Secondary data (literature) related or similar to the research topic such as publications, academic journals, electronic databases and the Internet were reviewed. Secondary data was also extracted from EEU information centre, books, site and diaries. This helped to ascertain and interpret what has been written and published on the research topic. In this respect, literature review was discussed in detail in Chapters One and Two.
The study was complimented by primary data generated from responses of qualified technicians and electricians employed by EEU at the eThekwini Municipality. The above was achieved via the administration of questionnaires, considered instrumental in the collection of relevant data from the respondents who were/are knowledgeable on the issues under investigation. This is line with Lacobucci and Churchill (2005) who appreciated the importance of data collection as an integral part of the problem-solving process seeking to clarify the purpose of any research
45
(Locobucci and Churchill, 2005). This is further supported by Dale, Van der Wiele and Van Iwaarden (2007, p. 449) observe that the goal of data collection is primarily to get a good overall picture of how a process performs and to produce reliable information (Dale et al., 2013). Thus, the approach achieved greater response rate, and was equally balanced by ethical requirements that protect the rights of the respondents. Thus, in particular, 86 out of the 109 sampled participants positively responded to the questionnaire administered by the researcher. This is discussed in detail in Chapter Four, but the methodology of collecting data dominates this chapter.
3.6.2 Research Design
This section narrates how the research was conducted in line with Sarantakos (2005), who states that quantitative method is the numerical representation and manipulation of observations for the purpose of describing and explaining observable phenomena (Sarantakos, 2005). This is supported by Neuman (2000), who postulates that the purpose of research is to explore, describe or explain phenomena that generate valid results. This is built upon a positivist paradigm, whose perceived scientific research approach which emphasised the understanding and analysis of data rather than on the precise nature of the statistical techniques themselves (Neuman, 2000). Blanche, and Painter (2008) maintain that the quantitative approach to research allows the researcher to use statistical procedures to analyse the data that was collected from the respondents. This entails concise description of relevant variables that have been sorted, classified, measured and transformed using statistical methods in a strictly objective way (Blanche et al., 2008). Further, the variables are capable of being accurately described by a set of rules, formulae or strict procedures which then make their definition unambiguous and independent of individual judgments. This positions a quantitative research design as more appropriate to achieve the study objectives listed below as well as allow greater objectivity and accuracy of results. Thus, an appropriate and suitable research design must be decided upon, prior to the conducting of a research study.
A research design is defined as the master plan that specifies the methods and procedures for collecting and analysing information obtained (Cooper & Schindler,
46
2011). Secondly, it can be regarded as a structure for a research study that seeks to generate expectations. Thirdly, it was used as a roadmap that specifies the methods and procedures for collecting and analysing data. Fourthly, quantitative research approach involves the collection and analysis of numerical data and the application of statistical tests (Sekaran & Bougie, 2013). This equates quantitative data analysis with statistical methods. Mouton (1996) views study design as a set of guidelines and instructions to be followed in addressing a research problem. This means that the quantitative research entails the collection of numerical and statistical data with a view to analyse in line with stated objectives (Mouton, 1996).
Therefore, the reason of conducting such study was not only to investigate a high- level turnover rate on skilled, talented and competent workforce in the organisation, but also suggest potential technique to create internal pools of skills and talent labour force. Thus, a quantitative research method is selected with the objective of testing a theory rather than developing one and looks to confirm or disconfirm theory based on the results.
3.6.3 Method of Sampling Respondents
When preparing a research design, it is imperative to sample the respondents in ways that ensures the representativeness of information with respect to non- participants. This means that a sample of specific number of respondents should have to be drawn from the total targeted population. In this study, participants are categorised by talent and skills, targeting employees who studied Electrical Engineering at Diploma and/or Degree levels. The sample was drawn from those with electricians and technicians’ qualifications.
The respondents were selected using purposive sampling, a ‘sampling technique’
in which researcher relies on his or her own judgment when choosing members of population to participate in the study. This sampling method was preferred because only qualified electricians and technicians’ employees with adequate knowledge on succession planning had to provide relevant information. This makes them specialist in their respective positions in the organisation thereby becoming both
47
plainly essential to the Unit, and potential candidates for succession planning (Creswell, 2012).
3.6.4 Target Population
The population is the entire group of people about whom the researcher needs to obtain information (Sekaran and Bougie, 2013). The target population refers to sub- groups of the total that is made up of units from various subgroups in which the researcher is interested in interacting with (Creswell, 2012). Thus, the study was conducted at EEU of eThekwini Municipality, targeting employees who are qualified electricians and technicians’ employees.
3.6.5 Sample Size
The researcher opted for a representative sample size, whose input led to the writing of this dissertation. Brown and Churchill (2007) noted that the sample size is the number of elements chosen from the large group of the population (Brown &
Churchill, 2007) . The population was 109 and the sample size of this study were 109 participants drawn from EEU of eThekwini Municipality’s main head office branch. This sample comprised of members of staff though at various levels in the organisation, but with requisite technical and electrical talent and skills. This is the category with potential to be considered for the succession planning in the EEU of eThekwini Municipality. Thus, these technicians and electricians were identified as potential research respondents. Of the 109 participants who were issued with the questionnaire, only 86 responded, showing that the results of the investigation are intelligent to the population.
48