Abstract:
An organisational transformation process was implemented in the South African
National Defence Force more than a decade ago, and has since become
successfully established. This process has been associated with the integration
of various armed forces. Many of the integrated members have also been
appointed as commanding officers with little or no management training or
management experience. This, together with far-reaching changes in political,
cultural, social and technological spheres in South Africa, has made significant
demands of the management skills of military officers. For this reason, military
managers should be informed and given the necessary knowledge, skills and
competencies to effectuate the so-called dynamic behaviour of the institution.
Management training in the military milieu refers to the development of the
management knowledge and skills of military managers. The specific outcome is
to be capable of effectively occupying a given management position. The South
African National Defence Force has no unique management model according to
which the development of management skills in the area of mid-level military
managers can be identified and addressed. The lack of such a unique
management model is the most important reason for the shortcomings in the
management skills of mid-level military managers in South Africa.
The empirical results of this research have shown that the existing management
training provided to mid-level military managers fails to meet expectations when it
comes to addressing the challenges in this area. The shortcomings in
management skills are ascribed to a lack of a unique management model that
can serve as basis for the management training of mid-level military managers.
The research is thus aimed at establishing a meta-management model that can
serve as basis for the management training of mid-level military managers. An appropriate management approach is used in the proposed meta
management model. Management in the work environment of the middle level
commanders in the South African National Defence Force has to take place
accordingly. The different components of the proposed meta management
model exploit from the current principles of military command and leadership.
With this management in the work environment of middle level managers in the
South African National Defence Force for the first time is established in a
distinctive model.
