A framework for a generic business behaviour guideline (GBBG) for ICT organisations in the 'new' South Africa

Abstract

This paper reports on research in progress which investigates the need for a set of generic guidelines for acceptable business behaviour in Information and Communication Technology organisations in the 'new' South Africa. The investigation focuses on managers and employees in ICT organizations from before the democratic elections in 1994 in South Africa up to this day. It looks at the impact of different ethnic and individual cultures on different organisational cultures. Emphasis is placed on the impact of affirmative action (AA) and black economic empowerment (BEE) on ICT organizations and the perceived lack of skills and experience in affirmative action candidates. The inherently under-developed in interpersonal skills of many ICT professionals seem to aggravate the situation. Some organisations attempt to adapt their organisational culture to accommodate new ethnic cultures in the organisation. The purpose of the research is to determine the need for a set of generic business behaviour guidelines for employees in the ICT industry and to design the framework of a Generic Business Behaviour Guideline (GBBG) document/manual.