The literature on organizational and work practices highlights how everyday interactions shape how work is performed and how organizations function. In African settings, this research is particularly valuable as it brings attention to the influence of local cultures and social norms. This perspective provides a nuanced understanding of how work such as organisational change, institutional work, leadership, governance, equality, diversity and inclusion is accomplished in African contexts.

The Organisation and work practices working group is lead by:

Natasha Winkler-Titus

Dr. Natasha Winkler-Titus is a faculty member at Stellenbosch University Business School (SBS), specializing in Organizational Behaviour and Leadership, specifically Responsible Leadership; Organizational change; and Organizational Inclusion. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Commerce and a PhD in IO Psychology from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Dr Winkler-Titus is an established Work Psychologist and Academic, with more than 28 years’ experience in people leadership, executive development, and management consulting. Natasha was awarded the 2019 Organizational Psychology Practitioner of the year in South Africa, IOP Excellence award in servant leadership in 2022 and Honorary membership of her professional society in 2022. She has also received recognition in research and writing and received the best paper at the 2018 British Academy of Management Annual Conference in Bristol,(UK).

In August 2023 Natasha presented a paper on disruptive change, which was nominated in the best paper category and included in the Academy of Management Annual proceedings, in Boston USA. Natasha also lead a research stream investigating how the 4th industrial revolution is shaping the Work Psychology profession, which culminated in a book chapter in 2021, and she continues her research in this context. In 2024 Natasha also contributed a chapter in a Global Leadership book, 2nd edition. Natasha believes in using her influence and platforms to empower others toward significance and drive societal change and transformation.

Natasha is a Past President for the society of industrial and organizational psychology in South Africa (SIOPSA), supervises and mentors intern psychologists, and serves as International Expert Panellist for the Centre for Global Inclusion. Natasha leads the Southern Africa Chapter of the Africa Academy of Management and successfully chaired the Local organising committee delivering a significant 7th Bi-annual conference in Cape Town in January 2024.

Natasha is the Strategic Partnership Lead (SBS) for the Network for Practice and Process Management Studies Drawing on African Empirical Settings.

 

Dorothy Mpabanga

Prof. Dorothy Mpabanga is Associate Professor of in the department of Political and Administrative Studies in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Botswana. Dr Mpabanga teaches at undergraduate and graduate levels including human resource management, human resource development, organizational theory, public sector management, reforms and innovation, public policy, project management and appraisal, supervising research at undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels. Serves as External Examiner for various Universities in the SADC region.

Mpabanga has academic management and administrative experience including 10 years as Director/Deputy Director of the Centre of Specialization in Public Administration and Management (CESPAM) and she acted as Head of the department for nine months as well as Acting Director, Office of International Education and Partnerships (OIEP) at the University of Botswana. Dorothy has vast industry experience for instance 11 years in government as a Project Analyst, 3 years with the Central Bank of Botswana as a development economist. For three years, she was the Board Chairperson for the Botswana National Productivity Center, under the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs.

Research Interests:

Dr Mpabanga’s research focuses on public sector management and reforms, Human Resource Management and development, diversity management, project management, NGO management, higher education management, strategic and change management, innovation/ICT in management practices, management principles, indigenous knowledge management, governance, leadership, and democracy.

Publications and Conferences:

Mpabanga has published various book chapters, journal articles including publication in the Routledge Companion to international Management education and the Public Sector Innovation Journal. Mpabanga has attended various conferences including the African Association of Public Administration and Management (AAPAM), American Academy of Management (AOM), the African Academy of Management (AFAM), British Academy of Management (BAM), Commonwealth Association of Public Administration and Management (CAPAM), European Academy of Management (EURAM), and the International Leadership Academy (ILA). Dorothy is currently affiliated to the SHRM and AFAM.

AFAM:Executive Committee Member and AFAM’s Southern Africa Regional Director.

Education:

PhD in HRM from the University of Strathclyde, Scotland, MSc in National Development, Project Planning and Appraisal from the University of Bradford, England, UK and a BA in Public Administration and Sociology from the University of Botswana.