Browsing by Author "Vilakazi, Blessing Fika Mlondi."

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Employee reactions to change management in a selected printing company - a case study of Uniprint.
(2021) Munisamy, Povinisha.; Vilakazi, Blessing Fika Mlondi.
he research investigated employee reactions to change management in a selected printing company, Uniprint. Firstly, the study determined the key contributing factors to managing change and whether the selected printing company ensured that these factors were present through the change management process. Thereafter, the employee reactions to change management was investigated. Further to this, the extent of employee involvement in change management was ascertained. Finally, the role of leadership and the human resources (HR) department in change management was established. The research methodology consisted of mixed methods: namely, both quantitative and qualitative approaches. There were structured interviews with open-ended questions as well as questionnaires containing closed-ended questions. The researcher interviewed 5 employees within both managerial and operational positions and distributed 126 questionnaires amongst the other employees. The interviews provided the detail that the researcher required and the questionnaires broadened the research because they provided more views since it was completed by a broader range of respondents. The purposive sampling technique was used as the research methodology was both quantitative and qualitative, and the researcher relied on her judgement in selecting the respondents for the research. The research findings revealed that the key contributing factors to managing change were communication, planning, teamwork, and a budget. In investigating the employee reactions, the research identified gaps wherein there were negative employee reactions when there was no transparency and open communication from leadership and HR, and, when employees were not involved in the change management process. When employees were involved in change management there were positive employee reactions because employees felt valued which ultimately impacted their jobs and work environment.
Investigating the implementation of the code of conduct for learners: a case study of Volksrust circuit schools.
(2021) Mngomezulu, Dawn Nontuthuzelo.; Chummun, Bibi Zaheenah. ; Vilakazi, Blessing Fika Mlondi.
The Code of conduct for learners (CCL) as a subject has been of interest among scholars around the world, this is understandable because the subject is still an enigma to many schools. A considerable amount of time in a normal school day is dedicated to behaviour management. Thus, an investigation into its implementation is being explored as the use of corporal punishment has been for a long time a quick fix to unbecoming behaviour that threatens to disturb the tranquillity necessary for a conducive learning and teaching environment. Since the abolishment of corporal punishment educators’ contact time with learners is characterised mainly by teaching and behavioural management, where the latter involves the management of the school to resolve. In cases where school management and teachers are found guilty of contravening the law by using corporal punishment, the disregard of use Code of conduct for learners (CCL) measures to deal with behaviour is primarily the cause. This study through a qualitative enquiry was employed to explore the understanding of the implementation processes and how leadership acumen at different levels affects the implementation thereof in schools. Therefore, Distributive Leadership, Learning Teams and Systemic Thinking are the theoretical underpinnings of the study. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore the alignment of all leadership roles in the CCL implementation process and how far it is informed by the school's shared vision. Thematic analysis of the data was used to interpret the findings. The study found that there are critical information gaps across all leadership levels, these suggest that distributive leadership is essential in school management and that schools are complex institutions and they will benefit from employing systems thinking through well-planned learning teams interactions. The results of the study have the potential to draw attention to monitoring the implementation of CCL and reviewing the guidelines for consideration by SGB in implementing CCL. It may add to the body of knowledge that explores behaviour management in schools as a multidimensional and interconnected phenomenon from systems thinking perspective.
Investigating the progression of South Africa’s developmental state through the Black Industrialist Programme.
(2021) Vilakazi, Blessing Fika Mlondi.; Moore, Candice Eleanor.
South Africa has made considerable progress in terms of economic development since the dawn of democracy in 1994. However, the pace and distribution of that progress have not been equitably reflected across all demographics, especially between blacks and white. With a decline of manufacturing, the ‘developmental state’ has featured as a strong theme in the ruling African National Congress's discourse to try and reignite industrialisation in the country. Under this framework, one of the policies driven by the South African government is the Black Industrialist Programme that aims to increase the manufacturing output whilst empowering black people. This research article investigates this programme as an industrialisation vehicle and seeks to understand its contribution to advancing South Africa’s developmental state framework. The study employed qualitative research methods using open-ended interviews for primary data; documents collected from various sources for secondary data. The study draws from the rich existing body of literature on the developmental state and compares it with the series of overarching policy initiatives that have been enacted in South Africa. It uses the framework of the developmental state to investigate whether BIP is positioned to reignite South Africa’s industrialisation. Findings show that the BIP policy will have an impact as its funding model is a significant shift from past practices by assisting aspiring industrialists through grants and preferential procurement measures. However, the study argues that the shift from focusing on general industrialisation to narrowing it to black industrialisation brings with it new constraints in advancing a developmental state. Using race to promote a course towards industrialisation will have long-term detrimental effects, and also the ruling party’s cadre deployment policy, challenges with education and skills training, and economic planning imperatives will all militate against the assumed positive impact of the BIP. The research concludes that the programme will contribute to the developmental state concept's progress but will be limited in praxis because the state does not possess a holistic overarching economic developmental plan. The study contributes to the analytical discourse of developmental states by offering context-specific analysis in industrialisation paths for societies addressing racial, economic inequality.