Variables influencing change leadership competencies to strategically manage transformation in the South African public sector

D.Litt. et Phil. (Public Management and Governance)This study focused on the variables that influence change leadership competencies to strategically manage transformation within the South African public sector. One of the key aims was to develop a competency framework for transformational leaders in senior public management positions. The thesis provided a conceptual description and explanation of appropriate and adequate leadership concepts, theories, approaches and phenomena that influence leadership role competencies for change management. It also contributed to a specific level of understanding of appropriate and adequate change concepts, theories and phenomena regarding the problem of change leadership role competencies. Furthermore, the study also investigated strategic leadership concepts, theories and approaches for addressing the problem of strategic leadership role competencies. A modernist qualitative research methodology was followed, where grounded theory was applied as the research strategy. Furthermore, a qualitative coding paradigm was established to develop an integrated model of strategic and transformational leadership competencies in order to manage organisational change. Importantly, the qualitative coding paradigm was developed to enable public sector employers to develop a competency framework that encompass the key leadership skills, behaviours, attributes and knowledge for senior public managers who have to cope effectively with organisational change within a public sector environment. The study contributed to the development of a substantive theory of the organisational change process. Furthermore, on a practical level, it contributed to the disciplinary and methodological fields of Public Management, Public Leadership and Public Governance