A critical analysis of the role of strategic communication in strategic planning : a case study of South African universities
- Authors: Hadji, Mutambuli James
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Communication in management Business communication Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8209 , vital:31978
- Description: The debate on how the communication function can contribute at a strategic level to organisational success is an on-going one because communicators still need to prove their relevance at the top management level. In general, the contribution of communication as a management function in corporate strategy is not known. It is either considered an afterthought or as an element within other functional departments. In this regard, the purpose of this study was to analyse critically the role of communication in strategic planning at the selected South African universities. To achieve this main objective, institutional theory was applied, as it seeks to affirm the role of communication in decision-making with the intention to be legitimised. In-depth interviews were conducted with senior communicators and strategy planners at six universities on how they approach strategic planning in their respective universities. Significant from the findings was the fact that the South African universities follow the same process for strategic planning. Regarding the role of strategic communication, the findings confirmed literature in the sense that communication practice at functional level has been institutionalised but not at the top management level. It was this study’s finding that university reputation and positioning did not prominently feature in the strategic planning processes. Furthermore, this study found that communicators should play a leading in environmental scanning to identify society, industry and commerce with a view to fine-tune the university’s qualification mix. That is, communicators should provide intelligence on changes in the environment which serve as the basis of the development of university strategies. In other words, they should provide vital information to top management to enable them to take informed strategic decisions. Lastly, it was this study’s finding that communicators should conduct evaluation research to assist top management in comparing the set strategic objectives with actual performance. In addition, the communicators should assist top management in determining corrective actions if need be. In view of these findings, this study developed guidelines that will empower communicators to make a more meaningful contribution in the strategic planning process. Given the paucity of research evidence of strategic communication in a university context, the study provides a better understanding of the theory and practice thereof.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Tanzania's development agenda and poverty reduction : a case of Mkukuta I1
- Authors: Mandalu, Martin Petro
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Poverty--Tanzania Tanzania--Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Development Studies
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15616 , vital:40487
- Description: Poverty reduction has always been part of Tanzania‘s development agenda since independence in 1961. Despite wealth of natural resources, peace and political stability, the country has continued to be poor for decades. A number of strategies have been employed to address the problem; however, they have not been so successful. Studies have explored the problem and came up with explanations that are insufficient. In recent years, more studies on poverty reduction increased, following the country‘s magnificent economic growth which, however, fails to alleviate poverty in the country. Recent literature on poverty reduction calls for improvement in the productive sectors such as agriculture and construction to increase their contribution in poverty reduction. However, most studies did not pay attention to the development model/s that led the economy since independence. Motivated by the unsatisfactory results of the previous poverty reduction strategies, and lacunas of the preceding studies, this research, through MKUKUTA I, examines factors affecting the development agenda in Tanzania and their influence on poverty reduction. It investigates, as well, the development models employed in the country since independence. The study is guided by the change of development theories: from socialism to neo-liberalism. Furthermore, the study proposes an alternative development model beyond dependency and neo-liberalism schools of thoughts that have been struggling to influence development in the country for over five decades. The study employs mainly secondary data and primary data as supplementary methods to analyse and explain the mismatch between economic growth and poverty reduction in the country. The study argues that the productive sectors fail to produce sufficiently and contribute to poverty reduction since they are not guided by any specific development model. Findings suggest that failure in poverty reduction despite remarkable economic growth is caused by failure of growth in the agriculture sector which employs the largest part of the workforce in the country. Economic transformation in the country, which contributed to economic growth, failed to generate more jobs in the productive sectors. Incorrect methodologies used for obtaining economic data are alleged as possible logical explanation for the mismatch between economic growth and failure in poverty reduction. Failure in poverty reduction had a negative impact on human development as the poor, especially in the rural areas, had limited access to quality services of education, health care, water and sanitation. Moreover, findings revealed that neoliberal policies in the country are not effective enough in guiding the development agenda and poverty reduction. Despite the rule of law, peace, political stability and favourable conditions for capitalism in the country, significant features of a neoliberal economy have not been effectively developed. The local private sector is still weak at the embryonic stage, and the market is weakened by corruption and poor infrastructure for doing business. Moreover, findings suggest that for about three decades, Tanzania has not had a clear and distinct development model to guide its development agenda in poverty alleviation. The constitution suggests that the country is guided by a socialist development philosophy whereas the official government website and practices indicate that the country is run by neoliberal policies. To resolve the matter and in view of attaining the TDV 2025 and poverty reduction, this study proposes that Tanzania becomes a democratic developmental state while governed by a dependency-neoliberal theory from the amalgamation of reviewed dependency and neo-liberal schools of thoughts as a guiding principle since all developmental states need guiding philosophies to lead them. Moreover, the study proposes pragmatic interventions to implement the development model.
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- Date Issued: 2016