Research on organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB) has focused on the positive aspects of the construct, neglecting the possibility that individuals who engage in OCB may suffer negative consequences. Thus, the present study expands the literature by examining the possibility that OCB is also related to negative individual-level factors, such as work-to-family conflict (WIF). In a replication and extension of Bolino and Turnley's (2005) research, the present study offers an in-depth analysis of the relationship between OCB and WIF, examining two potential mediators (work time and role overload) and two potential moderators (gender and perceptions of OCB as discretionary). Two hundred and ninety-six participants, recruited from the alumni database of a large southeastern university, Craig's List, and a snowball approach, completed surveys. Additionally, supervisor-ratings of OCB were obtained for a sub-sample of 35 participants. Study hypotheses were tested using zero-order correlations and multiple regression analyses. No support was found for a relationship between OCB and WIF, nor was there support for the moderating role of gender and perceptions of OCB as discretionary. Theoretical and practical implications, as well as future directions, are discussed.

The primary goal of the current study is to develop a more advanced model of information-seeking behaviors. For achieving this goal, it paid attention to two social phenomena characterizing contemporary society: informationalization and globalization. First, focusing on these two influential phenomena, this study investigated how individual-level factors—information overload, information ambiguity, and goal orientations—affected information-seeking behaviors among employees in a multinational corporation. Next, in addition to these individual predictors of information-seeking behaviors, this study explored the effects of two team-level factors—team task interdependence and team tenure—on the relationships between the main predictors and information-seeking behaviors. Last, paying more attention to the multicultural context, this study investigated how these employees in a multinational corporation seek task and feedback information from two culturally different sources: American direct advisors and Korean expatriates. In order to more thoroughly investigate the roles of the cultural backgrounds of information sources, this study explored how American employees perceived the cultural backgrounds of the two culturally different sources and how such perceptions influenced those employees’ information-seeking behaviors. / text

Informationsmängden har i och med Internets utveckling accelererat, vilket påverkar klimatet på många arbetsplatser. Det fenomen som uppstår när en individ får svårigheter att hantera informationen brukar kallas ”information overload”. Särskilt i informationsintensiva miljöer finns en risk att informationsmängden kan orsaka information overload. Huvudsyftet med studien var att öka kunskapen om hur informationsmängden upplevs, hur den hanteras och hur den påverkar arbetsprestationen för individer på ett informationsintensivt företag. Ett delsyfte var att belysa om informationsmängden upplevs som stressande och om stressen påverkar informationshanteringen och arbetsprestationen för individerna. Som undersökningsmetod användes kvalitativa halvstrukturerade intervjuer som utfördes med fem medarbetare på en tidningsredaktion i Mellansverige. Analysen av intervjuerna genomfördes med hjälp av innehållsanalys. Resultaten visade att informationsmängden inte upplevdes som för stor. Respondenterna använde datorn samt vissa andra strategier för att hantera informationen. Man ansåg inte att arbetsprestationen påverkades av informationsmängden i någon större utsträckning. Stress ansågs inte uppstå på grund av informationsmängden utan snarare av störningar och avbrott i arbetet. Att arbetet kunde bli försenat pga. tidsbrist ansågs också stressande. Vid stress kunde vissa svårigheter med att t.ex. sortera informationen uppstå och enklare fel kunde göras. Trots att respondenterna uppgav att den externa informationen ökat de senaste tio åren upplevdes inte detta som ett problem. En slutsats som drogs är att det inte finns belägg för information overload bland respondenterna.

This study demonstrates the complex place stress has in the workplace by investigating both positive (eustress) and negative (distress) stress responses. An international sample of 140 individuals was recruited from various industries and organisational levels and these individuals participated in a confidential online survey. A moderated mediation model was proposed in which organisational stressors (person-job fit and role overload) influenced employee affective wellbeing directly and indirectly through stress responses, moderated by individual factors (work-family conflict and self-efficacy). Person-job fit influenced eustress which had positive effects on employee affective wellbeing. Role overload influenced distress which negatively impacted affective wellbeing. Self-efficacy moderated these relationships, with high levels increasing stress responses both negative and positive. Work-family conflict moderated relationships by reducing the positive effect of eustress and increasing the negative effect of distress. The findings not only advance current knowledge but have implications for organisational stress management practices.

The National Strategy for Science was progressively introduced from 2002 with the intention of providing a clear structure for improved delivery of the subject in secondary schools. Through a series of scripted training events, supported by printed resources, the intention was to provide science teachers with a clear framework for sequential teaching of key themes through the use of pedagogy intended to involve the students in their own learning. After several years, the nature of the National Strategy shifted to concentrate on the support of subject leaders, and the Strategy is planned to end in 2011. The current school cohorts have all experienced the teaching of science since the introduction of the Strategy, and should therefore have benefitted from the improved delivery, intended to create improved outcomes and more positive attitudes towards science. By means of a case study investigation in 2008 in a single school, the impact of the National Strategy was explored. By means of a range of qualitative methods, including questionnaires, interviews and lesson observations, it was possible to investigate the extent to which National Strategy ideas had become embedded in the daily routines of the science teachers, and the extent to which students viewed science positively. The study focused on Y7 (soon after entry to the school), Y9 (prior to the SATs examinations) and Y11 (during the run-up to GCSE). An initial study four years previously was used to provide an indication of changes during the life of the Strategy, and to indicate trends. In addition, sampling in other schools was used to determine whether the questionnaire results were atypical. The results showed that the Strategy had largely failed to become embedded in normal classroom practice, with little evidence of teachers making good use of the pedagogy or the structured delivery that was central to the Strategy message. The reasons for this failure were: • The expectation that centrally-delivered training would be effectively cascaded by one individual to other teachers in the school, • The failure to concentrate on a few simple messages or themes, repeatedly delivered and reinforced in subsequent training, • The introduction of a plethora of other initiatives, each demanding teacher time, and diluting efforts to focus attention on the National Strategy themes. As a result, the science teachers in 2008 showed less understanding of the Strategy than teachers in 2004, and their use of techniques such as the three-part lesson and enquiry-based learning were less evident. The Strategy was to be a mechanism to improve examination results and to improve student attitudes to science. The examination results are shown to be largely stagnant over this period 2003-2008, and the attitudes of students towards science are shown to become less positive during their time in secondary school. The key finding, therefore, is that the Strategy failed in its aims because it failed to listen to its own message. It failed to recognise that teachers, just as much as students, need simple messages, repeatedly delivered in innovative ways, in order to learn and fully internalise these ideas.

Bakgrund: Antalet barn och ungdomar som deltar i organiserade idrotts- och fritidsaktiviteter ökar. Det ses också en ökning av intensiv träning i yngre åldrar. Detta kan leda till att barn och ungdomar utsätter sig själva för ökad risk för akuta skador och överbelastningsskador. Syfte: Att applicera och anpassa Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center (OSTRC) svenska enkät till ett pojklag inom juniorishockey under en fyraveckorsperiod samt att genomföra en skaderegistrering mot de fysiska hälsoproblemen (akut skada, överbelastningsskada och sjukdom) och belysa dessa inom juniorishockey. Material och metod: Samtliga spelarna i ett pojklag (ålder 15-18) i ishockey fick under fyra veckors tid fylla i OSTRC enkät en gång i veckan. Enkäten berörde fysiska hälsoproblem så som akut skada, överbelastningsskada och sjukdom. Resultat: Ingen av deltagarna ansåg att det var svårt att fylla i enkäten och de inkluderande frågorna ansågs vara relevanta. Under studiens fyra veckor rappoterades det 47 (CI 62-41,2) fysiska hälsoproblem av 19 (76%) av deltagarna. Det sågs 14 akuta skador, 16 överbelastningskador och 10 sjukdomar under studiens fyra veckor. Konklusion: Konklusionen av denna studie är att prevalensen av skador i studien tyder på att skadegraden inom juniorishockeyn är högre än vad som tidigare beskrivits. Anpassningen av enkäten uppskattades av deltagarna. De beskrev att enkäten var lättförstålig och bra anpassad mot deras idrott. / Background. The number of children and youth that are involved in sports and leisure activities increases. As it seems the number of children who are involved in intense training also increases. This leads to that the number of children and youth who is exposed to overtraining and acute injuries increases as well. Objektiv: To apply and adjust the Swedish translated (Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center (OSTRC) questionnarie to a men junior icehockeyteam during a four week period and also do a injury registration on the physical health problems (acute injury, overload injury and illness). Methods: A youth men icehockeyteam was monitored during a four week period. The players were asked to fill in a self-reporting questionnaire once a week. The questionnaire was designed to detect acute injuries, overload injuries and illness. Result: No players made any argument that the questionnarie was hard to fill in and all players thought the questions were relevant for there sport. During the four week studies there was 47 (CI 62-41,2) reported physical health problems on 19 (76%) of the players. 14 acute injuries, 16 overload injuries och 10 illness were reported. Conclusion: The conclusion of this studie is that the prevalence of injuries is higher in junior icehockey then described before. The adjustment of the questionnaire were appreciated by the players. They described that the questionnaire was easy to understand and were adjusted well to icehockey.

No description available.

Over the last 25 year IT development has greatly influenced the waycompanies are managed, the tremendous growth in the information society has made a huge amount of information extremely accessible. This has resulted in the problem of information overload where the large amount of information can affect the quality of a decision basis collected by a controller. The purpose of the study is to examine how a controller is affected by information overload and how this influences the decision basis. We intend to highlight the important elements to represent a high quality of information. A survey was conducted through a case study within a global affiliated company in the packaging industry. An adductive approach has been applied with a qualitative research method. Collected empirical material from interviews has been put into relation with existing theories. The case study indicates that there is no relationship between the problem of information overload and flawed decision basis. The study identified important factors in preventing problems with consolidation of information and how the controller use structures to deal with a huge amount of data. To deal with the problem several key factors has been identified: Subsystems that communicate with each other, structures within  the  ERP-system,  transparency,  well-defined  templates  andstandardized processes for how different tasks should be completed. / Bakgrund: IT-utvecklingen har under en 25-årsperiod kraftigt influerat hur företag styrs, den enorma tillväxten i informationssamhället har resulterat i att en enorm mängd information blivit oerhört lättillgänglig. Detta har resulterat i problem med informationsöverflöd där informationen blir för omfattande och således riskerar en controllers beslutsunderlag att brista i kvalité. Syfte: Studiens syfte är att undersöka huruvida en controller påverkas av informationsöverflöd och hur detta influerar på beslutsunderlag. Vi ämnar redogöra vilka faktorer som är viktiga för att ge hög informationskvalité. Metod: Undersökningen har genomförts genom en fallstudie på ett globalt koncernbolag inom förpackningsindustrin. Ett abduktivt angreppssätt har tillämpats med en kvalitativ undersökningsmetod. Insamlat empiriskt material från intervjuer har ställts i relation till befintliga teorier. Slutsats: Fallstudiens resultat påvisar att något samband mellan informationsöverflöd och bristfälliga beslutsunderlag inte föreligger. Under studiens gång har det identifierats viktiga faktorer för att förebygga problem med konsolidering av information och hur controllers använder strukturer för att hantera stora mängder data. De nyckelfaktorer för att hantera problemet är: delsystem som kommunicerar med varandra, strukturer inom affärssystemet, transparens samt väldefinierade mallar och standardiserade processer för hur olika arbetsuppgifter ska gå till.

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.

Contemporary South African higher education institutions have undergone many drastic changes in recent years with regard to the demographic composition of students and organisational structures. Huge demands in terms of transformation have been placed on these institutions while they have simultaneously been transforming from former Technikons to Universities of Technology. This causes staff to be faced with major changes which affect all aspects of the institution. The objective of this research was to investigate whether role overload, job satisfaction and locus of control could be used to predict turnover intention of employees in a higher education institution. Further objectives included empirically determining whether locus of control had a mediating effect between role overload, job satisfaction and turnover intention. A cross-sectional survey design was used and an availability sample was taken from a South African higher education institution («=210). Five measuring instruments were administered as part of a larger questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data and a series of regressions was used to test for the hypothesised mediating effect. The reliability coefficients obtained for the scales indicated that the Cronbach Alpha coefficients for qualitative role overload, job satisfaction and turnover intention were acceptable; however, those for quantitative role overload and locus of control were below the recommended cut-off mark. The results showed that there was a strong relationship between the dimensions of overload, indicating that the feeling of having too much to do in the time available is accompanied by the feeling that individuals do not have the skills to complete their required tasks. Furthermore, it was found that if employees feel that they have too much to do and that they do not possess the skills to complete tasks, they will be dissatisfied with their jobs. Both quantitative and qualitative role overload contributed to the participant's thoughts of leaving the institution and it was concluded that a satisfied employee is less likely to think of leaving the organisation. Locus of control had minimal relationships with quantitative and qualitative role overload, as well as with turnover intention. Locus of control was, however, found to be related to job satisfaction. Locus of control was found to be a poor predictor of turnover intention and did not mediate the relationship between role overload and job satisfaction on the one hand, and turnover intention on the other. It was concluded that job satisfaction was the strongest predictor of turnover intention. By way of conclusion, recommendations were made both for the organisation and for future research. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.