Die invloed van wetenskaplike bestuurspraktyke op nywerheidsverhoudinge binne n onderneming in die wynbedryf

M.Com. (Industrial Pyschology)The critical labour situation in South Africa makes industrial peace absolutely vital. In addition, industrial peace creates a healthy climate, both for productivity in companies and the economic progress of a country. The South African economy has, since the twenties, been oppressed by industrial unrest. The strikes of 1920 and the Soweto unrest of 1976 are good examples of this. In spite of these critical situations, a very narrow—minded view of industrial relations prevails. The only factors which, to date, have received any real attention are political/ legislative or economic in nature. In addition, these factors cannot be manipulated by the majority of people in any organisation or in the country — they are factors which are handled by top management or the Government. The levels of management most in contact with workers on the floor, are therefore not represented in the framework for improvement of industrial relations. The objective of this research is to build a more comprehensive framework for the improvement of industrial relations. Intensive study has highlighted the fact that three behavioural skills, namely empathy, flexibility and judgement appear to have a considerable influence on the relations between manager and worker. These behavioural skills are manifested in communication in the management process and in the following key behavioural areas: (a) Listen and react consistently and fairly. (b) Continuous feedback: Follow—up date and action. Constructive criticism. Maintain or build self esteem. (c) Encourage the subordinate to participate in situations with which he is familiar and which affect him. the subordinate in unfamiliar situations. Inform the subordinate about situations which affect him. With the use of a questionnaire, it was established that these key behavioural areas and communication between workers in all racial groups are seen to be significantly more important in relationships between manegement and worker. It was also found that management training in planfling, organisation, control, leadership and communication, based on the behavioural skills and key behavioural areas, had a very positive effect on all the key behavioural areas and communication. Although this effect was seen by the total group to be considerable, in the case of two individual racial groups, i.e. Whites and Asians, it was not considered to be significant. This tendency is, however, explained by the time Epread of the training in the company where this research was carried out. Generally, therefore, it appears that scientific management practices, namely behavioural skills and key behavioural areas, have a considerable influence on industrial relations and that management training has a significant contribution to make to its improvement