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The role of leadership development programs in transitioning technical professionals to leadership roles
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613924289937408 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Mbewe, John |
| author2 | Maasdorp, C. H. |
| author_browse | Maasdorp, C. H. Mbewe, John |
| author_facet | Maasdorp, C. H. Mbewe, John |
| author_sort | Mbewe, John |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134702 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:52.525Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134702 The role of leadership development programs in transitioning technical professionals to leadership roles Mbewe, John Maasdorp, C. H. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Information Science. Leadership -- Study and teaching Leadership -- Training of Executive ability -- Development Executives -- Training of Executives -- Selection and appointment Executive coaching UCTD Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Mbewe, J. 2025. The Role of Leadership Development Programs in Transitioning Technical Professionals to Leadership Roles. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/773ecba6-6a5e-4e93-9ee4-4a1058f8bf0c AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het die rol van leierskapsontwikkelingsprogramme (LDP'e) ondersoek in die ondersteuning van die oorgang van tegniese professionele persone na uitvoerende leierskapsrolle, en in die in staat stel van leiers om magsdinamika binnen geformaliseerde organisasie-strukture te navigeer. Deur van 'n kwalitatiewe fenomenologiese navorsingsontwerp gebruik te maak, het die studie die geleefde ervarings van agt senior bestuurders ondersoek, afkomstig van organisasies in die bank-, pensioen-, energie-, versekering-, regs- en gasvryheidsbedrywe. Die empiriese komponent van die navorsing het diepte, semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude behels wat vasgele het hoe leiers hul ontwikkelingsreise geinterpreteer het, die organisasieverwagtinge aan hulle gestel, en die uitdagings wat hulle teegekom het tydens die oorgang van tegniese kundigheid na strategiese leierskap. Die empiriese data is tematies geanaliseer deur gebruik te maak van Braun en Clarke se analitiese raamwerk om herhalende patrone in die deelnemers se narratiewe te identifiseer. Hierdie analise het die studie in staat gestel om insigte na vore te bring wat nie deur literatuur alleen vasgele kon word nie, insluitend die mate waartoe leierskapsontwikkeling, uitvoerende afrigting, mentoring en ervaringsleer bygedra het tot die vorming van leierskapsidentiteit. Bevindinge het aan die lig gebring dat LDP'e die doeltreffendste was wanneer hulle teoretiese inhoud, praktiese vaardigheidsontwikkeling en geleenthede vir ervaringsleer geintegreer het. Deelnemers het die ontwikkelingswaarde van gestruktureerde programme soos MBA-grade, uitvoerende afrigting, mentoring en informele leer deur netwerke en eweknie-interaksies beklemtoon. Die studie het ook ontleed hoe organisasies senior bestuurders werf deur empiriese onderhoudgetuienis te koppel aan literatuur oor uitvoerende aanstellingspraktyke. Deelnemers het gerapporteer dat werwingsbesluite tipies klem geplaas het op professionele bevoegdheid, leierskapvermoe, kulturele belyning en 'n bewysrekord. Die empiriese getuienis het voorgestel dat individue wat voorheen afrigting of mentoring ondergaan het, dikwels sterker leierskapsvolwassenheid en aanpasbaarheid getoon het, faktore wat gunstig beskou is tydens uitvoerende keuringsprosesse. Verder het die bevindinge die rol van LDP'e belig in die help van leiers om organisatoriese magsdinamika te navigeer. Deur gebruik te maak van beide die teoretiese literatuur en empiriese verslae, het die studie getoon dat doeltreffende leierskap versterk word wanneer leiers verskuif van dwangmatige vorms van mag ("mag-oor") na meewerkende vorms van mag ("mag-met"), wat samenwerking, vertroue en gedeelde besluitneming bevorder. Bestuurders het aangedui dat leierskapsontwikkelingsprogramme bygedra het tot hul vermoe om gesagstrukture te verstaan, organisasiepolitiek te beding en doeltreffend te lei binnen komplekse, gelaagde hierargiee. Die navorsing dra by tot die begrip van hoe leierskapsontwikkelingsintervensies die uitvoerende oorgangsproses vorm, die vermoe om organisatoriese mag te navigeer verbeter, en leierskapsdoeltreffendheid versterk. Die empiriese bevindinge verskaf praktiese insigte vir organisasies wat poog om leierskapsontwikkelingstrategiee te ontwerp wat tegniese professionele persone toerus vir senior leierskapsrolle. Deur gestruktureerde, kontekstueel relevante en deurlopende leierskaps-ontwikkelingsinisiatiewe te prioritiseer, kan organisasies leiers beter voorberei om die kompleksiteite van kontemporere organisasie-omgewings te navigeer en kulture van innovasie, samenwerking en volhoubare groei te koester. ENGLISH SUMMARY: This study examined the role of leadership development programs (LDPs) in supporting the transition of technical professionals into executive leadership roles and in enabling leaders to navigate power dynamics within formalized organizational structures. Using a qualitative phenomenological research design, the study explored the lived experiences of eight senior executives drawn from banking, pensions, energy, insurance, law, and hospitality organizations. The empirical component of the research involved in-depth semi-structured interviews that captured how leaders interpreted their developmental journeys, the organisational expectations placed upon them, and the challenges encountered while transitioning from technical expertise to strategic leadership. The empirical data were analysed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s analytical framework to identify recurring patterns across participants’ narratives. This analysis enabled the study to surface insights that could not be captured through literature alone, including the extent to which leadership development, executive coaching, mentoring, and experiential learning contributed to the shaping of leadership identity. Findings revealed that LDPs were most effective when they integrated theoretical content, practical skills development, and opportunities for experiential learning. Participants highlighted the developmental value of structured programs such as MBA degrees, executive coaching, mentoring, and informal learning through networks and peer interactions. The study also analysed how organisations recruit senior executives by linking empirical interview evidence with literature on executive hiring practices. Participants reported that recruitment decisions typically emphasised professional competence, leadership capability, cultural alignment, and a proven track record. The empirical evidence suggested that individuals who had previously undergone coaching or mentoring often presented stronger leadership maturity and adaptability, factors viewed favourably during executive selection processes. Furthermore, the findings illuminated the role of LDPs in helping leaders navigate organisational power dynamics. Drawing on both the theoretical literature and empirical accounts, the study demonstrated that effective leadership is strengthened when leaders shift from coercive forms of power (“power-over”) to coactive forms of power (“power-with”), fostering collaboration, trust, and shared decision-making. Executives indicated that leadership development programs contributed to their ability to understand authority structures, negotiate organisational politics, and lead effectively within complex, layered hierarchies. The research contributes to understanding how leadership development interventions shape the executive transition process, enhance the ability to navigate organisational power, and strengthen leadership effectiveness. The empirical findings provide practical insights for organisations seeking to design leadership development strategies that equip technical professionals for senior leadership roles. By prioritising structured, contextually relevant, and continuous leadership development initiatives, organisations can better prepare leaders to navigate the complexities of contemporary organisational environments and foster cultures of innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth. Masters 2025-12-24T07:45:14Z 2025-12-24T07:45:14Z 2025-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134702 en Stellenbosch University xi, 137 pages ; includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Leadership -- Study and teaching Leadership -- Training of Executive ability -- Development Executives -- Training of Executives -- Selection and appointment Executive coaching UCTD Mbewe, John The role of leadership development programs in transitioning technical professionals to leadership roles |
| title | The role of leadership development programs in transitioning technical professionals to leadership roles |
| title_full | The role of leadership development programs in transitioning technical professionals to leadership roles |
| title_fullStr | The role of leadership development programs in transitioning technical professionals to leadership roles |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of leadership development programs in transitioning technical professionals to leadership roles |
| title_short | The role of leadership development programs in transitioning technical professionals to leadership roles |
| title_sort | role of leadership development programs in transitioning technical professionals to leadership roles |
| topic | Leadership -- Study and teaching Leadership -- Training of Executive ability -- Development Executives -- Training of Executives -- Selection and appointment Executive coaching UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134702 |
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