet of hope.

  • Authors: Tlou, B.L. , Schurink, W.J.
  • Date: 2003
  • Subjects: Authentic lesbian , Lowney-Winslows AI approach
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:5695 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/2941
  • Description: A are opportunity presented itself to undertake an explorative qualitative study of the perceptions and experiences of an authentic lesbian who was for some time an employee of the South African Department of Defence (DOD). In order to capture, describe and reach an understanding of this woman’s experiences and worldviews, we employed a qualitative methodology, i.e. with her assistance an autobiographical sketch was constructed, and utilizing a variant of analytic induction (AI) and symbolic interactionism, we analysed and interpreted the material. According to qualitative requirements we provide in this article an account of the major steps taken during the execution of the case study. Following the Lowney-Winslows AI approach (1981), we are convinced that our study provided one real case, which enhanced our intuitive understanding of lesbians working in the South African Defence Force. It namely served as a starting point for further research that could carry our case study on to a more formal implementation of AI, and particularly the execution of steps five through to seven. We feel convinced that the study was ethically properly and scientifically correctly executed and that it enabled us to obtain valuable and rich information on lesbianism and the South African military. For the benefit of the reader we present Thando’s entire narrative.
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A gay woman's experiences during her career in the department of defence: Fleet of hope: Part 2: - A social science commentary.

  • Authors: Tlou, B.L. , Schurink, W.J.
  • Date: 2003
  • Subjects: African lesbian , Unfair discrimination
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:5693 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/2939
  • Description: This article is a follow-up on the autobiographical sketch, of a lesbian entitled: Fleet of Hope and offers social science comments on this “insider” account. After the South African Department of Defense’s Policy on the Prevention and Elimination of Unfair Discrimination on the Grounds of Sexual Orientation have been outlined, and key theoretical concepts and views of scholars have been described briefly, an attempt is made to illuminate the gay woman’s experiences including her former experiences of her career in the South African Department of Defense with the aid of these constructs. The article is concluded with some recommendations.
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Qualitative research in management and organisational studies with reference to recent South African research.

  • Authors: Schurink, W.J.
  • Date: 2003
  • Subjects: Qualitative research , Research style
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/385628 , uj:5697 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/2943
  • Description: This introduction to this special edition of the Journal dealing with recent qualitative work undertaken by local industrial psychologists, sketch the nature of qualitative research globally, its position in South Africa, and finally, the status of such research as applied to the management/ organisational field abroad as well as in South Africa. From this and the other articles it is clear that qualitative research is healthy in management related areas in South Africa, but that local scholars have work on their hands to train promising researchers in this research style in order to sustain it and developing it further.
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Towards a genetic business code for growth in the transport industry.

  • Authors: Vermeulen, J.H. , Veldsman, T.H. , Roodt, G. , Schurink, W.J.
  • Date: 2003
  • Subjects: Genetic code , Organisational growth , Organisational success , Genetic business growth code , Transport industry
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:6601 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/954
  • Description: As with each living organism, it is proposed that an organisation possesses a genetic code. In the fast-changing business environment it would be invaluable to know what constitutes organisational growth and success in terms of such a code. To identify this genetic code a quantitative methodological framework, supplemented by a qualitative approach, was used and the views of top management in the Transport Industry were solicited. The Repertory Grid was used as the primary data-collection method. Through a phased data-analysis process an integrated profile of first- and second-order constructs, and opposite poles, was compiled. By utilising deductive and inductive strategies three strands of a Genetic Business Growth Code were identified, namely a Leadership Strand, Organisational Architecture Strand and Internal Orientation Strand. The study confirmed the value of a Genetic Business Code for growth in the Transport Industry.
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