Repository logo
 

Faculty of Management Sciences

Permanent URI for this communityhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/13

Browse

Start date: 2020Subject: search.filters.subject.Systems thinking

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Conflicting practices in higher education : a practitioner’s perspective
    (2024) Patel, Abdul-Kader; Hardman, Stanley George
    The purpose of the study is to provide insights into the challenges faced by academics at a previously disadvantaged university of technology in Durban. The challenges academics face has been divided thematically in terms of learning and teaching challenges; workload including administrative challenges; research and individual challenges including mentorship, supervision and student challenges. A systems thinking lens was used throughout the ethnographic study. The soft systems methodology diagramming technique was used to construct a rich picture to unravel the problematical situation with a view to constructing a framework of enquiry for the study. A living theory paradigm with the aim of improving my practice was maintained throughout the study by the practitioner-researcher using action research. It is the researcher’s intention that the thesis is a new, serious contribution to a critical understanding of the university of technology sector because it offers empirically-based research analysing and dissecting existing challenges at a specific institution that can provide a basis for further research in the sector. The findings of the study can be of assistance to university leadership and management as well as politicians, policy makers and practitioners not only to understand and absorb the harsh reality of a concrete environment but to think, plan, design and implement strategies and tactics leading to a better institution.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Systems thinking : a vehicle for the development of knowledge-sharing culture in the University of Technology in KwaZulu-Natal
    (2023-06-05) Mhlongo, Patrick Mbongwa; Zondo, Robert Walter Dumisani
    Knowledge is a fundamental source of competitive advantage for both public and private organisations. This includes higher education institutions as they are under constant pressure to meet the needs of their stakeholders. It is thus critical for such organisations to create conducive environments for knowledge-sharing across functional boundaries. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to examine the significant of systems thinking for the development of knowledge-sharing culture in Universities of Technology (UoTs). The study was qualitative in design. Data was collected, through face-to-face interviews, from employees of UoTs in KwaZulu-Natal (in South Africa). Participants were purposively selected. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data. Hence, study findings indicate that systems thinking serves as a catalyst for knowledge- sharing in UoTs. This suggests that systems thinking plays a key role in creating a conducive environment for knowledge-sharing across the organisation and beyond functional boundaries. Given the need for UoTs to remain competitive, a strong culture of knowledge sharing across functional boundaries is critical. The original value of this paper is in its approach in uncovering the strengths and weaknesses of systems thinking for the development of knowledge-sharing culture in the UoTs in KwaZulu-Natal.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Investigating the imperatives of research transformation at a University of Technology in South Africa
    (2022) Jinabhai, Chandrakala Daya; Bodhanya, Shamim
    This case study investigated the imperative of research transformation amongst academics at the selected Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) in South Africa, considering its low ranking of research output amongst 26 public higher education institutions (HEIs) by the South African Department of Higher Education and Training. The research problem for this case study was designed to investigate the main mitigating factors and barriers that inhibited academic careers of staff at this institution to transform to become productive researchers from a system dynamics perspective. Hence, the significance of this study was to address one of the three pillars of HEIs in terms of its research transformation and research productivity at this institution. Furthermore, this case study established how environmental dynamics holistically influenced academic staff to engage or not engage in research transformation. This was despite lucrative financial benefits offered, namely, research funding and study leave including other concrete incentives associated with research transformation. This was initiated for academic staff to inter alia, improving staff qualifications towards Master’s and Doctoral qualifications, conference presentations, technology transfer and knowledge production, and publications in accredited journals to produce the anticipated measured research output. Whilst there are a few prolific researchers within a few departments, it is alarmingly short in its endeavour towards attaining DHET research output goals and research transformation holistically at MUT. The aim of this study was to explore and develop an original system dynamics causal loop model with various components underscored by critical systems thinking and its impact of the holistic study per se. The research design for this study adopted a qualitative interpretative paradigm linked to system dynamics and the variables of the Causal Loop Diagram Model with an Interviewing Schedule. Thus, data was collected using a semi-structured interviewing schedule with open-ended questions in sync with a qualitative research design. Individual interviews were conducted with five academic staff members from each of the three faculties. Additionally, interviews with a focus group of six participants with similar interests were also included for the interviews. The key variables of the Causal Loop Model were tabulated and linked to research transformation from the participants at MUT. The data analysis collected from the interviews and policy documents were analysed under each of the research questions. Both participants’ reflections and institutional factors were also assimilated for the data analysis, vis-à-vis, research transformation at MUT. The findings revealed several individual and institutional factors contributing to low research transformation at this institution, namely, a small number of academic staff with PhDs, an uneven staff to student ratio, heavy workloads on teaching staff with limited time to engage in research productivity, unawareness of available incentives, lack of retention strategies of talented staff, poaching of academic staff, the interpretation of sabbatical leave and mentoring and supervision support initiatives. Furthermore, the study found several enablers aligned to research capacity building initiatives and critical factors to support a research culture at this institution. The main recommendations suggested were, inter-alia a buy-into research transformation by Executive Management and academic staff, improvement of vertical qualifications, supplementing academic support staff and tutors, employment of additional retired research professors, offering of structured mentoring and supervision assistance, specific training related to research productivity, review of the teaching workloads, implementation of sabbatical leave and retention policies. Finally, this case study has shown empirical evidence for further research opportunities related to research transformation in the higher education sector that could interface with the perceptions of research productivity and accelerate research outputs in peer reviewed accredited journals.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Organisational cybernetics : a systems thinking method used for small and medium enterprises
    (AOSIS, 2023-03) Bugwandin, Vinay; Bayat, Mohamed S.
    Orientation: Systems thinking stems from the Twenties and has constantly developed over the years in assisting sectors in operations, management and the environment in checking for interdependencies, interconnections and coherence in all aspects of the elements inputted. In particular, the viable systems model in organisational cybernetics of systems thinking can be considered as a tool used for validating elements and being goal-oriented in nature.Research purpose: The purpose of this research is to showcase the role and influence that the viable systems model in organisation cybernetics has in a study conducted on small and medium enterprises.Motivation for the study: In the business world, there is a profound need for organisations to ensure that process flows are maintained to achieve sustainability. The systems thinking approach ensures that process flows are maintained; however, they have proven to be robust in validating elements and achieving goals. In this regard, this study encourages organisations to embrace and utilise systems thinking approaches to improve productivity and, ultimately, sustainability.Research design, approach and method: In conjunction with the mixed methodology approach, namely the Statistical Package for Social Sciences for quantitative research and NVivo for qualitative research, the viable systems model in organisational cybernetics was used in this empirical study.Main findings: The core element of ‘strategy’ and the subelements of ‘change’, ‘purpose’ and ‘leadership’ were investigated. It was found that ‘change’, ‘purpose’ and ‘leadership’ were the main contributors towards achieving sustainability. Furthermore, a systems thinking model – the viable systems model – was used successfully to indicate the interdependencies to purport the goal of achieving sustainability. Ultimately, it was found that ‘strategy’, ‘change’, ‘purpose’ and ‘leadership’ were required to achieve a ‘sustainable business strategy’.Practical/managerial implications: Leaders should consider the use of systems thinking as a tool to ensure the output of a robust process flow, increased productivity and good governance in their organisations.Contribution/value-add: The viable systems model in organisational cybernetics proved to be successful in checking for interconnections, interdependencies and coherence of the elements used in the research study. Researchers in today’s era should consider the use of systems thinking in future research studies.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    A systems approach to the production and retention of academic staff with PhD : a case study of a University of Technology
    (2021-05) Kotelana, Ethel
    Compared to most countries with similar economies, South Africa presents figures that reflect that per million there is a critical shortage of doctorate holders. Doctoral education has been linked to economic growth and global competitiveness; however, several scholars have bemoaned the country’s extremely small doctoral output in relation to its economic and social development needs. The higher education (HE) system has set a throughput rate of 20% per annum but higher education institutions have, to date, only achieved 11%. This should come as no surprise as decades into democracy the South Africa HE system is still reliant upon the top 10 traditional universities for its doctoral graduate output. This anomaly can be attributed to how these higher educational institutions were established during apartheid and their approved programme qualification mix (PQM) mandates. During this period in South African history, only traditional white universities located in urban areas had the required research infrastructure and were permitted to offer doctoral degrees. This lack of access to further postgraduate training left South Africa with a dearth in highly skilled academics (professoriate), of which an estimated 20% will retire within a decade leaving a vacuum in the higher education system. Efforts to fill this vacuum are hampered by the following factors: i) there is a global demand for the limited available academic talent, ii) the current South African doctoral output is inadequate to replace its ageing professoriate at an equivalent rate, iii) programmes aimed at developing the next generation of academics (nGAP) have not been fully implemented, further, the posts complement constitutes a mere 25% of the country’s needs. The nGAP programme had envisaged the allocation of 15 posts per institution to meet the annual demand for academics however to date it has only managed 5 posts on average since inception in 2016. This study thus seeks to explore the challenges of producing and retaining academic staff with PhDs within and from outside the nGAP programme in the UoT sector and, in particular, at one institution through a systems lens. The study focusses then on XYZ institution and adopts a systems lens approach. From data analysis it has emerged that the profiles of PhD candidates in the country and the production and retention of academic staff with PhDs are the key determinants of the percentage of academic staff with PhDs. A qualitative system dynamics causal loop diagram (QCLD) conceptual model that illustrates the dynamics between these variables is presented and discussed. CLDs were chosen as they are powerful tools that visually illustrate the interdependence and interrelationships between variables embedded in any system under review and assist in the identification of leverage points for effective policy intervention.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Exploration of systems thinking in the Universities of Technology in KwaZulu-Natal
    (International Journal of Special Education, 2022-03-03) Mhlongo, Patrick Mbongwa; Zondo, Robert Walter Dumisani
    The environment in which organisations operate is almost unpredictable and hence they have to deal with complex challenges. It is necessary for organisations to continuously improve their processes and practices to remain competitive. The Universities of Technology (UoTs) are not immune from those challenges. Systems thinking philosophy has been identified as an effective management approach that helps organisations deal with such challenges. Hence, this study explores the application of systems thinking in the UoTs in KwaZulu-Natal. KwaZuluNatal, one of the nine provinces of South Africa, created in 1994 when the Zulu Bantustan of KwaZulu and Natal Province were merged. It is located in the southeast part of the country. The province has two UoTs situated within the eThekwini District Municipality. Organisational silos are still prevalent in the UoTs. This creates an attitude of “us-and-them”. Consequently, collaborative efforts across the organisations become difficult. Systems thinking has the ability to help UoTs respond effectively to complex and unpredictable challenges. It facilitates this possibility as it assists members to focus on the organisation as a whole, including its stakeholders, rather than on individual parts of the organisation. It considers the organisation as a complex system with interrelated parts. Hence, this paper provides insights on its application at the UoTs in KwaZulu-Natal.