Syftet med denna kvalitativa studie var att förstå och sammanfatta hur första linjens chefer (FLC) i en vårdorganisation upplever sin egen psykosociala arbetsmiljö, vad de tycker fungerar bra, vilka utmaningar de ser, och vilket stöd de behöver för att kunna förbättra den egna psykosociala arbetsmiljön. Jag genomförde semi-strukturerade intervjuer för att samla in data och två klassiska modeller inom psykosocial arbetsmiljöforskning: krav-kontroll-stöd och ansträngning-belöning, har fungerat som teoretiska tolkningsramar. Tematisk analys användes för att analysera data och identifiera teman för resultatet. Resultatet visade på sju teman som respondenterna upplevde påverkade deras egen psykosociala arbetsmiljö: chefsrollen, arbetsbelastning, styrning av den dagliga verksamheten, påverkan/beslutsutrymme, information/kommunikation, arbetsrelationer/samarbete och stödfunktioner. Några utmaningar för FLC är: orimligt höga krav, stora arbetsgrupper, bemanningsproblem, tidskrävande administration, brist på långsiktig planering och förbättringsarbete, mycket övertid och behov av mer stöd för att minska arbetsbelastningen. En närliggande tolkning av resultatet är att flera delar behöver förändras för att förbättra FLCs psykosociala arbetsmiljö och förutsättningarna för chefsuppdraget. / The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand and summarize how first-line managers (FLM’s) in a healthcare organization is experiencing their own psychosocial work environment, what they think works well, what challenges they see, and what support they need to improve their own psychosocial work environment. I conducted semi-structured interviews to collect data and two classic models in the psychosocial work environment research: demand-control-support and effort-reward, have served as theoretical frameworks of interpretation. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data and identify themes for the result. The result showed seven themes that the respondents experienced affected their own psychosocial work environment: the manager role, workload, control of daily operations, impact/decision latitude, information/communication, working relationships/cooperation and support functions. Some challenges for FLM are: unreasonable high demands, large workgroups, challenges with staffing, time-consuming administration, lack of long-term planning and improvement work, a lot of overtime and more support needed to reduce workload. An interpretation of the result is that the organization needs to change several parts to improve FLM’s psychosocial work environment and conditions for the manger role.

AtkinsonThis study explores Work Life Balance (WLB) in two Palestinian organisations. It argues that the nature and content of WLB policies and the reasons for their adoption in many Arabic organisations differ from those in Western organisations. Additionally, research is under-developed concerning the role of line managers in interpreting access to WLB practices, and to what extent such WLB practices are accessed and utilised by individuals. Based on a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews with 49 employees and managers, this study shows that WLB policies involve, particularly for female employees, mainly family support, and financial, social, and religious benefits. These reflect cultural and religious characteristics of an Arab, Islamic country. In addition to identifying the role of government, and the needs of a female workforce, this study develops a new theoretical framework explaining the role of religious and cultural variables, as well as international networking of the organisations, as factors underlying adoption of WLB policies. Line managers often used Wasta, being the political and religious origin of individuals as criteria in granting benefits to individuals. WLB practices are useful for women, but males made less use of these practices, preferring strong ‘breadwinner Arabic cultural norms. A valuable contribution in understanding the extension of WLB policies in Arabic settings is offered, as well as cultural, social and religious reasons for their implementation. The study presents a theoretical model of the adoption and application of WLB policies which can be used in further crosscultural research.

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 108 of 1996 (SA, 1996) makes provision for all citizens to receive quality health care. Legislation such as the White Paper on the Transformation of the Public Service of 1995, (SA, 1995a), the White Paper on Transforming Public Service Delivery (Batho Pele) (SA, 1997b), the Public Service Act 103 of 1994, as amended (SA, 1994), the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (SA, 1995b) and the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 (SA, 1998) enshrines this right for all citizens by ensuring that health authorities put measures in place to improve the performance of nurse employee (NE), and thus ensuring quality health care. NE are only able to improve the quality of their performance, if their performance is systematically appraised and their potential for development is identified. However, researchers, for instance Du Plessis (2002:116), Nkosi (2002:37–44), Narcisse and Harcourt (2008:1154), Thompson et al. (1999:139), Fletcher (2001:473) studied the perceptions and experiences of employees and managers of performance appraisal (PA) and these studies indicated that there is a gap in the implementation of PA. The Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) policy (Policy no. NWPG 13) was implemented in the North West public health sector in clinics and hospitals in 2004 to provide guidelines for the implementation of PA. This policy is reviewed annually since it was first drafted. However the researcher’s personal experience with PA in practice was that there is a gap between the process provided by the PMDS policy (Policy no. NWPG 13) and the implementation thereof in the North West public health sector. This led to the following research questions: how is PA implemented from the perspectives of nurse line managers (NLM) and NE in clinics in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District (KKD) and what guidelines can be developed to improve the implementation of PA in clinics in the KKD? The study aimed to develop guidelines to improve the implementation of PA in clinics in the KKD. The study had a cross–sectional quantitative design with exploratory, descriptive and contextual research strategies. Two questionnaires: one for NLM and the other for NE were developed from section 13.4.4 and 13.4.5 of the PMDS policy (Policy no. NWPG 13 amendment approved for 2008–2009 performance cycle) (SA, 2007), to explore and describe the perceptions of NLM and NE on the implementation of PA in clinics in the KKD. Twenty–three problems were identified from the empirical research with regard to communication, feedback and participation in PA, which served as the evidence base towards developing guidelines to improve the implementation of PA in clinics in the KKD. The guidelines were developed using inductive and deductive reasoning and were based on the ten–point plan of Juran. Finally the research was evaluated, limitations were identified and recommendations were formulated for practice, education, management, research and policy. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 108 of 1996 (SA, 1996) makes provision for all citizens to receive quality health care. Legislation such as the White Paper on the Transformation of the Public Service of 1995, (SA, 1995a), the White Paper on Transforming Public Service Delivery (Batho Pele) (SA, 1997b), the Public Service Act 103 of 1994, as amended (SA, 1994), the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (SA, 1995b) and the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 (SA, 1998) enshrines this right for all citizens by ensuring that health authorities put measures in place to improve the performance of nurse employee (NE), and thus ensuring quality health care. NE are only able to improve the quality of their performance, if their performance is systematically appraised and their potential for development is identified. However, researchers, for instance Du Plessis (2002:116), Nkosi (2002:37–44), Narcisse and Harcourt (2008:1154), Thompson et al. (1999:139), Fletcher (2001:473) studied the perceptions and experiences of employees and managers of performance appraisal (PA) and these studies indicated that there is a gap in the implementation of PA. The Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) policy (Policy no. NWPG 13) was implemented in the North West public health sector in clinics and hospitals in 2004 to provide guidelines for the implementation of PA. This policy is reviewed annually since it was first drafted. However the researcher’s personal experience with PA in practice was that there is a gap between the process provided by the PMDS policy (Policy no. NWPG 13) and the implementation thereof in the North West public health sector. This led to the following research questions: how is PA implemented from the perspectives of nurse line managers (NLM) and NE in clinics in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District (KKD) and what guidelines can be developed to improve the implementation of PA in clinics in the KKD? The study aimed to develop guidelines to improve the implementation of PA in clinics in the KKD. The study had a cross–sectional quantitative design with exploratory, descriptive and contextual research strategies. Two questionnaires: one for NLM and the other for NE were developed from section 13.4.4 and 13.4.5 of the PMDS policy (Policy no. NWPG 13 amendment approved for 2008–2009 performance cycle) (SA, 2007), to explore and describe the perceptions of NLM and NE on the implementation of PA in clinics in the KKD. Twenty–three problems were identified from the empirical research with regard to communication, feedback and participation in PA, which served as the evidence base towards developing guidelines to improve the implementation of PA in clinics in the KKD. The guidelines were developed using inductive and deductive reasoning and were based on the ten–point plan of Juran. Finally the research was evaluated, limitations were identified and recommendations were formulated for practice, education, management, research and policy. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Tidigare forskning gällande enhetschefer i socialtjänstens arbetssituation och hur de själva upplever den är begränsad, varpå ytterligare studier behövs. Studiens syfte är att undersöka enhetschefers upplevelse av stöd i sitt chefskap inom socialtjänsten, samt vilken inverkan det har på upplevelsen av att kunna hantera sitt arbete. Frågeställningar: Vilken typ av stöd erbjuds och efterfrågas av enhetscheferna i deras uppdrag inom socialtjänsten? Vilken typ av stöd använder sig enhetscheferna av i sitt arbete? Studien utgår från ett socialkonstruktivistiskt perspektiv och har genomförts via en kvalitativ intervjustudie utifrån ett explorativt subjektivt icke-sannolikhetsurval med åtta handplockade respondenter. Det empiriska materialet analyserades utifrån den tidigare forskningen och Antonovskys salutogena synsätt och teori KASAM. Det empiriska materialet visade på en hög arbetsbelastning och brister i stöd från de organisatoriska stödfunktionerna och brister i stöd från chefer, vilket ligger i linje med den tidigare forskningen. Dock visade det empiriska materialet till skillnad från den tidigare forskningen, att enhetscheferna inom socialtjänsten upplevde att de hade koll eller kontroll på sitt arbete och att de upplevde att de har möjlighet att påverka arbetet både nedåt och uppåt i organisationen. Dessutom visade det empiriska materialet på att enhetscheferna upplever sitt arbete som meningsfullt på flera olika plan. Utifrån en analys med hjälp av tidigare forskning och Antonovskys salutogena synsätt och KASAM, visade enhetscheferna på en hög grad av meningsfullhet och begriplighet i förhållande till sitt arbetsliv, vilket även leder till en hög grad av hanterbarhet, via stark motivation till att skaffa sig de resurser som behövs för att kunna nå sina mål. Bristen på resurser i form av organisatoriskt stöd har de istället funnit i kollegialt stöd och tidigare erfarenheter. Enhetschefernas höga grad av KASAM och upplevelse av att ha det stöd som de behöver, leder således till en upplevelse av att kunna hantera sitt arbete på ett tillfredsställande sätt på den positiva sidan av graden av hälsa – ohälsa. / Previous research on first-line managers in the social services work situation and how they themselves experience it is limited, whereupon further research is needed. The aim of the study is to investigate first-line managers experience of support in their management within the social services, as well as the effect it has on the experience of being able to manage their work. Questions: What kind of support is offered and requested by the first-line managers in their assignment in social services?  What kind of support do first-line managers use in their work? The study is based on a social constructivist theoretical perspective and has been conducted via a qualitative interview study, based on an exploratory subjective non-probability sample with eight hand-picked respondents. The empirical material was analyzed based on the previous research and Antonovsky's salutogenic approach and theory KASAM. The empirical material showed a high workload, lack of support from the organizational support functions and lack of support from managers, which match the previous research. However the empirical material, unlike the previous research, showed that the first-line managers in the social services feels that they have control over their work and that they feel that they have the opportunity to influence the work both downwards and upwards in the organization. The empirical material also showed that the first-line managers perceived their work as meaningful on several different levels. Based on an analysis using previous research and Antonovsky's salutogenic approach and KASAM, the first-line managers showed a high degree of meaningfulness and comprehensibility in relation to their working life, which also leads to a high degree of manageability via strong motivation to acquire the resources needed to achieve their goals.  Because of the lack of resources from organizational support, they have found support in colleagues and previous experience instead. The high degree of KASAM and the experience of having the support they need, leads to an experience of being able to manage their work satisfactorily on the positive side of the degree of health – ill health.

Titel: Mellanchefers upplevda personalarbete - En kvalitativ studie om hur mellanchefer upplever personalarbete i relation till stress Syfte: Studiens övergripande syfte är att öka förståelsen för hur personalarbetet upplevs för mellanchefer i relation till stress. Metod: En induktiv studie med en kvalitativ forskningsansats användes för att skapa en ökad förståelse för fenomenet. Data har samlats in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med sex mellanchefer. Slutsats: Studien har kunnat visa en större förståelse för hur mellanchefer upplever sitt personalarbete. Det vi har kommit fram till och kunnat dra slutsatser kring är vikten av balans mellan faktorerna krav, kontroll och stöd i mellanchefernas arbete. Vi har även kunnat konstatera att mellancheferna har en hög arbetsbelastning gällande sina arbetsuppgifter och att stress upplevs i perioder. Vidare har vi kunnat fastställa att tack vare den goda balansen mellan de tre faktorerna, där möjligheten till att ha kontroll och stöd är de utmärkande faktorerna, upplevs personalarbetet i relation till stress som till stor del god. Nyckelord: Mellanchef, personalarbete, arbetsrelaterad stress, krav, kontroll, stöd

Diploma thesis deals with the assessment of performance appraisal of non-medical healthcare employees in Oblastní nemocnice Jičín a.s. . The thesis contents theoretical and practical part. The theoretical part anchors the performance appraisal system into the human resource management, with focus on the role of line managers. It also deals with the definition of job performance, circumstances that influence, and capabilities of its monitoring. Another part of the thesis emphasizes on the implementation of employee appraisal into practice, in which top management of the organization plays an important role. At the end of the theoretical part, I try to highlight the importance of linking of employee assessment with the vision, goals and values of the organization. The theoretical part offers the solution of the imperfections identified in the applied research. The practical part brings point of view on the reasons and way of implementation of employee appraisal in the organization, its adaptation by the employees and effectiveness of its use by the line managers. In this part I acquire pieces of knowledge through combination of qualitative and quantitative research. The research reveals the actual functioning of the system, imperfections in its implementation as well as line manager's suggestions for...

Authors: Tova Andréasson & Sofia Andersson Title: Social work degree or other academic education that the employer considers equivalent - A quantitative study of first line managers' actions in elderly care. [Translated title] Supervisor: Lars Sörnsen Assessor: Kerstin Arnesson Previous research shows that first line managers in elderly care act in different ways and it can affect both employees and the elderly. The purpose of this study was to investigate why first line managers act differently in elderly care, by analyzing the relationships between education and first line manager's actions. We also wanted to investigate whether managers act on the basis of education or guidance documents. To achieve the purpose of this study, a quantitative approach was used. All first line managers in elderly care in Kalmar County, Blekinge County and Kronoberg County were given the opportunity to answer a survey online. We analyzed the answers by performing different analyzes with the program SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). To analyze the results of the study, concepts of leadership and profession were used. The study concluded that the first line managers with social education acted more alike than other professions. It also showed that first line managers with more experience used guidance documents to a greater extent than first line managers with less experience.

AtkinsonThis study explores Work Life Balance (WLB) in two Palestinian organisations. It argues that the nature and content of WLB policies and the reasons for their adoption in many Arabic organisations differ from those in Western organisations. Additionally, research is under-developed concerning the role of line managers in interpreting access to WLB practices, and to what extent such WLB practices are accessed and utilised by individuals. Based on a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews with 49 employees and managers, this study shows that WLB policies involve, particularly for female employees, mainly family support, and financial, social, and religious benefits. These reflect cultural and religious characteristics of an Arab, Islamic country. In addition to identifying the role of government, and the needs of a female workforce, this study develops a new theoretical framework explaining the role of religious and cultural variables, as well as international networking of the organisations, as factors underlying adoption of WLB policies. Line managers often used Wasta, being the political and religious origin of individuals as criteria in granting benefits to individuals. WLB practices are useful for women, but males made less use of these practices, preferring strong ‘breadwinner Arabic cultural norms. A valuable contribution in understanding the extension of WLB policies in Arabic settings is offered, as well as cultural, social and religious reasons for their implementation. The study presents a theoretical model of the adoption and application of WLB policies which can be used in further crosscultural research.

Studiens syfte var att undersöka första linjens chefers upplevelse av att arbeta inom svensk äldreomsorg och förutsättningar för ett hållbart arbetsliv. Att orka, kunna och vilja jobba ett helt arbetsliv med tillgång till ett starkt stöd och delaktighet är några aspekter av ett hållbart arbetsliv. Studien bygger på kvalitativt semistrukturerade intervjuer med sex enhetschefer inom kommunal hemvård samt vård- och omsorgsboende. Det empiriska materialet analyseras genom en tematisk analys med utgångspunkt i Theorells modeller om krav-kontroll-stöd och ansträngning-belöning, samt Hochschilds teori om emotionellt lönearbete. Intervjumaterialet visar att enhetscheferna förväntas tillgodose medarbetarnas arbetsmiljö genom systematiskt arbetsmiljöarbete och studien påvisar samtidigt brister vad gäller enhetschefernas arbetsmiljö. Resultaten pekar mot att flera chefer riskerar att befinna sig i en kritisk arbetssituation med ett arbetsliv som är ohållbart i längden, med ökad risk för ohälsa. Deltagarnas egen definition av hållbart arbetsliv går inte i linje med hur de framställer hur verkligheten ser ut i dagsläget. Undersökningen synliggör att det fortfarande krävs förändring när det gäller första linjens chefers arbetsmiljö. Sammantaget bidrar studien med kunskap om de förbättringsåtgärder som krävs för att främja ett hållbart arbetsliv / The study aims to investigate first-line managers' experience of working in Swedish elderly care and the conditions for a sustainable working life. Being able and willing to work a full working life with access to strong support and participation are some aspects of a sustainable working life. The study is based on qualitative semi-structured interviews with sex first-line managers within municipal home care and care and long-term care homes. The empirical material is analyzed through a thematic analysis based on Theorell's models of demand-control-support and effort-reward, as well as Hochschild's theory of emotional labor. The first-line managers are expected to care for the employees' work environment, but the study shows shortcomings in terms of the first-line managers' work environment. The results point to several managers risking being in a critical work situation with a working life that is unsustainable in the long run with an increased risk of bad health. The participants' own definition of sustainable working life is not in line with how they present what reality looks like today. The study proves that change is required when it comes to the work environment of first-line managers. Summarized this study contributes with knowledge of the improvement measures that are required to promote a sustainable working life