A critical analysis of organisational strategies for employee engagement
- Authors: Poisat, Paul
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Employees -- Attitudes , Employee motivation , Personnel management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DTech
- Identifier: vital:9378 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/466 , Employees -- Attitudes , Employee motivation , Personnel management
- Description: Organisations are continuously searching for ways to increase their competitiveness as a means to survive in the global economy. More recently approaches have focused on the role that people perform in bringing about competitive advantage. Research indicates that engaged employees contribute vastly to the financial bottom-line of the organisation (see section 3.2.2). The research problem in this study was to identify strategies that organisations can use to engage their employees. To achieve this objective a theoretical employee engagement model was presented. The presentation of the theoretical model consisted of the following sub-processes: § Firstly, a literature survey was conducted to determine the underlying drivers/constructs of employee engagement. Abstract iii § The second comprised surveying the literature dealing specifically with approaches for measuring employee engagement. § Thirdly, the literature was surveyed to identify strategies and models used by organisations for engaging employees. The theoretical employee engagement model served as a basis for the compilation of the survey questionnaire that determined the extent to which human resource practitioners and line managers agree with the theoretical model developed in this study. The questionnaire was administered to a random sample of individuals employed in the automotive cluster in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality and the Buffalo City Metropole. The empirical results obtained from the survey indicated that respondents strongly concurred with the theoretical employee engagement model presented in the study. These results were included in the theoretical model, which lead to the development of the integrated organisational employee engagement model. The model comprises of four interrelated categories that all contribute to enhancing employees’ engagement. These categories are organisational leadership, organisational culture, organisational strategies and the manager’s role. From the literature survey and the study it became clear that the role of the manager, had the most significant impact on employee engagement of all the categories. In addition, the integrated organisational employee engagement model can be used by organisations as an applied strategy for the measurement of employee engagement. The main findings from this research are that 60 per cent of organisations that participated in the empirical study had implemented strategies to engage their employees. However, the majority of organisations reporting not having an engagement strategy were among organisations that employed less than 700 employees (smaller organisations). The study also highlighted certain variables that required special attention, especially when implementing employee engagement within the South African context. South African companies as compared to their overseas counterparts, rated organisational engagement variables such as remuneration, benefits and gain sharing lower. A further variable that was identified by the study requiring special attention was, ‘senior management shows a sincere interest in employees’ well-being’. A final point emanating from the study is that the implementation of employee engagement, as a strategy to enhance organisational competitiveness, must be viewed as a continuous process. Organisations should prior, to the implementation of an employee engagement strategy, consider whether they are prepared to share engagement results, take corrective action commensurate with the results and deal with employee expectations that may be incurred. The strategies espoused by the integrated organisational employee engagement model developed in this study, can be used by organisations to increase organisational competitiveness by improving their employees’ level of engagement.
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- Date Issued: 2006
The assessment of first-line management competencies at a selected automotive manufacturer using a recognition of prior learning approach
- Authors: Poisat, Paul
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: Executives -- Rating of , Automobile industry and trade -- Management -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech (Human Resources Management)
- Identifier: vital:10871 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41 , Executives -- Rating of , Automobile industry and trade -- Management -- Case studies
- Description: This research addresses the problem of determining which managerial competencies first-line managers operating in a world class organisation should have. To achieve this objective a three-step method was followed. Firstly, an approach had to be found for the assessment of managerial competencies at the selected organisation involved in the research project. A comprehensive literature survey was conducted in an attempt to establish an approach and identify management competencies for first-line managers. Secondly, the recognition of prior learning (RPL) approaches appropriate to first-line managers were investigated and synthesized with the managerial competence approach of step one. Finally, the managerial competencies were assessed utilising the matrix of managerial competence instrument developed in accordance with the findings of the research. The information obtained from the literature study and from the candidates who were assessed resulted in various findings and recommendations. Using the matrix of managerial competence instrument, it was found that the majority of first-line managers at the organisation were competent. Notwithstanding this finding, a major recommendation is that the organisation should become more future and development orientated in its training strategy. Finally, the research project has created the foundation for the development of a managerial competency model at the selected organisation. Findings of the literature survey and development of the RPL instrument provide guidelines for future RPL initiatives, both at the selected organisation and at the Port Elizabeth Technikon.
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- Date Issued: 2001
Demystifying leadership connectivity: rediscovering the soul of leadership
- Authors: Poisat, Paul
- Subjects: Leadership , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/35773 , vital:33811
- Description: INTRODUCTION: A Google search on ‘leadership’ produced 4.2 million articles, books, blogs and webinars on how to become a better leader. Most of the literature, comprising experts and the popular press, abound with formulistic prescriptive steps endorsed by two or three iconic figures that support their regimen. Regardless of the plethora of literature in leadership providing practical and logical tactics, many fall short on implementation and thus result in failure. What numerous sources fail to acknowledge is that the great leaders apply these tactics together with their innate skills to offer clear direction for themselves and their followers. Providing a clear vision and/or strategy to deal with uncertainty and ambiguity is one of the foremost abilities distinguishing leaders in our rapidly changing world and the ability to take employees with them. In addition, various individual (personality, values, cultural, ability) and contextual (nature of the business, complexity, rate of change, work team, diversity) factors may contribute to leadership failure that is characterised by a lack of vision, uncertainty, bullying, management by exclusion, and in extreme cases fraud and corruption. Regardless of the proliferation of leadership literature the world has never been more desperate for sound leadership. We have enough leaders but not enough leadership. With all the literature on leadership, how do you find the essence of leadership?
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