Development of military leadership : a proposed model for the South African National Defence Force

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The result of this research is an alternative model for leadership characterdevelopment in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The SANDFreflects the racial and cultural diversity of South Africa as a nation. The need for aunifying leadership-related mechanism for the military milieu in which humaneleadership development will flourish, is evident. This statement is based on thepremise that no evidence is found that any previous efforts by the SANDF to instil aleadership philosophy or policy as a way of military life was successful.Further shortcomings in the current SANDF leadership development model, apartfrom the reality that its selection process of officer candidates needs improvement,are the absence of political guidance and participation in the development of itsmilitary leaders, as well as emaciated attention to the development of the characterside of leaders during officer formative training. The SANDF, unlike the internationaltendency, has no military leadership institution to ensure that its leadershipdevelopment policies and practices are based on sound academic research. Such aninstitution will also ensure that the SANDF stays contemporary in the global field ofmilitary leadership development.The shortcomings of the current SANDF Model were identified by progressingthrough the academic theories on leadership and leadership development to acomparative analysis of leadership development practices in the militaries ofGermany, the United Kingdom, Canada and the SANDF. This supplied theinformation needed to propose the Five Point Star Model (FPS Model) for leadershipcharacter development in the SANDF. The five components of the FPS Model, whichaddress the shortcomings of the current SANDF Model, are Convergent Leadership,Political Participation, Superior Selection, Interventions for Leadership CharacterDevelopment, and a Military Leadership Institution.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University