Thesis (Ph. D.)--Lehigh University, 1999. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-105).

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Owing to the dramatic change in the South African political and economic environment during the last few years, it seems more important than ever for upper level management in organizations to be aware of the sources which encourage and discourage their middle level managers to strive to implement the organizational goals. The focus of this study is on male and female middle level managers, and as no documented South African study based on such a sample group could be found, the study is largely investigativeby nature. The general aim of the study is to investigate the different attitudes and perceptions of men and women with regard to sources of job satisfaction, sources which contribute to job dissatisfaction, and job stress. In this regard it was decided to make use of triangulation by which qualitative and quantitative research methods are used. Thematic analysis is used on the qualitative level to identify the possible sources of job satisfaction, dissatisfaction and job stress. This method is quantitatively supported by a determination of the frequencies and percentages of subject responses by means of semi structured interviews. Although certain limitations are identified in the study, significant differences were found in the quantitative data with regard to the causes of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction between men and women. The causes of job stress seems to be similar for both sexes. On a qualitative level it was found that the experience of success is rated as the most important source of job satisfaction and that interpersonal relationships are the most significant source of job dissatisfaction. Further it seems that work expectations / demands are the major source of job stress for the subjects. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Omdat die Suid-Afrikaanse politieke- en ekonomiese omgewing die afgelope paar jaar geweldig verander het, blyk dit noodsaakliker as ooit te wees dat die topbestuur van organisasies bewus sal wees wat hul werkers - in die besonder middelvlakbestuurders- aanmoedig, maar ook ontmoedig om organisatoriese doelwitte na te streef en te implementeer. Die fokus van hierdie studie is op manlike en vroulike middelvlakbestuurders. Aangesien daar geen gedokumenteerde studies rakende die bronne van werksatisfaksie én werkstres by middelvlakbestuurders in die bedryf onderneem is nie, is die studie tot 'n groot mate ondersoekend van aard. Die algemene doelstelling van die studie is om ondersoek in te stel na die verskillende houdings en persepsies van mans en dames rakende werksatisfaksie, bronne wat bydra dat werksatisfaksie nie ervaar word nie, en werkstres. In dié verband is besluit om van triangulasie gebruik te maak, dit wil sê van kwalitatiewe- en kwantitatiewe navorsingsmetodes. Op die kwalitatiewe vlak word tematiese analise gebruik om potensiële bronne van werksatisfaksie, dissatisfaksie en werkstres te identifiseer. Hierdie metode word verder kwantitatief ondersteun deur 'n bepaling van frekwensies en persentasies van subjekte se response wat uit semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude verkry is. Alhoewel daar heelwat beperkings in die studie geïdentifiseer is, is daar uit die kwantitatiewe data gevind dat daar 'n verskil is in die bronne van werksatisfaksie en dissatisfaksie by mans en dames. Die bronne van werkstres is egter dieselfde vir beide geslagte. Op 'n meer kwalitatiewe vlak blyk dit dat die ervaring van sukses die grootste bron van ....werksatisfaksie is en dat interpersoonlike verhoudings die bron is wat die meeste bydra tot dissatisfaksie. Verder blyk dit dat werksverwagtinge / -eise die grootste bron van werkstres vir die subjekte is.

The purpose of this exploratory study of adult learning was to investigate the lived experience of 15 employees who encountered a significant job loss event (an unplanned loss of employment with no immediate replacement of employment—coupled with an unintentional and tangibly significant reduction in income), and how the resultant fear(s) from that event affected their navigation through unemployment in order to become successfully reemployed. This study used two theories in the field of adult learning—Transformative Learning (TL) and Learning From Experience (LFE)—with an aim of uncovering how the principles and methods of TL and LFE were relevant to the participants’ job loss episode and self-assessed, perceived workplace performance. TL offers adults a path for reframing a job loss episode. LFE can help advance an understanding of how the cumulative set of life events develops and shapes coping capacities (ways of learning) and skills relative to job loss episodes. This study was conducted using qualitative research methods, predominately exploratory participant interviews. The participants were 15 U.S.-based employees: five Black males, nine White males, and one White female. The participants were largely but not exclusively middle management staff. Through a series of one-on-one interviews, the research process captured the participants’ perceptions and learnings with respect to how they experienced their job-dismissed event, navigated unemployment, and applied learnings from their job loss episode. In addition, given the availability of five Black participants, discussions related to how race permeated the study were pursued when surfaced. Findings from the study indicated that participants experienced manifestations of fear from losing their job; used their intervening period of unemployment in a constructive, action-based manner; and saw themselves differently as a result of their job loss event. Several conclusions were derived from the study: (a) the job dismissal event is unlike onboarding—employees generally feel kicked out without care or warning; (b) navigation through unemployment requires self-awareness, self-determination, and both social and financial support; and (c) the richness of experience from a job loss episode can offer improvements to perceived workplace performance.