Organisations throughout the world have to cope with an increasing rate of change. These organisational changes are due to a number of reasons, which include social, technological, economic and political reasons. These result in a change in government regulations. In South Africa, the changes include the merging of higher education institutions and changes in the educational landscape. The public higher education institutions were reduced by the Department of Higher Education and Training from 36 to 23. Same changes include new universities of technologies and mergers of other universities plus more comprehensive universities. Recently, government established two new universities, one in Mpumalanga and another in the Northern Cape. Job insecurity, job satisfaction, occupational stress, sense of coherence, and general health are key aspects of the higher education institutions during and after the transformation process. This study aimed to determine the relationship between job insecurity, job satisfaction, occupational stress, sense of coherence, and general health of employees in a higher education institution. The literature reviewed showed that job insecurity occurs as a result of a merger, which is one of the multiple antecedents in a job insecurity model. However, a merger, as an organisational condition, changes individual perceptions about job insecurity and its consequences. Job satisfaction, occupational stress, and general health are consequences of job insecurity. From the reviewed literature, it is clear that the employees’ lack of resources is a very serious challenge in their endeavour to perform their duties. Lack of resources results in the poor performance of employees and their inability to use their capabilities to deal with every day work-related challenges. A cross-sectional design with employees in higher education institution (N=229) was used. The Job Insecurity Inventory, Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire, An Organisation Stress Screening Tool, Orientation to Life Questionnaire, and General Health Questionnaire, and a biographical questionnaire were utilised. Statistical analyses were carried out for the three articles in the study with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM-SPSS) program. Statistical methods used in this article consisted of descriptive statistics (for example, means, standard deviations and frequencies), Cronbach alpha coefficients, explanatory factor analyses, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, multiple regression analysis and mediation analysis (Omnibus procedure). The results of article 1 showed that job insecurity was statistically significantly related to general health (somatic symptoms, social dysfunction, hopelessness and worthlessness). This implies that employees who experience high job insecurity also experience problems with their health. General health had a practically significant negative correlation with sense of coherence. Literature reviewed states that a weak sense of coherence leads employees to perceive situations as threatening (that is, high job demands and low job resources), and could lead to ill health. The research findings clearly indicate that sense of coherence does not moderate the relationship between job insecurity and general health. Regarding the results of article 2, a practically significant negative relationship exists between occupational stress and job satisfaction (intrinsic, supervision, extrinsic). This means that employees with high levels of occupational stress display lower job satisfaction and vice versa. Occupational stress and general health have a negative relationship, implying that different occupational stress factors (work demands, insecurity and work relations) relate to the general health of employees. Employees, who experience high work demands, are insecure and experience poor work relations with their colleagues or supervisors, have problems with their health and do not enjoy normal day-to-day activities in the organisation. Job satisfaction displays a practically significant negative correlation with general health. This implies that employees who are not satisfied with the intrinsic satisfaction of their job and working environment experience headaches and lack physical energy. Such employees generally feel sick. They do not enjoy every day activities since they doubt their own competence and the meaning of life. Both occupational stress and job satisfaction are statistically significant predictors of general health. In conclusion, the results of this article report that job satisfaction mediates the relationship between occupational stress and the general health of employees in a higher education institution. The results of article 3 showed that practically significant positive relationships exist between sense of coherence and job satisfaction. Employees with a higher sense of coherence are more satisfied and motivated to work. They are more comfortable with other colleagues and the general working conditions. Employees with a strong sense of coherence are more resourceful in handling different work-related aspects, and they tend to experience higher job satisfaction. It was concluded that sense of coherence moderates the relationship between job satisfaction and some aspects of general health. The results imply that people with lower levels of sense of coherence are more dependent on job satisfaction to experience good health. This has direct implications for vocational and industrial psychologists, as well as higher educational institutions. Recommendations for future research were made. / PhD (Industrial Psychology) North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2014

Gold mining in South Africa has played a significant role in the economic development of the country over the past 120 years. The continued focus on productivity, recruitment and consolidation in the South African gold mining industry will result in a decline in production. Much of the decline can be attributed to natural attrition as the industry has moved from a mass employer of limited, contract, unskilled labour, to an employer of more permanent, mostly semi-skilled or skilled labour. The objective of this research was to investigate the reliability of measuring instruments of social support, role overload (qualitative and quantitative), job satisfaction and turnover intention for employees in the mining industry. Further objectives included empirically determining whether social support has a moderating effect on the relation between role overload and job satisfaction and turnover intention. A cross-sectional survey design was used. A random sample was taken from a South African mining company (N=250). Gender and age were included as control variables. Individuals on Paterson grading E band to C Upper (managers) were part of the sample. Five measuring instruments were administrated. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The results obtained for the five scales proved the measuring instruments to be reliable. The results show that when an employee feels that his/her work is more than he/she can accomplish in the time available (quantitative role overload), the employee will most probably also feel that his/her work requires skills, abilities and knowledge beyond that of their own (qualitative role overload). It is also indicated that social support from the supervisor increases the employee's positive attitude or pleasurable emotional state towards his/her job or job experience (job satisfaction), as well as heightens the probability of social support from colleagues. Furthermore, the more positive the employee's attitude towards the job, the less the intention to stop working will be (turnover intention). This intention to stop working will also be less when social support from the supervisor is more and/or when the employee experiences less feelings that his/her work is more than he/she can accomplish in the time available. Turnover intention was predicted by social support from supervisor. Job satisfaction was predicted by role overload (quantitative) and social support from supervisor. By way of conclusion, recommendations for future research are made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

By developing strong, self-sustaining individuals in organisations, employees will need to withstand the forces of stressors and be able to cope with continuous changes within their working environment. To move the equilibrium level from the current to the desired condition, the field of forces must be altered - by adding driving forces and by removing restraining forces. An individual's sense of coherence may either alleviate or aggravate reactions to a stressor and moderate the impact of occupational stressors on the individual's affective outcomes. The objectives of this study were to validate the 13-item version of the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (OLQ) (Antonovsky, 1987) and to determine the experience of employees with high levels of sense of coherence regarding helping and restraining factors within the workplace (compared to that of those with a low sense of coherence). A cross-sectional s w e y design was used. The total population (N = 2 678) of employees in a financial institution in Gauteng was used in this study. Random samples of groups with a strong (n = 300) and low (n = 300) sense of coherence were taken for purposes of the qualitative study. The OLQ (Antonovsky, 1987) and a biographical questionnaire were administered. The scale showed acceptable reliability and construct validity. The study set out to determine the applicability of the theoretical model of sense of coherence to employees in a financial institution. Reliability analysis revealed that the three subscales of sense of coherence were sufficiently internally consistent. The reliability of the measuring instrument were assessed with the use of Cronbach alpha coefficients. Descriptive statistics (e.g. mean and standard deviations) were used to analyse the data. By using the structural equation modelling approach, a one-dimensional factor structure for sense of coherence amongst employees in a financial institution emerged. The reliability analysis revealed that the alpha scores were acceptable. It can therefore be concluded that the 13-item version of the OLQ is a reliable and valid measuring instrument. The results showed that although employee groups with high and low levels of sense of coherence are experiencing similar helping and restraining factors within their working environment, helping factors are being experienced with a higher frequency by groups with high levels of sense of coherence and restraining factors with a higher frequency by groups with low levels of sense of coherence. Recommendations were made for future research. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007

Job redesign could significantly impact the efficiency was obtained. This survey was comprised of nineteen scales with of the organization. The purpose of this descriptive, comparative study was to describe and compare job characteristics, general job satisfaction, and motivation potential of the job in order to diagnose the job profile of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nursing assistants.The convenience sample consisted of all staff nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nursing assistants working at a 515 bed Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the midwest who voluntarily agreed to complete the Job Diagnostic Survey. A response rate of 36.8% (n = 118) to measure the degree of job characteristics, motivating potential of the job, psychological states, growth need strength, general job satisfaction, and satisfaction context factors present in the current job.Mean scores were computed to measure each variable. All means for each job category were found to be over the midpoint (3.5). Growth need strength was significantly lower than the normative data for RN's and LPN's. Task identity and experienced responsibility for work outcomes were significantly lower than the norm for LPN's assigned to the acute medical area. Motivating potential was significantly lower for nursing assistants assigned to the acute medical and the long term psychiatric area.Adjusting staff assignments to encourage continuity and observation of patient outcomes, and providing direct feedback regarding performance to staff members from nurse managers were implications. Implications include combining tasks to provide a more identifiable job and enable the worker to visualize patient outcomes to a greater degree. Recommendations included further research utilizing the JDS, including comparison of various types of nurse jobs. Statistical analysis in future studies should include comparisons of these different groups. / School of Nursing

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurses participate in ethical decision making, and to describe the role NICU nurses have in the ethical decision making process.This study replicated a 1991 study conducted by Elizondo. According to Lowe, 1991, replication research is the repeating of a study for the purposes of validating the findings of the original investigation. The traditional theory of utilitarianism provides the theoretical framework for this study, a goal-based approach to ethical decison making that focuses on consequences of actions. Findings provide information about satisfaction and conflicts related to nurse participation in ethical deecision making in the NICU.The Nurse Participation in Ethical Decision Making (NPEDM) questionnaire (Elizondo, 1991) was used for data collection. Of fifty NICU nurses, seventeen (34%) of the sample completed the questionnaire. Confidentiality was maintained. Results showed that all respondents were able to identify methods that are used for participation in ethical decision making. Informal conversations with physicians was identified as the primary method of participation. Forty-one percent of respondents were satisfied with the nurse's role in ethical decision making. Forty-seven percent were only somewhat satisfied.An indication of satisfaction demonstrated by 100% of the study sample was that nurses' ideas are respected by other health care professionals.Findings indicated that a significant positive relationship exists between role satisfaction and study variables. Eighty-eight percent of respondents stated that conflicts related to participation were experienced. Overwhelmingly, respondents felt that the primary source of conflicts were with physicians. These findings are consistent with results reported in the original study.When asked what factors impact on how decisions are made, 40% of respondents indicated that ethical decisions are often impacted by generalized decisions based on viability of the neonate as determined by the gestational age, and "quality of life."Seventy-six percent of respondents believed nurses should be more involved in the ethical decision making. Conferences with physicians and parents was identified by 69% of the study sample. This study found that the older the nurse, the more satisfied with role in the ethical decison making process. Length of employment also contributed positively to satisfaction in ethical decision making. The more educated the nurse, the more satisfied with role in the ethical decision making process. Nurses were less satisfied if conflicts were experienced or identified.Findings suggest that collaborative relationships exist between nurses and other health team members and that nurses feel some sense of fulfillment with their role in the ethical decision making process. It was concluded that many issues were unsolved and need to be discussed. / School of Nursing

The present era in South Africa is one that is marked by substantial change due to unparalleled advancement in the field of technology, globalisation and competitive markets. These changes have placed new demands on the education sector in South Africa, especially further education. In 2000/1 South Africa's Further Education and Training (FET) sector has been rejuvenated through a process of transformation when 152 former Technical Colleges and Colleges of Education merged to form 50 multi-campus FET Colleges. The rationale behind this merging process is to curb the serious skills shortage which is threatening economic growth in this country through offering vocational education and training; and to raise quality in the education sector. This re-engineering process in education is founded on principles of equity, human rights, democracy and sustainable development. Change, however, is also about people and their ideas, fears, capacity and ability to stand and work together towards a more prosperous future for all. Transformation or change such as with mergers is dependent on employees' total commitment towards realising the organisation's objectives. High levels of organisational commitment tend to encourage loyalty, higher levels of productiveness and general job satisfaction. For change initiatives to be successful though, communication across all hierarchical levels is of the utmost importance. Management is expected to provide employees with just treatment, provide acceptable working conditions, clearly communicate what is regarded as a fair day's work, and give feedback on how well the employee is doing. Employees, in return, are expected to clearly show a good attitude, follow directions and be loyal towards x the organisation. The psychological contract is utilised to investigate the scope of change in an employment relationship. The psychological contract is a contract setting out mutual expectations between employer and employee - a contract that forms the backbone of any new relationship such as with a merger. The researcher makes use of the psychological contract (by utilising the Tilburgse Psychologisch Contract Vragenlijst (TPC)) to explain employer obligations; violation of employer obligations; employee obligations; relational/transactional contract values; commitment; intention to leave; and change perceptions. Should either employment party not fulfill its contractual terms in any way, the psychological contract will be breached or violated and the employee might attempt to balance the situation by reducing his or her job efforts, badmouthing the organisation, resorting to absenteeism or even petty theft. The worst case scenario in this destructive process is that the employee might leave the organisation. The purpose of this research study is to determine the effect (if any) that the mergers might have had on the psychological- and employment contracts in the four FET Colleges that have remained in the Free State Province. A cross-sectional survey design was used to reach the objective of this research and an English translation of the aforementioned questionnaire (TPC) was randomly distributed amongst the total population of 375 employees at the Free State FET Colleges involved in this study. A response rate of 53% (n = 200) was achieved. Results from other authors who have used the TPC Questionnaire in their research offer support for the validity and reliability of the scales used. The statistical analysis was carried out with the SPSS program (SPSS, 2006), a program that is used to conduct statistical analysis regarding reliability and validity of the measuring instruments, descriptive statistics, t-tests, analysis of variance, correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis. XI In Article 1 the researcher focused on the effect of mergers with regard to the influence of communication on the psychological contract as a possible factor affecting the intention to qUit. A multiple regression analysis (with intention to quit as dependent variable; and employer obligations, employee obligations, and communication as independent variables) was performed and 22.2% of the variance in intention to quit is predicted by communication and employee obligations (F = 28.07, p< 0.01). A practically significant correlation coefficient (p < 0.01) of a medium effect (r > 0.30) exists between communication and relational/transactional values and between communication and intention to quit. In Article 2 the effect of mergers, workplace changes and the violation of employer obligations on the psychological contract were evaluated, with special reference to job satisfaction and organisational commitment. In the above article a practically significant correlation coefficient (p < 0.01) of a medium effect (r> 0.30) was found between • change and job satisfaction; • job satisfaction and: commitment, employer obligations, employer violations; • commitment and: employer obligations, employer violations; and • employee obligations and: employer obligations, employer violations. A multiple regression analysis (with job satisfaction as dependent variable; and employer violation, organisational commitment, and change as independent variables) was performed and 29.9% of the variance in job satisfaction is predicted by employer violations, change and commitment (F = 27.668, p< 0.01). Recommendations for the organisation as well as for future research were made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Sociology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2008.

The changes in the political landscape in South Africa have exacerbated major transformation of the society and all other aspects of life, including education. It is in this view that transformation of the education sector resulted in the changes within the employment relationship, as well as the psychological contract between educators and the Department of Education. This is further explained by the changes experienced in both the employer and employee's obligations. Furthermore, these changes have a tremendous influence on the degree of job satisfaction, organisational commitment, as well as an intention to quit among educators. The primary objective of this research is to investigate the employment-and psychological contract of educators in the Sedibeng West District of the Gauteng Department of Education. The measuring instruments, i.e. employer's obligations, employee's obligations, job satisfaction, organisational commitment, as well as intention to quit questionnaires, were used in the empirical study. A cross -sectional survey design was conducted among 298 educators (including school managers) in the Sedibeng West District. A response rate of 75% (224 respondents) was obtained. The results indicate a practically significant correlation coefficient of a medium effect between the employer and the employee's obligations, a negative correlation of medium effect between the employer's obligations and an employee's intention to quit, and no significant relationship between the employee's obligations and an employee's intention to quit. Furthermore, a practically significant correlation coefficient of medium effect was obtained between job satisfaction and an employee's intention to quit, and no significant relationship could be found between job satisfaction and organisational commitment. Lastly, a practically significant negative correlation of a medium effect was obtained between organisational commitment and an intention to quit. A multiple regression analysis indicates that 21% of the variance in the employee's intention to quit was predicted by both the employer and employee's obligations. Organisational commitment and job satisfaction predicted 33% of the total variance. Recommendations for the Department of Education, as well as future research were also made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Sociology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2008.

The work environment in which South African employees have to function is highly demanding, offering them little in terms of job security, but simultaneously expecting them to give more in terms of inter alia flexibility, competency, and effort. Tracking and addressing chemical industry employees' functioning in areas that could affect their general health and consequent standard of service is essential. Job insecurity, work-based support, job satisfaction, organisational commitment and general health are specific focus areas in this research. It is important to use reliable and valid measuring instruments to measure these constructs. It appears that job insecurity results in reduced organisational commitment as well as reduced job satisfaction. In the long run all this may have a negative impact on the psychological well-being of employees. Therefore, the right kind of support h m the right kind of people can be of significant value in reducing occupational stress, improving health, and buffering the impact of stress on health. A lack of South African research exists regarding job insecurity, work-based support, job satisfaction, organisational commitment and general health - hence the importance of this research. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between job insecurity, work-based support, job satisfaction, organisational commitment and general health of Human Resources Professionals (N = 114) in a chemical industry. A cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data. It was found that affective and cognitive job insecurity demonstrated a statistically significant negative correlation with emotional social support (supervisor and other), but practically and statistically negative correlation with intrinsic and extrinsic job satisfaction. With regard to affective and cognitive job insecurity and general health, a statistically significant positive correlation was obtained for somatic symptoms, social dysfunction and severe depression, and a practically and statistically significant correlation with anxiety and insomnia. Affective commitment demonstrated a statistically significant negative relationship with cognitive job insecurity. The regression analysis indicated that job insecurity has some predictive value with regard to the intrinsic and extrinsic job satisfaction and general health subscales, namely somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction and severe depression. With regard to the two components of job satisfaction, intrinsic and extrinsic, job insecurity predicted 14% and 5% respectively of the variance. No predictions were found between affective commitment and job insecurity. With regard to general health, job insecurity predicted 5% (somatic symptoms), 11% (anxiety and insomnia), 1 % (social dysfunction) and 8% (severe depression). Conclusions were made, limitations of the cumin research were discussed and recommendations for future research were put forward. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2006.

Organisations are continually confronting challenges to remain competitive and successful, which compels organisations to regularly re-evaluate their strategies, structures, policies, operations, processes and culture. Managing change effectively is however a main challenge in the change management domain because of massive human involvement. Thus, managers and change agents are eager to know how to encourage and effectively prepare employees for change situation. The aim of this doctoral study was to examine the determinant of employee readiness for organisational change. The objectives were to investigate employee commitment to the organisation and career and social relationships factors in public sector higher educational institutions of Pakistan where various change reforms has been introduced recently. This empirical study proceeded by a systematic review of literature that led to development of a conceptual model. The data was collected from a sample of teaching employees by using a survey questionnaire. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis run on statistical package for social sciences and confirmatory factor analysis on the structural equation modelling as well as on applied analysis of moment structure to assess the model fit of the study and hypotheses testing. Results showed that independent variables (emotional attachment, feeling of pride, pay/wages/rewards, promotion, job satisfaction, job involvement and social relationships in the workplace) were positively and significantly correlated to the dependent variable (readiness for organisational change). However, two variables i.e. supervisor and peer relations, and training and skills development were not found positive and significant to the readiness for organisational change. This study has methodological limitations, as it is a cross sectional study that used a survey questionnaire only in public sector higher education sector. This study provides empirical evidence for employee readiness predictor variables for organisational change. This study may contribute to the literature on change management, particularly for Pakistan, and may assist the management, change agents and practitioners of human resources management and development, and organisational behaviour in assessing, designing and evaluating new or existing programmes for organisational change.

Organisations are constantly dealing with challenges to stay on competitive and doing well, that induces organisations to consistently reassess their plans, formations, course of actions, procedure, and development to remain cost-effective and retain effective workforce. To keep employees highly motivated, content, and effective is however a focal and major issue in the domain of employee job satisfaction because of enormous human involvement. Consequently human resource managers are keen to find the strategies to keep their workforce fully motivated and dedicated to their jobs. In this study dissimilar from prior studies researcher has applied work attributes (Herzberg, 1968; Adams, 1963) and personality aspects (Judge etal, 2001) to examine the relationship of work attributes and personality disposition with job satisfaction. In current era of Information technology revolution organisations across the globe confronting several challenges on different counts including to keep workforce motivated and effective to gain maximum from their skills. Keeping workforce motivated to reduce tardiness, absenteeism, misuse of resources, and turnover are major issues of concern in the domain of employee job satisfaction and human resources management. Therefore, human resources management practitioners, managers, and policy makers are enthusiastically concerned to know about the factors that may help to make workforce effective, motivated and contend with work. The aim of this Doctoral thesis was to study the determinants of employee job satisfaction. The objectives were to explore the organisational work attribute factors and employee personality aspects in Public healthcare sector of Pakistan Where various reforms introduced after implementation of new health policy called Health for All(HFA) lately. This study was categorised in seven parts staring with introduction stating the setting of the study which covers background of this empirical study and supplies the transparent context information. In second phase systemic carefully carried literature review led to theoretical frame work and hypotheses development in third phase. Onwards Survey Questionnaires were administrated to General physicians working in public hospitals for data collection purpose. Descriptive statistics, multi analysis of variance, and exploratory factor analysis with the help of Statistical package for social science (SPSS) was applied to analyse the data, hypotheses testing and confirmatory factor analysis were done with the help of structural equation modelling(SEM). Outcome generated discovered that perception of procedural justice, on job training, working conditions, esprit de corps (team work) and personality aspects self esteem, and self efficacy belief, were significantly and affirmatively correlated and neuroticism personality aspect negatively correlated with employee job satisfaction. However, employee job clarity, task significance perception and personality aspect of locus of control orientation were not found to be related with job satisfaction. Implications and recommendation of research for employee job satisfaction are also discussed.