http://hdl.handle.net/10500/109 2013-05-25T21:55:13Z http://hdl.handle.net/10500/6814 Perceived leadership style and employee participation in a manufacturing company in the democratic republic of Congo. Mitonga-Monga, Jeremy; Coetzee, Melinde; Cilliers, F.V.N. This study examined the relationship between the perceived leadership style (measured by the leader behavior descriptive questionnaire) and employee participation (measured by the employee participation survey), and looked at how individuals differ with respect to these variables in terms of demographical factors such as gender, age, educational level and functional department. A crosssectional survey was conducted with a convenience sample of 200 employees from a manufacturing company in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The results indicated that the participants’ perceptions of a leader’s behavioral style have a significant influence on their perceptions of employee participation. The study further found that male participants perceived their leader’s style significantly more positive than their female counterparts. Participants’ with master’s and doctoral degrees were significantly more positive about the level of employee participation than the participants with undergraduate levels qualifications. Participants in the exploitation management department were significantly more positive about their leaders’ style than those in the other functional departments. The findings add new knowledge that may be used to inform human resource practitioners in the development and coaching of leaders and employees in manufacturing companies. 2012-04-18T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10500/6089 Risk management as a social defence against anxiety. Geldenhuys, Dirk J.; Levin, Madia M.; van Niekerk, Annelize Orientation: This article deals with the unconscious role of risk management in an African country. Research purpose: The aim of the study is to describe how risk management unconsciously influences behaviour when doing business in an African country. Motivation for the study: Operational risk management is a rational management imperative. However, this does not take cognisance of the unconscious role of risk management. A systems-psychodynamic perspective might be particularly relevant if the anxiety implied in risk management is not appropriately contained. Awareness of these dynamics may provide an opportunity for addressing them and allow for a more holistic way of managing risk. Research design, approach and method: The researchers conducted the study as a qualitative case study in an African country. They used purposive sampling and analysed the data using qualitative content analysis. Main findings: Viewing risk management from a systems-psychodynamic perspective allowed the researchers to identify the influence of risk management on the behaviour of people. The emerging hypothesis was that, if businesses do not address the anxiety underlying risk management, managing risk becomes a social defence against the anxiety. Practical/managerial implications: Awareness of the anxiety involved in risk management may assist businesses to manage risk in a more realistic way, making provision for, and even capitalising on, the human element. Contributions/value-add: The article provides a systems-psychodynamic, and hence a more complete, perspective of operational risk management when doing business in an African country. 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10500/5850 The Robben Island diversity experience. An exploration of South African diversity dynamics. Pretorius, M.; Cilliers, F.; May, M. Orientation: Because of its historic, symbolic and psychological representation, presenting a diversity event on Robben Island posed invaluable opportunities to form an in-depth understanding of South African diversity dynamics. This research focussed on such an event interpreted from the systems psychodynamic perspective. Research purpose: The purpose of the research was to describe the experiences of participants attending the Robben Island Diversity Experience (RIDE) in order to understand South African diversity dynamics from a depth psychology perspective. Motivation for the study: Of the many and different diversity events presented in South African organisations, RIDE is the only annual systems psycho-dynamically designed and presented event. This research was an effort to explore the nature of these dynamics which manifest themselves from below the surface. Research design, approach and method: Qualitative and descriptive research from a hermeneutic phenomenology paradigm was used. The 15 participants who attended a RIDE event formed a case study. The data from an unstructured interview was content-analysed and interpreted using the systems psychodynamic perspective. The themes were integrated into a research hypothesis. Main findings: Five themes manifested themselves, namely, crossing boundaries, engaging the brave new world, ties that bind, being imprisoned and the struggle. Practical/managerial implications: The research highlighted the importance of understanding unconscious dynamics in the context of diversity in order to inform consultants about diversity management interventions in organisations. Contribution/value-add: The research contributed towards how South African diversity dynamics manifest themselves and how that can be addressed in organisations. 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10500/5554 Age, burnout, work engagement and sense of coherence in female academics at two South African universities. Bezuidenhout, Adele; Cilliers, Frans The influence of the age of female academics on their work experience in South African universities has not been researched to date. Yet, much publicity has been given to the “leaking pipeline” syndrome, referring term which refers to the loss of female academics before they attain one of the higher positions, such as senior lecturer, associate professor or professor. This trend is alarming as universities strive to achieve employment equity on all hierarchical levels. As the link between being an older academic and being higher up in the academic ranks cannot be denied, it is becoming important to find ways of retaining older female academics. The study reported here was conducted from a positive psychological paradigm. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of age on female academics’ experience of burnout, work engagement and sense of coherence. The results confirmed a positive relationship between age and work engagement, as well as sense of coherence. No relationship between age and burnout was found, implying that women are expected to experience higher levels of work engagement and sense of coherence. Recommendations are offered for management on how female academics could be retained and supported towards reaching the higher ranks of academia. 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z