https://ir.unisa.ac.za:443 The UnisaIR digital repository system captures, stores, indexes, preserves, and distributes digital research material. 2026-06-10T15:09:19Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32597 An evaluation of error management in transmission Reddy, Collin Sagren There have been a number of interventions internationally in managing error but they are generally piecemeal (Reason and Hobbs, 2003). Transmission, a division of Eskom Holding Ltd have experience a large number of human errors similar to that of the aviation and medical organisations. The purpose of this research study is to provide a holistic error management model that could be applicable to the Transmission Division that incorporates all the facets of error management and not be piecemeal. The objectives were to get the perception of the experts on human error, identify the causes of human error and investigate if learning from human errors is taking place. The research methodology was based on a mixed qualitative analysis. Through a series of expert interviews, review of current literature and case studies, a number of themes, findings and recommendations emerged. Some of the primary themes that resulted from the study included leadership and commitment. learning's, investigations, reporting, risk assessments, and error management systems. The researcher found that even though there were pockets of excellence, no plans existed to systematically reduce human error risks in Transmission and that no individual or group seemed to have the accountability for driving human error reduction across the business units. There is no safety or error management system that embodies continuous risk reduction criteria and methodologies. The lack of a holistic system to promote continuous error reduction as lead to buzz words with no action plans. 2007-12-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32596 The relationship between organisational culture and strategy formulation in South African firms Smith, Elroy Eugene The main objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between organisational culture and strategy formulation in South African organisations. Contemporary organisations are faced with new challenges and changes on the political, economic, social and technological front. In order to cope with these changes, organisations need to devise strategies. The question was asked whether the culture of organisations is conducive to the formulation of strategies. In order to achieve the objectives of this study, a literature study and empirical research was conducted. Although the literature available on the individual concepts of organisational culture and strategy formulation is extensive, the literature tends to focus on only one of the two concepts, and the relationship between the two concepts is generally ignored. In this study the two individual concepts were examined and a comprehensive interaction analysis of culture and strategy was done. A model was developed to depict the main elements of organisational culture. Managers increasingly realise the importance of organisational culture as a component of the strategic management process. However, confusion often exists on what organisational culture is. A strategic management model indicated the central role organisational culture should play in the strategic management process. A diagnosis has to be made of which aspects of the present culture are strategy supportive and which are not. It is important that organisations ensure there is a fit between culture and strategy. The relationship between four different culture types (power, role, task and person) in an organisation was investigated, as was the manner in which those organisations formulated strategies. This investigation was part of the empirical research. The purpose was to investigate the relationship between organisational culture and strategy formulation, and not to investigate the elements (manifestation) of an organisation's culture. Descriptive statistics and advanced statistical methods were used to assess this relationship empirically. The results showed significant differences between organisational culture and the manner in which organisations formulated strategies. These differences occurred especially in those organisations having a task, role and power culture. It was concluded that organisations should place increased emphasis on aligning culture and strategy. Attempts should be made to include the culture of an organisation when formulating strategies. Each organisation needs to develop a keen awareness of its own culture and purposefully link all changes and strategies to its culture. The selection of strategies cannot only be based on financial and strategic implications, while the cultural aspects are being ignored. This can be a major determinant of corporate performance and the difference between a strategy's success or failure. 1995-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32595 The management of issues in community pharmacies Theron, Danie Jacobus Given the dynamic and changing nature of the business environment in the Republic of South Africa, into which the added dimension of social, political and economic complexities intrude, and given the dynamic business environment in which community pharmacies currently (1993) operate, it is imperative that community pharmacists, particularly owners and managers, anticipate, identify and analyze, as well as, manage issues impacting on the future viability of community pharmacies. However, uncertainty exists regarding the ability of owners and managers of community pharmacies to manage issues affecting community pharmacies. This poses a problem for the future viability of community pharmacies. This study attempts to outline the critical issues impacting on community pharmacies within their task, and macro-environments and attempts to find an answer to the question of how issues affecting community pharmacies should be managed. Four hypotheses are formulated and twelve objectives are stated in order to complete this study. Focused interviews, media reports on community pharmacies and pharmaceutical industry publications provided information on the issues impacting on community pharmacies. These issues were regarded as preliminary issues. Empirical research, confirmed that there are a number of issues impacting on the future viability of community pharmacies. Literature studies on issues management provided information on the concept of issues. The term issues as it applies to issues management is defined as: Emerging, current or unfolding conditions of pressure in the task, and macro-environments of organizations which, through the public policy process, impact on the future viability of organizations. The different categories of issues according to their stage of development, their social context and their strategic dimension were also analyzed. Apart from emerging and current issues, a new concept of 'unfolding issues' is introduced in this study. The diminishing ability of organizations to influence issues as they develop in relation to time, as well as the importance of identifying issues during the early stages of development is emphasized. Literature studies provided information on the concept of issues management. For the purpose of this study, issues management is defined as: A management process determined to identify and analyze issues which can have a strategic impact on the future viability of an organization as well as managing an effective response to such issues. From the theoretical deliberation of issues management, as well as deductions from the empirical research conducted in this study, the conclusion is reached that issues management, as a management process, can be applied by owners/managers of community pharmacies. From the descriptive statistical results it is further concluded that owners/managers of community pharmacies do identify and analyze issues, and that they manage responses to such issues. The quality of issues management, as applied by owners/managers of community pharmacies was, however, not determined. A factor analysis revealed that the media, communication, networking and strategic management are used as aids by owners/managers in the management of issues affecting community pharmacies. Other relationships among selected independent and dependent variables are also explored in this study. The empirical research conducted in this study indicates that pharmacists as owners/managers of community pharmacies are not adequately equipped to apply the process of issues management in community pharmacies. In this regard it is recommended that community pharmacists can be only become part of an issues identification program when trained to identify issues by effectively applying environmental scanning techniques. In conclusion, recommendations on how to apply the process of issues management within professional pharmacy organizations are provided. 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32594 The social and ethical responsiveness of a South African Platinum mine towards women in mining Vaughan Townsend, A.B. Mining companies throughout the world have been attempting to introduce a sustainable development and empowerment program for women for more than a century with very little success. Numerous countries, including South Africa (SA), had legislation prohibiting the employment of women underground until as recently as 1995. South Africa has subsequently used the Beijing Platform of Action as a reference to the compilation of a number of enabling legislation such as the Mining Charter and other policies in an effort to create positive intervention in the empowerment of women. Barriers to the introduction of women in the mining industry are numerous and need to be managed if a sustainable diverse workforce is the future objective. This purpose of this research was to attempt to identify barriers and potential solutions which can be applied as best practice and in so doing, improve the chances of sustainable success for this industry initiative. A typical SA hard rock mine has been chosen for the research. A random sample of 46 women employed at Impala was selected to participate in a semi structured interview with the researcher. The findings were them scrutinised and categorised to expose any obvious themes or patterns. The research findings did not disclose any unusual or unexpected SA issues but actually confirmed the international experiences to a large degree. The researcher has made a number of recommendations regarding the challenges that were raised during the research and interview process. Essentially it was confirmed that SA women have a desire to be independent, a yearning for self development and the drive to want to make it happen to prove to themselves and everyone else that they too can add value and make a difference. If anything, they are prepared to work in hazardous environments and carry out arduous physical work if that is what it is going to take to get to the top. In conclusion it is noted that companies should learn from others mistakes and not reinvent the wheel every time a new challenge is put on the table. Further research is recommended as this research was conducted during the infancy stages of implementation and the views of the participants could vary as time passes. 2006-11-01T00:00:00Z