This research examined the effect of downsizing on the stress-related perceptions and work-related attitudes and behaviors of employees of a school food service organization. A major purpose of this study was to investigate individual level responses according to the severity of the downsizing. The research also examined the relationships between employees' stress-related perceptions and their work-related attitudes and behaviors, and the moderating effect of demographic factors on these relationships. Data for this research was collected from 527 cafeteria employees from 87 campuses of the focal organization. The results indicated that downsizing severity, expressed as the percentage of school cafeteria labor hour reductions during the past year, had little impact on employees' subjective interpretations or their attitudinal and behavioral responses. There was also a significant and positive relationship between downsizing severity and the campus-level productivity, as measured by the increase in meals served per labor hour. The results indicated no significant relationships between perceived job insecurity and employee attitudinal and behavioral reactions. However, significant and positive relationships were reported between employee role stress, as measured through role conflict and role ambiguity, and their work-related attitudes and behaviors. The correlations between perceived job insecurity and selected demographic variables were found to be either insignificant or contrary to predictions. / Ph. D.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine whether hope as a personal resource moderates the relationships between job burnout and frontline bank employees' in-role and extra-role performances. Design/methodology/approach: Frontline employees of several banks throughout the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus serve as the study setting. Findings: Results of the study reveal that burnout is significantly related to frontline employees' in-role and extra-role performances and that hope moderates these relationships. Research limitations/implications: Though common method bias does not appear to be a potential threat to the magnitude of relationships, in future studies using multiple-informants (e.g. performance data from supervisors or customers) would be useful. In addition, replication studies among front employees in other countries would be beneficial for further generalizations. Practical implications: Management of the banks should consider the personality traits of the individuals during the selection process. This is important, since hope reduces the detrimental impact of burnout on performance outcomes. Management should also retain employees high in hope, because such employees can create a positive work environment and serve as role models to their colleagues with low hope. Originality/value: Empirical research in the banks services literature pertaining to the effect of hope on extra-role performance and hope as a moderator of the impact of burnout on in-role and extra-role performances is scarce. Therefore, this study adds to the literature in this research stream by investigating the aforementioned relationships.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine whether hope as a personal resource moderates the relationships between job burnout and frontline bank employees' in-role and extra-role performances. Design/methodology/approach: Frontline employees of several banks throughout the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus serve as the study setting. Findings: Results of the study reveal that burnout is significantly related to frontline employees' in-role and extra-role performances and that hope moderates these relationships. Research limitations/implications: Though common method bias does not appear to be a potential threat to the magnitude of relationships, in future studies using multiple-informants (e.g. performance data from supervisors or customers) would be useful. In addition, replication studies among front employees in other countries would be beneficial for further generalizations. Practical implications: Management of the banks should consider the personality traits of the individuals during the selection process. This is important, since hope reduces the detrimental impact of burnout on performance outcomes. Management should also retain employees high in hope, because such employees can create a positive work environment and serve as role models to their colleagues with low hope. Originality/value: Empirical research in the banks services literature pertaining to the effect of hope on extra-role performance and hope as a moderator of the impact of burnout on in-role and extra-role performances is scarce. Therefore, this study adds to the literature in this research stream by investigating the aforementioned relationships.

LD2668 .T4 1942 B315

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1978 M35 / Master of Arts

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1979 O433 / Master of Science

Syfte: Förutom att undersöka identifierade aspekters påverkan på medarbetares upplevelser i en organisationsförändring, är syftet också att visa på vilka drivkrafter och/eller hinder som medarbetarna upplever för att ur ett praktiskt syfte kunna bistå chefer och ledningsgrupper inom andra kommuner. Metod: Studien har utgått från en kvalitativ forskningsstrategi. Studien utgår från en hermeneutisk utgångspunkt med induktiva inslag. Teoretisk referensram: Teorin består av forskning gällande organisationsförändring och identifierade aspekter som påverkar medarbetare under förändringar (Ledarskap, kommunikation, delaktighet). Analys: De olika aspekterna interagerar med varandra och sammanfaller i många avseenden. Slutsats: Ingen av de tre utvalda aspekterna kan med fördel isoleras från de andra för att styra medarbetarnas upplevelse av en organisationsförändring. Vi vill också hävda att ingen av de tre aspekterna skulle bära mindre tyngd än de övriga när det gäller deras effekt på medarbetarens upplevelse av organisationsförändringen inom kommun x.

The purpose of the research was to investigate the relationship between organisational commitment and work performance in an Agricultural company. Allen and Meyer's Organisational Commitment Questionnaire was used as well as the organisation's verbal performance rating tool. The Organisational Commitment Questionnaire was completed by a sample from the organisation and the performance ratings of the employees in the sample were used as comparison. A positive relationship between the two constructs was established while no statistically significant relationship could be established. Further research in this field is suggested in the South African context. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A.(Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

This is a conceptual dissertation which addresses itself to the criticism that the social systems framework is highly abstract and theoretical, and as such relevant only to academics and specialists. The primary purpose of this paper is to operationalise the social system framework, to illustrate its application and to highlight its unique potential. It represents an attempt to enlarge, even redefine, the frameworks used for studying and transforming organisations. In order to best highlight the differences between the social systems framework and other models implicit in traditional approaches, a specific component of organisation reality is focused on, namely the performance appraisal. After discussing and illustrating the models behind most research on the topic, an alternative holistic framework for performance appraisal is sketched. Following this, an actual performance improvement intervention is described in a case study. This provides a practical illustration of the points made in the paper. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial Psychology)

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Business Administration, Business Studies Unit, Durban University of Technology, 2008. / This paper examines the issue of job satisfaction within a freight forwarding company. The widespread dissatisfaction coupled with high staff turnover has necessitated a study of this nature. Due to the broad nature of this topic, this study focused specifically on company factors with the intention of determining which of these factors, if at all, were primarily responsible for the dissatisfaction that was prevalent. Company factors, upon which the study was based, were identified to try to assist management understand the full extent of the dissatisfaction. The intention was to identify the specific company factors that were contributing to the dissatisfaction in order to help curb the high level of staff turnover within the company. The study was conducted as staff were leaving at an alarming rate without the necessary steps being taken to address the problem. The methodology that was used was to send out a questionnaire to a broad section of the staff where the company factors were outlined and staff had to rate their level of satisfaction. The results that were obtained outlined which of these company factors contributed to the dissatisfaction that was prevalent. It zoned in on the important issues that needed to be addressed as opposed to addressing issues that were not as important. There were some distinct patterns that were found in the data. None of the factors investigated scored ratings of 4 or 5 (satisfied or highly satisfied) and the results showed a general dissatisfaction within the company. This research is an invaluable source of information not only to this company, but to other freight forwarding companies to prepare them for similar problems that they may encounter within their companies. It is envisaged that companies who take heed of the findings will not experience high levels of dissatisfaction as well as high staff turnover but they would retain their personnel especially their skilled workforce.