Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Ekonomisk empowerment'

Microfinance and micro-credit practices have become a popular means of local development. In India, their expansion has been largest in Andhra Pradesh. These practices target primarily women, who are encouraged to construct self-help-groups in order to have a social basis for raising collateral and for receiving financial services. Microfinance has been perceived by the public as inducing strong positive effects on women’s empowerment and as strengthening the democratic fibre. From these standpoints, expansion and effects, it has been evaluated and analysed whether microfinance can empower women and if empowered women can make a difference in women’s and societal issues.

In this study, we have examined if and how parents who receive financial support from the social services experience that their children are being affected by financial stress, as well as whether the parents experience that they are given satisfactory support from the social services. Empowerment and Sense of coherence were used as a theoretical framework to analyze the results. Interviews with three informants who all were receiving financial support at the time, and have at least one child below the age of 18 in their custody were performed. The parents were devising strategies attempting to give the children the experienced of a better financial situation, in order to protect them from being adversely affected. The conclusion is that all informants experienced a lack of support from the social services. Further results show that the parents experienced that their children were adversely affected by financial stress, especially when comparing themselves with other children. Further the results show that the parents develop their own strategies in order to protect the children from being affected by financial stress. These strategies are for example to draw the children’s attention away from the family’s economic issues and to ignore their own basic needs to be able to give the children more varied opportunities.
I denna studie har vi undersökt hur föräldrar som uppbär försörjningsstöd upplever att barnen påverkas av den ekonomiska utsattheten. Vidare undersöktes på vilket sätt föräldrarna upplever att de får stöd från socialtjänsten till att förändra den ekonomiska situationen. Empowerment och KASAM har använts som teoretisk referensram för att analysera resultatet. Studien har genomförts genom kvalitativa intervjuer med 3 informanter som alla uppbär försörjningsstöd och har barn under 18 år i hemmet. Resultatet visar att föräldrarna upplever att barnen påverkas negativt av den ekonomiska situationen, främst i relation till andra barn då barn jämför sig mycket med varandra. Resultatet visar även att föräldrarna skapar egna strategier för att skydda barnen från att påverkas negativt, dessa är bland annat att avleda uppmärksamhet från den ekonomiska situationen samt att föräldrarna bortser från egna basala behov för att istället erbjuda barnen fler möjligheter.

This thesis examines the role self-help microfinance Saving Groups play in women’s empowerment in villages in Mbale district, Uganda. Central for the study is to identify the challenges and opportunities that participation in Saving Groups brings in women’s everyday life. The thesis is a result of a qualitative field study in Uganda, where eleven mothers attending Saving Groups in the villages Nashikhaso, Bubuyera and Mulyuli were interviewed. The findings show that loans from the groups have allowed the interviewees to improve their farming and thereby gain an annual income which has led to several life-changing opportunities. The ability to pay for children’s education is recognized as most valued for the women’s self-esteem, self-confidence and hope for a better future. Moreover, the findings show that even though the Saving Group’s function as a financial instrument is important, their function as a center where women can socialize and find support and knowledge may be even more vital for women’s empowerment. Patriarchal structures are affected since the Saving Groups have given women that want to make a change an arena in which to do so. Thus, through the group, women have entered a traditionally men-only zone where they redefine roles and norms.

Our world is not equal, and women are in a greater extent affected by the inequalities. Extra vulnerable for the inequalities are women in developing countries. In order to empower women and strive towards gender equality, female entrepreneurship has shown positive effects for women in developing countries. Entrepreneurial development programmers are implemented by both organizations and governments, with the aim of engaging women into business. In order to study the entrepreneurial motivations and outcomes of women in a developing country, a field study was conducted in Zambia. Organizations, working with entrepreneurial business training, as well as female entrepreneurs who took part in an entrepreneurial business training programme, were interviewed during a ten-week stay in Zambia. A comparison between women with a low level of education and a high level of education was done, in order to see whether their entrepreneurial motivations and outcomes deviate or correlates. From the findings of this study, it was concluded that women with different educational background have different motivations for entering entrepreneurial activities. Women with a higher level of education had personal motivations for entering, such as personal fulfilment, the wish to actualize an idea and the wish to leave a legacy. On the other hand, women with a low level of education were forced into entrepreneurship, in order to support for their family and mainly their children. However, regarding the entrepreneurial outcomes, they correlate, showing that entrepreneurship and business training has given Zambian women self-confidence and a business-mind.
Vi lever i en ojämlik värld. Världens ojämlikheter påverkar kvinnor i större utsträckning än män, och extra utsatta är kvinnor i utvecklingsländer. I arbetet för att sträva mot jämlikhet och kvinnors uppnådda egenmakt har kvinnligt företagande visat positiva effekter för kvinnor i utvecklingsländer. För att vidare studera kvinnors motivationer och uppnådda effekter utav kvinnligt företagande i utvecklingsländer har en fältstudie utförts i Zambia. Organisationer som arbetar med utbildning inom företagande, i kombination med kvinnliga entreprenörer som tagit del av ett sådant utbildningsprogram har under tio veckor intervjuats på plats i Zambia. En jämförelse mellan kvinnor med hög respektive låg utbildningsnivå hargenomförts för att ta reda på om utbildningsbakgrund har påverkat deras motivationer och effekter av entreprenörskap. Resultaten av studien visar att kvinnor med olika utbildningsnivåhar olika motivationer för att starta företag. Kvinnor med högre utbildning startar företag av personliga skäl, så som önskan om självförverkligande, viljan att göra en idé till verklighet och viljan att lämna något efter sig. Kvinnor med lägre utbildningsnivå, startar å andra sidan företag på grund av att det är deras enda val. De tvingas in i entreprenörskap för att kunna försörja sina familjer, främst sina barn. Däremot visar effekterna av entreprenörskap likheter mellan kvinnorna, trots ojämn utbildningsnivå. Effekterna av entreprenörskap och företagsutbildning har gett zambiska kvinnor självförtroende och har hos dem utvecklat ett nytt företagstänk. Hädanefter kommer uppsatsen att presenteras på engelska.

This study investigates black women´s participation in the economy and financial decisions oftheir life. This in order to analysis the outcome of economic rights and empowerment specificallyin townships of Cape Town, South Africa. The economic vulnerability in South Africa iswidespread and black woman are most affected. A field study was conducted through semistructuredinterviewing with 20 women where they shared their experiences in economic rightsand empowerment. The purpose of this study is to provide an understanding of attitudes abouteconomic empowerment and rights for black women. The analysis was made within a theoreticalframework based upon Western and African feminism as well as Sally Engle Merry’s studyregarding the practice of how human rights is affected by culture. The field study resulted in threeidentified themes that affect woman's financial position. Firstly, the labor situation in the countrywith high unemployment. Secondly, the traditional gender roles and thirdly the economic violence.The study will show that these three themes prevents the possibility of black women havingeconomic rights and economic empowerment. Further on, lack of knowledge and the time frameof making changes in culture something that also will be discussed.

Republic of South Africa underwent through very significant changes. The discriminatory laws and provisions were cancelled, there were free elections maintained. The government is trying to empower black people. Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) is governmental strategy which seeks to diminish differences between white and so called historically disadvantaged inhabitants. This master thesis provides broad survey of this strategy and analyses its current results.

Uppsatsens syfte var att undersöka hur socialsekreterare som arbetar inom ekonomiskt bistånd upplever sina möjligheter att stödja klientens situation mot en egen försörjning. Detta genomfördes med kvalitativ metod i form av enskilda intervjuer med sex socialsekreterare verksamma inom ekonomiskt bistånd. Empirin analyserades utifrån innehållsanalys och resultatet analyseras sedan med känsla av sammanhang (KASAM) och empowerment. Undersökningen visade på att socialsekreterarna upplever sitt arbete som meningsfullt trots att det är hög arbetsbelastning. De anser att de har en god relation till de flesta av sina klienter, men att de också möter motstånd från klienterna. De upplever att de kan stödja klienterna mot en egen försörjning förutsatt att klienterna själva är motiverade till att göra det största jobbet. En fungerande samverkan med andra instanser framhölls som betydelsefull för att arbetet med och kring klienterna skulle vara som mest gynnsamt. Socialsekreterarna önskar att de hade färre klienter för att få mer tid till att kunna arbeta aktivt med varje enskild klient, se till deras individuella behov och motivera de som saknar motivation.
The purpose of this thesis was to investigate how social workers, working within financial assistance, perceive their opportunities to support the client's situation towards selfsufficiency. This was done with a qualitative method in the form of individual interviews with six social workers working within financial assistance. The empirical data was analysed based on content analysis and the results were then analysed with sense of coherence (SOC) and empowerment. The investigation revealed that social workers find their work meaningful even though they have a high workload. They think they have a good relationship with most of their clients, but they also encounter resistance from the clients. They feel that they can support the clients toward self-sufficiency provided that the clients themselves are motivated to do most of the work themselves. An effective interaction with other authorities was highlighted as important so that the work done with and for the clients would be the most beneficial. The social workers wish they had fewer clients so they could have more time to actively work with each individual client, refer to their individual needs and motivate those who lack motivation.

I december 2001, bröt en allvarlig kris ut i Argentina som fick politiska, ekonomiska och sociala konsekvenser. En av dessa konsekvenser var de olika former av social mobilisering som uppstod som ett uttryck för folkets desperation och som strategi för att rädda sin situation. En av de sociala mobiliseringarna var de återtagna företagen (ERT, Empresas Recuperadas por los Trabajadores). Tidigare anställda ockuperade och återtog sina fabriker när de gått i konkurs och de tidigare ägarna flytt landet. De bildade arbetskooperativ och fick efter en lång och hård kamp rätt att styra företagen i egen regi. Vi reste till Buenos Aires för att komma närmre detta ämne och söka kunskap om den kontext detta skett i och ta reda på vad återtagandet av dessa företag inneburit för arbetarnas del. Att ta makten över sin situation på det sätt som arbetarna gjort kan liknas vid empowerment, då de själva definierat sin situation, formulerat metoder för förändring och med egen kraft satt planen i verket. Som socialarbetare och socionomstudenter har vi stött på begreppet empowerment i många sammanhang. Vi har dock uppfattat begreppet som komplext och mångtydigt, samtidigt som det empowermentinriktade sociala arbetet tar sig mycket olika och ibland motsägande uttryck. För att förstå de processer arbetarna gått igenom ur ett svenskt välfärdsperspektiv måste man också förstå delar av den Argentinska historien och den samhälleliga kontexten. Vi har besökt ett arbetskooperativ på tryckeriet Pompeya och frågat dem om hur de upplever att deras levnadsförhållanden förändrats sedan ockupationerna och krisen. Vi har också tagit reda på om de processer de gått igenom lett till en upplevelse av empowerment och vad som har varit viktigt för att detta ska ha kunnat ske. Arbetarnas levnadsförhållanden har förändrats på olika sätt, de har stärkts genom att de räddat sina arbeten, de har på vissa punkter förblivit oförändrade om man jämför med innan krisen och på andra plan har de blivit sämre i jämförelse med innan krisen. Arbetarnas upplevelse av livskvalitet gör dock att de upplever sig ha goda levnadsförhållanden. Genom processerna som de gått igenom har de fått en upplevelse av empowerment och för att detta ska ha kunnat ske har följande faktorer varit viktiga: att göra tillsammans, att de delade en krissituation, att de följde sina ideologiska uppfattningar och blev erkända för det de gjort. Arbetarnas erfarenheter blir viktiga för hur empowerment sker i praktiken. Studien ger kunskap om hur socialarbetarens förhållningssätt till empowerment blir viktigt för att begreppet inte ska urholkas av professionellas makt.
In December 2001 a serious crisis struck the Argentinean society, which resulted in political, economical and social consequences. One of these consequences was the social mobilization that occurred as an expression of the desperation of the citizens, as well as a strategy to save their situation. One of the social mobilizations was the recovered factories (ERT, Empresas Recuperadas por los trabajadores). Former employees occupied and recovered their factories when they went bankrupt and the former owners had fled the country. They started workers cooperatives and were after a long and hard struggle, legally allowed to run the factories by themselves. We went to Buenos Aires to approach this subject and too seek knowledge about the context in which this has occurred and find out what results this has had for the workers. Regaining power of one’s own situation like the workers did can be compared to Empowerment. They defined their own situation, formulated methods for change and with their own power tried to reach their goal. As social workers and students of social work, we have encountered the term Empowerment several times. We have though found the term being both ambiguous and complex, at the same time as the empowerment focused social work is expressed in different and sometimes contradictory ways. To understand those processes the workers have gone through from a Swedish welfare perspective, one has to understand certain parts of the Argentinean history and society. We have visited a workers cooperative at the printing office Pompeya and have asked them about how they sense that their living conditions have been affected by the crisis and the occupations. The living conditions have changed in different ways. They have been strengthened since they recovered their jobs, on other levels they have not changed at all when we compare to their lives before the crisis. On other levels they are worse now than before the crisis. The workers sense of life quality makes their total experience as having good life conditions. Through the processes they have been though they have had a sense of empowerment and to make it possible following factors have been important: doing together, sharing a crisis situation, following their ideals and being acknowledged for what they have done. The workers experiences become important for how the term empowerment is used in practice. The study gives knowledge about how the social workers attitude to empowerment is important to avoid undermining the term by the power of professionals.

Sammanfattning

Syftet med denna uppsats är dels att ta reda på hur socialsekreterarna i två större och två mindre kommuner i Mellansverige arbetar med biståndsfrågorna utifrån aspekterna mottagning, metodanvändning, samverkan, klientinflytande samt uppföljningar. Syftet är även att undersöka hur socialsekreterarna arbetar för att utforma biståndet (för försörjningsstöd samt livsföring i övrigt) så att det stärker den enskildes möjligheter att leva ett självständigt liv. Metoden som valts för genomförandet av studien är kvalitativ forskningsintervju. Resultatet visar att det finns såväl likheter som skillnader mellan kommunerna gällande arbetet med försörjningsstöd. Exempelvis framgår att i de större kommunerna får klienterna först träffa en mottagningssekreterare medan klienterna i de mindre kommunerna får kontakt med socialsekreterarna på försörjningsstödverksamheten direkt. En del av socialsekreterarna i studien använder sig av olika metoder i sitt arbete, andra arbetar på det sätt de själva tycker fungerar bäst. Samtliga kommuner samverkar med andra myndigheter och visst klientinflytande återfinns också i samtliga kommuner. Även uppföljningar sker i samtliga kommuner, men gällande frekvensen är det stora skillnader. För att utforma biståndet till självständighet för klienterna arbetar socialsekreterarna bland annat med samverkan, individuella handlingsplaner samt uppföljningar. Här förekommer dock också vissa skillnader mellan kommunerna.

Nyckelord: Försörjningsstöd, Ekonomiskt bistånd, Empowerment, Socialsekreterare, Socialtjänstlagen

The purpose of this study was to investigate how social workers who worked with financial assistance perceived their work situation and the impact work-related stress had on their health and quality of work. Further, the study intended to find out if they felt that they received support from their employer that could prevent stress-related sick leave. The following two research questions were to be answered: In what way does work-related stress affect social workers’ health and job quality according to their own experience? What kind of support and help experienced social workers were available within their organization? To receive answers to the questions semi-structured interviews with five social workers were conducted, analyzed and interpreted. The results showed that when social workers have a heavy case burden, high stress and a risk of deteriorated job quality occurred. Furthermore, support from managers and the organization was essential in order to continue working without getting burned out. The private life was of great importance for being able to relax from work and to collect one’s thoughts. The work required a strong mind, big organizational ability and flexibility as the work is quite autonomous with a freedom of action. A conclusion was that those working with financial assistance have increased risk of becoming burned out.   Keywords: Work-related stress, financial assistance, physical and mental stress, Empowerment.

Background – This study is an attempt to explore the relationship between microcredit and the socio-economic empowerment of women in rural Bangladesh. Microcredit is simply the extension of a small amount of collateral-free institutional loans to jointly liable poor group members to generate employment and income enhancing activities. As it is too difficult for poor members to get loan from the formal credit institutions, Grameen Bank (GB) or other Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) provide small loans to vulnerable groups of the society by which they are expected to empower over his counterparts. Research questions – RQ1: How does micro-credit affect different indicators of women empowerment in the rural areas of Bangladesh? RQ2– Is the impact different from the male counterparts in the sample households? Purpose – This study is an effort to find the impact of microcredit on a number of indicators of women’s empowerment in the rural areas in Bangladesh. Methodology – Quantitative Regression Techniques such as Ordinary Least Square (OLS) and Instrumental Variable (IV) method have been applied to get the relationship between microcredit and women empowerment. Conclusion – Applying nationally representative cross-section survey data, Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (BIHS) 2015, this thesis is intended to find the causal linkage between microcredit and women empowerment’s with different dimensions of women’s decisions are taken as empowerment indicators: production, resources, income, leadership, savings and time. The analysis has been conducted at the household level. The study assumes that women empowerment is endogenous. After controlling for endogeneity in the estimation by using an instrumental variable (IV) ‘distance to the market’ this study finds a significant relationship between microcredit and different dimensions of women’s empowerment. Participation in the microcredit program is found to be significant in explaining some of the outcome indicators of empowerment for the sampled households.

Barnfattigdomen är ett samhällsproblem som är högaktuellt i media och i samhällsdebatten. Syftet med studien var att få en ökad kunskap om de fattiga barnens situation i Sverige, detta för att kunna ta fram empowermentstrategier som skulle kunna underlätta för dem, utifrån ett socialpedagogiskt förhållningssätt. Uppsatsen är upplagd som en litteraturstudie och genom textanalys har vi sökt svar på frågorna: Vilken problematik möter de fattiga barnen i hemmet, i skolan och på fritiden? Hur hanterar barnen sin situation? Hur ser barnens behov ut? Kan vi underlätta för barnen och i så fall på vilket sätt? I vår resultatdel tittade vi på vilken problematik fattiga barn möter och hur de hanterar det.  Resultatet visar att de möter begränsningar och upplever känslor av skam, i jämförelse med andra barn. Skolan visade sig vara en central arena där problematiken var tydlig. Barnen bär mycket inom sig och har en ekonomisk medvetenhet. För att hantera problematiken använder de sig av olika strategier som att minska sina behov, dölja sin situation osv. I analysen lyfts barnens behov fram utifrån empowerment och tidigare forskning.  Det framkom att barnen behöver stärkas och få möjligheter till deltagande. Vi avslutar med en diskussion om hur vi kan underlätta för de fattiga barnen. De professionella, t.ex. inom skolan, behöver bli medvetna om strukturer som finns och som skapar ett utanförskap.
Child poverty is a social problem that is highly topical in the media and in public debate.The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the situation of the poor children in Sweden, this in order to develop empowerment strategies that could help them, from a social pedagogic approach. Our essay is written as a literature review and through text analysis we have sought answers to the questions: What problems do the children living in poverty face in their homes, at school and in their spare time? How do they handle their situation? What are the needs of these children? Can we make it easier for them and if so, in what way? In our result we looked at the problems poor children face and how they handle them. The result shows that they encounter limitations and experience feelings of shame, in comparison with other children. The school was found to be a central arena where the problems were obvious. Children bear much inwardly, and have an economic consciousness. To deal with problems they use different strategies to reduce their needs, to hide their situation and so on. In the analysis the children's needs, based on empowerment and previous research, are highlighted. It was found that the children need to be strengthened and given opportunities to participate. We conclude with a discussion on how we can facilitate for the children living in poverty. The professionals, for example at schools, need to be aware of structures that exist and which create a sense of exclusion.

The purpose of this study was to examine participants' experiences and descriptions of a municipal activation program, and how participants perceive their opportunities for influence on their own needs and requirements. The results are based on statements from six semi-structured, individual interviews conducted by the qualitative method. Empowerment, paternalism and social capital are among the study's theoretical frame of reference. The main results show that more participants are critical of aspects of coercion and involuntary willingness in participation. Motivation for participation seems to mainly be linked to whether the activity is experienced as meaningful, as well as to the attitude of the staff. An individual, affirmative response from the staff seems to be of concern to the participants' general experience of the program. The contact with other participants interpreted from theory of social capital and collective empowerment.

Syfte: Syftet är att öka förståelsen för hur perceived organizational support (POS) påverkar verksamheters fördelning av ansvar ur ett ledarperspektiv, med avseende på medarbetares vilja att ta ansvar.  Metod: Studien har genomförts med en kvalitativ forskningsstrategi som präglats av den hermeneutiska forskningstraditionen samt ett konstruktivistiskt synsätt. Data från tidigare forskning låg till grund för den teoretiska referensramen medan tio semistrukturerade intervjuer utgjorde det empiriska materialet. Dessa båda bearbetades och jämfördes genom en tematisk analys.  Resultat och Slutsats: Studiens resultat visar att stöd från organisationen påverkar medarbetarnas vilja att ta ansvar genom att påverka beslutsprocessen i samband med ansvarstagande. Negativa effekter och risker som kan uppstå när ansvar fördelas på medarbetare kan med hjälp av rätt stöd från organisationen motverkas till en betydande del. Studiens bidrag: Studiens teoretiska bidrag är att visa på den påverkan som POS har på den individuella beslutsprocessen som sker kring ansvarstagande, till följd av strukturell Empowerment. En ökad förståelse har även skett då studien skett ur ett ledarperspektiv. Det praktiska bidraget som studien ger innefattar en redogörelse för hur POS kan användas samt påverka flera av delarna som innefattas av den beslutsprocess som sker hos medarbetare. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Vårt förslag till fortsatt forskning är att studera POS påverkan på andra typer av beslutsprocesser. Detta anser vi kan skapa fördjupat och relevant material på området. Vi upplever även att POS:s påverkan och effekter på ansvarsfördelningen kan studeras ur ett medarbetarperspektiv. En sådan studie kan belysa de effekter som uppstår utifrån den psykologiska grenen av Empowerment.
Aim: The aim of the study is to increase the understanding of how perceived organizational support (POS) affects organization’s distribution of responsibility from a leader perspective, with regard to employee’s willingness to take responsibility. Method: The study has been conducted with a qualitative strategy and is characterized by the hermeneutic research- tradition and a constructive viewpoint. Data analysis of previous research has been conducted to establish the theoretical framework. Alongside itw, ten semi-structured, interviews have been conducted to establish empirical data. All the data has been compared with a thematical analysis. Result & Conclusions: The results of the study show that organizational support effects employees’ willingness to take on responsibility by affecting the decision process, which is connected to taking responsibility. Negative effects and risks that can occur with distribution of responsibility to employees can be largely outmaneuvered by the organization. Contribution of the thesis: The theoretical contribution is to shed light on the effects that emerges following the influence that POS have on distributing responsibility, as a consequence of structural Empowerment. Increased understanding has been a result due to the study taking the perspective of leaders. The practical contribution consists of a exposition on how POS affects the multiple stages covered by the individual decision process that takes place. Suggestions for research to come: We see the need to broaden the area involving POS and different decision-making processes. We also think that it would be relevant for the research area to examine POS and psychological empowerment, which could be done from a employee perspective.

Tanzania has in the recent years kept a steady economic growth and the poverty rate has fallen significantly. At the same time, informal financial services have increased in popularity as a tool for poverty reduction. Previous research claims that gender equality will progress when economic development is taking place. But despite the economic development, the situation for Tanzanian women is still tough and the man is considered to be the head of the household. This paper aims to show why Tanzania is a deviant case regarding economic development and gender equality, and investigate how informal financial services impact women empowerment, by looking at membership in Village Community Banks. Feminist theories are used to explain why economic development and gender equality does not always have a linear relationship. It is concluded that membership in Village Community Banks have impacted the women on a personal level, enhancing self-confidence and belief. However, the gender equality within the household is not progressing due to a patriarchal social ordering, where the male is superior and the female inferior. It is not enough to focus on financial services, such as access to savings and credit, for a woman to be empowered enough to become equal to her husband.

Title: A study on empowerment leadership and service recovery in the restaurant industry.   Level: Student thesis, final assignment for bachelor’s degree in business administration   Authors: Ellinor Strinnholm and Emma Söderstjerna   Supervisor: Svante Brunåker and Monika Wallmon   Date: 2020 – June     Aim: This study interprets empowering leadership's impact on frontline staff's initiative in service recovery in the restaurant industry.   Method: Through a qualitative-phenomenological approach, semi-structured interviews have been conducted with both frontline staff in the restaurant industry as well as managers. Through a thematic analysis, connections were made between themes in the respondents' statements and Spreitzer's four dimensions.   Result & Conclusions: The results indicate that frontline staff do not feel that Spreitzer's four dimensions of empowerment leadership, are met. Instead, the study found that authoritarian leadership in various forms is implemented at all restaurants in the study, despite the fact that empowerment leadership is in demand.   Contribution of the thesis: The study contributes with frontline staff's views on empowerment leadership as well as key drivers for increased staff performance. In addition, the problems in the restaurant industry are highlighted today and how these can be linked to a certain kind of leadership.   Suggestions for future research: For future research, we recommend exploring further why empowerment leadership is not implemented in the restaurant industry today.

The primary goal of development organizations is poverty reduction, but their initiatives have in recent years also been recognized as a potential tool in empowering women and raising their status. Previous knowledge on the topic is largely based in an understanding of empowerment that seems to miss or overlook limitations and impacts of initiatives which authors with a more feminist view on empowerment address. Thus, this thesis aims to increase the understanding of women’s empowerment in relation to development initiatives. A case study focusing on women who had previously participated in the business training and microcredit program of an NGO in Nairobi, Kenya was conducted. The study shows that through development organizations’ various initiatives women can be empowered on a personal and a collective level. For instance, the women’s self-confidence has increased and they see themselves as entitled to do things on their own, such as running a business. Further, through coming together as a group they gain access to new spaces and agency to act on their collective interests. However, little evidence of women’s empowerment on a relational level is seen. The study also shows that there are economic and gender-related barriers constraining the empowerment process.
Utvecklingsorganisationers primära mål är att minska fattigdom, men deras initiativ har på senare tid också kommit att erkännas som ett potentiellt verktyg för att främja kvinnors egenmakt och höja deras status. Tidigare kunskap om kopplingen mellan egenmakt och organisationers initiativ utgår i stor utsträckning från en förståelse av begreppet egenmakt som verkar missa eller förbise vissa begränsningar och effekter av initiativen, som andra med en mer feministisk syn på egenmakt lyckas belysa. Syftet med denna uppsats är därför att öka förståelsen för kvinnors egenmakt i förhållande till utvecklingsinitiativ och den har utförts som en fallstudie fokuserad på kvinnor som tidigare deltagit i ett entreprenörskaps- och mikrokreditprogram hos en ideell organisation i Nairobi, Kenya. Studien visar att genom organisationers olika initiativ kan kvinnors egenmakt stärkas på ett personligt och ett kollektivt plan. Bland annat har kvinnornas självförtroende ökat och de ser sin rätt att göra saker på egen hand, såsom att driva ett företag. Genom att samlas som grupp får kvinnorna dessutom tillgång till nya utrymmen och möjligheter att agera på sina kollektiva intressen. I studien ses emellertid svaga tecken på kvinnors egenmakt inom äktenskapet. Slutligen visar studien att det finns ekonomiska och könsrelaterade barriärer som begränsar utvecklingen av kvinnors egenmakt.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Agriculture remains an important industry in South Africa. Although primary agriculture contributes only 4.5% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the related agrifood industry contributes an additional 9%. Furthermore agriculture is a major provider of employment, especially in rural areas where more than 50% of the local community depends on agriculture. In general Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) is accepted as a precondition to a stable and prosperous South Africa. As a result thereof various sector plans have been negotiated and at this stage agriculture is busy with final inputs towards the Agricultural BEE plan to be finalised in December 2004. Ownership and management transformation however are difficult for most farming enterprises as most of them are small family enterprises. Therefore they will support BEE agricultural input providers to support BEE. According to the BEE Score Card it will be possible to adhere to BEE requirements without adhering to ownership and management requirements provided that good scores are obtained from the other aspects such as skills development, BEE initiatives, preferred suppliers and other. The transfer of ownership also has significant financial implications. It is estimated that R65 billion will be needed to achieve the proposed objectives of 30% agricultural land and 35% of agricultural businesses in the RSA to be transfered to black people by 2014. However, only R703 million has been spend on land restitution during the past year and only R933 million budgeted for 2004/2005. The feasibility of processed oats to be marketed as rolled oats, quick oats and muesli as such a BEE initiative has been evaluated in this study project as a joint venture between Agricol and SSK. Agricol (seed company) has cereal type oat varieties whilst Sentraal Suid-Koóperasie (Farmer Cooperative) has good grain handling infrastructures in the major oat producing areas. This project will provide both counterparts with the opportunity to integrate vertically, diversify sources of income (away from primary agriculture), empower previously disadvantaged individuals in both organisations and to meet BEE objectives. This study indicates that such a BEE initiative is feasible and offers a very good return to participants. Extremely high hygene and quality assurance standards of the processed product, the marketing thereof and market access has been identified as critical performance areas. At a dehulled percentage of 60% and price paid for oats of R1000 per ton, 600 ton of the processed oats will have to be sold annually to ensure a profit of R140 000 per annum. Subject to the budgeted figures, the project has the potential to realise a R843000 profit in year 5. The value of the new company based on the discounted cash flow method, will be R2.7 to R3.9 million. Due to the initial losses and associated negative cash flows, the value is primarily represented by the terminal value of the company after 5 years. Current shareholders require an expected return on capital of 15%. Internal rate of return for the project is 42% which is much more that the hurdle rate. The intented BEE initiative therefore definitely adds value to shareholders. Important people issues like shared vision, values, expectations, trust and commitment needs to addressed continuously to realise the potential of the project. Strong and skilled leadership will also play a decisive role as important decisions will have to be taken continuously.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Landbou bly 'n beIangrike industrie in Suid-Afrika en alhoewel primêre-landbou slegs 4.5% van Bruto Binnelandse Produk (BBP) bydra, word die bydrae van die landbouverwante agrivoedsel industrie op 'n addisionele 9% beraam. Landbou is verder 'n belangrike werkverskaffer, veral op die platteland waar meer as die helfte van die bevolking soms van landbou afhanklik is. Daar word algemeen aanvaar dat Swart Ekonomiese Bemagtiging (SEB) 'n voorvereiste tot 'n stabiele en welvarende Suid-Afrika is. In die lig hiervan is verskeie sektor SEB handveste alreeds onderhandel en die landbousektor is tans besig om insette te lewer ten einde die landbou handves teen Desember 2004 te finaliseer. Aangesien meeste boerdery ondernemings egter klein familie ondernemings is wat moeilik eienaarskap en bestuurstransformasie kan akkomodeer, sal hulle SEB landbou inset verskaffers ondersteun om sodoende SEB te ondersteun. Volgens die SEB telkaart sal dit vir ondernemings moontlik wees om aan SEB vereistes te voldoen alhoewel daar nie noodwendig aan eienaarskap en bestuursvereistes voldoen is nie, maar wel goeie tellings op die gebied van vaardigheidsontwikkeling, SEB inisiatiewe, voorkeurvoorsiening en ander fasette behaal is. Die oordrag van eienaarskap het ook omvattende finansiële implikasies. Daar word beraam dat ongeveer R65 miljard benodig word om die voorgestelde doelwitte van 30% landbougrond en 35% van landboubesighede in die RSA teen 2014 aan swart mense oor te dra. Hierteenoor is slegs R703 miljoen die afgelope jaar aan grondhervorming bestee terwyl die begroting vir 2004/2005 R933 miljoen bedra. Die lewensvatbaarheid van verwerkte hawer wat in die vorm van gerolde hawer, hawermout en muesli bemark sal word, is as SEB inisiatief en gesamentlike projek tussen Agricol en Sentraal Suid-Koöperasie, in hierdie werkstuk ondersoek. Agricol (saadmaatskappy) beskik oor ontbytgraan tipe hawer kultivars en Sentraal Suid-Kooperasie het 'n goeie graanhanterings infrastruktuur in die hawer produksie gebiede. Die projek sal aan beide medewerkers die geleentheid bied om vertikaal te integreer, inkomste te diversifiseer (weg van primêre landbou), voorheen benadeelde individue in beide instansies te bemagtig en beide instansies help om aan SEB doelwitte te voldoen. Die studie het aangedui dat so 'n SEB inisitief wel lewensvatbaar is en goeie opbrengste aan al die deelnemers sal bied. Uitermate hoë higiëne en kwaliteitstandaarde van die verwerkte produkte tesame met die bemarking en marktoegang is as belangrike kritiese prestasie areas geïdentifiseer. Teen 'n pit tot dop verhouding van 60% en gemiddelde aankoopprys van R1000 per ton vir hawer, moet ongeveer 600 ton verwerkte hawer jaarliks verkoop word om 'n wins van R140 000 per jaar te verseker. Gegewe die begrote syfers, het die projek die potensiaal om R843 000 wins in jaar 5 te genereer. Die waarde van die nuwe maatskappy, gebasseer op die verdiskonteerde kontantvloei metode, beloop R2.7 tot R3.9 miljoen. As gevolg van die aanvanklike verliese en gepaardgaande negatiewe kontantvloeie, lê die waarde van die maatskappy egter hoofsaaklik in die eindwaarde na 5 jaar. Huidige aandeelhouers se verwagte opbrengs op kapitaal is 15%. Die interne opbrengskoers van die projek beloop 42% wat dus hoër as die drempelwaarde is. Die beplande SEB inisiatief voeg dus bepaald waarde toe vir aandeelhouers. Belangrike mensekwessies soos dieselfde visie, waardes, verwagtinge, vertroue, verbintenis en toewyding sal baie aandag moet geniet om van die potensiaal 'n werklikheid te maak. Sterk en bekwame leierskap sal ook 'n deurslaggewende rol speel aangesien gewigtige besluite voortdurend geneem sal moet word.

Background: Due to the deregulation of the European airline industry within the 1980’s, competition between airlines has intensified greatly. The emergence of low-cost carriers has given rise to the competition on price. However, meeting customer demands and delivering high-quality service, beyond the mere price factor, is still crucial for an airline’s survival. Previous literature has focused on the interactive marketing aspect between employees and passengers when it comes to service quality and customer satisfaction. Today, there is a gap between what management does to satisfy its employees. This research will evaluate what should be done by management in order to meet customer expectations and perform an excellent service.   Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine how Germania’s management inhibited its employees in delivering superior service quality and how distributed communication within the Service Marketing Triangle negatively affects the Internal Marketing Model. The study’s empirical findings contribute to existing internal marketing literature and result in an extension of the Internal Marketing Model according to Ahmed and Rafiq (2002).   Method: A qualitative method consisting of semi-structured interviews with four former airline employees and two focus groups of 13 students was applied. This setup gives insight into both the consumer and employee perspective. Additionally, to handle the great amount of data, a thematic analysis was applied.   Conclusion: This study shows how Germania inhibited its employees from performing their work and deliver the service quality that was expected by customers. These inhibitions were mainly found in the tools that the company provided. The shortcomings can be found within the Service Marketing Triangle and an extension of the Internal Marketing Model is concluded from these. The findings and existing theory prove, that employee motivation, job satisfaction and employee empowerment are crucial aspects when it comes to meeting customer expectations and hence, delivering excellent service. The degree of the employees’ empathy, competence, and professionalism determine, whether the customer is satisfied and whether they are loyal to the airline.

M.Com. (Financial Management)
Ontbondeling kan met reg as die sake-onderwerp van 1993 in SA beskryf word. Die siening word gesteun deur Clarke (1994) in sy artikel "Year of unbundling", waarin hy ontbondeling as die grootste kenmerk van die korporatiewe finansieringsakiwiteite van die groot banke in SA gedurende 1993 beskryf. In die voorwoord van die 1993-weergawe van "The Giants" (bylae by Financial Mail) word ontbondeling as die hoofrede vir "the most significant shake-up of corporate SA's shareholding structure" sedert die eerste publikasie van die bylae beskryf (Anon., 1993j:3). Indien ontbondeling as die sake-onderwerp van 1993 in SA beskou word, kan swart ekonomiese bemagtiging as die sake-onderwerp van 1994 in SA beskou word. Ontbondeling en swart ekonomiese bemagtiging was nie net die twee belangrikste onderwerpe van korporatiewe finansieringsaktiwiteite in SA gedurende die afgelope twee jaar nie, maar moontlik ook die twee onderwerpe wat die meeste gedurende die periode in die SA sakewereld bespreek is. Daar het in die proses verskeie wanindrukke oar die twee begrippe ontstaan en die hoofredes daarvoor was waarskynlik eerstens dat beide onderwerpe op een of ander wyse aan die politieke en ekonomiese transformasie in die land gekoppel is, en tweedens dat dieselfde name, byvoorbeeld Sanlam, Barlow Rand en Anglo American, telkens tydens 'n bespreking van die twee onderwerpe opgeduik het. Hierdie dokument poog onder andere om die twee begrippe, wat beide ook as "prosesse" beskryf kan word, duidelik te definieer en te onderskei, onder andere aan die hand van voorbeelde, in perspektief te stel, van die wanindrukke uit die weg te ruim en die gebeure rondom beide onderwerpe gedurende die afgelope twee jaar aan 'n paar gemene faktore, byvoorbeeld die politieke en ekonomiese veranderinge in die land en die rol van die konglomerate in beide prosesse, te koppel.

Various studies have highlighted the problems faced in accounting education. Some of these problems refer to the stagnating accounting curriculum, limited resources available to students from designated black empowerment groups, and the underdevelopment of skills required by practice. This study focuses specifically on the problems faced in secondary and tertiary accounting education in South Africa (SA) and the effects of these problems on practice. The first article of this study emphasises the various causes for the declining pass rate in firstyear chartered accountancy (CA) students. For this purpose, the researcher gathered information on the perceptions of first-year CA students and of lecturers involved in departments of accounting at SA universities. One of the possible causes identified is the apparent gap between school and university accounting education, especially in respect of curriculum, teaching quality and textbooks. The study revealed that students from designated black empowerment groups are facing the most problems in SA accounting education. The second article addressed the skills shortages in first-year CA trainees that practitioners have to deal with. According to the results, the majority of the participants felt that universities do not sufficiently equip students with the skills necessary to be successful in practice. The skills shortages identified included the inability of first-year trainees to determine the extent of testing needed in audits and to think independently. It also seemed as if first-year trainees lack professional communication skills and cannot sufficiently apply theory learnt at university in practice. These are only some skills with which universities are expected to equip students in order to be successful in practice. The researcher drew conclusions and made recommendations based on the information obtained from the above-mentioned two studies.
MCom (Accountancy), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Recently, South African company law underwent a dramatic overhaul through the introduction of the Companies Act 71 of 2008. Central to company law is the promotion of corporate governance: companies no longer are accountable to their shareholders only but to society at large. Leaders should direct company strategy and operations with a view to achieving the triple bottom-line (economic, social and environmental performance) and, thus, should manage the business in a sustainable manner. An important question in company law today: In whose interest should the company be managed? Corporate governance needs to address the entire span of responsibilities to all stakeholders of the company, such as customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers and the community at large. The Companies Act aims to balance the rights and obligations of shareholders and directors within companies and encourages the efficient and responsible management of companies. The promotion of human rights is central in the application of company law: it is extremely important given the significant role of enterprises within the social and economic life of the nation. The interests of various stakeholder groups in the context of the corporation as a “social institution” should be enhanced and protected. Because corporations are a part of society and the community they are required to be socially responsible and to be more accountable to all stakeholders in the company. Although directors act in the best interests of shareholders, collectively, they must also consider the interests of other stakeholders. Sustainable relationships with all the relevant stakeholders are important. The advancement of social justice is important to corporations in that they should take into account the Constitution, labour and company law legislation in dealing with social justice issues. Employees have become important stakeholders in companies and their needs should be taken into account in a bigger corporate governance and social responsibility framework. Consideration of the role of employees in corporations entails notice that the Constitution grants every person a fundamental right to fair labour practices. Social as well as political change became evident after South Africa's re-entry into the world in the 1990s. Change to socio-economic conditions in a developing country is also evident. These changes have a major influence on South African labour law. Like company law, labour law, to a large extent, is codified. Like company law, no precise definition of labour law exists. From the various definitions, labour law covers both the individual and collective labour law and various role-players are involved. These role-players include trade unions, employers/companies, employees, and the state. The various relationships between these parties, ultimately, are what guides a certain outcome if there is a power play between them. In 1995 the South African labour market was transformed by the introduction of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995. The LRA remains the primary piece of labour legislation that governs labour law in South Africa. The notion of industrial democracy and the transformation of the workplace are central issues in South African labour law. The constitutional change that have taken place in South Africa, by which the protection of human rights and the democratisation of the workplace are advanced contributed to these developments. Before the enactment of the LRA, employee participation and voice were much-debated topics, locally and internationally. In considering employee participation, it is essential to take due cognisance of both the labour and company law principles that are pertinent: the need for workers to have a voice in the workplace and for employers to manage their corporations. Employee participation and voice should be evident at different levels: from informationsharing to consultation to joint decision-making. Corporations should enhance systems and processes that facilitate employee participation and voice in decisions that affect employees. The primary research question under investigation is: What role should (and could) employees play in corporate decision-making in South Africa? The main inquiry of the thesis, therefore, is to explore the issue of granting a voice to employees in companies, in particular, the role of employees in the decision-making processes of companies. The thesis explores various options, including supervisory co-determination as well as social co-determination, in order to find solutions that will facilitate the achievement of employee participation and voice in companies in South Africa.
LLD, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015