Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Orientation: Emotions at work have been considered as an important facet of employees’ work life. However, research regarding the investigation of the emotion experiences at work per se has been lacking. Research Purpose: The general objective of this study is to critically investigate what emotion events are experienced and how these events are appraised for them to result in specific emotions. Motivation for the study: Currently a lack of research regarding emotion experiences as a process exists. Research design, approach and method: To investigate emotion experiences as a process a Qualitative study was conducted among one hundred (n=100) professional mining employees using The Critical Incident Technique Approach. Main findings: 84% of the participants experienced negative emotion events and a mere 14% of participants experienced positive emotion events at work. Negative emotion events were appraised as negative and participants indicated not having control or power over the events, yet adaption was possible. Negative emotions included: anger, disgust and sadness. Positive emotion events were appraised as positive even though the participants reported not having control or power over the situation. Participant did report being able to live with the consequences. Positive emotions provoked included joy, pleasure and pride. Practical/managerial implications: When the emotion experiences of employees are investigated as a process, better understanding of emotions will be gained which will enable the implementation of the most appropriate interventions to fulfil individual needs and reaching organisational goals. Contribution/value-adding: Existing research on the emotion experience as a process has been lacking especially in the South African context. This study will thus contribute to research regarding the investigation of the emotion experience as a process and not mere independent components. / MA (Industrial Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Orientation: Emotions at work have been considered as an important facet of employees’ work life. However, research regarding the investigation of the emotion experiences at work per se has been lacking. Research Purpose: The general objective of this study is to critically investigate what emotion events are experienced and how these events are appraised for them to result in specific emotions. Motivation for the study: Currently a lack of research regarding emotion experiences as a process exists. Research design, approach and method: To investigate emotion experiences as a process a Qualitative study was conducted among one hundred (n=100) professional mining employees using The Critical Incident Technique Approach. Main findings: 84% of the participants experienced negative emotion events and a mere 14% of participants experienced positive emotion events at work. Negative emotion events were appraised as negative and participants indicated not having control or power over the events, yet adaption was possible. Negative emotions included: anger, disgust and sadness. Positive emotion events were appraised as positive even though the participants reported not having control or power over the situation. Participant did report being able to live with the consequences. Positive emotions provoked included joy, pleasure and pride. Practical/managerial implications: When the emotion experiences of employees are investigated as a process, better understanding of emotions will be gained which will enable the implementation of the most appropriate interventions to fulfil individual needs and reaching organisational goals. Contribution/value-adding: Existing research on the emotion experience as a process has been lacking especially in the South African context. This study will thus contribute to research regarding the investigation of the emotion experience as a process and not mere independent components. / MA (Industrial Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

ESKOM is moving towards a price structure for electricity which reflects, as far as possible, the real cost of generation. It is called real time pricing (RTP). ESKOM developed this cost structure to coax customers to use more electricity in off-peak periods (low cost of generation) and less electricity in peak periods (high cost of generation). However, many industries do not effectively use these price offerings from ESKOM to the detriment of themselves and ESKOM. In previous research improvements to this situation for the South African mining industry were investigated. ESKOM funded research to find the potential for load shifting on mines using RTP. The RTP investigation focused on the supply side management (SSM) in the mining context of underground services on gold and platinum mines. Elements investigated included the ventilation, cooling and pumping (VCP) systems. (Except for pumps, these plants are generally installed aboveground.) Previous research showed a national RTP and SSM potential to shift 500 MW of electrical load for a period of 5 hours. Through the previous research it became clear that the mines were previously able to react partially to the price signals. However, it was proved by the research that the full load shift potential can only be realised through the use of integrated dynamic simulation and optimisation. An even higher potential exists for load shift and electricity efficiency through demand side management (DSM) on the underground services. Therefore, if underground DSM strategies are combined with SSM strategies, a further and much bigger potential can be exploited to the benefit of ESKOM and the mines. Due to these factors this study was undertaken. Three case study mines were identified for this study. They are Kopanang and Target, both gold mines, and Amandelbult, a platinum mine. The DSM potential on each of these mines was calculated using simulation, calibration, verification and optimisation. These results were presented to mine management to negotiate the implementation of the proposed strategies on one of the mines. Kopanang's management agreed to the implementation of these strategies for a trial period of 3 months after which the success would be evaluated. The results of the implementation, together with the case study results, were used to calculate the national DSM potential in the mining sector through extrapolation. The DSM potential amounts to 650 MW of load per day as well as 5% on electricity consumption. This amounts to a potential saving of R72.1 million per year using current tariffs. This means that ESKOM can save about R5000 million on the building of a new power station to supply the equivalent load to the DSM potential. Now that the national impact has been calculated and discussed, all these findings must be used to motivate the implementation of these strategies throughout the mining sector. A similar project can be undertaken to look at possible DSM strategies in the industrial sector. This might prove to be more difficult as the electricity intensive systems are mostly all linked to the final production. In the mind of management this out-weighs the possible cost savings that can be achieved. ESKOM and the NER will have to rethink their strategy. Through DSM and load shifting actions alone the pending electricity crisis will not be averted. The current tariff structures should be amended to not only reflect the true cost of electricity but also provide incentive for DSM and load shifting. Another problem that must be addressed to achieve the DSM targets set for 2007 is the time that it takes to complete the study as well as the implementation time. Software can easily be created to help in the speeding up of the case study itself, as the process and steps followed, as well as models used, are very generic (at least in the gold and platinum mining sector). / Thesis (Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

No description available.

Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology )

The threat posed by non-ferrous metal theft to industries in South Africa is substantial but is also regarded with indifference. A reason for this view may be that the criminal act is ordinarily not accompanied by violence and the target of the crime is an object that is far removed from the vicinity of the majority of South Africans. Non-ferrous metal theft may sometimes even be erroneously termed a victimless crime. This study endeavours to shed light on the complexities of non-ferrous metal theft and the industrial dangers that may be suffered if this crime is not eradicated. A case study from the mining industry was used to examine the nature and extent of non-ferrous metal theft. A mixed methods approach was followed in terms of which qualitative and quantitative research was done sequentially to provide the best possible representation of the situation. The participant allowed access to data over a six-year period as well as access to mine employees for interviews to assist with understanding the safety and security measures that the mine put in place to protect its workforce. This information led to another realisation, namely that if non-ferrous metal thieves cut an electricity supply line that is critical for life support and transportation in the mine, mineworkers may succumb to the harsh conditions underground. It also became evident that the police and the criminal justice system must develop a better understanding of the seriousness of non-ferrous metal theft. If this does not happen in the near future, managing the consequences of nonferrous metal theft at South African mines will become a mammoth task. Such mines and other industries affected by non-ferrous metal related theft must collaborate with each other and the police in order to understand the nature of the crime and to ensure that the prosecution of the perpetrators is handled properly. These industries should also subscribe to a pragmatic approach to crime prevention whereby various components from different crime prevention strategies are used to address the issues being experienced and whereby a unique crime prevention model for each industry and mining site can be developed. / Police Practice / M.A. (Policing)

La presente investigación tiene como objetivo el análisis al controversial tema de las consideraciones tributarias de los gastos por responsabilidad social empresarial que realizan las empresas mineras en el Perú, buscando la aprobación de la deducibilidad de estos desembolsos para efectos del Impuesto a la Renta, con la finalidad de evitar conflictos sociales y mantener su fuente de productiva. Asimismo, se busca establecer una solución jurídica para conseguir el beneficio conjunto y sostenible de todos los actores involucrados. La metodología empleada en este trabajo, contempla la investigación doctrinaria de diversos autores, para definir un concepto integrado de Responsabilidad social, la revisión de fuentes oficiales del Estado sobre la situación económica de la industria minera para observar la urgencia de implementar una solución eficiente al problema, y el análisis normativo y jurisprudencial a nivel administrativo como judicial para observar las consideraciones institucionales respecto a los mencionados desembolsos realizado por las empresas extractivas en el Perú. Las principales conclusiones fueron las siguientes: primero, la Responsabilidad social empresarial supera el compromiso altruista por el bienestar social y ambiental, siendo un importante instrumento de inversión para mantener la fuente productora y así asegurar el desarrollo de la industria; segundo, existe una clara deficiencia normativa que regule la deducción de los gastos por responsabilidad social, provocando una incertidumbre sobre el tratamiento tributario correspondiente; y tercero, en la exigua jurisprudencia vigente se ha reconocido que existe vinculación entre estos gastos y el mantenimiento de la fuente productora, configurándose así la causalidad de estos gastos considerándose deducibles para efectos tributarios, pues previenen, atenúan y eliminan potenciales escenarios negativos en el entorno social que atentarían contra el mantenimiento de la fuente productiva asegurando los objetivo económicos de la empresa. The objective of the present investigation is to analyze the controversial issue of tax considerations of the expenses for corporate social responsibility carried out by mining companies in Peru, seeking the approval of the deductibility of these disbursements for Income Tax purposes, with the Purpose of avoiding social conflicts and maintaining their productive source. It also seeks to establish a legal solution to achieve the joint and sustainable benefit of all actors involved. The methodology used in this work, includes the doctrinal research of various authors, to define an integrated concept of social responsibility, the review of official sources of the State on the economic situation of the mining industry to observe the urgency of implementing an efficient solution to the problem , And normative and jurisprudential analysis at the administrative as well as judicial level to observe the institutional considerations regarding the aforementioned disbursements made by extractive companies in Peru. The main conclusions were: first, Corporate Social Responsibility exceeds the altruistic commitment to social and environmental welfare, being an important investment instrument to maintain the production source and thus ensure the development of the industry; Second, there is a clear regulatory deficiency that regulates the deduction of social responsibility expenses, causing uncertainty about the corresponding tax treatment; And third, in the limited jurisprudence in force, it has been recognized that there is a link between these expenses and the maintenance of the source of production, thus configuring the causality of these expenses considered as deductible for tax purposes, since they prevent, attenuate and eliminate potential negative scenarios in the environment Which would jeopardize the maintenance of the productive source, ensuring the economic objectives of the company.

MRDV / Institute for Rural Development / Mining industry Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects are designed to improve the quality of life of neighbouring communities. However, it is increasingly argued that few of them actually result in tangible benefits for the communities where they are implemented. Moreover, few empirical studies have been undertaken on this subject. The dearth in research on this subject explains why there is inadequate evidence to draw informed conclusions and decisions. The current study sought to determine the nature of benefits accruing to rural communities from mining companies CSR projects in Moses Kotane Local Municipality of the North West Province. Specifically, the study sought to determine the characteristics of mining companies CSR activities, nature of community-perceived benefits derived from them and assess the perception of surrounding local communities on such initiatives. A case study design was used because of its power of providing detailed factual information on mining CSR activities. The study was carried out following a sequential mixed research method that integrated qualitative and quantitative techniques. Document review, questionnaires and in-depth interviews were used to collect data. A total of 261 respondents randomly selected from households in five villages, 30 purposively sampled key informants who included 18 officials from various institutions and youth, were interviewed. Thematic content analysis was used to draw meaning from the qualitative data. Descriptive statistics and inferential tests were carried out using the Microsoft Excel software. It was revealed that CSR projects were improving water infrastructure, in addition to being used to construct and refurbish schools and clinics. Although the CSR projects were supporting the livelihoods of local households, there was still considerable room for improvement particularly in relation to creating sustainable employment opportunities. Only 8 % of the respondents believed that CSR projects were beneficial to them. Lack of consultation when developing the CSR projects and limited awareness campaigns led to inappropriate initiatives being implemented. This highlighted the need for adopting inclusive approaches in decision making processes starting from planning to implementation.

Legislators are placing increased pressure on mining companies to improve their safety performance. The importance of safety leadership is highlighted by its role in safety culture and improving safety performance. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the impact of a coaching program on safety leadership. The main constructs namely safety culture, safety leadership and coaching was conceptualised along the humanistic paradigm, with theoretical definitions and models. In this study, safety culture is employees’ shared attitudes, beliefs, perceptions and values about safety that affect their behaviour in the workplace. Safety leadership is the interpersonal influence that a leader exercises to achieve the organisation’s safety performance goals. Coaching is an interpersonal interaction that aims to improve individual performance through increased selfawareness and action plans. A theoretical model was developed to explain the elements that constitute effective safety leadership. A coaching program was developed based on executive coaching and leadership development principles. The empirical investigation was conducted in an organisation in the South African mining industry. A nested mixed methods design was followed. In the quantitative study, a 360 degree survey was employed to assess the ratings of a purposive sample (n=54) along eight dimensions before and after the coaching. Data was analysed with descriptive and inferential analysis. Results showed statistically significant improvements on accountability, collaboration, and feedback and recognition after the coaching. The results reflected differences in 360 degree ratings according to gender, race, job level, age and geographical location. The most significant improvements were for females, Africans, management, age 51-60 years, and site 2. In the qualitative study, a semi-structured interview was employed to study four cases to investigate managers’ personal experiences and changes in attitude toward safety. Data was analysed utilising thematic analysis. The findings revealed that coaching was a positive experience and contributed to changing managers’ attitudes toward safety. The research added to the field of organisational behaviour by presenting a theoretical model that enhances the understanding of safety leadership, the development of a coaching program and providing empirical evidence that the principles of coaching and leadership development can be applied to improve safety leadership. / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / D. Admin. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)