A phenomenological study of leadership in the Rhodes Unversity Mathematics Education Project (RUMEP)
- Authors: Michael, Vanessa Jane
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: Rhodes University -- Mathematics education project Educational leadership
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1701 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003584
- Description: Few terms in organisational studies inspire less agreement than leadership. It is a slippery concept and much that is written on the subject is confusing and contradictory. Early theories of leadership have, generally, reduced leadership behaviour to a concern for task balanced against a concern for the well-being of employees. This two-dimensional approach has proved to be a limited conceptualisation of leadership. In response, over the past thirty years, researchers have tried to highlight the less rationalistic, more intangible, aspects of leadership. However, there is still very little in leadership research that conveys a sense of the leader as a person. I have argued, in this study, that the reason for this lies in the fact that most leadership research has been conducted along positivistic lines and, therefore, cannot take into account the values, feelings, morals and life experiences of the human beings being studied. Thus, for the human being to take centre-stage in leadership enquiry, a different research paradigm needs to be explored. I have chosen to use phenomenological enquiry as an avenue for examining how John Stoker, the leader of the Rhodes University Mathematics Education Project (RUMEP), experiences being a leader. This is because phenomenology, in both theory and practice, privileges the nature of the meanings that people construct in their lives and that guide their actions. In adopting such a methodology my research findings have examined a number of issues that are of interest to current leadership researchers, however they have also highlighted a number of concerns that have not been explored thoroughly in the leadership literature. These include the importance of the individual leader’s action, intention and will in shaping an organisation, the complex nature of a leader’s creativity within the organisation and possible differences between educational leaders and business leaders. In adopting a phenomenological perspective the eccentricity and fulness of an individual leader’s action is expressed through the research, however, the research also focusses on how the researcher translates and evolving philosophical understanding into sound methodology. Therefore, interwoven into the discussions on leadership there are reflections on how I applied phenomenological theory. The purpose of these reflections is to deliberate on the appropriateness of applying such a methodology to the eclectic field of leadership and to show how my own developing philosophical attitude has transformed into practice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2001
A phenomenological study of leadership in the Rhodes Unversity Mathematics Education Project (RUMEP)
- Authors: Michael, Vanessa Jane
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: Rhodes University -- Mathematics education project Educational leadership
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1701 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003584
- Description: Few terms in organisational studies inspire less agreement than leadership. It is a slippery concept and much that is written on the subject is confusing and contradictory. Early theories of leadership have, generally, reduced leadership behaviour to a concern for task balanced against a concern for the well-being of employees. This two-dimensional approach has proved to be a limited conceptualisation of leadership. In response, over the past thirty years, researchers have tried to highlight the less rationalistic, more intangible, aspects of leadership. However, there is still very little in leadership research that conveys a sense of the leader as a person. I have argued, in this study, that the reason for this lies in the fact that most leadership research has been conducted along positivistic lines and, therefore, cannot take into account the values, feelings, morals and life experiences of the human beings being studied. Thus, for the human being to take centre-stage in leadership enquiry, a different research paradigm needs to be explored. I have chosen to use phenomenological enquiry as an avenue for examining how John Stoker, the leader of the Rhodes University Mathematics Education Project (RUMEP), experiences being a leader. This is because phenomenology, in both theory and practice, privileges the nature of the meanings that people construct in their lives and that guide their actions. In adopting such a methodology my research findings have examined a number of issues that are of interest to current leadership researchers, however they have also highlighted a number of concerns that have not been explored thoroughly in the leadership literature. These include the importance of the individual leader’s action, intention and will in shaping an organisation, the complex nature of a leader’s creativity within the organisation and possible differences between educational leaders and business leaders. In adopting a phenomenological perspective the eccentricity and fulness of an individual leader’s action is expressed through the research, however, the research also focusses on how the researcher translates and evolving philosophical understanding into sound methodology. Therefore, interwoven into the discussions on leadership there are reflections on how I applied phenomenological theory. The purpose of these reflections is to deliberate on the appropriateness of applying such a methodology to the eclectic field of leadership and to show how my own developing philosophical attitude has transformed into practice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2001
The strategic impact of HIV/AIDS on first level component suppliers to the motor industry, located in the Nelson Mandela Metropole
- Authors: Hughes, Edward Peter Clive
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: Automobile industry and trade -- Management , Labor productivity , Production management , AIDS (Disease) -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10943 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1006722 , Automobile industry and trade -- Management , Labor productivity , Production management , AIDS (Disease) -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Description: HIV/AIDS is undoubtedly the single most important and daunting health problem facing Africa. Globally too, this is one of the most serious health, medical and social preoccupations of our time (Chinery-Hesse, 2000: 1). The aim of this research study is to evaluate the strategic impact of HIV/AIDS on first level component suppliers to the motor industry located in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. To achieve this aim a literature study was undertaken to determine the patterns of development, the infection statistics and to explore strategic options and actions for dealing with the effects of the disease. An empirical study has been conducted to assess the opinions of senior management within first level component suppliers. The results from the study indicate that most companies in the selected group believe that HIV/AIDS will have a serious impact on their organisations. In conclusion, various recommendations have been made with regards to the findings ascertained in the literature review and empirical study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2001
- Authors: Hughes, Edward Peter Clive
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: Automobile industry and trade -- Management , Labor productivity , Production management , AIDS (Disease) -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10943 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1006722 , Automobile industry and trade -- Management , Labor productivity , Production management , AIDS (Disease) -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Description: HIV/AIDS is undoubtedly the single most important and daunting health problem facing Africa. Globally too, this is one of the most serious health, medical and social preoccupations of our time (Chinery-Hesse, 2000: 1). The aim of this research study is to evaluate the strategic impact of HIV/AIDS on first level component suppliers to the motor industry located in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. To achieve this aim a literature study was undertaken to determine the patterns of development, the infection statistics and to explore strategic options and actions for dealing with the effects of the disease. An empirical study has been conducted to assess the opinions of senior management within first level component suppliers. The results from the study indicate that most companies in the selected group believe that HIV/AIDS will have a serious impact on their organisations. In conclusion, various recommendations have been made with regards to the findings ascertained in the literature review and empirical study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2001
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