scholarly journals Infusing African management philosophy into project management

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl Marnewick ◽  
Wikus Erasmus ◽  
Nazeer Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Philosophical Discussion ◽  
Management Philosophy ◽  
Form Part ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Value Add ◽  
The University ◽  
Management Theories

Orientation: The project management field of study is investigated in the context of the current debate on decolonisation of the university curriculum.Research purpose: Current project management theories and curriculum are based on Western management philosophy (WMP). This creates tension on the African continent where the debate is currently about the revival of African management philosophy (AMP) and how it should form part of management theories and the discourse in general.Motivation for the study: The problem currently is that AMP is not incorporated or even discussed within project management literature. The aim of this article is to create discussion around AMP and how it can be infused into project management theories and ultimately the curriculum. The AMP and WMP are discussed through the lens of project management, specifically the Project Management Body of Knowledge.Research design, approach and method: Philosophical discussion was employed to facilitate the discussion of infusing AMP into project management. Various historical concepts and practices were explored to provide perspective concerning management philosophies and theories.Main findings: Infusing AMP into the curriculum must be a conscientious effort from the academic staff who teach project management. Moreover, true infusion of AMP is best facilitated through the interaction between academics, students and stakeholders. There are, however, certain processes that are principle agnostic and are independent of either AMP or WMP.Practical/managerial implications: We should philosophise more on infusing AMP into project management, creating new theories, and that the curriculum should be adjusted to incorporate AMP.Contribution/value-add: This paper stimulates discussion around AMP and project management.

Project Management, Complexity and Creativity

2013 ◽  
pp. 188-205
Author(s):  
Herbert Thomas ◽  
Jessica Hollis
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Time Constraints ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Software Selection ◽  
Management Philosophy ◽  
Software Packages ◽  
Selection Processes ◽  
Request For Proposal ◽  
The University ◽  
Short Timeframe

This case involves the implementation of an automated capture solution, aimed at replacing a manual lecture capture service at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. The implementation of such a solution, within a very short timeframe and subject to a constrained budget, was necessitated by a significant change in lecturer-student interaction brought about by a devastating earthquake and associated aftershocks. In consequence, recently adopted project management methodology at the institution had to be amended in order to incorporate software selection processes under way at another institution. The university project management approach (based on Prince 2 project management philosophy) includes an exhaustive comparison of software packages, based on detailed “Request for Information” and “Request for Proposal” procedures. Severe time constraints forced the project team to omit these procedures by tapping into the same process at another university undergoing the same exercise. This was the only way in which the project could be completed within the proposed timeframe. Currently, the automated capture solution is being prepared for handover from the project manager to the institution in December 2012, as planned.

scholarly journals The systems psychodynamic experiences of first-year master’s students in industrial and organisational psychology

2012 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frans Cilliers ◽  
Nisha Harry
Keyword(s):  
Basic Assumption ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Academic Work ◽  
First Year ◽  
Master's Students ◽  
Student Groups ◽  
Academic Tasks ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Value Add

Orientation: The researchers described the experiences of first-year master’s students in industrial and organisational psychology in terms of their anxiety and basic assumption behaviour. Apart from their academic tasks, they seem to be unconsciously involved in many relationship and relatedness matters.Research purpose: The purpose of this research was to describe the systems psychodynamic experiences of first-year master’s students in Industrial and Organisational Psychology.Motivation for the study: Academic staff members tend to forget their own experiences as master’s students, lose touch with their students’ experiences, lose empathy and treat student groups in mechanistic ways. Although the students’ conscious tasks and roles are relatively clear, very little is known about their unconscious experiences.Research design, approach and method: The researchers used qualitative research involving a case study. They collected the data and conducted their analyses by administering a Listening Post (LP) and discourse analysis. Two themes emerged, from which the researchers formulated their working and research hypotheses.Main findings: The themes related to anxiety and basic assumption behaviour. The research hypothesis referred to students’ introjections of emotional incompetence. This resulted in exhaustion.Practical/managerial implications: More focused attention to the students’ emotional experiences, by themselves and by academic staff members, could conserve students’ energy for their academic work and relationships.Contribution/value-add: Being master’s students consumes emotional energy that jeopardises students’ academic work and forming relationships. Being aware of these and managing them could help students to achieve better academically.

scholarly journals The relevance of the psychometrist category as a professional resource: Training-related issues

2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
René Van Eeden ◽  
Vasi Van Deventer ◽  
Helena Erasmus
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Professional Status ◽  
Demographic Profile ◽  
Job Opportunities ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Value Add ◽  
Training Programmes ◽  
The University ◽  
Test Use

Orientation: The professional status of psychometrists places them in a position where they can provide a specialist function independently and their services should therefore be relevant to a variety of settings.Research purpose: The aim was to explore if the training of student psychometrists contributes to the relevance of this category in terms of the demographic profile of student psychometrists, the scope of services potentially provided by them and the content of training programmes.Motivation for the study: There is a paucity of research on training in the psychometrist category.Research design, approach and method: Data were obtained from the files of a cohort of student psychometrists who were registered in the Department of Psychology at the University of South Africa (UNISA). Follow-up surveys on training and work contexts were conducted amongst these students and their in-practice supervisors to confirm and supplement the data. In addition, a survey on the national availability of training programmes for psychometrists was conducted at South African universities.Main findings: Gender and racial skewness in terms of the demographic profile of the UNISA students seemed to reflect a national trend. In terms of the scope of services, training opportunities and perceived job opportunities for psychometrists seemed limited and despite the utilisation of the skills area in all the applied contexts, concerns related to the sectors being served were identified. With regard to the content of the training programmes, students and in-practice supervisors expressed a need for greater preparation in test use before related practical experience takes place. The importance of the university’s involvement during the practicum was also emphasised.Practical/managerial implications: Recommendations are made regarding the structure and content of training programmes. This information could be applied in adapting existing programmes and in developing new programmes.Contribution/value-add: Ultimately, these recommendations could contribute to the value of the psychometrist category as a professional resource relevant to a variety of settings.

scholarly journals The level of organisational identification amongst students at a post-merged South African university

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia Breytenbach ◽  
Michelle Renard ◽  
Robin Snelgar
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
University Management ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Value Add ◽  
The University

Orientation: Organisational  identification  (OI)  refers to individuals  perceiving  that  they belong  to and  are one with  their  organisation.  Limited  research  has  been conducted  on university students’ levels of OI within the South African context.Research purpose: The aim of the study was to determine the level of OI amongst students at a post-merged university in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.Motivation for the study: Levels of OI amongst students at a post-merged university could be low, as a result of students not yet adopting the values of the merged university. Yet, no such study has been undertaken at this university since the merger.Research design, approach and method: Mixed methods were used in this study, consisting of qualitative  research  (N = 16)  for  which  focus  group  discussions  were  used,  as  well as quantitative  research  (N =  603)  for  which  an  online questionnaire  was  sent  to  the student sample.Main  findings: The  level  of  OI  amongst  the  students  was found  to  be  high.  Furthermore, students’  race,  campus, university  tenure  and  residence  have  a  significant influence  on students’ levels of OI. Black students identified more with the university than other races and students who studied longer at this university had lower levels of OI. Residence students had a greater level of OI than those who stayed off-campus.Practical/managerial implications: Students should be encouraged to adopt the core values of this university to ensure that OI levels increase. In order to improve OI, university management should  implement  action  plans  for those  student  segments  who  have  exhibited  low  levels of OI.Contribution/value-add: This  research  contributes  to  the current  body  of  knowledge concerning OI which is under-researched within a post-merged university context.

scholarly journals Governance of the research activities in higher educational institutions: factors and outcomes

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 26-30
Author(s):  
Musawenkosi Ngibe ◽  
Lawrence Mpele Lekhanya
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Current Crisis ◽  
Doctoral Studies ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

South African higher education institutions, specifically, universities of technology have been faced with an arduous battle of increasing postgraduate students enrolment (masters and doctoral) and improve their completion rate. However, the situation is exacerbated by inadequate number and inexperience of supervisors to supervise these postgraduate students. The Durban University of Technology has formulated research structures to administer and co-ordinate research activities in order to improve the number of staff members with doctoral qualifications in order to aid the current challenges. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the circumstances and factors hindering the academic staff throughput rates and the impact it has on the university. The use of qualitative and quantitative approach was used for this study, with closed and open-ended questionnaires used to collect data from 278 academic staff members using a probability sampling. The respondents 9 (4.9%) indicated that lack of external funding and project management skills proved to be major contributory factors hindering academics staff to complete their postgraduate degrees within the required time. The study recommends that funding should be made easily available to academics pursuing doctoral studies, while project management workshops should be organised regularly to help academics appropriately management their studies. This can have a positive impact which will benefit the university and aid to the current crisis of lack of supervisor for masters and doctoral studies.

scholarly journals Workplace spirituality and the ethical behaviour of project managers

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Freda Van der Walt ◽  
Pieter Steyn
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Workplace Spirituality ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Ethical Behaviour ◽  
Spiritual Values ◽  
Descriptive Case Study ◽  
Unethical Behaviour ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Value Add

Orientation: Despite increased interest in the topic of ethical behaviour, the unethical behaviour of individuals in various professions is increasing. In order to support professional bodies in their quest to promote ethical behaviour of professionals, one needs to consider what organisations can do to promote ethical conduct.Research purpose: The purpose of this research study was to investigate whether organisations that have spiritual values, that is, workplace spirituality, have a significant impact on the ethical behaviour of project managers.Motivation for the study: Project management as a profession has always been concerned about quality and ethics, but ethical behaviour seems to be on the increase rather than on the decrease. Therefore, it is necessary to consider factors within the organisational context that can promote ethical behaviour.Research approach/design and method: The study was quantitative in nature, and data were collected from individuals studying towards a project management qualification. A descriptive case study design was used and data were collected once-off by means of a survey.Main findings: The findings of the study indicated that workplace spirituality influenced ethical behaviour to some extent, as it promotes responsibility and fairness, which are key values of the Project Management Institute.Practical/managerial implications: If organisations adopt spiritual values and promote a spirituality-based culture, ethical behaviour could be encouraged. However, workplace spirituality should not be seen as a quick fix to reduce unethical behaviour, and unless there is honest commitment by organisational leaders to transform organisations into humanised and spirituality-based workplaces, not much will be achieved in terms of promoting ethical behaviour.Contribution/value-add: The study contributes to the literature regarding ethical behaviour and workplace spirituality.

scholarly journals Industrial Psychology: Goodness of fit? Fit for goodness?

2010 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leon J. Van Vuuren
Keyword(s):  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Industrial Psychology ◽  
Multiple Stakeholder ◽  
Form Part ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Organisational Behaviour ◽  
Value Add ◽  
Strategic Motives

Orientation: This theoretical opinion-based paper represents a critical reflection on the relevance of industrial psychology.Research purpose: Against a historical-developmental background of the discipline, the inquiry questions its goodness of fit, that is its contribution to organisation and society.Motivation for the study: Regular introspection in the discipline ensures that it remains relevant in both science and practice. As such, such introspection calls for a meta-theoretical imperative, to ensure that industrial psychology is fully aware of how the theoretical models applied in the discipline influence people and the society that they form part of.Research design, approach and method: The question of industrial psychology’s potential fit for goodness that is broader than what is merely good for the organisation and its employees is explored with a view to enhancing its relevance. The exploration is conducted through the utilisation of theoretical argumentation in which industrial psychology is analysed in terms of contextual considerations that require the discipline to evaluate its real versus its potential contribution to society.Main findings: It is found that the fit is limited to its relevance for inwardly focused organisational behaviour due to its endorsement of the instrumental (strategic) motives of organisations that subscribe to an owner and/or shareholder agenda.Practical/managerial implications: In light of the main finding, industrial psychology’s potential fit for goodness is explored with a view to enhancing its relevance in an era of goodness. The creation of a scientific and practical interface between industrial psychology and business ethics is suggested to facilitate movement away from a descriptive approach.Contribution/value-add: The heuristics of reflection, reform, research and resources are suggested to facilitate movement towards a normative (multiple stakeholder) paradigm aimed at broad based goodness and sustainability.

scholarly journals Designation differences and academic career progression

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris W. Callaghan
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Academic Career ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Career Progression ◽  
Sampling Frame ◽  
Role Conflicts ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Teaching Satisfaction ◽  
Value Add

Orientation: According to the human resources literature, academics may need to ‘balance’ certain issues in order to enable career progression.Research purpose: This research sought to test the theory that predicted differences between individuals by designation cohort membership (Mr/Ms, doctoral and professorial designation) in order to make recommendations for how academic staff could better facilitate their career development.Motivation for the study: This research attempted to identify certain ‘crisis milestones’ that reflect potential role conflicts that may constrain academic career progression.Research design, approach and method: Academic staff of a large South African university (with over 30 000 students) provided the sampling frame for an empirical study. Using logistic regression, three career markers that reflect different career cohorts – Mr/Ms designation, doctoral designation and professorial designation – were each regressed on a range of biographical and contextual factors derived from the literature and a comparative analysis was performed.Main findings: Findings suggest that these cohorts differ significantly according to: satisfaction with teaching; satisfaction with administration; research self-efficacy; and dependent children. ‘Crisis milestones’, potentially related to role conflicts, might need to be resolved before career progression to doctoral and professorial designations can occur.Practical/Managerial implications: Knowledge of these ‘crisis milestones’ can be used to help academics to manage role conflicts and issues. This might remove unnecessary constraints to academic career progression.Contribution/Value add: This study provides new insights into certain ‘crisis milestones’, or role conflicts or issues, that may need to be resolved or balanced before the career progression of academics can typically occur.

scholarly journals The impact of psychological contracts on employee engagement at a university of technology

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinessa Naidoo ◽  
Ishana Abarantyne ◽  
Robert Rugimbana
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Employee Engagement ◽  
Psychological Contract ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Psychological Contracts ◽  
Employment Relationship ◽  
Organisational Effectiveness ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Value Add ◽  
The Impact

Orientation: Changing organisational dynamics have caused a need for organisations to understand the employment relationship processes and outcomes in order to improve organisational effectiveness, increase productivity and retain talented employees.Research purpose: The purpose of the study is to determine which elements of the academic employee’s psychological contract are impacting employee engagement at a university of technology.Motivation for the study: The study was motivated by the findings of a 2013 climate survey at an institute of higher education, indicating that many employees were dissatisfied and believed that their expectations were not met by the organisation.Research approach/design and method: A quantitative technique via online questionnaires was employed for data collection. The sample size was 400 out of 900 academic staff members.Main findings: The study confirmed that most employees appear to have developed a positive psychological contract. It indicated, however, that many employees may be experiencing discord in the employment relationship. Both transactional and relational elements of the psychological contract appeared to be essential to academic employees.Practical/managerial implications: The study identified factors of importance to academic employees that should be considered in the compilation of retention policies.Contribution/value-add: The results of the study could contribute towards addressing some of the challenges by creating a better understanding of the needs of academic employees and the impact of psychological contract fulfilment and breach. This could benefit the higher education sector as a whole.

Penglibatan Ahli Akademik Terhadap Pengajaran Hadith di Institusi Pengajian

2018 ◽  
pp. 47-52
Author(s):  
Amran Abdul Halim ◽  
Abdulloh Salaeh
Keyword(s):  
Public Universities ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Good Knowledge ◽  
Islamic Studies ◽  
National University ◽  
Islamic Science ◽  
The University

This study is to identify the involvement of academicians on the teaching of the hadith. The contribution of the academicians to the teaching of the hadith is also very much needed so that Muslims can acknowledge al-Sunnah closely. The academicians were selected from Academic of Islamic Studies, University of Malaya Islamic Studies Academy, the National University of Malaysia, the Islamic Science University of Malaysia and the International Islamic University which they are all from various fields of Islamic Studies. The methodology used in this study is a questionnaire which is group sampling. The researcher distributes the questionnaire to the academic staff at the university involved. Based on this descriptive analysis of the questionnaire, it can be concluded that academic practitioners either in the field of hadith or other fields are involved and contribute to the teaching of hadith such as in public universities and other institutions. This shows that most academicians have good knowledge related to the field of hadith. Therefore, they are among the most suitable as references to the community in solving Sunnah and bidaah issues, especially the academicians who are experts in the field of hadith. Abstrak Kajian ini adalah untuk mengenalpasti penglibatan ahli akademik terhadap pengajaran hadith. Sumbangan ahli akademik terhadap pengajaran hadith juga amat diperlukan agar umat Islam dapat mengenali al-Sunnahsecara  lebih  dekat.  Ahli-ahli  akademik  yang  dipilih  adalah  dari  Akademi  Pengajian  Islam  Universiti Malaya,   Universiti   Kebangsaan   Malaysia,   Universiti   Sains   Islam   Malaysia   dan   Universiti   Islam Antarabangsa  yang  mana  kesemuanya  dalam  pelbagai  bidang  Pengajian  Islam.  Kaedah yang  digunakan dalam kajian ini adalah soal selidik iaitu persampelan berkelompok. Penyelidikmengedarkan borang soal selidik tersebut kepada ahli akademik di universiti tersebut. Berdasarkan, analisis deskriptif soal selidik ini, dapat dirumuskan bahawa ahli akademik sama ada dalam bidang hadith atau lain-lain bidang adalah terlibat dan turut memberi sumbangan dalam pengajaran hadith seperti di universiti-universiti awam dan lain-lain institusi  pengajian.  Ini  menunjukkan  bahawa  kebanyakan  ahli  akademik  mempunyai  pengetahuan  yang baik  berkaitan  dengan  bidang  hadith.  Oleh  itu,  mereka  adalah  antara  golongan  sangat  sesuai  dijadikan sebagai rujukan masyarakat dalam menyelesaikan permasalahan Sunnah dan bidaah, terutama sekali ahli akademik yang pakar dalam bidang hadith.

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