Due to globalization and increasing complexity within the business environment, teams have become a way of life for many organizations in order to generate higher performance and sustain competitive advantage. Organizations, however, may fail to fully benefit from teams despite all the investment and efforts that they make. Herein, we believe that a possible way to cope with these failures might be establishing an understanding that individuals’, particularly team members’ need for autonomy within teams through accomplishing self-discipline and managing their emotions and behaviors. Therefore, our purpose in this study is to investigate the relationship between individuals’ emotional intelligence and their self-leadership ability in the context of team performance. In line with this purpose, we find plausible to employ conceptual research approach in order to build an integrated and logical model, with proposed hypotheses, which could be used as a departure point for the researchers and their empirical studies in the future. Through this model, we argue that individuals’ emotional intelligence has a positive impact on the self-leadership ability and its three strategies, which are behavior focus strategy, natural reward strategy, and constructive thought patterns strategy, by managing and regulating one’s own and other’s emotions. Hence, as suggested, the association of emotional intelligence and self-leadership can influence team communication, team trust, team learning and team creativity positively thus it may enhance the overall team performance.

The delivery of quality care has been a priority for the health care industry in the United States. Researchers have established positive correlations between the levels of emotional intelligence of registered nurses and their clinical performances. However, new evidence suggests the need to enhance the use of emotional intelligence (EI) in high-risk clinical units. With the intent to understand the use of EI, a phenomenological research approach was used to identify the emergency room nurse's understanding of EI. The Four-branch Model of Emotional Intelligence was used as the theoretical framework, while the research question identified the emergency room nurse's perception of EI. Eight emergency room nurses from two facilities participated in the study. The inclusion criteria consisted of emergency room nurses with one to ten years of experience, nurses that worked thirty-six hours or more per week, and were not in leadership roles. The data were collected through face-to-face interview sessions and analyzed using the Colaizzi's Method of Data Analysis. All participants reported unfamiliarity with the concept of EI. Nevertheless, evidence that indicated the presence of all elements of this concept such as the ability to perceive emotions, understand emotions, use emotions to enhance reasoning, and manage emotions, were apparent in the stories shared by the nurses. The results of the study indicated a potential influence toward positive social change at the organizational and professional level. The implementation of educational activities to improve the use of this concept and the modification of current health care policies to incorporate emotional intelligence as clinical competencies are actions that can influence positive social change.

The research on Emotional Intelligence (EI) has advanced considerably over the past 20 years because of the construct’s scientific and practical relevance. However, in South Africa, a measurement instrument of EI that is valid, reliable, standardised, has a consistent factor structure, in a homogeneous working sample and that can be utilised for research and practical purposes is still elusive. EI plays a fundamental role in the quality of service rendered by nurses (Murphy & Janeke, 2009). According to Ogillska-Bulik (2005) the ability to manage one’s own emotions, while having the ability to identify others' emotions, is very important in the nursing environment. The Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale (SEIS) has been found as a reliable brief scale for measuring trait EI (Schutte & Malouff, 1998). However, there are different results regarding the factor structure of the S. The first objective of this research study was to conceptualise EI and the factor structure of the SEIS through a literature review. Salovey and Mayer (1990) define EI as a mental ability pertaining to the relationship between emotion and cognition. Other researchers’ definition of EI states that EI is the ability to be conscious of one’s emotions, to evaluate and develop one’s emotions to assist thinking, to comprehend emotions and emotional information, and to manage emotions to sustain emotional and intellectual development in oneself (Bar-On, 2000; Goleman, 1998; Salovey & Mayer 1997). Murphy and Janeke (2009) state it is important that reliable and valid measures of EI must be used in the workplace. Numerous research has been done on the most appropriate, valid and reliable approach for the measurement of EI (Petrides & Furnham, 2000; Van Rooy & Viswesvaran, 2005). The SEIS is the leading brief scale for measuring EI (Petrides & Furnham, 2000). However, there are problems with its factor structures. To summarise: a) Schutte et al. (1998) report a unifactorial structure for the SEIS, b) Austin, Saklofske, Huang, and McKenny (2004) report a three-factor structure. c) Petrides and Furnham (2000); Ciarrochi, Chan, and Bajar (2001); Ciarrochi, Chan, Caputi, and Roberts (2001) and Saklofske, Austin, and Minski (2003) report a four-factor structure. d) Jonker and Vosloo (2009) reported a six-factor structure. The second objective of this study was to investigate the factor structure of the 41-item version of the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale within a South African nursing environment by means of a confirmatory factor analysis. A quantitative research design was used in this study. A cross-sectional survey design was used for this study. An availability non-probability sample (N = 290) was taken from hospitals in the Gauteng and North-West Provinces of South Africa. The Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale was applied as measuring scale. An exploratory factor analysis (principal component analysis) was performed on the data. The data did not fit a unifactor, two-factor or three-factor model based on the model of Austin, Saklofske, Huang, and McKenney (2004). The data fitted the original model of Emotional Intelligence of Mayer and Salovey (1990), best explaining 58.52% of the variance. The results supported a five-factor structure of the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale. The five factors were named: Emotion Utilisation; Emotion Management; Emotion Awareness; Emotion Perceiving and Emotion Integration. Recommendations were made for future research. / Thesis (MCom (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The research on Emotional Intelligence (EI) has advanced considerably over the past 20 years because of the construct’s scientific and practical relevance. However, in South Africa, a measurement instrument of EI that is valid, reliable, standardised, has a consistent factor structure, in a homogeneous working sample and that can be utilised for research and practical purposes is still elusive. EI plays a fundamental role in the quality of service rendered by nurses (Murphy & Janeke, 2009). According to Ogillska-Bulik (2005) the ability to manage one’s own emotions, while having the ability to identify others' emotions, is very important in the nursing environment. The Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale (SEIS) has been found as a reliable brief scale for measuring trait EI (Schutte & Malouff, 1998). However, there are different results regarding the factor structure of the S. The first objective of this research study was to conceptualise EI and the factor structure of the SEIS through a literature review. Salovey and Mayer (1990) define EI as a mental ability pertaining to the relationship between emotion and cognition. Other researchers’ definition of EI states that EI is the ability to be conscious of one’s emotions, to evaluate and develop one’s emotions to assist thinking, to comprehend emotions and emotional information, and to manage emotions to sustain emotional and intellectual development in oneself (Bar-On, 2000; Goleman, 1998; Salovey & Mayer 1997). Murphy and Janeke (2009) state it is important that reliable and valid measures of EI must be used in the workplace. Numerous research has been done on the most appropriate, valid and reliable approach for the measurement of EI (Petrides & Furnham, 2000; Van Rooy & Viswesvaran, 2005). The SEIS is the leading brief scale for measuring EI (Petrides & Furnham, 2000). However, there are problems with its factor structures. To summarise: a) Schutte et al. (1998) report a unifactorial structure for the SEIS, b) Austin, Saklofske, Huang, and McKenny (2004) report a three-factor structure. c) Petrides and Furnham (2000); Ciarrochi, Chan, and Bajar (2001); Ciarrochi, Chan, Caputi, and Roberts (2001) and Saklofske, Austin, and Minski (2003) report a four-factor structure. d) Jonker and Vosloo (2009) reported a six-factor structure. The second objective of this study was to investigate the factor structure of the 41-item version of the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale within a South African nursing environment by means of a confirmatory factor analysis. A quantitative research design was used in this study. A cross-sectional survey design was used for this study. An availability non-probability sample (N = 290) was taken from hospitals in the Gauteng and North-West Provinces of South Africa. The Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale was applied as measuring scale. An exploratory factor analysis (principal component analysis) was performed on the data. The data did not fit a unifactor, two-factor or three-factor model based on the model of Austin, Saklofske, Huang, and McKenney (2004). The data fitted the original model of Emotional Intelligence of Mayer and Salovey (1990), best explaining 58.52% of the variance. The results supported a five-factor structure of the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale. The five factors were named: Emotion Utilisation; Emotion Management; Emotion Awareness; Emotion Perceiving and Emotion Integration. Recommendations were made for future research. / Thesis (MCom (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Canterbury, 2008. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-134). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (MA (Industrial Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Several years of research have been dedicated to investigating the question of why intelligent and experienced leaders are not always successful in spite of having high levels of cognitive intelligence (IQ) and the suitable personality traits. Emotional Intelligence (EI) gained considerable popularity from the notion that it may underlie various aspects of workplace performance that could not be accounted for by IQ or personality and that it could be developed in promising individuals. Adjunct to this, the field of Positive Organisational Scholarship underscored the importance of cultivating positive emotions in individual organizational members and others, not just as end-states in themselves, but also as a means to achieving individual and organizational transformation; and hence optimal functioning over time. The Swinburne University Emotional Intelligence Test (SUEIT) is one of numerous models and measures of EI that have consequently been developed. The development of this measure was aimed at providing an assessment of the most definitive dimensions of the construct by incorporating six of the predominant models and measures into the development of EI to provide an assessment of the most definitive dimensions of the construct. The current study was aimed at addressing the need for evidence in support of a self-report EI measures’ utility to predict e.g. effective organizational leadership over and above other established constructs. Specifically the study aimed to provide support for the utility of the SUEIT to predict variance in leadership competence indicated by Assessment Centre (AC) technology results, not accounted for by other psychometric tools, namely the Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ32i), measuring personality. One of the biggest issues currently facing measures of EI is the discriminant validity from measures of personality. Research was necessary to add to the body of knowledge with regards to the relationship between EI and effective leadership, and to provide support for the incremental validity of an EI measure to predict effective leadership over and above other well-established models and measures. The theoretical arguments that underlie the rationale for this study are encapsulated in the conceptual claims made about EI and organizational leadership, the IQ-EI debate as it pertains to leadership and the relationship between EI and effective leadership (i.e. the discriminant, predictive and incremental validity of EI related to organizational leadership). The constructs of EI, personality and AC leadership competencies were operationalised through the SUEIT, OPQ32i and leadership AC technology, respectively. The sample consisted of 49 < N < 112 (variation in the sample size was due to varying amount of missing cases in the different analyses done) middle managers from a company in the life assurance industry in South Africa. OPQ32i and AC data was extracted from archival records and EI data was collected on a separate occasion by means of an online version of the SUEIT. A controlled inquiry of non-experimental kind was followed and correlational and multivariate data analysis procedures were employed, using the SPSS (version 12) statistical package. The data analysis was aimed at determining whether relationships exist between the participants’ scores on the different competencies as rated by means of the leadership AC technology and the dimensions measured by the psychometric instruments. It was also aimed towards finding evidence for the incremental validity of the SUEIT over the OPQ32i in predicting leadership competencies. The results demonstrated the existence of various relationships between EI (as measured by the SUEIT) and specific leadership competencies measured by the AC technology employed by the sponsoring organisation. Adjunct to this, partial evidence has been obtained in support of the predictive validity of EI as operationalised by the SUEIT. In several instances it was found that there are overlap in the measurement of the underlying latent constructs by the different personality and EI dimensions from which such results were inferred. In order to compare these findings (with regards to the overlap between EI and personality traits) with previous research, conceptual links were drawn with other EI and personality measures used (e.g. the Bar-On EQi and NEO-FFI). Expected conceptual and theoretical equivalence in the measurement of personality and EI were confirmed. However, evidence for the incremental validity of the SUEIT (and specifically different dimensions thereof) was still found for most of the leadership competencies. Based on the results it can be assumed that the SUEIT predicted scores on the examined leadership competencies when a measure of personality, namely the OPQ32i (already employed for this purpose) was controlled for. The results added to the understanding of what characteristics leaders in the sponsoring organization should possess to enable them and the organisation to be successful. The results provide preliminary evidence that the SUEIT could be useful to organizational decision makers, who need to select leaders that competently display leadership behaviours. It also provides preliminary evidence that EI and the SUEIT should be viewed as a useful construct and tool. The use of archival data introduced several limitations to the study and will be discussed with suggestions for future research.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An exploratory study, conducted in a clothing manufacturing plant, investigated the presence of a single psychological climate in an organisation, as well as the relationship between two increasingly important constructs namely: leader emotional intelligence and the psychological climate of an organisation. Of a total employee population of 1725 a sample of 600 participants were drawn. 297 Completed responses were returned for analyses. An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted on both The Swinburne University Emotional Intelligence Test (SUEIT), which is designed to measure emotional intelligence, and the Organisational Climate Questionnaire of Koys and DeCotiis, which measures psychological climate. Stepwise discriminant analysis provided evidence to accept the proposition that a single psychological climate existed in the organisation. The results of a Pearson correlation analysis, multiple regression and discriminant analysis indicated that emotional intelligence is significantly, positively related to psychological climate as a dependant variable. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Eksploratiewe studie is onderneem in 'n klere vervaardigingsonderneming om ondersoek in te stel na die aanwesigheid van 'n enkel sielkundige klimaat, asook die verwantskap tussen twee belangrike konstrukte, naamlik emosionele intelligensie en sielkundige klimaat in 'n organisasie. 'n Steekproef van 600 deelnemers is geneem uit 'n populasie van 1725 waarvan 297 voltooide antwoorde ontvang en geanaliseer is. 'n Eksploratiewe Faktor Analise (EFA) is op beide die Swinburne Universiteit Emosionele Intelligensie Toets (SUIET), en die Organisasie Klimaat Vraelys van Koys en De Cotiis, wat onderskeidelik emosionele intelligensie en sielkundige klimaat meet, uitgevoer. Bewyse deur middel van stapsgewyse diskriminante analise is ingewin om die hipotese te aanvaar dat 'n enkel sielkundige klimaat in die organisasie aanwesig is. Die resultate van 'n Pearson korrelasie, meervoudige regressie en diskrimante analise het aangedui dat emosionele intelligensie beduidend, positief verwant is aan sielkundige klimaat as 'n afhanklike veranderlike.

The topic of emotional intelligence (EQ) and organisational culture has attracted considerable interest from both academics and practitioners for many years. Much of the interest in the two areas is based on explicit and implicit claims that both leader's emotional intelligence and organisational culture are linked to organisational performance. However, while the links between emotional intelligence and organisational performance and between organisational culture and organisational performance have been examined independently, few studies have investigated the association among the three concepts. This study examines the nature of this relationship and presents empirical evidence that suggests there is a complex relationship between emotional intelligence, organisational culture and organisational performance. The study concludes with implications for theory and practice. / Graduate SBL / D.B.L.

no abstract available / Teacher Education / M.Ed. (Specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)

This research focused on engineers in the high technology industry as a distinct population that remains understudied in research on workplace emotional intelligence (EI). A mixed-method field study was used to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and team effectiveness in engineering teams in a global high-tech organization. The study population was 27 self-directed, global software development engineering teams whose work was structured using Agile / Scrum methodology. Team member EI was measured through use of the short form Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire. Group emotional intelligence was measured through use of the Team EI Survey, which assesses team norms that support group-level emotional intelligence. Team effectiveness was measured via surveys completed by both team members and their managers. Findings revealed the study population of engineers had significantly higher mean levels of individual trait EI and their teams had significantly higher group-level EI scores than the overall populations in the survey databases for both instruments. Individual trait EI and group-level EI were found to be significantly positively correlated with one another at the overall mean level and among many of their dimensions. Team member ratings of team effectiveness were shown to have a significant positive correlation with group-level EI, while manager ratings of team effectiveness showed an inverse, negative (although not significant) relationship. Qualitative responses from both managers and team members stated a strong valuing of emotionally-intelligent behaviors and norms as enablers of successful team performance. Consistent with the data, comments also suggested a strong connection between the practices of the Agile / Scrum methodology and the development and reinforcement of individual trait EI and group-level EI norms. Implications for practice include establishing a common definition of team effectiveness across managers and team members. Findings also support the development and use of group-level emotional intelligence norms for engineering teams. Further research is recommended to explore the relationship between use of the Agile/Scrum methodology and individual and group emotional intelligence. This study contributes to the literature on emotional intelligence and team effectiveness, particularly for self-directed engineering teams using the Agile / Scrum methodology.