bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lesotho's students' achievement in mathematics and their teachers' background and professional development
Authors: Mogari David , Kriek Jeanne , Stols Gerrit , Iheanachor Ogbonnaya U.
Published: August 2012

The study sought to obtain information on the relationship, if any, between students' achievement and teacher background as well as between students’ achievement and professional development. The respective correlation coefficient showed that there was a significant relationship between students’ achievement and teacher background and an insignificant relationship between students’ achievement and the extent of professional development. Of the three components of teacher background (viz., qualification, subject major and teaching experience), teacher qualification showed the strongest significant relationship with students’ achievement, followed by level of subject major. But teaching experience displayed a curvilinear significant relationship with students’ achievement. It was concluded that quality qualifications and deep subject content knowledge tend to make teachers more effective while teachers improve and develop when they are exposed to quality professional development programmes.
Musings on multiplication tables and associated mathematics and teaching practices
Authors: Gierdien Faaiz
Published: August 2012

This paper is based on my reflections on a deceptively simple tabular representation of a combined 12×12 multiplication table showing multiplier and multiplicand,starting at a time when I taught mathematics full time at a primary (elementary) school through to my presentteaching of mathematics education modules to prospective teachers. A historically–motivated framework on the importance of tables as expressions of complex information in two–dimensional form is used to gain insight into and understand multiplication tables. Through this framework it is shown that the modal practice of “knowing one’s tables” in the primary grade levels is really about knowing sequenced and separated lists of whole number multiplications. In contrast, tabular multiplication sequences in a combined multiplication table can, through appropriate teaching practices, enable the discovery of multiple relationships beyond multiplication or arithmetic, resulting in significant mathematics that spans the grade levels. Implications for mathematics teacher education practice with its current focus mathematical knowledge for teaching, are considered.
Integrating mathematics and other learning areas: Emerging tensions from a study Involving four classroom teachers
Authors: Mwakapenda Willy , Dhlamini Joseph
Published: August 2012

This paper presents findings from a pilot study that investigated the extent to which teachers make connections between mathematical concepts and concepts from other disciplines. Data from concept maps and interviews were collected. The analysis revealed that the kinds of connections teachers made are closely tied to teachers’ disciplines of specialisation. The findings suggest that for some teachers, though desirable, it may not be feasible to require them to make connections with disciplines that are not within their areas of specialisation. This presents tensions for learners learning mathematics in classrooms where opportunities for making connections between mathematics and other learning areas are available but are neither taken up nor appropriately used by teachers.
Taxonomy matters: Cognitive levels and types of mathematical activities in mathematics examinations
Authors: Berger Margot , Bowie Lynn , Nyaumwe Lovemore J.
Published: August 2012

We argue that there are intrinsic difficulties in using the Subject Assessment Guidelines for Mathematics (SAGM) for evaluating the standard of a South African matriculation mathematics examination and for determining how it aligns with the curriculum. Our argument has two prongs. First, the SAGM taxonomy conflates cognitive level with type of mathematical activity; we contend that such a conflation leads to problems in assessing the complexity of the examination item. Second, the SAGM taxonomy provides no space for important mathematical activities such as justification and conjecturing despite the promotion of these activities in key curriculum documents (Department of Education, 2003). This absence may obscure weak alignment of the examination and the curriculum. These arguments are illustrated through examples taken from the 2008 Department of Education (DOE) and Independent Examination Board (IEB) Grade 12 Mathematics examination papers. We also examine other well‐known taxonomies in order to discern those aspects of a taxonomy which may be useful for evaluation and alignment. We conclude with the construction of a matrix that could provide an appropriate taxonomy for the South African matriculation Mathematics examination. It has activities on one axis and levels of complexity on the other.
Thinking with diagrams whilst writing with words
Authors: Mudaly Vimolan
Published: August 2012

This paper describes how the visual aspects of mathematics influence the understanding of mathematical concepts. It attempts to contribute to the discussion that surrounds the ideas of visualisation, more specifically in mathematics classrooms. Two teaching interventions are described that may indicate how visual strategies can contribute to teaching in the classroom. An important finding of the research reported here is the ease with which dynamic geometry software can be used as a visual tool to develop analogical reasoning skills.
Are OBE‐trained learners ready for university mathematics?
Authors: Engelbrecht Johann , Harding Ansie , Phiri Patrick
Published: August 2012

The 2009 intake of university students were the first to have received complete school education within the recently implemented Outcomes‐Based Education (OBE) system. A feature of the matriculation examination results of these students was the exceptionally high Grade 12 marks for Mathematics. This paper addresses the question of how the 2009‐ intake of students performed at university with respect to general performance, general attributes, mathematical attributes and content related attributes. It appears that these students are better prepared with respect to personal attributes such as confidence. However, in many instances they are weaker than their predecessors with respect to mathematical and content related attributes. Yet, there are positive indications that these students adapt and improve over a semester. We make some suggestions on how to make the transition from secondary to university mathematics somewhat smoother.
Re‐sourcing mathematics teaching through professional development
Authors: Miranda Helena , Adler Jill
Published: August 2012

In any education system, curriculum alone cannot fulfill reform demands imposed onto teachers to help learners make meaning of subject contents they learn. This paper revisits the notion of resources as explored in a mathematics teacher professional development project that focused on algebra learning. As a way to promote the use of manipulatives in teaching and learning algebra, the project introduced algebra tiles to participating teachers and investigated how the tiles facilitated the enaction of algebraic meanings. The participating teachers learned different ways of helping learners interpret and solve algebraic problems, with the use of algebraic tiles.
Procepts and proceptual solutions in undergraduate mathematics
Authors: Naidoo Inderasan , Huntley Belinda
Published: August 2012

This paper explores and promotes the notion of ‘procept’ in an undergraduate mathematics course in Linear Algebra for first year pure and engineering students. On the basis of students’ preference for procedural to conceptual solutions to mathematical problems, this paper augments the role of certain concepts in pure and applied mathematics, particularly in the problem‐solving approaches at the undergraduate level by providing novel solutions to problems solved in the usual traditional manner. The development of the concept of ‘procept’ and its applicability to mathematics teaching and learning is important to mathematics education research and tertiary pure and applied mathematics didactics in South Africa, welcoming the amalgamation of the theories developed at pre‐tertiary level mathematics with theorems and proof at the undergraduate level.
Sociocultural theory and blind taste-tests
Authors: Gee James Paul
Published: August 2012

In his entertaining 1986 book, The Real Coke, the Real Story, Thomas Oliver tells the story of the now infamous “New Coke”, a story retold in Malcolm Gladwell’s (2005) best-seller Blink. In the early 1980s, Pepsi began running commercials in which people took a sip from two glasses, not knowing which was Coke and which Pepsi. The majority preferred Pepsi. The Coca-Cola Company replicated these blind taste-tests and found the same result. Losing market share, Coke—long the dominant brand—changed its old formula and came out with “New Coke”, a soda made to a new formula, one that in a new round of blind taste-tests came out above Pepsi. But New Coke was a disaster.Consumers hated it. Coke not only returned to its old formula, but Pepsi never did overtake Coke, which remains today the dominant brand world-wide.
Book Reviews
Authors: Office Editorial
Published: August 2012

Contains book reviews from various literary works.
A Circle of Learning: The impact of a narrative multilingualism approach on in-service teachers’ literacy pedagogies
Authors: Mendelowitz Belinda , Davis Harriet
Published: August 2012

This paper explores the impact of a narrative multilingualism approach on in-service primary school teachers who attended the Advanced Certi"cate of Education (ACE) Languages course at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2009. The teachers wrote their own language narratives and were required to implement language narrative work in their classrooms. The paper is a case study of three teachers’ implementation of multilingual narrative pedagogy, and explores the ways in which each teacher translates this pedagogy into their specific contexts. Theoretically, the paper attempts to deepen and extend narrative multilingualism as an approach to language teaching. The notions of uptake and pedagogical translation are explored at various levels, namely, the teachers’ uptake of a multilingual narrative approach and the learners’ uptake. The most striking aspect of the data, across all teachers, is the process and dynamics unleashed in the classroom space. The process of sharing language narratives reconfigured dynamics in the classroom and opened up the classroom space for teachers and learners. The interventions that the pedagogy of narrative multilingualism afforded enabled the validation of linguistic diversity. In a society where xenophobia and linguicism is prevalent, such interventions can play a valuable role in changing attitudes and teaching learners to value difference. Furthermore, previously silenced learners found their voices and participated more in class activities.
Textbook readability and ESL learners
Authors: Kasule Daniel
Published: August 2012

This paper reports activities (as part of a university course in language teacher education on teaching reading) in which primary school student teachers (all ESL in-service teacher trainees) explored their own skills of determining textbook readability using an online software tool and a cloze test completed by two hundred and seventy-eight Grade Seven primary school pupils. Findings from the online tool were that the text was difficult. The cloze test confirmed this when it showed that only eighteen pupils could read the text unassisted while the rest were frustrated by it. The paper uses these findings to describe the challenges pupils face and how readability research is beneficial to the reading development of ESL learners if reading of academic texts is approached from the principles of the interactive view of reading; of cognitive learning theory; and of second language acquisition theory. It is concluded that teachers’ awareness of readability issues is helpful for effective reading instruction during the critical formative years of school.
Book Reviews
Authors: Office Editorial
Published: August 2012

Book reviews of various literary works.
An intergrated strategic management model to navigate the establishment of transport authorities
Authors: Geldenhuys Chris A. , Naudé Louis , Veldsman Theo H.
Published: August 2012

This research covered the strategic intent for the transport industry and an overview of Transport Authorities in the municipal sphere of government. Representative sets of strategic management and change navigation models, as well as Swanepoel’s (2001) model being used in the management of change in the public sector, were reviewed. An integrated strategic management model, which incorporates principles from strategic management and change navigation, is proposed for navigating the establishment of Transport Authorities. This model consists of six phases, namely: Awareness and Mobilisation; Strategic Synthesis and Choice; Strategy Crafting; Strategy Implementation; Performance Monitoring and Review; and Stabilisation. Recommendations follow regarding the validation of the model in a pilot project.

OpsommingHierdie navorsing het gefokus op die strategiese oogmerk vir die vervoerindustrie en ’n literatuuroorsig van Vervoerowerhede op munisipale regeringsvlak. Verteenwoordigende modelle vir strategiese bestuur en veranderingsbestuur, asook Swanepoel (2001) se bestuursmodel wat aangewend word vir die bestuur van verandering in die openbare sektor, word bespreek. ’n Geïntegreerde strategiese bestuursmodel, wat die grondslae van strategiese bestuur en veranderingsbestuur inkorporeer, word voorgestel om die stigting van Vervoerowerhede te stuur. Hierdie bestuursmodel bestaan uit ses fases, naamlik: Bewuswording en Mobilisering; Strategiese Analise en Keuse; Strategie Formulering; Strategie Implementering; Prestasiemonitering en Hersiening; en Stabilisering. Aanbevelings word gemaak rakende die bekragtiging van die model in ’n proefprojek.
Are industries resonding differently to the employment equity challenge?
Authors: Smith Helena , Roodt Gert
Published: August 2012

The primary objective of the study was to determine whether the Employment Equity Questionnaire detects significant differences between employment equity practices of companies from different industries in order to assess the discriminant validity of the scale. Samples of convenience from nine different companies representing different industries, constituted a larger sample of 4729. First and second level factor analyses on 41 common items across all nine companies yielded a single scale with an acceptable Alpha coefficient of 0,959. Analysis of variance, followed by post hoc contrast tests, indicated significant differences between some organisations. The discriminant validity of the scale could be established and recommendations for further improvement of the scale were made. Opsomming Die doel van die studie was om te bepaal of die “Employment Equity Questionnaire" betekenisvolle verskille kan uitwys tussen die werkgelykheidspraktyke van maatskappye vanuit verskeie industrieë ten einde die diskriminante geldigheid van die instrument te bepaal. Gerieflikheidsteekproewe van nege verskillende maatskappye, verteenwoordigend van verskillende industrieë, het ’n totale steekproef van 4729 daargestel. Eerste en tweede vlak faktorontledings is op 41 gemeenskaplike items oor al nege maatksappye gedoen en dit het ’n aanvaarbare Alfa koëffisiënt van 0,959 opgelewer. ’n Variansie-ontleding, gevolg deur post hoc kontrastoetse, het op betekenisvolle verskille tussen die onderskeie organisasies gedui. Die diskriminante geldigheid van die instrument kon vasgestel word en aanbevelings ter verbetering daarvan is aan die hand gedoen.
Competency Requirements For First-Line Managers
Authors: Lombard CN , Crafford A
Published: August 2012

Continuous changes in the needs of markets require effective change management at all levels in organisations. First-line managers are directly responsible for meeting the demands of clients and resistance to change at this level could result in sub-standard outputs. The effectiveness of change interventions will be largely determined by the competence of first-line managers to facilitate the desired change taking into account resistance to change. The purpose of this article is to identify competencies required by first-line managers to deal with resistance to change. The findings are based on a literature study and functional analysis.

OpsommingKontinue verandering in die behoeftes van markte vereis effektiewe bestuur van verandering in alle vlakke van organisasies. Eerstelyn bestuurders is direk verantwoordelik daarvoor om aan verwagtinge van kliënte te voldoen, want weerstand teen verandering op hierdie vlak kan tot sub-standaard uitsette aanleiding gee. Die effektiwiteit van veranderingsintervensies in organisasies sal grootliks afhang van die bevoegdheid van eerstelyn bestuurders om die verwagte verandering te weeg te bring met in agneming van weerstand teen verandering. Die doel van hierdie artikel is om bevoegdhede te identifiseer wat eerstelyn bestuurders sal benodig om weerstand te kan hanteer. Die bevindinge is gebaseer op ‘n literatuur studie en funksionele analise.
The Assessment Of Intellectual Capital (Ic) In The South African Context – A Qualitative Approach
Authors: De Beer Marius , Barnes Neil
Published: August 2012

The aim of the article is to report on an investigation into IC as portrayed by thought leaders and research groups, against a South African background. An attempt was made to clarify relevant terminology, develop a model and methodology for South African application, and assess the status of IC within the South Africa context through a qualitative methodology using Focus Groups. Results indicated that IC in South Africa is still in the infancy stage. However, models and methodologies developed in other continents could with changes be applied in the South African context.

OpsommingDie doel van hierdie artikel is om verslag te doen oor die ondersoek na Intellektuele Kapitaal (IK) soos voorgestel deur vakkundiges en navorsingsgroepe, teen die agtergrond van die Suid Afrikaanse situasie. ’n Poging is aangewend om tersaaklike terminologie te verklaar, ’n model en metodologie vir Suid Afrikaanse aanwending te ontwikkel, en dit sowel as die status van IK in die Suid Afrikaanse omgewing te ondersoek deur middel van ’n kwalitatiewe metodologie, naamlik fokusgroepe. IK in Suid Afrika is steeds in die kinderskoene. Modelle en metodologieë ontwikkel in ander lande kan egter met aanpassings aangewend word vir aanwending in die Suid Afrikaanse omgewing.
Towards A Genetic Business Code For Growth in the South African Transport Industry
Authors: Vermeulen J.H. , Veldsman Theo H. , Roodt Gert , Schurink Willem
Published: August 2012

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. Opsomming Daar word voorgestel dat ’n organisasie, soos elke lewende organisme, oor ’n genetiese kode beskik. In die snelveranderende sake-omgewing sal dit onskatbaar wees om te weet wat organisasiegroei en –sukses veroorsaak. ’n Kwantitatiewe metodologie-raamwerk, aangevul deur ’n kwalitatiewe benadering is gebruik om hierdie genetiese kode te identifiseer, en die menings van topbestuur in die Vervoerbedryf is ingewin met behulp van die “Repertory Grid" as die vernaamste metode van data-insameling. ’n Geïntegreerde profiel van eerste- en tweedeordekonstrukte, met hulle teenoorgestelde pole, is opgestel. Drie stringe van ’n Genetiese Sakegroeikode, nl. ’n Leierskapstring, die Organisasieargitektuur-string en die Innerlike-ingesteldheidstring is geïdentifiseer deur deduktiewe en induktiewe strategieë te gebruik. Die studie bevestig die waarde van ’n Genetiese Sakekode vir groei in die Vervoerbedryf.
Validation Of Key Relationships In An Extended Service-Profit Chain Model In The South Africa Retail Industry Context
Authors: Verwey Anton M. , Carstens Louis
Published: August 2012

The purpose of the study was to evaluate an extended conceptual model depicting hypothesised relationships between employee climate, customer value and financial performance. Questionnaires assessing employee experienced climate and customer-experienced value were completed by all the employees (more than 1200) and more than 2000 customers of a single retail company operating almost 100 stores in Southern Africa. The major findings were that some of the components of employee-experienced climate are positively related to customer experienced value in terms of both product and relationship quality. There was no significant relationship between customer-experienced value and the financial performance of the organisation. OpsommingDie doel van hierdie studie was om ‘n uitgebreide konseptuele model te toets wat gehipotetiseerde verwantskappe voorstel tussen werknemer-ervaarde klimaat, kliënt-ervaarde waarde en finansiële prestasie. Vraelyste wat werknemer-ervaarde klimaat en kliënt-ervaarde waarde meet is voltooi deur meer as 1200 werknemers en meer as 2000 kliënte van ‘n enkele kleinhandelaar wat landwyd byna 100 winkels regoor Suid-Afrika bedryf. Die hoofbevindinge is dat sommige komponente van werknemer-ervaarde klimaat positief verwant is aan kliënt-ervaarde waarde in terme van beide produk en verhoudingsgehalte. Daar was egter geen beduidende verband tussen kliëntervaarde waarde en die finansiële prestasie van die organisasie nie.
An Evaluation Of Response Scale Formats Of The Culture Assessment Instrument
Authors: Smith Stan , Roodt Gert
Published: August 2012

The aim of the study was to investigate which response scale, of the four, five, or six-point response scales would yield the best metric properties on the Culture Assessment Instrument. This was achieved by utilising data sets where the respective scales were used. The subjects included participants of various organisations, ages, educational levels, language and gender groups. No one scale could be identified as having the better metric properties. The lack of conclusive results is attributed to differences in education, aggregation effect, possibility of different units of measurement being measured and the manner in which Cronbach Alpha is calculated

OpsommingDie doel van die studie was om vas te stel watter responsskaal, van ‘n vier-, vyf-, of sespuntskaal die beste metriese eienskappe sou oplewer op die Kultuurtakseringinstrument. Dit is bereik, deur gebruik te maak van datastelle waar die skale toegepas is. Deelnemers was afkomstig uit verskeie organsisasies, ouderdomsgroepe, opvoedkundige agtergronde, taalgroepe en geslagte. Geen skaal kon gëidentifiseer word met onderskeidende metriese eienskappe nie. Die gebrek aan beduidende resultate word toegeskryf aan die verskille in die opvoedkundige agtergronde van deelnemers, samevoegingseffek, die moonlikheid van verskillende eenhede van meting en die wyse waarop Cronbach Alpha bereken is.
Different Age Groups’ Response To Employment Equity Practices
Authors: Walbrugh Ashley , Roodt Gert
Published: August 2012

The focus of this article is on response differences with regard to employment equity practices within nine South African companies from different industries, as well as whether the Employment Equity Questionnaire is a reliable tool for measuring employment equity practices. A convenience sample of 4729 participants in the field survey provided the secondary data for this study. The Employment Equity Questionnaire yielded a high Alpha coefficient of 0,96. The main findings were that differences in responses between age categories do exist, but only a small percentage of the variance could be ascribed to differences in employment equity practices. In addition to this, the South African companies show the same trends, with regard to age discrimination, as other countries like the United States and Britain. This finding could therefore serve as a lead indicator for proactive measures – to ensure that the same mistakes from other countries are not repeated here.

OpsommingDie fokus van hierdie artikel is op responsverskille met betrekking tot gelyke werkgeleentheidpraktyke binne nege Suid-Afrikaanse maatskappye in verskeie industrieë en ook of die Employment Equity Questionnaire ’n betroubare instrument is om gelyke werkgeleentheidpraktyke te meet. ’n Geleentheidsteekproef van 4729 deelnemers in die veldopname het die sekondêre data vir hierdie studie voorsien. Die Employment Equity Questionnaire het ’n hoë Alfakoëffisiënt van 0,96 opgelewer. Die hoofbevindinge is dat daar verskille in response tussen ouderdomsgroepe bestaan, maar dat slegs ’n klein proporsie van die variansie aan verskille in gelyke werkgeleenthede toegeskryf kan word. In aansluiting hiermee, wys Suid-Afrikaanse maatkappye dieselfde tendens met betrekking tot ouderdomsdiskriminasie as ander lande soos die VSA en Brittanje. Hierdie bevinding moet as ’n kernaanwyser vir proaktiewe maatstawwe beskou word – sodat dieselfde foute van ander lande nie hier herhaal word nie.
Female Perceptions On Employment Equity: Is The Glass Ceiling Cracking?
Authors: Van Zyl Betsi , Roodt Gert
Published: August 2012

The primary objective of this study was to assess if there were any perceptual differences between gender groups regarding employment equity practices. A sample of 4729 participants from different companies and industries completed the Employment Equity Questionnaire. Results from an ANOVA indicated that there were significant differences between gender groups, but only a small portion of the variance was explained by perceptual differences on employment equity practices. The instrument thus possesses some discriminant validity. Further analyses on an item level indicated that there were significant differences between gender groups, but these differences were not attributable to gender stereotypes. Specific employment equity practices were identified that need closer attention from management’s side to address gender discrimination.

OpsommingDie primêre doelwit van hierdie studie was om vas te stel of daar enige perseptuele verskille tussen geslagsgroepe bestaan ten opsigte van werkgelykheidspraktyke. ’n Steekproef van 4729 deelnemers uit verskillende ondernemings en bedrywe het die Employment Equity Questionnaire voltooi. Die resultate van ’n ANOVA het aangedui dat daar beduidende verskille tussen geslagsgroepe bestaan, maar dat slegs ’n klein gedeelte van die variansie aan perseptuele verskille ten opsigte van werksgelykheidspraktyke toegeskryf kan word. Die instrument beskik dus ook ’n mate van diskriminante geldigheid. Verdere ontledings op itemvlak het aangedui dat daar betekenisvolle verskille tussen geslagsgroepe is, maar dat hierdie verskille nie aan geslagstereotipes toegeskryf kan word nie. Spesifieke werkgelykheidspraktyke is geïdentifiseer wat nadere aandag deur die bestuurskader verdien om geslagsdiskriminasie aan te spreek.
The Behavioural And Personality Correlates Of Transactional And Transformational Leadership
Authors: Huysamen R. , Schepers J. M. , Zaaiman J.
Published: August 2012

The article argues that there is a statistically significant positive relationship between leadership style and creativity. It was found that there is a higher statistically significant positive relation between transformational leadership style and creativity than between creativity and the other leadership styles. Creativity (fluency of thought and originality) can partially be accounted for by the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire. To demonstrate this in the study, the researcher uses, firstly the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire to identify leadership style, and secondly three measuring instruments that measure creativity. The argument is substantiated by the results of a statistical analysis of leadership style and creativity. OpsommingHierdie artikel argumenteer dat daar ’n statisities-beduidende positiewe verband bestaan tussen leierskapstyl en kreatiwiteit. Daar is bevind dat daar ’n hoër statisties-beduidende positiewe verband tussen transformasionele leierskapstyl en kreatiwiteit is as tussen kreatiwiteit en die ander leierskapstyle. Kreatiwiteit (vlotheid van denke en oorspronklikheid) kan gedeeltelik verklaar word deur die Veelfaktorleierskapvraelys (MLQ). Om dit te illustreer, gebruik die navorsers in hierdie studie die Veelfaktorleierskapvraelys ten einde leierskapstyl te identifiseer en tweedens drie meetinstrumente wat kreatiwiteit meet. Die argument word gesubstansieer deur die resultate van ’n statistiese ontleding van leierskapstyle en kreatiwiteit.
Career And Life-Balance Of Professional Women: A South African Study
Authors: Whitehead Thana , Kotze M. E.
Published: August 2012

A woman’s ability to balance multiple life-roles is directly related to her physical and mental well-being, and her career performance and success. This study aims to infer a theoretical framework for the in-depth understanding of the phenomenon of life-balance in the lives of 24 South African professional women. The Grounded Theory as a qualitative method was applied to derive a theory about the phenomenon inductively. Purposeful sampling was used to identify 24 professional women. In-depth interviews and a group session were conducted to gather data, and to confirm themes and concepts on which the theoretical framework was based. It was concluded that life-balance is a life-process with a cyclical nature, and a useful tool for achieving personal growth. Life-balance is therefore not “one, single ultimate experience", but a series of individual experiences unfolding over time, which could be better described as “life-balance moments". Opsomming ‘n Vrou se vermoë om meervoudige lewensrolle te balanseer is direk verwant aan haar fisiese en geesteswelsyn en ook haar loopbaanprestasie en -sukses. Hierdie studie het ten doel om ‘n teoretiese raamwerk af te lei uit die indiepte begrip van die lewens-balansverskynsel van 24 Suid-Afrikaanse professionele vroue. Die Begronde Teorie as ‘n kwalitatiewe metode is toegepas om ‘n teoretiese model induktief van die verskynsels af te lei. Doelgerigte steekproefneming is gebruik om 24 professionele vroue te identifiseer. In-diepte onderhoude en ‘n groepsessie is gevoer om data in te samel en om die temas en konsepte waarop die teoretiese raamwerk gebaseer is, te bevestig. Daar is tot die slotsom gekom dat lewensbalans ‘n lewensproses is met ‘n sikliese aard en ‘n nuttige instrument om persoonlike groei te bewerkstellig. Lewensbalans is dus nie “een enkele beslissende erevaring" nie, maar ‘n reeks van individuele ervarings wat oor tyd ontvou en wat ten beste beskryf kan word as “lewensbalans momente".
Facilitative Project Management: Constructing A Model For Integrated Change Implementation By Utilizing Case Studies
Authors: Hodgson Veronica , Zaaiman J.
Published: August 2012

Change management theory is extensive, and organisations constantly adapt to and embrace change. In post-apartheid South Africa we are building a racially integrated business environment and society, and leverage its competitive re-entry into the world business arena. Research to date has found that the majority of change initiatives fail due to resistance caused by poor conceptualisation and planning, and the lack of proper integration of the people and business dimensions of change. The model to implement a successful change program will be designed using a combination of readily available skills and techniques. Its development and testing will take place within the context of three case studies. OpsommingDie teorie van veranderingsbestuur is omvattend. Organisasies moet op konstante wyse daarby aanpas en dit integreer. In Post-Apartheid Suid-Afrika bou ons tans ’n ras geïntegreerde besigheidsomgewing en gemeenskap, en benut dit maksimaal in ons toetrede tot die mededingende wêreld besigheidsarena. Huidige navorsing het bevind dat die meeste veranderingsinitiatiewe faal weens weerstand teen verandering wat deur swak konseptualisering en beplanning, en ’n gebrek aan behoorlike integrering van mense en die besigheidsdimensies van verandering veroorsaak is. Die model om ’n suksesvolle veranderingsprogram te implementeer, sal ontwerp word met geredelik beskikbare vaardighede en tegnieke. Die ontwikkeling en toetsing sal binne die konteks van drie gevallestudies plaasvind.
Editor’s Note On This Milestone Edition
Authors: Roodt Gert
Published: August 2012

If one looks back at the record of published articles in the SA Journal of Industrial Psychology it becomes evident that the largest majority of articles came from a quantitative and positivist research paradigm. This state of affairs created to a large extent a situation of imbalance of which we will understand the repercussions only at a much later stage.
Leadership Development From A Systems Psychodynamic Consultancy Stance
Authors: De Jager W. J. , Cilliers F. , Veldsman T.
Published: August 2012

This research aims to measure the impact of a leadership development programme presented from the systems psychodynamic stance. The aim was to develop psychoanalytically informed change leaders to lead change and transformation in the continuously changing and transforming New Economy network organisation. In order to do this, a group relations training programme was presented for 30 leaders. Qualitative assessment using grounded theory during post-intervention focus groups interviewing indicated the group’s awareness of psychodynamic leadership behaviour such as the regression towards frequent pathological leadership personality characteristics, regression towards unconscious group- and organizational processes such as the basic assumption group, the covert coalition and socially structured defense systems against change and transformation. Insight was also gained in the new leadership role and the taking up of personal authority in the network organisation that needs to function as a systemic whole. Limitations in the study are noted and Recommendations are made to enhance change leader skills for leadership in the New Economy network organisation. OpsommingHierdie navorsing poog om die impak van ‘n leierskapsontwikkelingsprogram wat aangebied is vanuit die sistemiese psigodinamiese perspektief, te evalueer. Die doel was om psigoanalitiese ingeligte leiers te ontwikkel om verandering en transformasie in die gedurige veranderende en transformerende Nuwe Ekonomie netwerk organisasie, te lei. Ten einde dit te bolwerk is. ‘n Groep -verhoudinge-opleidingsprogram is aangebied vir 30 leiers. Kwalitatiewe evaluasie deur van begrondingsteorie gebruik te maak gedurende, die post-intervensie fokus groepe het ‘n groepbewustheid aangedui van psigodinamiese leierskapgedrag soos die regressie na dikwelse patologiese leierskapspersoonlikheidskenmerke, regressie in onbewustelike groep- en organisatoriese prosesse soos die basiese aanname-groep, die koverte-koalisie- en sosiaal-gestruktureerde-verdedigingsisteme teen verandering en transformasie. Insig is ook in die nuwe leierskap rol en die opneem van persoonlike outoriteit in die netwerk organisasie wat moet funksioneer as ‘n sistemiese geheel, bekom. Aanbevelings word gemaak om die leierskapsrol in verandering in terme van vaardighede in die Nuwe Ekonomienetwerkorganisasie, te bevorder.
Work-Life Balance: A Study In The Petroleum Industry
Authors: De Villiers Judy , Kotze Elize
Published: August 2012

A qualitative study was completed to discover how employees of a company in the petroleum industry define and experience the phenomenon of work-life balance, to identify the workplace determinants of work-life imbalance and to elicit some solutions for the problem. It was found that work-life balance is a personal issue that varies across time and situations and the underlying conflict experienced pertains to role overload and role interference. The most significant work-life conflict arises from complex workplace issues, including managing change, supervisory and technical competences, leadership, roles and accountabilities, and culture. Solutions to address the workplace issues, as well as the development of individual balance-enabling skills, are suggested.

Opsomming’n Kwalitatiewe studie is onderneem om vas te stel hoe die werknemers van ’n maatskappy in die petroleumnywerheid die fenomeen van die werk-lewe ewewig definieer en ervaar, om die werkpleksdeterminante van ’n werk-lewe onewewigtigheid te identifiseer en om sekere oplossings vir die probleem aan die hand te doen. Dit is gevind dat werk-lewe ewewig ’n persoonlike saak is wat oor tyd en omstandighede varieer en die ervaarde onderliggende konflik na roloorladingsrolle en -inmenging verwys. Die mees betekenisvolle werk-lewe konflik tree na vore vanuit komplekse werkplekaangeleenthede, insluitende die bestuur van veranderings, toesighoudende en tegniese vaardighede, leierskap, rolle en aanspreeklikheid, asook kultuur. Oplossings om die werkpleksake aan te spreek, asook die ontwikkeling van individuele vaardighede om ’n ewewig teweeg te bring, word voorgestel.
Electronic Document Management: A Human Resource Management Case Study
Authors: Groenewald Thomas
Published: August 2012

This case study serve as exemplar regarding what can go wrong with the implementation of an electronic document management system. Knowledge agility and knowledge as capital, is outlined against the backdrop of the information society and knowledge economy. The importance of electronic document management and control is sketched thereafter. The literature review is concluded with the impact of human resource management on knowledge agility, which includes references to the learning organisation and complexity theory. The intervention methodology, comprising three phases, follows next. The results of the three phases are presented thereafter. Partial success has been achieved with improving the human efficacy of electronic document management, however the client opted to discontinue the system in use.

Opsomming Die gevalle studie dien as voorbeeld van wat kan verkeerd loop met die implementering van ’n elektroniese dokumentbestuur sisteem. Teen die agtergrond van die inligtingsgemeenskap en kennishuishouding word kennissoepelheid en kennis as kapitaal bespreek. Die literatuurstudie word afgesluit met die inpak van menslikehulpbronbestuur op kennissoepelheid, wat ook die verwysings na die leerorganisasie en kompleksietydsteorie insluit. Die metodologie van die intervensie, wat uit drie fases bestaan, volg daarna. Die resultate van die drie fases word vervolgens aangebied. Slegs gedeelte welslae is behaal met die verbetering van die menslike doeltreffendheid ten opsigte van elektroniese dokumentbestuur. Die klient besluit egter om nie voort te gaan om die huidige sisteem te gebruik nie.
Suksesbelewing Van Seniorbestuurders Van ’N Groot Finansieële Instelling
Authors: Labuschagne W. J. P. , Kok J. C. , Smith D. P. J.
Published: August 2012

The success experience of a financial institutions senior management. No clarity exists either in literature or in practice regarding people’s success experience. People often experience a dissonance between external success and internal fulfillment. Important components needed to experience success were identified from literature in order to determine in practice to what extent such components formed part of the success experience of a financial institution’s senior management. Internal (intrinsic) and external (extrinsic) factors were identified as necessary factors in order to experience success in a balanced way. In this article the findings of senior management’s success experience are reported. The research was conducted by means of qualitative and quantitative methodology from a Personal and Professional Leadership perspective. OpsommingDaar is onduidelikheid in die literatuur, en in die praktyk, oor wat presies die belewenis van sukses by mense is. Mense ervaar dikwels ’n dissonans tussen uiterlike sukses en innerlike vervulling. Belangrike komponente in die belewing van sukses is in die literatuur geïdentifiseer en in die praktyk getoets om vas te stel tot welke mate interne (intrinsieke) en eksterne (ekstrinsieke) faktore deel uitmaak van die suksesbelewing van senior bestuur in ’n finansiële instelling. Beide stelle faktore is van belang om op ’n gebalanseerde wyse sukses te kan beleef. In hierdie artikel word die bevindings ten opsigte van senior bestuur se suksesbelewing gerapporteer. Die navorsing is met behulp van kwalitatiewe sowel as kwantitatiewe metodologie vanuit Persoonlike en Professionele Leierskapsperspektief ondersoek.
The Cost-Production Duality Approach To The Measurement Of Labour Productivity: A Dynamic Tool For Effective Human Resource Management
Authors: Van Zyl G.
Published: August 2012

Positive real increases in the prices of inputs, as the result of an inefficient level of productivity, can no longer be accepted in competitive markets. The survival and more specifically the competitiveness of businesses and industries is critically dependent on a higher level of cost efficiency and in particular a more productive input base. The aim of the paper is to present the methodology, structure and results of a new dual cost-production instrument where changes in the level of labour productivity can be measured. A scientific derived and well-tested instrument is developed. This instrument should enable human resource managers to monitor productivity changes more effectively and make timely decisions on ways and means that could improve the productivity of labour. OpsommingPositiewe reële toenames in die pryse van insette as die resultaat van ’n oneffektiewe vlak van produktiwiteit kan nie langer in mededingende markte geduld word nie. Die oorlewing en meer spesifiek die mededingendheid van ondernemings en industrieë is krities afhanklik van ’n hoër vlak van koste-doelmatigheid en in die besonder van ’n meer produktiewe inset basis. Die doel van die publikasie is om die metodiek, struktuur en resultate van ’n nuwe gelyktydige koste-produksie instrument bekend te stel waarmee veranderinge in die vlak van arbeidsproduktiwiteit gemeet kan word. ’n Wetenskaplik-afgeleide en getoetste instrument is ontwikkel. Diè instrument behoort personeelpraktisyns in staat te stel om produktiwiteitsveranderinge meer effektief te kan monitor en gevolglik tydige besluite te kan neem oor wyses waarop arbeidsproduktiwiteit verbeter kan word.
The Development Of A Management Error Orientation Questionnaire
Authors: Korsten Victor A. , Stanz Karel J. , Blignaut J.
Published: August 2012

The aim of this study was to develop a Management Error Orientation Questionnaire (MEOQ) to be used as an instrument to measure the attitude of management towards errors in the workplace. The sample comprised of 232 managers from a variety of business sectors. A factor analysis on 59 items yielded three factors and these factors were interpreted as the attitude of dealing with errors, the risk of errors and error strain. The three scales were subjected to an item analysis and yielded significant levels of reliability. OpsommingDie doel van die studie was om ’n Bestuursfout Oriëntasie Vraelys (Management Error Orientation Questionniare) te ontwikkel wat as ’n meetinstrument kan dien om die houding van bestuur met betrekking tot foute, in die werksomgewing te bepaal. Die steekproef het uit 232 bestuurders uit ’n verskeidenheid van besigheidsektore bestaan. ’n Faktoranalise op 59 items het drie faktore opgelewer, naamlik die houding aangaande die hantering van foute, die risiko van foute en foutspanning. Die drie faktore is onderwerp aan ’n itemanalise en het aanvaarbare vlakke van betroubaarheid gelewer.
An Assessment Of Bias And Fairness Of The Culture Assessment Instrument
Authors: Nkosi Themba J. , Roodt Gert
Published: August 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate the bias and fairness of the Culture Assessment Instrument (CAI), that is, to assess whether the mean culture scores of different groups (race, gender, age and language) discriminate on a total score and an item level. The sample consisted of 4066 respondents from five different companies, originating from various industries. The scores of the 56 CAI-items were factor analysed on two levels, followed by an iterative item analyses. Significant differences between race and language mean scores were identified on a total score and item level. Where differences on an item level were detected, such item-wordings were scrutinized to ensure that they were fair, non-prejudiced and not stereotyping any group. Based on these findings, it was concluded that the CAI in its current form is not biased against any particular group and is therefore fair. OpsommingDie doel van hierdie studie was om die sydigheid en billikheid van die Culture Assessment Instrument (CAI) te ondersoek, dit is om te bepaal of gemiddelde kultuurtellings van verskillende groepe (ras, geslag, ouderdom en taal) diskrimineer op ’n totaaltelling en itemvlak. Die steekproef het bestaan uit 4066 respondente uit vyf verskillende organisasies, afkomstig uit verskillende bedrywe. Die tellings van die 56 CAI-items is op twee vlakke gefaktoranaliseer, gevolg deur ’n iteratiewe itemontleding. Beduidende verskille tussen gemiddelde tellings van rasen taalgroepe is identifiseer, maar slegs ’n klein proporsie van die variansie kon aan kultuurverskille toegeskryf word. In gevalle waar verskille op itemvlak geïdentifiseer is, is sulke item-bewoordings ondersoek vir billikheid, bevooroordeling en die nie-stereotipering van enige groep. Gebaseer op hierdie bevindinge, is daar tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die CAI in sy huidige vorm nie sydig teenoor enige groep is nie en gevolglik billik is.
Factors Affecting The Retention Of Knowledge Workers
Authors: Sutherland Margie , Jordaan Wilhelm
Published: August 2012

One of the characteristics of knowledge workers is their high level of mobility. The cost of labour turnover of these key resources is high in both financial and non financial terms. There is thus a need to understand what the factors are that underpin the retention cognitions of knowledge workers. Data was collected from 306 knowledge workers in full time employment representing a wide range of demographic groupings. The results showed that job satisfaction and organisational commitment do not predict knowledge workers’ proposed future length of service.Factor analysis revealed seven underlying dimensions of retention cognitions. Cluster analysis revealed nine distinct clusters of knowledge workers with regard to their retention cognitions. High levels of individualism, need for challenge and focus on personal development were demonstrated. The implications of these findings are discussed.

OpsommingEen van die eienskappe van kenniswerkers is hulle hoë vlak van mobiliteit. Die koste van arbeidsomset van hierdie sleutelbronne is hoog in beide finansiële en nie-finansiële terme. Daar bestaan dus ’n behoefte om die faktore wat onderliggend is aan die retensiekognisies van kenniswerkers te verstaan. Data is ingesamel van 306 kenniswerkers in voltydse diens wat ’n wye reeks demografiese groeperings verteenwoordig. Die resultate dui daarop dat werktevredenheid en organisasieverbondenheid nie die kenniswerkers se verwagte lengte van diens voorspel nie. Faktorontleding het sewe onderliggende dimensies van retensiekognisies blootgelê. ’n Bondelontleding het nege duidelike bondels van kenniswerkers ten opsigte van hulle retensiekognisies onderskei. Hoë vlakke van individualisme, behoefte aan uitdaging en fokus op persoonlike ontwikkeling is aangedui. Die implikasies van hierdie bevindinge word bespreek.