Klientkontakt utgör en central del i handläggares arbete. Denna studie undersöker och belyser handläggares upplevelser, känslor och inställning vid utebliven klientkontakt och hur detta påverkar handläggares arbetstillfredsställelse, arbetsmotivation och arbetseffektivitet. När en klient inte kommer till ett bokat besök eller missköter sin avtalade kontaktfrekvens med sin handläggare, kan “en lucka” uppstå i arbetet där handläggarens tillfredsställelse, motivation och effektivitet i arbetet tenderar att förändras. Denna studie är kvantitativ och lägger vikt vid handläggares perspektiv på utebliven klientkontakt. För att få svar på frågeställningarna samlades data in genom en webbenkät. Enkäten skickades ut till sammanlagt 284 handläggare som är verksamma i Jönköpings län, varav 115 handläggare besvarade enkäten. Resultatet visar att handläggares känsla av stöd vid utebliven klientkontakt och möjligheten att lägga ner så mycket tid på klienten som handläggare anser nödvändigt, är av betydelse för handläggarnas arbetstillfredsställelse och arbetsmotivation. För de handläggare som upplever utebliven klientkontakt som ett hinder, tar det också längre tid för att påbörja en ny arbetsuppgift efter insikt om att en klient uteblir från avtalad kontakt. Handläggares möjlighet att utföra sitt arbete, vilket inbegriper upplevelsen att göra ett meningsfullt arbete som klienten har nytta/glädje av, förhindras då klientkontakt uteblir från handläggares vardagliga arbete. / Client contact is a central part of social worker’s work environment. This study examines and highlights social worker’s experiences, feelings and attitude in case of no client contact, and how this affects social worker’s job satisfaction, work motivation and work efficiency. When a client does not come to a booked visit or mismanage his/hers agreed contact frequency with his/hers social worker, "a gap" occur in the work where the social worker’s satisfaction, motivation and efficiency at work tend to change. This study is quantitative and highlights the importance of social worker’s perspective on client contact that fails to appear. To get answers to the questions data were collected through a web survey. The questionnaire was sent out to 284 social workers that are active in Jönköping County, of which 115 social workers responded to the survey. Data were collected from the municipalities of Jönköping County through an online survey. The result shows that the social worker’s sense of support in case of no client contact and the opportunity to spend so much time on the client as the social worker deems necessary, is important for the social workers job satisfaction and motivation. For those social workers that experience client contact that fails to appear as a barrier, it also takes longer to start a new task after the realization that a client fails to appear at the agreed contact. When the client contact fail to appear from social worker’s daily work, it prevents social worker’s opportunity to do their work, which includes to do a meaningful work that the client benefit of and enjoy.

Over the past 30 years South Africa has lost valuable human capital due to high volumes of emigration. South Africa has also seen numerous changes in its political, economic and social structure specifically in these decades, but little investigation has been done into the possibility of an association between political, economic and social, as well as personal factors, and the decision to leave South Africa. This study refers to Lee’s Migration Model (1966) that was used as a broad theory for migration. The model involves four sets of factors: factors associated with the area of origin, factors associated with the area of destination, intervening obstacles and personal factors. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory also explains the personal motivational theory for migration. Lee’s Model of Migration is used to investigate which political, economic, social and personal factors in the area of origin (South Africa) pushed South African emigrants to leave the country. It also investigates which political, economic, social and personal factors in the area of destination (Australia and New Zealand) pulled South African emigrants toward these countries. This study involved mixed-methods research (Creswell, 2009), thus the data collection methods were both qualitative and quantitative. The study followed a sequential exploratory strategy in two stages with the qualitative data collection occurring first, followed by a quantitative study – ‘QUALquan’ study. The data are mixed between analysis of the qualitative data and the quantitative data collection (Creswell, 2009:211). The qualitative data collection instruments used in the first stage of the study in 2009, were face-to-face interviews consisting of one focus group and six personal interviews in New Zealand, as well as twelve personal interviews in Australia. In the second stage of the study in 2015, namely the quantitative research, respondents were selected by contacting 17 closed (secured) Facebook groups that were formed for South Africans living either in Australia or New Zealand. There is no alternative sampling frame available since emigrants do not need to declare themselves as migrants on a work visa, furthermore, official documentation is not accessible to the public. A quantitative data collection instrument was administered with an online questionnaire. In the Australian Facebook groups, 137 respondents completed the questionnaire, and in New Zealand Facebook groups, 118 respondents, which adds up to a total of 255 respondents who completed the questionnaire. The results concluded that South Africa’s governance framework, its infrastructure and legislation acted as political push factors motivating South Africans to emigrate, while an uncertain economy contributed as an economic push factor. Socially, a perception of a limited future and a narcissistic society is what pushed South Africans to emigrate. Personal push factors that drove the emigration decision included, unmet physical, safety, belonging and esteem needs. The political factors that pulled South African emigrants to Australia and New Zealand involved effective government services and governmental aid. Economic pull factors included economic certainty and a lower cost of living. Social pull factors proved to be familiar circumstances and a better future. Personal pull factors were safety, belonging and self-actualisation needs. This mixed-method approach focussed on the gap to a followup study that was identified in previous individual qualitative and quantitative studies. These results may assist the South African government to take measures that ensures the retention of highly skilled citizens. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Included in the challenges possibly faced by those with dyslexia, is the acquisition of literacy skills. Despite 21st century advancements made in technology, literacy skills remain central to education and day-to-day living. Therefore, it is essential to meet the learning needs of those with dyslexia, as failure herein could impact negatively on their lived experiences and on the attainment of their needs. The main aim of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore, and describe the first-hand lifelong experiences of adults living with dyslexia. The study utilised the theoretical and conceptual frameworks of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Following a multistage procedure, a criterion-based sampling strategy was used to select study participants, comprising of eight South African adults between the ages of 18 and 40, who were formally diagnosed with dyslexia. Data collection included semi-structured one-on-one in-depth interviews and the researcher’s reflective journal. Data analysis, following the principles of phenomenology, resulted in the formation of five themes. Findings reveal that dyslexia is viewed positively by adults diagnosed with it, and used as a driving force to succeed and obtain set goals. Various professionals were consulted with the aim of obtaining a diagnosis; however, obtaining a diagnosis and hence an explanation for their learning challenges, was a stressful experience for both the participants and their parents. Families provide much assistance with school work, although all participants revealed negative schooling experiences caused by schools not acknowledging dyslexia and not meeting their specific learning needs. Although living with dyslexia presents challenges, coping mechanisms are in place for overcoming anticipated challenges. Whilst self-confidence is not negatively affected, dyslexia appears to negatively affect the self-esteem of some. This study found that the dyslexia label is preferred to that of having additional learning needs, as the dyslexia label is viewed as referring to specific challenges and not to entire learning abilities. Finally, this study hopes to provide a deeper understanding of the experiences of those living with dyslexia and fill the existing gap in South African literature. / Psychology / Ph. D. (Psychology)