Den svenska försäkringsbranschen är gigantisk och det finns över 400 försäkringsbolag att välja mellan. Detta leder till hård konkurrens inom branschen, och försäkringsbolagen tvingas slåss om kunderna.Uppsatsens syfte är att analysera vilka försäkringsrelevanta faktorer som kan förklara försäkringstagares val av försäkringsbolag. Uppsatsen bygger på kvantitativ metod och en positivistisk infallsvinkel med en deduktiv ansats används.Uppsatsen indikerar att följande faktorer har positiv påverkan på försäkringstagare i valet av försäkringsbolag: Lågt pris på försäkringstjänsten, hög kvalitet på försäkringstjänsten, bra försäkringspersonal, lättåtkomligheten, starkt varumärke och banktjänstemäns påverkanEn medveten avgränsning som gjorts är att enbart fokusera på svenska privatpersoner, vilket lämnar utrymme för liknande forskning i ett globalt perspektiv. Ett förslag på fortsatt forskning är därför att analysera vilka faktorer som förklarar företags val av försäkringsbolag.Forskningen har varit begränsad inom försäkringsbranschen, såväl nationellt som internationellt. Mycket av tidigare forskning har fokuserat på befintliga kunder och hur de bibehålls. När det gäller vår inriktning är forskningen nästintill obefintlig. Vi hoppas att uppsatsen kan bidra med nyttig information till bland annat försäkringsbolag, då det torde vara av intresse för dem att veta vad som förklarar personers val av försäkringsbolag. / With more than 400 companies to choose between, the Swedish insurance sector is gigantic. The competition is fierce, and the insurance companies have to fight over customers and market shares. Our purpose with this dissertation is to analyze which insurance relevant factors determine which company the private consumer chooses. This dissertation has a quantitative research method, a positivistic philosophy and a deductive approach. Our study indicates that the following factors have a positive influence on insurers in their selection of insurance companies : Low price, high quality insurance service, professional staff, high accessibility and strong trademarks. Bank employees also tend to have influence on insurers in their selection of insurance companies. This study selectively focuses on the Swedish market, leaving room for further research in a global perspective. Additional research regarding companies selection of insurance companies may therefore be interesting. Research has traditionally focused on the existing customers, and how to keep them. In contrast, research concerning how people choose their insurance company has been limited, both nationally and internationally. We believe this dissertation may be of value for insurance companies because the knowledge of the factors may be important for attracting customers.

The integration of Information Communication Technology (ICT) into contemporary society and business operations is observed as a clear reality in Namibia. While Namibia faces one of the typical hurdles of developing nations, lack of a skilled knowledge workforce, literature presents a contrasting face of ICT investment in the country, in particular the financial services sector. This sector is considered a critical sector in the Namibian economy, embracing global trends while boasting world class ICT infrastructure. This is despite the sector struggling with a shortage of expertise. The situation in Namibia’s financial sector thus warrants a critical review of knowledge development practices as research shows. As literature explains, the financial institutions in Namibia are dependent on expertise from parent companies in the South African financial sector. The result is a need to identify means to develop the knowledge of Namibia’s workforce in the banking sector. Although there is evidence from literature to suggest that ICT can be used to create a skilled and knowledge based workforce mainly due to the promise of cost savings, and convenience, there exists a critical gap in literature on the adoption of ICT for knowledge development in the Namibian financial sector. This gap in knowledge as well as the high investment in ICTs in the banking sector pose a problem that the research aimed to address. This study explored the adoption of ICTs for knowledge development activities in the banking sector of Namibia identifying the perceptions and factors influencing its adoption for knowledge development purposes. Although adoption of ICT is influenced by various factors, this study focused on a specific factor, namely the impact of perceptions on ICT adoption. ICT adoption models such as the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) or the Technology Adoption Model (TAM) and more recently the Unified Theory of Adoption and Use of Technology (UTAUT) argue that the perceptions of users are fundamental determinants for the adoption of the ICT. Driving, thus, the need to understand the views of users of the ICTs in banks in order to understand the potential it may yield in knowledge development. The study adopts the Activity Theory (AT) as the means to uncover and clearly interpret the perceptions of banking staff, through its theoretic underpinnings of naturalistic investigation and beliefs of “intentional human-action”. This study thus set out to explore the perceptions of banking staff on the use of ICTs in knowledge development and identify the critical factors in their adoption of ICTs in the process. Drawing from the Activity Theory the investigation used a multi-case qualitative study that used semi-structured interviews that were administered on twenty-three respondents from three of the biggest banks in Namibia (cases). The respondents comprised of managerial and nonmanagerial staff with the three cases chosen based on their ties with South African banks. The findings show that all three Namibian banks have advanced ICT infrastructure which they have managed to adopt for knowledge development purposes. The Management of the banks in all three cases were of the belief that the use of ICT supports knowledge development. Nonmanagerial bank staff in all three cases likewise have a positive perception about the use of ICT for knowledge development purposes. However, key concerns about the development of ICT driven knowledge development initiatives which could affect adoption of the ICTs were expressed by the non-managerial staff. These included, management support, consultation in the development phase of the knowledge development initiatives, integration of knowledge development strategies into the staff processes and increasing awareness activities among the staff. The recommendations indicate a need for the institutions to drive knowledge management in general in the institution, which will in turn help foster knowledge development initiatives fully. Another recommendation concerning the design of knowledge development initiatives is the need to involve the targeted staff more fully. Yet another strong recommendation was the need to blend knowledge development initiatives into the work processes of staff and ensure active support by management. / Computing / M.A. (Computing)

This study identified and empirically investigated individual employee, organisational and information and communication technology (ICT) systems factors to determine the extent to which these factors support employees’ learning of the adopted retail banking ICT systems before undergoing training. Quantitative research approach was followed. A realised stratified random sample of 237 respondents consisting of tellers and customer care consultants (one group) and line managers (second group), working at branches of various retail banks in the western region of Kenya, participated in this study. Descriptive, exploratory factor and inferential statistical analyses were conducted. The results showed: a high level of agreement with the identified factors; significant positive linear relationships between the factors; statistical significant differences (p<0.05) between the respondent groups and between the categories for each demographic variable with regard to the respondents’ level of agreement with each factor. Supportive and directive learning strategies were recommended for retail banking employees before training. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

My thesis is based on the possibilities of career growth in the field of banking. I will study the development of careers in two different but comparable financial institutions. The theoretical part of my thesis will focus on four types of career structures: full-time, part-time, full-time with management track, and irregular. In the following part of my thesis, I will show how these four types search for employment, develop their careers, and negotiate payment and benefits. In this thesis, I will compare the working conditions of two banks. Based on personal interviews, surveys, and observation, I have ascertained and graded the each bank for self-realization, work-study opportunities, business culture, and job satisfaction, relations between management and employees and company communications. I also studied the average length of an assignment, which is a good general indicator.

Sammanfattning Titel: En kvantitativ studie om balans mellan arbete och privatliv i relation till självmedkänsla, utbrändhet, arbetstillfredsställelse och uppsägningsintention Nivå: Examensarbete på grundnivå (kandidatexamen) i ämnet företagsekonomi Författare: Sara Tosterud Lundin och Cornelia Widmark Handledare: Dr Jonas Kågström Datum: 2023 - juni Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur balansen mellan arbete och privatliv ser ut för anställda inom finanssektorn i kontrast till mer traditionella vårdyrken, samt vilken betydelse balansen har på organisatorisk nivå. Därtill ämnar studien undersöka hur faktorerna självmedkänsla, utbrändhet, arbetstillfredsställelse och uppsägningsintention förhåller sig tillbalans mellan arbete och privatliv. Metod: Kvantitativ metod av deduktiv art där det empiriska materialet samlats in med hjälpav två digitala enkäter som skickades ut till 7 104 bankanställda respektive publicerades somett inlägg i en Facebook-grupp för 22 600 socionomer. Totalt resulterade enkäterna i 531 svar som kunde användas. Den empiriskt insamlade datan har analyserats i statistikprogrammet JASP genom deskriptiva-, korrelations- och nätverksanalyser samt ett t-test. Resultat &amp; slutsats: Studien visar att bankanställdas balans mellan arbete och privatliv är god, dock bör organisationerna ha en medvetenhet om att frågan om balans är komplex då det finns många faktorer som kan påverka nivån av balans. Samtliga av studiens hypoteser bekräftades, vilket var i enlighet med tidigare forskning. Bland annat visade studiens resultat att balans mellan arbete och privatliv har ett positivt samband med självmedkänsla och arbetstillfredsställelse, samt ett negativt samband med utbrändhet och uppsägningsintention. Utöver studiens hypoteser framkom två nya korrelationer. Dessa korrelationer visar att en högre självmedkänsla härleder en högre arbetstillfredsställelse och en lägre uppsägningsintention. Examensarbetets bidrag: Bidraget är ökad kunskap kring hur dessa fem ämnesområden påverkar varandra i en svensk kontext avseende finansbranschen. Detta då tidigare studier inom dessa ämnesområden framförallt är riktade till populationer inom sjuk- och hälsovården. Studien har även påvisat ytterligare två direkta samband mellan två ämnesområden: självmedkänsla och arbetstillfredsställelse samt självmedkänsla och uppsägningsintention. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: 1. Genomföra en liknande generaliserbar studie avseende finansbranschen; 2. Undersöka hur det ser ut för dem som varit utbrända men sedan kommer tillbaka till jobbet; 3. Undersöka om svaren skiljer sig mellan olika roller inom yrket; 4. Kombinera enkätundersökningen med intervjuer för att undersöka ämnet mer på djupet genom direkta interaktioner. Nyckelord: Balans mellan arbete och privatliv, självmedkänsla, utbrändhet, arbetstillfredsställelse, uppsägningsintention, finanssektorn, vårdyrken, bankanställda, socionomer / Abstract Title: A quantitative study of work-life balance in relation to self-compassion, burnout, jobsatisfaction, and turnover intention Level: Bachelor’s thesis in business administration Authors: Sara Tosterud Lundin and Cornelia Widmark Supervisor: Dr Jonas KågströmDate: 2023 - juni Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the work-life balance of employees in the finance sector compared to more traditional healthcare professions, and the balance impact at organizational level. Additionally, the study aims to investigate the relationships between self-compassion, burnout, job satisfaction and turnover intention with work-life balance. Method: A deductive quantitative approach was employed, and the empirical data was collected through two digital surveys distributed to 7 104 bank employees and posted in a Facebook group comprising 22 600 social workers. A total of 531 usable responses were obtained. The empirically collected data was analyzed in the statistics program JASP, employing descriptive, correlational, network, and t-test analyses. Results &amp; conclusions: The study demonstrates that the work-life balance of bank employees is satisfactory; however, organizations should be aware that the issue of balance is complex, as there are numerous factors that can influence the level of balance. All of the study'shypotheses were confirmed, which aligns with previous research. Among other factors, the study's findings indicate that work-life balance is positively related to self-compassion and job satisfaction, while being negatively associated with burnout and turnover intention. In addition to the study's hypotheses, two new correlations emerged. These correlations reveal that higher levels of self-compassion are linked to increased job satisfaction and reduced turnover intention. Contribution of the thesis: This thesis contributes to increased understanding of how these five research areas interrelate within the Swedish context, specifically in the finance industry. Previous studies have primarily focused on populations within the healthcare sector. Furthermore, the study identified two direct relationships between two research areas: self-compassion and job satisfaction as well as self-compassion and turnover intention. Suggestions for future research: 1. Conduct a similar generalizable study regarding the financial industry; 2. Examine the experiences of individuals who have experienced burnout but returned to work; 3. Explore potential differences in responses among different job roles within the profession; 4. Combine the survey method with interviews to delve deeper into thetopic through direct interactions. Key words: Work-life balance, self-compassion, burnout, job satisfaction, turnover intention, finance sector, healthcare professions, bank employees, social workers.

Text in Afrikaans / Die uitsluitlike doel van die studie was om die navorsingsprobleem, naamlik om vas te stel op watter wyse die leierskapstyl van opleidingsbestuurders die werksbevrediging van opleidingskonsultante beïnvloed wat volwassene-onderwys binne ʼn bepaalde bankgroep in Suid-Afrika verskaf, aan te spreek. Die navorser het bepaalde leierskapstyle (naamlik die demokratiese-, outokratiese- en laissez-faire leierskapstyle) en werksbevredigingskomponente geselekteer (naamlik ondersteuning, verhoudings en bemagtiging) ten einde dié ondersoek te doen. ʼn Vraelys is ontwerp wat as kwantitatiewe navorsingsinstrument gebruik is om navorsingsdata elektronies te versamel oor respondente se biografiese besonderhede, hulle bestuurder se leierskapstyl en respondente se persepsies van hul eie werksbevrediging. Een-en-negentig (91) uit eenhonderd sewe-en-dertig (137) respondente het die vraelys per e-pos voltooi, wat ʼn responskoers van 66.42% verteenwoordig. Uit die navorsingsresultate en -analise het dit geblyk dat leierskapstyl wél die persepsies van respondente oor elk van die werksbevredigingskomponente statisties beduidend beïnvloed het. / The sole aim of this study was to address the research problem, namely to determine the way in which the leadership style of training managers influences the work satisfaction of training consultants that provide adult education within a specific bank group in South Africa. The researcher selected specific leadership styles for the purpose of thís study (namely the democratic, outocratic and laissez-faire leadership styles) and work satisfaction components (namely support, relationships and empowerment) to carry out thís investigation. A questionnaire was designed which was used as quantitive research instrument to gather research data electronically about respondents’ biographical details, their manager’s leadership style and the perceptions of respondents regarding their own work satisfaction. Ninety-one (91) out of one-hundred-and-thirty-seven (137) respondents completed the questionnaire by email, which represents a response rate of 66.42%. Out of the research and analysis results it became evident that leadership style indeed influenced the perceptions of respondents over each of the work satisfaction components in a statistically significant way. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Volwassene-onderwys)

Text in Afrikaans / Die uitsluitlike doel van die studie was om die navorsingsprobleem, naamlik om vas te stel op watter wyse die leierskapstyl van opleidingsbestuurders die werksbevrediging van opleidingskonsultante beïnvloed wat volwassene-onderwys binne ʼn bepaalde bankgroep in Suid-Afrika verskaf, aan te spreek. Die navorser het bepaalde leierskapstyle (naamlik die demokratiese-, outokratiese- en laissez-faire leierskapstyle) en werksbevredigingskomponente geselekteer (naamlik ondersteuning, verhoudings en bemagtiging) ten einde dié ondersoek te doen. ʼn Vraelys is ontwerp wat as kwantitatiewe navorsingsinstrument gebruik is om navorsingsdata elektronies te versamel oor respondente se biografiese besonderhede, hulle bestuurder se leierskapstyl en respondente se persepsies van hul eie werksbevrediging. Een-en-negentig (91) uit eenhonderd sewe-en-dertig (137) respondente het die vraelys per e-pos voltooi, wat ʼn responskoers van 66.42% verteenwoordig. Uit die navorsingsresultate en -analise het dit geblyk dat leierskapstyl wél die persepsies van respondente oor elk van die werksbevredigingskomponente statisties beduidend beïnvloed het. / The sole aim of this study was to address the research problem, namely to determine the way in which the leadership style of training managers influences the work satisfaction of training consultants that provide adult education within a specific bank group in South Africa. The researcher selected specific leadership styles for the purpose of thís study (namely the democratic, outocratic and laissez-faire leadership styles) and work satisfaction components (namely support, relationships and empowerment) to carry out thís investigation. A questionnaire was designed which was used as quantitive research instrument to gather research data electronically about respondents’ biographical details, their manager’s leadership style and the perceptions of respondents regarding their own work satisfaction. Ninety-one (91) out of one-hundred-and-thirty-seven (137) respondents completed the questionnaire by email, which represents a response rate of 66.42%. Out of the research and analysis results it became evident that leadership style indeed influenced the perceptions of respondents over each of the work satisfaction components in a statistically significant way. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Volwassene-onderwys)

There is relatively little research based on the Big Five personality dimensions and job satisfaction and the relationship thereof. Job satisfaction of employees is a good indication of organizational effectiveness and is influenced by organizational and dispositional factors. The fundamental nature of the dispositional approach is that individuals have stable traits that significantly influence their affective and behavioral reactions to organizational settings. The general objective of this study was to determine the relationship between personality dimensions and job satisfaction of bank employees. A quantitative design was used in the empirical study. The sample consisted of 126 bank employees. The current research found that employees who are high in openness, conscientiousness and low in neuroticism tend to be more satisfied with their job. Agreeableness personality did not have a significant relationship with job satisfaction, while employees with high levels of extraversion had negative significant correlation with job satisfaction. However, overall personality dimensions explained relatively small percentages in the variance of job satisfaction. The findings will aid management institutions in selecting, and retaining employees as higher job satisfaction is linked to higher levels of productivity, effectiveness and commitment. Key words: extroversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness, job satisfaction, bank employees.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship that exists between emotional stability, stress and work-family conflict among Standard Bank female employees. For this purpose data was collected from the female employees of Standard Banks in Alice, Fort Beaufort, King Williams and East London Town’s in the Eastern Cape. A sample of 72 female bank employees was drawn from the population. Neuroticism is the opposite of emotional stability and it was mostly often used in place of emotional stability in the study. Results of the study indicated that all study variables are significantly positively correlated with one another. The findings of this study is helpful in the banking industry in order to design human resources policies which will reduce the work-family conflict and decrease stress for female bank employees and for future research in respective topics. The implications of this study are discussed along with recommendations for future research and professional managerial practice.

Financial services institutions invest in self–service technologies for various reasons. These include the demands to rationalise costs and to meet the channel preferences of a „technology- savvy‟ client base. Some advantages of self–service technologies (“SSTs”) include the optimisation of staff activities and faster and improved customer services. Retail banks experience various migration-related costs when migrating customers to an SST environment; in terms of both branch infrastructure and the development of employee skills. Some customers continue to favour face-to-face service interactions, which necessitates an identification and evaluation of the necessary skills required by employees to facilitate this migration process. This study aims to both identify and classify the requisite skills needed by financial services professionals to enable them to migrate customers from physical to electronic service channels; including ATMs. With the appropriate training and competencies, employees can guide customers more effectively through the migration process in a non-judgemental way. This would, in turn, address the lack of self-service technology understanding among customers in the longer term. The lack of support from skilled service employees has, in many instances, led to customers paying higher transactional fees and experiencing inconvenience at physical channels, thereby resulting in overall lower self-service usage. / Business Management / DBL