Aspekte van organisasie-kultuur in die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The integration of the three former defence forces, four homeland forces and the oneself-defence unit into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) drasticallychanged the race composition of the Department of Defence (DoD). The integrationof these forces with their guerilla type warfare into a conventional force together withthe changed race composition, is having an influence on the organisational culture ofthe DoD. The aim of this study is to investigate the organisational culture of the DoDwith the primary focus on values to determine a group identity and the requiredbehaviour. This investigation is conducted by researching the prescriptive legislationand policy applicable to the DoD, values from the traditionally western and Ubuntuculture, the vision of the Africa-Renaissance, tendencies in modern warfare andfunctions of modern armies. A proposed value system for the DoD is then developed.The way in which members of the DoD associate with this value system is tested bymeans of a sample and deviations are identified. Lastly, corrective options areproposed for these deviations.The developed value system consists of key values such as military professionalism,community/ethical orientation and military orientation. The collected data isinterpreted by means of factors such as values characteristic of authority, militaryprofessionalism, military customs and human rights that concur with the key values.Against all odds it was found that members of the DoD associate badly with valuestraditionally associated with a defence force which is fully prepared. The followingwas found:• Members of the DoD do not identify with values such as commitment tocomrades, non-discrimination, no bad excuses, fair practices, no misuse ofrank, or pride and loyalty. Arms of service, rank groups, gender, population group and former force,identify in an average way with values characteristic with authority, high withprofessionalism, low with military customs and low with human rights.• The lower rank groups identify the worst with values, and warrant officers thehighest. The senior officers identify the worst with human rights.• No distinction was found between the gender groups in respect of identificationwith values.• As far as population groups are concerned, differences occurred betweenwhites and Africans in respect of their attitudes towards authority,professionalism, military custom and human rights.• As far as former force members are concerned, differences occurred betweenSouth African Defence Force (SADF), Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) and theAfrican People's Liberation Army (APLA) regarding their attitudes towardsauthority, professionalism and military customs. In so far as human rights areconcerned, differences occurred between the SANDF and Transkei,Boputhatswana, Venda and Ciskei (TBVC).The study showed definite problem areas and remedial actions need to beconcentrated on this. It is clear that the different race groups and members of formerforces have different orientations towards the value system. This marginalisation ofgroups into sub-cultures cannot be tolerated. A group identity with which everymember of the DoD can identify, needs to be established urgently.As remedial options a process of socialisation can firstly be used to instill a groupidentity and the desired behaviour in members of the DoD. Those who do not fit thegroup identity and required behaviour must be discharged. A value system mustsecondly be lived and the generals and officers of the DoD must be role models as faras the living of the value system is concerned. Thirdly, posters on notice boards areof little use if the values do not become visible in the behaviour of every member ofthe SANDF. There is no place for buzz words without any meaning. Fourthly, values must be validated by means of norms. These norms must be made known to allmembers of the DoD to ensure that the desired organisational culture and valuesystem is instilled. In this regard the publication The Service Guide for Newcomersshould be rewritten and given to every member of the DoD.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University