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Values and institutional decision making: Case studies of a South African Public Higher Education Institution
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1867614008030265344 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Van der Bank, Sure |
| author2 | Woerman, M. L. |
| author_browse | Van der Bank, Sure Woerman, M. L. |
| author_facet | Woerman, M. L. Van der Bank, Sure |
| author_sort | Van der Bank, Sure |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135700 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:45:11.659Z |
| 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:10019.1/135700 Values and institutional decision making: Case studies of a South African Public Higher Education Institution Van der Bank, Sure Woerman, M. L. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Philosophy. Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. Van der Bank, S. 2026. Values and institutional decision making: Case studies of a South African Public Higher Education Institution. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/af0ed9ed-635a-4366-8e58-c6efe6596107 South African Public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) operate within a multifaceted and volatile environment, navigating complex transformation agendas and conflicting priorities inherent to a historically divided society. Stellenbosch University (SU) is mandated to uphold their core institutional values, Excellence, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Equity in all its actions. However, the integrity of SU's internal, values-based processes is routinely challenged by crises that draw intense media scrutiny and by overriding external socio-political pressures, which threaten to compromise the ethical integrity and fairness of institutional responses. This thesis critically investigates the extent to which SU’s core institutional values effectively inform and guide decision-making when the institution is confronted with persistent challenges of transformation and complex student conduct incidents. The study draws on a series of case studies spanning from 2014 to 2022 with students at its core. These incidents include the blackfacing allegations of 2014, the issues raised by the Luister documentary in 2015 highlighting feelings of exclusion, the subsequent "purple face" incident of 2016, and the series of three deeply disruptive urination incidents that occurred across SU male residences in 2022 (Huis Marais, Helshoogte, and Eendrag). These recurring crises frequently demonstrate a shortfall in the confident application of institutional values during actions, decisions and interventions. To analyse these incidents and SU's subsequent responses, the research employs multiple theoretical frameworks. The primary analytical lens is the Giving Voice to Values (GVV) framework, developed by Dr. Gentile, which strategically shifts the focus of ethical reflection from analysing dilemmas to preparing and rehearsing how to implement values-driven actions effectively under pressure. This is complemented by an examination of Auster and Freeman’s concept of poetic organisations, which prioritises continuous dialogue about identity and values over static value statements. Furthermore, Sindane’s framework for public leadership and governance is used to assess how institutional values can be translated into observable, consistent institutional routines and practices. The study finds that while SU possesses comprehensive governance documents, the practical execution and internalisation of values are often inconsistent, leading to uneven responses during crises. To chart a sustainable path toward ethical transformation, the conclusion applies John Paul Lederach’s Theory of the Critical Yeast. This approach shifts the emphasis from pursuing numerical 'critical mass' to cultivating a small, strategically connected group of prepared stakeholders, the "critical yeast", who can model and disseminate values-driven behaviours, thereby generating broader, self-sustaining cultural shifts. By integrating the action-oriented GVV framework with the Critical Yeast theory, the thesis proposes a practical strategy for SU to move beyond reactive decision-making toward becoming a resilient, authentically values-driven HEI. Masters 2026-04-08T08:24:04Z 2026-04-08T08:24:04Z 2026-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135700 en Stellenbosch University 80 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Van der Bank, Sure Values and institutional decision making: Case studies of a South African Public Higher Education Institution |
| title | Values and institutional decision making: Case studies of a South African Public Higher Education Institution |
| title_full | Values and institutional decision making: Case studies of a South African Public Higher Education Institution |
| title_fullStr | Values and institutional decision making: Case studies of a South African Public Higher Education Institution |
| title_full_unstemmed | Values and institutional decision making: Case studies of a South African Public Higher Education Institution |
| title_short | Values and institutional decision making: Case studies of a South African Public Higher Education Institution |
| title_sort | values and institutional decision making case studies of a south african public higher education institution |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135700 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vanderbanksure valuesandinstitutionaldecisionmakingcasestudiesofasouthafricanpublichighereducationinstitution |