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The evaluation of relationship mapping as a tool for understanding the experience of change

The research for this dissertation was conducted at the Western Cape site of a national manufacturing organisation in the food and beverages industry. The study set out to attain two primary goals. The first was to examine the effectiveness of relationship mapping (a method for graphically depicting...

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Main Author: Neke, Justine Cayley
Other Authors: Radford, John
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: School of Management Studies 2023
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access_status_str Open Access
author Neke, Justine Cayley
author2 Radford, John
author_browse Neke, Justine Cayley
Radford, John
author_facet Radford, John
Neke, Justine Cayley
author_sort Neke, Justine Cayley
collection Thesis
description The research for this dissertation was conducted at the Western Cape site of a national manufacturing organisation in the food and beverages industry. The study set out to attain two primary goals. The first was to examine the effectiveness of relationship mapping (a method for graphically depicting mental models) as a tool for exploring the participants' experience of, and evaluation of 'planned organisational change'. The second goal was to investigate the possible impact of relationship mapping on those using the method. Research results for both of these goals were examined through three 'lenses' or frames of analysis, 'empowerment', 'communication', and 'understanding the change'. These frames of analysis were derived from reviewed literature and interaction with the organisation. Incorporated into the design was an analysis of group processes, as an additional check on the impact of the relationship mapping procedure. The study assessed the above goals across four, hierarchically-divided organisational levels, with a total of 56 participants. A classical control group design was used, incorporating qualitative and quantitative methods. Control group participants underwent in-depth interviews, semi-structured focus group discussions and a group process scale (assessing group interaction). In addition to these, the experimental groups underwent relationship mapping, use of the group process scale, and a post relationship mapping questionnaire. Thematic and statistical analyses were used for the examination of qualitative and quantitative results, respectively. Although causality cannot be inferred with certainty, results indicate that these experimental groups paid increased attention to inter-relationships, questioning and problem solving, and the production of new information. Participants recognised that relationship mapping impacted on their sense of 'empowerment' by allowing for participation, facilitating thinking, and provoking personal realisations. Relationship mapping was seen as altering participant perception of communication and improving their understanding of the change.
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institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:39:32.123Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2023
publishDateRange 2023
publishDateSort 2023
publisher School of Management Studies
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spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/38452 The evaluation of relationship mapping as a tool for understanding the experience of change Neke, Justine Cayley Radford, John Organisational Psychology The research for this dissertation was conducted at the Western Cape site of a national manufacturing organisation in the food and beverages industry. The study set out to attain two primary goals. The first was to examine the effectiveness of relationship mapping (a method for graphically depicting mental models) as a tool for exploring the participants' experience of, and evaluation of 'planned organisational change'. The second goal was to investigate the possible impact of relationship mapping on those using the method. Research results for both of these goals were examined through three 'lenses' or frames of analysis, 'empowerment', 'communication', and 'understanding the change'. These frames of analysis were derived from reviewed literature and interaction with the organisation. Incorporated into the design was an analysis of group processes, as an additional check on the impact of the relationship mapping procedure. The study assessed the above goals across four, hierarchically-divided organisational levels, with a total of 56 participants. A classical control group design was used, incorporating qualitative and quantitative methods. Control group participants underwent in-depth interviews, semi-structured focus group discussions and a group process scale (assessing group interaction). In addition to these, the experimental groups underwent relationship mapping, use of the group process scale, and a post relationship mapping questionnaire. Thematic and statistical analyses were used for the examination of qualitative and quantitative results, respectively. Although causality cannot be inferred with certainty, results indicate that these experimental groups paid increased attention to inter-relationships, questioning and problem solving, and the production of new information. Participants recognised that relationship mapping impacted on their sense of 'empowerment' by allowing for participation, facilitating thinking, and provoking personal realisations. Relationship mapping was seen as altering participant perception of communication and improving their understanding of the change. 2023-09-07T18:37:44Z 2023-09-07T18:37:44Z 1999 2023-09-07T18:37:18Z Master Thesis Masters MSocSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/38452 eng application/pdf School of Management Studies Faculty of Commerce
spellingShingle Organisational Psychology
Neke, Justine Cayley
The evaluation of relationship mapping as a tool for understanding the experience of change
thesis_degree_str Master's
title The evaluation of relationship mapping as a tool for understanding the experience of change
title_full The evaluation of relationship mapping as a tool for understanding the experience of change
title_fullStr The evaluation of relationship mapping as a tool for understanding the experience of change
title_full_unstemmed The evaluation of relationship mapping as a tool for understanding the experience of change
title_short The evaluation of relationship mapping as a tool for understanding the experience of change
title_sort evaluation of relationship mapping as a tool for understanding the experience of change
topic Organisational Psychology
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/38452
work_keys_str_mv AT nekejustinecayley theevaluationofrelationshipmappingasatoolforunderstandingtheexperienceofchange
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