Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
The application of performance management in strengths-based social work supervision
Thesis (DPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Published: |
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867613882519912448 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Pretorius, Tanya |
| author2 | Engelbrecht, Lambert Karel |
| author_browse | Engelbrecht, Lambert Karel Pretorius, Tanya |
| author_facet | Engelbrecht, Lambert Karel Pretorius, Tanya |
| author_sort | Pretorius, Tanya |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (DPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134782 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:12.690Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134782 The application of performance management in strengths-based social work supervision Pretorius, Tanya Engelbrecht, Lambert Karel Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work. Social service -- Supervision of Social service -- Personnel management Social service -- Case studies Client-centered psychotherapy Social service -- Management UCTD Thesis (DPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Pretorius, T. 2025. The application of performance management in strengths-based social work supervision. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/53b332dc-7a60-44a5-883b-c034511304bf ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Strengths-based supervision and effective performance management are foundational to social workers' well-being, professional growth, and ethical integrity in complex and demanding environments. However, traditional approaches to developmental supervision and performance management often fail to meet the multifaceted and evolving needs of practitioners. This study responds to growing calls for more supportive, strengths-based models by exploring how performance management is applied within strengths-based supervision. The study aimed to explore how performance management is integrated into strengths-based supervision among social workers in South Africa. The study focused on three core themes: strengths-based supervisory practices, the nature and experience of performance management systems, and the experience of motivation and rewards. The study employed a qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory design guided by an interpretivist research paradigm. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 17 social workers and five supervisors, selected through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was employed to examine participants' lived experiences of supervision, performance management, and motivational factors in the workplace. The findings revealed that supervision in its current form remains inconsistent and often inadequately structured. Participants described traditional supervisory approaches as overly focused on administrative compliance, with limited attention to developmental support. In contrast, when strengths-based supervision is actively practised, it is experienced as more collaborative, empowering, and responsive to individual growth. However, the implementation of strengths-based supervision varied considerably across organisations. Experiences of performance management were mixed. While many participants described performance management systems as deficit-based and compliance-driven, others reported more developmental and participatory approaches that facilitated growth and feedback aligned with professional goals. The findings highlighted the importance of fairness, transparency, and skilled supervision in delivering meaningful and motivational performance management. Participants advocated for continuous, constructive feedback to be embedded in these systems. Motivation emerged as a central theme and was analysed using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Herzberg’s two-factor theory, and McClelland’s theory of needs. The study found that structural and relational factors significantly influenced social workers’ motivation and job satisfaction. Participants expressed the need for contextually appropriate and cost-effective strategies to address the diverse motivational drivers in the South African social work context. In conclusion, the study underscores the need for systemic reform in how strengths-based supervision and performance management are conceptualised and implemented. A shift toward integrated, development-oriented supervision can improve motivation, job satisfaction, and long-term professional growth. However, meaningful change requires coordinated action across multiple levels. To support these goals, the study recommends implementing a national framework for structured, strengths-based supervision that balances administrative, educational, and supportive functions. It further calls for standardising performance management systems prioritising employee development and fair practice. Lastly, the study offers targeted recommendations for social workers, supervisors, organisations, policymakers, and academic institutions to help cultivate a resilient, motivated, and well-supported social work workforce in South Africa. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sterkte-gebaseerde supervisie en effektiewe prestasiebestuur vorm die grondslag van maatskaplike werkers se welsyn, professionele groei, en etiese integriteit, veral in komplekse en veeleisende werksomgewings. Tradisionele benaderings tot ontwikkelingsgerigte supervisie en prestasiebestuur voldoen egter dikwels nie aan die veelvlakkige en steeds veranderende behoeftes van praktisyns nie. Hierdie studie reageer op toenemende oproepe vir meer ondersteunende, sterkte-gebaseerde modelle deur te ondersoek hoe prestasiebestuur toegepas word binne sterkte-gebaseerde supervisie. Die doel van die studie was om te verken hoe prestasiebestuur geïntegreer word in sterkte-gebaseerde supervisie van maatskaplike werkers in Suid-Afrika. Die studie het op drie kern temas gefokus: sterkte-gebaseerde supervisiepraktyke, die aard en ervaring van prestasiebestuursisteme, en die ervaring van motivering en beloning. Deur gebruik te maak van ’n kwalitatiewe, beskrywende, en verkennende ontwerp, is die studie gegrond in ’n interpretivistiese navorsingsparadigma. Data is ingesamel deur semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met 17 maatskaplike werkers en vyf supervisore, wat deur doelgerigte steekproefneming gekies is. Tematiese analise is gebruik om deelnemers se geleefde ervarings van supervisie, prestasiebestuur en motiveringsfaktore in die werkplek te ondersoek. Bevindings het getoon dat supervisie in sy huidige vorm dikwels onkonsekwent en onvoldoende gestruktureer is. Deelnemers het tradisionele supervisiebenaderings beskryf as oorwegend gefokus op administratiewe nakoming, met beperkte aandag aan ontwikkeling en emosionele ondersteuning. In teenstelling hiermee is sterkte-gebaseerde supervisie, wanneer dit aktief toegepas is, ervaar as meer samewerkend, bemagtigend en sensitief vir individuele groei. Die implementering van sterkte-gebaseerde supervisie het egter wesenlik tussen organisasies gewissel. Ervarings van prestasiebestuur was gemeng. Terwyl baie deelnemers prestasie-bestuursisteme as tekort-gebaseerd en nakomingsgedrewe ervaar het, het ander meer ontwikkelingsgerigte en deelnemende benaderings beskryf wat groei en terugvoer bevorder het wat met professionele doelwitte belyn is. Die bevindings beklemtoon die belangrikheid van regverdigheid, deursigtigheid en vaardige supervisie in die lewering van betekenisvolle en motiverende prestasiebestuur. Deelnemers het gepleit vir deurlopende, konstruktiewe terugvoer as ’n geïntegreerde deel van hierdie sisteme. Motivering het as ’n sentrale tema na vore gekom en is geanaliseer met behulp van Maslow se Hiërargie van Behoeftes, Herzberg se Twee-Faktor-teorie en McClelland se Behoefteteorie. Die studie het bevind dat beide strukturele en verhoudingsfaktore ’n beduidende invloed het op maatskaplike werkers se motivering en werkstevredenheid. Deelnemers het die behoefte uitgespreek aan konteks-gepaste, koste-effektiewe strategieë om uiteenlopende motiveringsdrywers in die Suid-Afrikaanse maatskaplike werk-konteks aan te spreek. Ten slotte beklemtoon die studie die noodsaak vir sistemiese hervorming in hoe sterkte-gebaseerde supervisie en prestasiebestuur gekonseptualiseer en geïmplementeer word. ’n Verskuiwing na geïntegreerde, ontwikkelingsgerigte supervisie kan motivering, werkstevredenheid en langtermyn professionele groei verbeter. Werklike verandering vereis egter gekoördineerde aksie op verskeie vlakke. Om hierdie doelwitte te ondersteun, beveel die studie die implementering aan van ’n nasionale raamwerk vir gestruktureerde, sterkte-gebaseerde supervisie wat administratiewe, opvoedkundige en ondersteunende funksies balanseer. Daar word verder gepleit vir die standaardisering van prestasiebestuursisteme wat werknemerontwikkeling en regverdige praktyk prioritiseer. Laastens bied die studie geteikende aanbevelings vir maatskaplike werkers, supervisore, organisasies, beleidmakers en akademiese instellings om te help met die ontwikkeling van ’n veerkragtige, gemotiveerde en goed-ondersteunde maatskaplike werkerskorps in Suid-Afrika. Doctoral 2026-01-07T13:35:28Z 2026-01-07T13:35:28Z 2025-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134782 Stellenbosch University 342 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Social service -- Supervision of Social service -- Personnel management Social service -- Case studies Client-centered psychotherapy Social service -- Management UCTD Pretorius, Tanya The application of performance management in strengths-based social work supervision |
| title | The application of performance management in strengths-based social work supervision |
| title_full | The application of performance management in strengths-based social work supervision |
| title_fullStr | The application of performance management in strengths-based social work supervision |
| title_full_unstemmed | The application of performance management in strengths-based social work supervision |
| title_short | The application of performance management in strengths-based social work supervision |
| title_sort | application of performance management in strengths based social work supervision |
| topic | Social service -- Supervision of Social service -- Personnel management Social service -- Case studies Client-centered psychotherapy Social service -- Management UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134782 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pretoriustanya theapplicationofperformancemanagementinstrengthsbasedsocialworksupervision AT pretoriustanya applicationofperformancemanagementinstrengthsbasedsocialworksupervision |