3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions

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Has files: YesSubject: search.filters.subject.Psychology, Industrial--South Africa

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    Workplace bullying, personality and work engagement among South African employees
    (2017) Omar, Tasneem
    Workplace bullying is an unfortunate occurrence within organisations and has become a prevalent area of interest. However, research on workplace bullying and specifically its effect on work engagement within a South African context is rare. Additionally, research on the relationship between workplace bullying and personality traits is limited to the Big Five personality traits. This research thus broadened its range from the Big Five personality traits and focused on neuroticism, assertiveness, optimism, pessimism and hardiness. The research further assessed the moderating effect of personality on the relationship between workplace bullying and work engagement. The sample consisted of 200 white collar employees over the age of 18 that was obtained using a volunteer, snowball sampling method. The responses were obtained using survey methodology, which led to the cross-sectional nature of the study. Analyses of results were completed using a Pearson’s product moment correlation analysis and a moderated multiple regression analysis. The results from the Pearson’s product moment correlation mainly supported the hypotheses, however there were findings that countered the hypotheses, mainly assertiveness as this proved to be the most unexpected finding. The results from the moderated multiple regression showed that only neuroticism and pessimism moderated the relationship between workplace bullying and work engagement as opposed to assertiveness, optimism and hardiness that did not. The findings of this research thus contribute to the limited body of South African research investigating different personality types moderating the relationship between workplace bullying and work engagement.
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    Social workers' experiences of occupational stress : a study in the Department of Social Development, Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga Province
    (2016) Moyane, Ntombenhle Brenda
    The primary purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of occupational stress among social workers employed by the Department of Social Development in Mpumalanga Province, Ehlanzeni District. Mpumalanga Province is predominantly rural and the assumption is that work-related challenges for social workers in rural areas are different from urban areas. There are theoretical basis suggesting that people view and respond to stress differently thus their coping strategies even in identical situations are different. The study has therefore focused on the experiences of occupational stress among social workers, the contributory factors that led to occupational stress, the impact of occupational stress, the social workers’ coping strategies with occupational stress; and the availability and effectiveness of organisational support offered to employees experiencing occupational stress as perceived by social workers. The research used both qualitative and quantitative methods. The researcher utilised a questionnaire consisting of open-ended questions, together with the Work-Related Quality of Life scale consisting of closed questions that measured work stress, administered to 40 social workers employed at Ehlanzeni District offices. One year’s working experience as a social worker in the Department of Social Development was a qualifying criterion in the study. Thematic content analysis and descriptive statistical analysis were used to analyse data. The findings of the study suggested that unsatisfactory salaries, working conditions, high workload, lack of recognition and a lack of support were the main stressors for social workers in this study. The research concluded with recommendations that will hopefully assist in improving the quality of work-life of the sound workers and facilitate a balanced understanding between the employees and the employer.
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    Trust in the manager - subordinate relationship
    (2016-08-05) Blackburn, Debora Ann
    Trust is considered by some managementE!:xperts to be a -":'1 'ii critical element· in organisational ;relat,iori!ships. This factor is especially important in South A~rica where organisational rela·tionships are often mistrust * There has ,.;~~~(ill~;lelirtytle empirical rese\t~=Chcord'ired ~~ this topic. /[lhe literature reviewed p1\\pposed'!th) flt the '0 'v. ? ~\\ managerial benaviours .and a;ttitudes that. b~.ild subdic~tinate II. ,!': \ __ _ _,', _\'" _ _ __ -. ·'~\.F ,.',.: t,rus.t are those that relate 't\') the. managers.' ownleyt~l"of •.•. I' ~\ integri ty. 'l'he~e was almost no l~t~~rature ~railable '\hat }\ • . l' Ii,. ~ examinedthe .behaviours and attitu:~e, tihat; destroy trl.l~~. .. II·· 1 Ii -. The aim of the st.udy , t}'lerefore, ~~s to develop guidelines for managex:sby explo:ring the element of trust in the :-~\~" ma,nager-subordinate relationship •. It endeavoured to ident.ify Which managerial behaviours and att.itudes build \'.. t:, ,_~.) and which ones destroy subordinate trttst. It also distingu.ished differences in ,the perception and experience of subordinate 'trust between four identified jc;-h grade levels and three Sites. The ::esearch was conducted within three diverse manUfacturing sites of one company. The dana,was collected by means of the NominalGroupTechnique, which elicited a .. \~ broad set:. of v\?-e,'lS f~om employees within ~, disciplined '\1\ \J :'_;,\~ '. \'~ ;; , ~\" -, n \' /. ,_," . ,\ \i r: \i The" +e'search ~in~.fl!gs differed significantly from the \ Hte),,,ture reV:L!"i.\ The ll\anageria~ "peha,fiours th"t b~Ud \ sUbor<:\inate tru~t ",,",'those t)¥l.tJJempower the ,subordinate to ~.\ develop a.nCt grow. as ,~fell .,as reduce their dependency upon;;,\ _~" lj ')' ' \~" , ,,'\, (j t toanagers. i' WhereasI \'the :manage:es'·OlM lack of personal \ ,~il1tegl;'ity destroys sU~!.)ordinatet:rust.. Thus, managemenil •r\'1\tYle .. 'has .more. 0impa,c.~•o~~ destroying S.Ubordina~e trust than I\W. has on bUilcling',;it\:e,n WaS i~"ntU~ed that, tp,st ·1 \P~.ildin9 and :trust d~S.'·.tr~.;_ ..ng behaViou~sf. are not. rJ..arised. \ ~\\. .' '5; " t\ ',".... '\. .> \ \ " f! \ .' '\ ' \ ~.\ '\1 ',' . \\ . •r. ..~.I'. \, '\., • ' , ;i A\"raralJ_<\l'. be~we"n trus~\ buHd!.ng \~d';oUv~tion was ,'i id\~~tified., in th~t both ~f~)rOaCheSqsat\;Lsfy suborclinates t " \1 ne~p:s.. Tru7t IN'as\~iscovel1e~ ,to )lave a r~\c;:iprocq;.l i'lspe,ct t'b 1/1 :Lt.'\ ~rti's" cit" b~ bllilt \!\,:.~OU,g-che:rtao~n.'~t.ru~~ bU. il.d.tng 'I' \,." \\ !\ " \\ ~': ", " !. ,:\ '\ P'i] J.p .••e. h~~:iours.l ho'(Vevet;"the~e ~.;•lrlaviou:cs Wi~~ ,~o:wbJ: ef:Ee¢.clve \" \\ . \ \: II ...• i " III Mt"'!l" tru$t i~,,\ al'\7,:aclYp,;"'ie~t in the r!l>lationsl)j,'_', . " JI c IThe scope (If th~~stttdy t'las J~~ploratO:CYtand 'as such II ,// opened up many areas for fur:ther research. ili. 11i\ structure~ , \) nas o c o " ;_,)
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