Thesis (PhD (Industrial Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005 / South African organisations have to survive in an increasingly competitive and globalised environment. Many believe that South African organisations are ill prepared for these challenges, based on the fact that many organisations are plagued by low productivity, low levels of trust between employees and employers, as well as low levels of organisational commitment, effectiveness and efficiency. Solutions must be found for these problems and the present study offers one such solution. Organisational citizenship behaviour is essentially pro-social organisational behaviour that is characterised by going beyond what is expected in role requirements or role descriptions and is seen as a key driver of individual and organisational performance. Furthermore, an organisation’s ability to elicit organisational citizenship behaviour is believed to be a vital asset that is difficult for competitors to imitate and which provides the organisation with a competitive advantage. Having completed a literature study concerning possible antecedents of organisational citizenship behaviour, and taking into account various suggested future directions for organisational citizenship behaviour research, it was decided that the present study would focus on five variables: three variables that are characteristic of employees, and two that are characteristic of the management or leadership in the organisation. The primary goal of the present study was to design and conduct a scientific investigation that would attempt to determine the relationships between leader emotional intelligence, transformational leadership, trust, meaning intention to quit, and organisational citizenship behaviour, as well as to further determine the role that these five constructs play in influencing organisational citizenship behaviour. A study of the available literature was made to learn as much as possible about each of these six constructs and to determine what is known about the relationships that exist between them. The knowledge gained from the literature study was used to propose several hypotheses and a conceptual model explaining the relationships between these constructs. The relationships and the conceptual model were then empirically tested, using various (mostly confirmatory) statistical methods. This makes the present study confirmatory in nature. Existing measuring instruments were used to measure each of the constructs in a South African sample (n=496). This sample represented a wide range of organisations. Each of the measuring instruments (excepting the intention to quit scale) was subjected to a double cross-validation Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis procedure to test its construct validity. Internal reliability was determined for all of the instruments and their subscales. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis and internal reliability results were then compared to those obtained when the original measurement model was studied, using these same methods (i.e. Confirmatory Factor Analysis and internal reliability) and the data from the present sample. It was found, in all cases, that the derived factorial configuration differed, in some to a lesser degree and in others radically, from that proposed by the original author/s. It was also found that the EFA-derived measurement models and configurations had a better fit to the data than the original measurement model and its configuration. Once the criteria for construct validity and internal reliability were satisfied, the rest of the statistical analyses could be conducted. The next step was to test the hypotheses concerning the individual relationships that made up the conceptual model. Pearson correlations and Standard Multiple Regression was used to study these bivariate relationships. Several indirect or mediating relationships followed from these direct relationships and these were tested using Path Analysis. In a similar vein, four prediction hypotheses were formulated from the conceptual model and these were also tested, using Standard Multiple Regression. Lastly, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to see to what extent the conceptual model fitted the data obtained from the sample and to test the relationships between the constructs when taking the complete conceptual model into account. Both trust and meaning were found to individually mediate the relationships between transformational leadership and organisational citizenship behaviour, and leader emotional intelligence and organisational citizenship behaviour. The relationship between leader emotional intelligence and organisational citizenship behaviour was further found to be mediated by transformational leadership and trust, while this relationship was also found to be mediated by transformational leadership and meaning. No significant direct relationships could be found between leader emotional intelligence and organisational citizenship behaviour, or between transformational leadership and both organisational citizenship behaviour and intention to quit. No significant correlation was found between intention to quit and organisational citizenship behaviour either. This meant that several postulated mediating hypotheses could not be corroborated. The SEM result shows that the conceptual model did not fit the data very well, therefore an alternative model was recommended. The results in essence show that effective leaders who are emotionally intelligent and make use of the transformational leadership style can positively influence trust and meaning among followers. This, in turn, will motivate followers to display organisational citizenship behaviour and reduce their intention to quit. These are believed to positively influence organisational effectiveness and performance. Further conclusions were drawn from the obtained results and recommendations are made for future studies. New insights were gained through the results and it is believed that the present study has contributed to the field of organisational psychology and Industrial Psychology in general, on both the academic and the practioner level.

Thesis (PhD (Industrial Pshychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / A study of the literature revealed that the content and the structure of several constructs that are used in research in the framework of Positive Organisational Behaviour are subject to doubt. It also became clear that the relationship between the constructs (servant leadership, trust, team commitment, and unit effectiveness) could profitably be investigated further. A study to obtain more clarity about these aspects was therefore planned and executed. In order to conduct this exploratory survey research, an electronic web-based questionnaire was used as the method of data gathering. The questionnaire was programmed and posted for a period of three weeks on the portal of the company where the survey was conducted. A total of 531 respondents from the vehicle sales division of the particular organisation participated in the study. Sales persons (n=417) who were working in 100 dealerships in the automobile business completed three questionnaires. The three questionnaires were the rater version of the Servant Leadership Questionnaire of Barbuto and Wheeler (a self-report version also exists), the Workplace Trust Survey developed by Ferres, the Team Commitment Survey of Bennett. The sales persons assessed the level of servant leadership of their superiors (sales managers) and their own levels of trust and of team commitment. The sales managers (n=114) assessed the effectiveness of the sales persons who reported to them by completing the Team Effectiveness Questionnaire developed by Larson and LaFasto. The Directors who were responsible for the marketing of the products of the organisation completed an internal questionnaire on the performance of the sales function in the dealerships. Answers were sought to five research questions, dealing with the content of the constructs, their configurations, their interrelations and biographic and organisational variables that could possibly have an influence on the constructs.

Dissertation (D.Phil.) -- University of Stellenbosch, 1999. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The conditions under which selection procedures are typically validated and those prevailing at the eventual use of a selection procedure normally differ to a sufficient extent to challenge the relevance of the validation research evidence. Statistical corrections to the validity coefficient are generally available. The remainder of the argument in terms of which a selection procedure is developed and justified could, however, also be biased by any discrepancy between the conditions under which the selection procedure is simulated and those prevailing at the eventual use of the selection procedure. Relatively little concern, however, seem to exist for the transportability of the decision function derived from the selection simulation or the descriptions/ assessments of selection decision utility and fairness. This seems to be a somewhat strange state of affairs. The external validity problems with validation designs are reasonably well documented. It is thus not as if the psychometric literature is unaware of the problem of generalizing validation study research fmdings to the eventual area of application. The decision function is probably the pivot of the selection procedure in that it firstly captures the underlying performance theory, but more importantly from a practical perspective, because it guides the actual accept and reject choices of applicants. Restricting the statistical corrections to the validity coefficient would leave the decision function unaltered even though it might also be distorted by the same factors affecting the validity coefficient. Basically the same logic also applies to the evaluation of the decision rule in terms of selection utility and fairness. Correcting only the validity coefficient would leave the "bottom-line" evaluation of the selection procedure unaltered. Restricting the statistical corrections to the validity coefficient basically means that practically speaking nothing really changes. The fundamental research objective is to determine whether any discrepancy between the conditions under which the selection procedure is simulated and those prevailing at the eventual use of the selection procedure produces bias in estimates required to specify and justify the procedure; to delineate appropriate statistical corrections of the validity coefficient, decision rule and descriptions/ assessments of selection decision utility and -1< fairness, required to align the contexts of evaluation/validation and application; and to determine whether the corrections should be applied in validation research. The study provides no unqualified answers to the question whether corrections for various forms of range restriction and/ or criterion unreliability should be applied to the validity coefficient, the standard error of the validity coefficient or the parameters of the regression of the criterion on the predictor. Under specific conditions the corrections do affect decisions on the validity of performance hypotheses due to its effect on decisions on the significance of the uncorrected versus the corrected validity coefficient. Under specific conditions the corrections do affect decisions on applicants, especially when selection decisions are not restricted by selection quotas, due to its effect on the slope and intercept parameters of the regression of Y on X, and/ or due to its effect on the standard error of estimate. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die toestande waaronder keuringsprosedures tipes gevalideer word en die toestande waaronder die prosedure uiteindelik gebruik word, verskil normaalweg tot so 'n mate dat die relevansie van die bevindinge in die gedrang kom. Statistiese korreksies vir die geldigheidskoeffisient is algemeen beskikbaar. Die res van die argument in terme waarvan 'n keuringsprosedure ontwikkel en regverdig word kan egter ook verwring word deur dieselfde verskille tussen die toestande waaronder die keuringsprosedure gesimuleer word en die waaronder die prosedure uiteindelik gebruik word. Relatief min kommer bestaan skynbaar egter ten opsigte van die oordraagbaarheid van die besluitnemingsfunksie wat onder die gesimuleerde toestande ontwikkel is of ten opsigte van die verkree beskrywings van nut en billikheid. Hierdie toedrag van sake val ietwat vreemd op. Die eksteme geldigheidprobleme geassosieer met validasie-ontwerpe is redelik goed gedokumenteer. Dit is dus nie asof die psigometrika-literatuur onbewus is van die probleem wat by die veralgemening van resultate van geldigheidstudies ter sprake is nie. Die besluitnemingsfunksie is waarskynlik die spil waarom die keuringsprosedure draai daarin dat dit die onderliggende prestasie-teorie vergestalt, maar meer belangrik, daarin dat dit die daadwerklike aanvaarding en verwerping van applikante bepaal. Indien statistiese korreksies tot die geldigheidskoeffisient beperk word bly die besluitnemingsfunksie onveranderd, alhoewel dit ook moontlik verwring mag word deur dieselfde faktore wat sydigheid in die geldigheidskoeffisient te weeg bring. Dieselfde logika geld ook ten opsigte van die evaluasie van die besluitnemingsfunksie in terme van nut en billikheid. Indien slegs die geldigheidskoeffisient gekorrigeer word bly d.e "bottom-line" evaluasie van die keuringsprosedure onveranderd. Prakties gesproke dus, verander niks indien statistiese korreksies tot die geldigheidskoeffisient beperk word. Die fundamentele navorsingsdoelstelling is om vas te stel of verskille tussen die toestande waaronder die keuringsprosedure gevalideer word, en die toestande waaronder die prosedure uiteindelik gebruik word, sydigheid te weeg bring in die maatstawwe wat vereis word om die keuringsprosedure te spesifiseer en te regverdig; om toepaslike statistiese korreksies vir die geldigheidskoeffisient, besluitnnemingsreel en beskrywings van nut en billikheid af te lei ten einde die kontekste van simulasie/ validasie en toepassing te versoen; en om vas te stel of sodanige korreksies wel in validasie-navorsing toegepas behoort te word. Die studie verskaf geen ongekwalifiseerde antwoord op die vraag of korreksies vir die verskeie vorms van variansie-inperking en/ of kriterium onbetroubaarheid op die geldigheidskoeffisient, die standaardfout van die geldigheidskoefisient of die parameters van die regressie van die kriterium op die voorspeller toegepas behoort te word nie. Die korreksies affekteer wel besluite aangaande die geldigheid van prestasiehipoteses onder spesifieke toestande. Die korreksies het ook onder bepaalde toestande 'n effek op besluite aangaande applikante deur hul effek op die regressiekoeffisiente en/ of die standaardskattingsfout.

Thesis (DPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 1977. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: see item for full text / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: sien item vir volteks.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Organisations attempt to select employees that will make an effective contribution towards organisational performance. Traditionally, the emphasis was on selecting new staff on the basis of cognitive and behavioural attributes, which are linked to positive constructs such as technical competence, involvement, commitment and productivity. More recently, the domain of staff selection has widened to include the selection of individuals who would avoid counterproductive work behaviours. Based on previous studies, this study investigated the three most dominant constructs in this domain, i.e. personality, integrity and counterproductive work behaviour. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between selected personality dimensions and integrity, and how these personality dimensions and integrity are related to counterproductive work behaviour. Based on the existing literature, a theoretical model depicting how these constructs are related to one another was developed and a number of hypotheses were formulated. The data for this study were obtained via questionnaires from a non-probability sample in the South African retail and security industries. The total sample size consisted of 1176 non-managerial employees and job applicants. The postulated relationships were empirically tested using various statistical methods. Reliability analyses were done on all the measurement scales and adequate reliability was found. The content and structure of the measured constructs were investigated by means of confirmatory, and where necessary, exploratory factor analyses. The results indicated that reasonable fit was achieved for all the refined measurement models. Subsequently, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to determine the extent to which the conceptual model fitted the data obtained from the sample and to test the relationships between the constructs. In line with previous research, the results indicated positive relationships between conscientiousness and integrity, and adjustment and integrity. Negative relationships between neuroticism and integrity and fearfulness and integrity were found. Contrary to the literature, agreeableness showed a negative relationship with integrity and external locus of control and personalised power showed non-significant relationships with integrity. In line with the literature, positive relationships were found between neuroticism and counterproductive work behaviour, external locus of control and counterproductive work behaviour, personalised power and counterproductive behaviour. Negative relationships were found between conscientiousness and counterproductive work behaviour, and integrity and counterproductive work behaviour. Contrary to the literature, positive relationships were found between adjustment and counterproductive work behaviour, and agreeableness and fearfulness showed non-significant relationships with counterproductive work behaviour. The present study contributes meaningfully to existing literature on personality, integrity and counterproductive work behaviour by providing insights into the nature of the relationships amongst these constructs. The study also specifies practical implications to be considered by management in order to enhance integrity behaviour and to reduce counterproductive behaviour in organisations. The limitations and recommendations provide additional insights and opportunities to be explored through future studies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Organisasies poog om werknemers aan te stel wat ‘n doeltreffende bydrae tot organisatoriese werkverrigting sal lewer. Voorheen was die klem hoofsaaklik op die keuring van personeel aan die hand van positiewe konstrukte soos vakkundige bedrewenheid, sowel as kognitiewe en gedragseienskappe, byvoorbeeld betrokkenheid, verbondenheid en produktiwiteit. Die fokusgebied van personeelkeuring het egter onlangs verder uitgebrei sodat teen-produktiewe werksgedrag as ‘n bykomende konstruk ingesluit is. Hierdie studie fokus op die drie mees prominente konstrukte op hierdie terrein, naamlik persoonlikheid, integriteit en teen-produktiewe werksgedrag. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die verwantskap tussen bepaalde persoonlikheidsfaktore en integriteit te ondersoek en vas te stel hoe die gekose persoonlikheidsfaktore en integriteit met teen-produktiewe werksgedrag verband hou. ‘n Teoretiese model wat aandui hoe die verskillende konstrukte met mekaar verband hou, is op grond van die bevindings wat in bestaande literatuur vervat is, ontwikkel. Verskeie hipoteses is geformuleer. Die data vir hierdie studie is deur middel van vraelyste ingesamel. ‘n Nie-waarskynlikheidsteekproef in die Suid-Afrikaanse kleinhandel- en veiligheidsektore is gebruik. Die totale steekproef het bestaan uit 1176 persone in nie-bestuursposte asook werkaansoekers. Die gepostuleerde verwantskappe en die konseptuele model is empiries met behulp van verskeie statistiese metodes getoets. Betroubaarheidsontleding van die relevante meetinstrumente is gedoen en voldoende betroubaarheid is gevind. Die inhoud sowel as die struktuur van die konstrukte is ontleed aan die hand van bevestigende en, waar nodig, verkennende faktorontleding. Die resultate het redelike goeie passings vir al die hersiene metingsmodelle getoon. Vervolgens is Struktuur-Vergelykings-Modellering (SVM) aangewend om te bepaal in hoeverre die konseptuele model die data pas, en om die verwantskappe tussen die verskillende konstrukte te toets. Ooreenkomstig vorige navorsing is positiewe verwantskappe gevind tussen toegewydheid en integriteit, en tussen aanpassing en integriteit; negatiewe verwantskappe tussen neurotisisme en integriteit, en vrees en integriteit; positiewe verwantskappe tussen neurotisisme en teen-produktiewe werksgedrag, eksterne lokus van kontrole en teen-produktiewe werksgedrag; verpersoonlikte mag en teen-produktiewe werksgedrag; negatiewe verwantskappe tussen toegewydheid en teen-produktiewe werksgedrag, en integriteit en teen-produktiewe werksgedrag. Teenstrydig met vorige navorsing is ‘n negatiewe verwantskap gevind tussen inskiklikheid en integriteit. Ook teenstrydig met vorige navorsing is onbeduidende verwantskappe gevind tussen inskiklikheid en teen-produktiewe werksgedrag, eksterne lokus van kontrole sowel as verpersoonlikte mag en integriteit, asook tussen inskiklikheid, vrees, en teen-produktiewe werksgedrag, en aanpassing en teen-produktiewe werksgedrag. Hierdie studie vul die bestaande literatuur aan ten opsigte van persoonlikheid, integriteit en teen-produktiewe werksgedrag deurdat dit insig verskaf betreffende die aard van die verband tussen hierdie konstrukte. Die studie noem ook praktiese implikasies wat deur bestuur oorweeg kan word om bestuurspraktyke te verbeter ten einde integriteitsgedrag te verhoog, asook teen-produktiewe werksgedrag te verminder. Die beperkings van die studie wat uitgelig word en aanbevelings wat gemaak word, verskaf bykomende insig en moontlikhede wat in toekomstige navorsing ondersoek kan word.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Pay satisfaction is an essential aim in any company’s reward system, since various studies indicate that it affects employee job performance. With limited resources and restricted capacity to increase pay, firms require a better understanding of how employee pay satisfaction develops and how employee work-related behaviour is affected by pay satisfaction. The purpose of this study was threefold: First, to investigate the relationship between actual pay and pay satisfaction, and second, to explore the effect that pay motivation dimensions derived from expectancy theory (Vroom, 1964) — pay valence and pay instrumentality — have on this relationship. Lastly, the study aimed to explore the relative effects of these objective (pay) and subjective (pay perceptions) variables on employee job performance. Self-report survey data of managerial employees (N = 177) from a South African retail organisation were collected, along with supervisor ratings of job performance and objective actual pay data, for each participant. The Pay Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ) and a selfdeveloped Pay Valence and Instrumentality Questionnaire (PVIQ) were administered through an intranet-based survey. Data were analysed with a variety of statistical techniques. Descriptive statistics were used to assess underlying assumptions of the multivariate analysis techniques used to analyse the research data, and to describe the central tendency and dispersion of study variables. Pearson product moment correlations were calculated to assess bivariate relationships. Standard multiple regression analysis was utilised to assess the joint relationship between IVs and DVs, and relative weights analysis (RWA) to assess the relative importance of IVs within respective regression models. Moderated multiple regression (MMR) analysis was used to examine possible moderator effects. To determine whether mediating (indirect) influences were present, normal theory and bootstrap estimates of indirect effects were obtained. In this research, selected antecedents and consequences of pay satisfaction were investigated. Regarding antecedents of pay satisfaction, the results suggested that actual pay had a small but significant effect on pay satisfaction, but not pay valence, nor pay instrumentality. Pay motivation perceptions (pay valence and pay instrumentality) neither moderated, nor mediated, the relationship between pay and pay satisfaction. The consequences of pay perceptions, in conjunction with actual pay, were also assessed. Pay satisfaction had no statistically significant relationship with job performance (p > .05), although actual pay had a moderate association with job performance. Although pay perceptions slightly incremented the validity of predicting performance from actual pay itself, this increment was not statistically significant (p < .05). In summary, the present research highlights the central role of actual pay in influencing pay satisfaction and job performance, but questions still remain about the way in which performance results from pay, since pay satisfaction did not mediate this relationship. The implications for future research are discussed and recommendations for research are made. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vergoedingstevredenheid is noodsaaklike doelwit in maatskappy se vergoedingsisteem en verskeie studies toon hoe dit werksprestasie van werknemers positief beïnvloed. Aangesien maatskappye oor beperkte hulpbronne en kapasiteit beskik om vergoeding te verhoog, word ‘n beter begrip vereis oor hoe werknemers se gedrag deur vergoedingstevredenheid beïnvloed word. Die doel van hierdie studie was drieledig: eerstens, om die verband tussen werklike vergoeding en vergoedingstevredenheid te ondersoek, en tweedens, om die effek van vergoedingsmotiveringsdimensies — afgelei van die verwagtingsteorie (Vroom, 1964), naamlik betalingsvalensie en betalingsinstrumentaliteit — en die verband te ondersoek. Derdens, om die invloed van hierdie objektiewe (vergoeding) en subjektiewe (vergoedingspersepsies) veranderlikes op werknemerprestasie te ondersoek. Die data is in Suid-Afrikaanse kleinhandelsonderneming versamel. Die volgende inligting is bekom van deelnemers: selfrapporteringsdata vanaf werknemers in bestuursposte (N = 177), werksprestasiebeoordelings deur hul onderskeie toesighouers, asook objektiewe werklike vergoedingsvlakke vir elke respondent. Die Vergoedingstevredenheidsvraelys en die selfontwikkelde Betalingsvalensie- en Instrumentaliteitvraelys is deur intranetopname geadministreer. Die data is met behulp van verskeidenheid statistiese tegnieke ontleed. Beskrywende statistiek is gebruik om die onderliggende aannames van meerveranderlike analise in die navorsingsdata te evalueer, en die sentrale neiging en verspreiding van die studieveranderlikes te beskryf. Pearsonprodukkorrelasiestatistiek is gebruik om die beduidendheid van die hipoteses rakende tweeveranderlike korrelasies te evalueer. Standaard meervoudige regressie-analise is gebruik om die gesamentlike verwantskap tussen onafhanklike veranderlikes en afhanklike veranderlikes te evalueer. Relatiewegewigte-analise (RWA) was gebruik om die relatiewe belangrikheid van onafhanklike veranderlikes, binne die onderskeie modelle, te evalueer. Gemodereerde meervoudige regressie-(MMR)-analise is gebruik om die moontlike bemiddelende uitwerking van veranderlikes te ondersoek. Normale teorie en “bootstrap”-raming van die indirekte invloede van veranderlikes is verkry om die moontlike mediëring van verbandskappe te evalueer. In hierdie navorsing is die voorafgaande faktore, sowel as die gevolge van, vergoedingstevredenheid ondersoek. Wat die oorsake van vergoedingstevredenheid betref, het die resultate aangedui dat werklike vergoedingsvlakke klein, maar wel statisties beduidende uitwerking het op vergoedingstevredenheid, terwyl betalingsvalensie en betalingsinstrumentaliteit geen beduidende uitwerking getoon het nie. Verder toon die resultate dat die verband tussen betaling en vergoedingstevredenheid word nie deur vergoedingsmotiveringspersepsies (betalingsvalensie en betalingsinstrumentaliteit) bemiddel of medieër nie. Die nagevolge van vergoedingspersepsies is onderling met werklike betaling ondersoek. Vergoedingstevredenheid het geen statistiese beduidende verband met werksprestasie getoon nie, tog het werklike betaling matige verband met werksprestasie getoon. Alhoewel betalingspersepsies die geldigheid van die voorspelling van werksprestasie vanaf werklike betaling inkrementeer, toon dit nie beduidende effek (p < .05) nie. Die huidige navorsing beklemtoon die sentrale rol wat werklike betaling steeds in die beïnvloeding van vergoedingstevredenheid en werksprestasie speel, hoewel die rede vir die verband tussen werklike betaling en prestasie steeds nie ten volle begryp word nie, aangesien vergoedingstevredenheid nie hierdie verband medieër nie. Beperkinge van die navorsing, asook die implikasies vir vergoedingspraktyk en toekomstige navorsing word bespreek.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Assessor bias remains an interesting and important topic for Assessment Centre (AC) practitioners, candidates and clients, but it has received relatively little research attention. By using social identity theory, this research project studied the effects of demographic characteristics (gender, age and race) on ratings in assessment centres. We studied main and interaction effects of assessor and assessee demographic variables on ratings in a national sample of managers (N = 220). Descriptive statistics (means, SD) and inferential statistical analysis (moderated multiple regression) were used to test for both main and interaction effects (between assessor and assessee characteristics) of demographic variables on ratings. The regression analysis revealed a highly statistically significant (p < .001.) gender main effect (for assessor) — male assessors consistently rated assessees higher that female assessors did. Neither assessor nor assessee race had a main effect on ratings (p > .05). Age showed no main or interaction effects, although evidence of possible interaction effects was seen in descriptive statistics. Demographic similarity did not seem to affect assessment centre ratings in the present study. Recommendations for future research and AC practice are made. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Assessorsydigheid het tot dusver betreklik min navorsingsaandag ontvang, alhoewel dit steeds 'n interessante en belangrike onderwerp vir alle takseersentrumbelanghebbendes verteenwoordig. Vanuit ‘n sosiale identiteitsteorieraamwerk, het hierdie navorsingsprojek die invloed van demografiese kenmerke (geslag, ouderdom en ras) op takseersentrumbeoordelings ondersoek. Beide die hoofeffekte en interaksie-effekte van assessors en assessees se demografiese veranderlikes op beoordelings is ondersoek. Die studie het ‘n nasionale steekproef van bestuurders (N = 220) gebruik om die hipoteses te toets. Beskrywende statistiek (gemiddelde en standaardafwykings) en inferensiële analises (gemodereerde meervoudige regressie-analise) is gebruik om beide hoofen interaksie-effekte (tussen die assessor en assessee se demografiese veranderlikes) op beoordelings te toets. Die regressie-analise het hoogs statisties betekenisvolle (p < .001) geslagshoofeffekte (assessor) aan die lig gebring - manlike assessors het konsekwent hoër tellings as vroulike assessors aan assessees toegeken het. Rasgroep (van beide assessor en assessee) het geen hoofeffek op beoordelingstellings gehad nie (p > .05). Ouderdom het nie hoof- of interaksieeffekte getoon nie, alhoewel bewyse van moontlike interaksie-effekte bespeur is in beskrywende statistiek. Die resultate van die studie toon dat demografiese gelyksoortigheid tussen die assessee en assessor nie ‘n beduidende effek op takseersentrumbeoordelings het nie. Aanbevelings vir toekomstige navorsing en takseersentrumpraktyk word gemaak.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: multiple therapeutic categories of medicines have been increasingly targeted for counterfeiting. According to Van Niekerk [Van Niekerk, Anton. (2001). Moral and social complexities of AIDS in Africa. University of Stellenbosch], “it is commonplace to identify and bewail a plethora of problems in the developing world generally, and in Africa in particular. Poverty, illiteracy, famine, political instability, natural disasters, and many more misfortunes dominate the history of this part of the world over the past 50 years. It was therefore adding uncalled (undeserved?) insult to already overwhelming injury when HIV/AIDS visibly struck the world since mid-1980. In spite of all the other calamities that Africa has to deal with, it nevertheless is no exaggeration to claim that HIV/AIDS nowadays constitutes the most serious health and social crisis and challenge that has ever befallen the continent”. Similar patterns involving HIV/AIDS are now emerging on other continents. One objective of this recent research study was to explore possible relationships between the growing scourges of the worldwide counterfeiting of medicines and parallels with the expanding global HIV/AIDS pandemic - as well as to examine potential relationships and risks associated with other diseases that have been observed to have ‘special associations’ with HIV and AIDS [e.g. sexually transmitted infections (STI’s), Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria] - and possible impact on the “World of Work”. A second and important objective was to develop Recommendations for Workplace Programs. The information gathered has also been used to propose future studies regarding HIV/AIDS and counterfeiting. In the developing world, antibiotics and anti-parasitic medicines are included among the counterfeiters’ favorite targets. Strong parallels exist between locations where counterfeiting of medicines is taking place/product being distributed/sold and where HIV/AIDS is most prevalent and/or where the epidemic is expanding progressively. Counterfeiting of medicines used for treating HIV/AIDS raises the possibility of additional future complications developing in managing other global diseases such as Malaria and Tuberculosis, not to mention exacerbating the potential for developing resistance and encouraging mutation of the HI virus itself. It is also noteworthy that certain medical devices have also been found to be counterfeit. Global demographics and with particular reference to projected growth rates of populations of the developing world are of specific relevance to this subject of anticounterfeiting and medicines used for the treatment of HIV and AIDS. Indeed, next generations of humanity appear to be at unnecessary risk of being caught up in a confluence of forces whereby the practice of the counterfeiting of medicines could result in significant complications and unforeseen consequences regarding management of the global HIV/AIDS crisis. Following the research, recommendations for workplace programs were developed. The research study concludes with a comprehensive set of references. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die problamatiek aangaande die vervalsing (namaak) van medisyne word nou wereldwyd ervaar en het ‘n impak op beide die geindustrialiseerde en die ontwikkelende wereld. Menige medisyne in terapeutiese kategoriee is tot op hede as vervals geidentifeseer, met die direkte resultaat dat hulle ‘n minemale of geen terapeutiese uitwerking het nie. Wat nog erger is, is dat hierdie middels uiters gevaarlik is om te gebruik en selfs lewensgevaarlik kan wees. Dit is van groot betekenis dat ook medisyne wat bestem is om persone met HIV/VIGS te behandel, as vervals aangetoon is – en soedoende tot nog toe onbekende gevolge vir pasiente, die werkomgewing en ongekende risiko’s vir wereldwye gesondheidsorg en internasionale veiligheid en sekuriteit inhou. In hierdie studie word die onderwerp in taamlike besonderhede bestudeer en daar word afgesluit met aanbevelings oor programme in die werkplek wat ontwerp is om sorg en ondersteuning te bied aan werkers met HIV/VIGS. Verdere studie word ook aanbeveel om die tergende probleme wat volg op die vervalsing van medisyne in die behandling van persone met HIV/VIGS, en die implikasies hiervan, die hoof te bide.

Thesis (MComm (Industrial Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The leadership-for-performance framework designed by Spangenberg and Theron (2004) aspires to explicate the structural relationships existing between leader competency potential, leadership competencies, leadership outcomes and the dimensions of organizational unit performance. The Performance Index (PI) and Leadership Behaviour Inventory (LBI) comprise the leadership-forperformance range of measures. The PI was developed as a comprehensive criterion measure of unit performance for which the unit leader could be held responsible. The basic PI structural model has been developed to explain the manner in which the various latent leadership dimensions measured by the LBI affect the eight unit performance latent variables that are assessed by the PI. Although preliminary research suggests the basic PI structural model could be refined, continued research in this regard can only be justified if the basic PI measurement model is shown to be measurement invariant across independent samples from the target population. As part of ongoing research of the leadership-for-performance range of measures, this crossvalidation study investigated the extent to which the PI measurement model may be considered measurement invariant across two independent samples from the same population. Two samples were collected through non-probability sampling procedures and included 277 and 375 complete cases after imputation by matching. Item analysis and dimensionality analysis were performed on each of the PI sub-scales prior to the formation of item parcels. No items were excluded based on item- and dimensionality analysis results. Two composite indicator variables (item parcels) were created from the items of each sub-scale and were treated as continuous variables in the subsequent statistical analyses. Structural equation modelling, using robust maximum likelihood estimation, was used to perform a confirmatory first-order factor analysis on the item parcels for each sample. The measurement model was fitted to both samples independently and close fit for each sample was established. The measurement model was cross-validated using a progressive series of measurement invariance tests. Results indicated the PI measurement model did not display full measurement invariance across the two samples although it did cross-validate successfully under the configural invariance condition. Statistically significant non-equivalence was found to exist in both the measurement error variances and the factor covariances (p<0,05), although the p<0,05 critical value was only narrowly surpassed in both cases. The measurement model did, however, display metric invariance across the samples as no significant differences were found between the factor loadings, suggesting the content of each item is perceived and interpreted in a similar manner across samples from the target population. When considered in combination, these results may be viewed as quite satisfactory as they indicate that themeasurement model does not appear to vary greatly when fitted to data from the two samples. As this study has established at least metric invariance of the PI, it therefore provides some basis of confidence for proceeding with subsequent research aimed at establishing the structural invariance of the basic PI structural model and eventually research that links the leadership behaviour to work unit performance as measured by the PI. Limitations of this study are discussed.

Thesis (MEcon (Industrial Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Over the past decade we have seen an emerging consensus on the importance of performance management as the mechanism to improve the contribution of individual employees to the overall success of the organisation. The predicament, however, is that performance management efforts often appear to be perceived to lack relevance, to constitute a waste of time or perceived to be faddism. To address possible scepticism and the need for greater prioritisation, answers must be found on the extent to which performance management enhance those attitudes and employee responses that underpin work performance. The main purpose of this research study was to empirically examine the relationship between performance management practices (i.e. providing employees with context, focus, resources, development, monitoring/feedback, and consequences) and the achievement of specific desired employee outcomes (i.e. employee job satisfaction, intention to quit, perception of fairness, organisational commitment, employee empowerment, and team cohesion). For the purpose of this study a theoretical model (Shirley, 2005) depicting the relationship between performance management practices and desired employee outcomes has been empirically tested. The sample (n = 1016) consisted of employees working in the financial services sector in South Africa. The data was acquired through the High Performance Practices Survey (Shirley, 2004), which measured employee perceptions regarding the extent to which the performance management practices were implemented within their operational unit; and the extent to which they experienced the above mentioned attitudes or responses. The results of the reliability analyses revealed Cronbach’s alpha values ranging between 0.68 and 0.93 on nine sub-scales. After being subjected to exploratory factor analysis which was conducted by means of the Principal Component extraction method, five of the sub-scales satisfied the uni-dimensionality test whilst the remaining four presented a clear, relatively easy interpretable two-factor orthogonal factor structure. Despite certain shortcomings, the reliability and construct validity analyses seemed promising, thereby enhancing the usability of the High Performance Practices Survey (Shirley, 2004) for future research and commercial use purposes. The statistical analysis of the data was conducted through correlation and regression analyses. The results corroborated the hypotheses that performance management practices correlate positively with job satisfaction, perceptions of fairness, organisational commitment, employee empowerment and team cohesion. Surprisingly, no convincing empirical support could be found for the hypothesised relationship between the management practices and intention to quit. The findings of regression analysis supported that all the desired employee outcomes could each be significantly predicted by at least three performance management practices. Important insight was gained into the relative importance of the performance management practices to promote desired employee outcomes. In view thereof that a discussion of performance in organisations is incomplete without reference to the construct of organisational culture, this study also provided propositions to prompt further research on the role of performance management in reinforcing a high performance organisational culture. Insightful conclusions were drawn from the results obtained and recommendations are made for future research.