Thesis (M.Com.)--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2000.

Suicide is a reality in South Africa that can be confirmed by the increasing statistics annually. The South African Police Service (SAPS) also shows increasing numbers of suicide. However, these numbers only focus on successful suicides and little is known about the suicidal ideation of members within the service. It now seems that only the tip of the iceberg is causing panic. although the problem might be much bigger than originally thought. In this research the emphasis will be on possible correlations between coping sense of coherence and job satisfaction on the one hand and suicidal ideation on the other hand within the SAPS in the North West Province. If correlations between coping: sense of coherence, job satisfaction and suicidal ideation can be found, it can be of great significance for the SAPS, especially in terms of recruitments, selection, development and management of human recourses. The objective of this research is to determine if there is a relationship between coping sense of coherence, job satisfaction and suicidal ideation among police personnel. The focus of the literature was on the conceptualising of suicidal ideation and if suicidal ideation can be linked to construct such as coping, sense of coherence and job satisfaction. The research is quantitative in nature and entails a survey design. The population consisted of 120 police personnel in the North West Province, of which all were ranked between constable to inspector. Four measuring instruments were used, namely the Adult Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire, the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, the Sense of Coherence Questionnaire and the ways of Coping Questionnaire. The SAS-program was used for statistical analysis purposes. Descriptive statistics, t-test, product moment correlations and multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the results. Police personnel indicated dissatisfaction with regard to the remuneration that they receive, as well as physical working conditions, supervision-human and company policy. They use coping styles such as seeking social support, planful problem-solving as well as positive reappraisal. Black police members showed to be more suicidal than white members. The empirical study showed that dissatisfaction with specific aspects of their work and sense of coherence could predict suicidal ideation. Recommendations for future research are made in the conclusion. / Thesis (M.A.)--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2000.

Thesis (M.Com.)--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2000.

Thesis (M.A.)--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2000.

Thesis (M.A.)--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 1999.

Empirical data indicates that work satisfaction has an effect on work attendance, decisions regarding retirement, general behavioural syndromes indicating a positive organizational orientation, attempts to influence work situations by means of trade union activities as well as psychological withdrawal. In the past work satisfaction has been coupled with individual, group and organizational factors. Increasing attention is currently paid to the hypothesis that factors within the individual (dispositional factors) rather than merely the characteristics of the position, affect individuals' work satisfaction. If locus of control does indeed show a relationship with work satisfaction, it could be of significant value for any organization, especially with regard to the selection and development of personnel. Die objectives of this research are to determine whether there is a connection between locus of control and work satisfaction. The literature study focussed on conteptualizing work satisfaction and the relationship thereof with locus of control. A survey design (correlation design) was used to test the hypotheses of the research. Each individual in the subject group was tested on two variables simultaneously and the connection between the measurements that were obtained, was established. The survey group consisted of 101 senior police personnel of the South African Police Service (SAPD) in the Marico area. An availability sample was used. Two questionnaires were used in this research, namely the Locus of Control Questionnaire (LCQ) and the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Index (Weiss et al., 1976). Statistical analyses were done by means of the SAS programme. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, product moment correlations, multiple correlations and canonical correlations were used to analyze information. With regard to the level of satisfaction of senior police personnel, they indicated dissatisfaction with regard to the remuneration that they receive, as well as physical working conditions, opportunities for promotion, acknowledgement, social status, supervision-human, as well as supervision-technical. More work satisfaction is experienced with regard to performance, authority, independence and responsibility. The results of the empirical survey indicate that there is a moderately negative relationship between the external locus of control and work satisfaction of senior police personnel. The canonical correlations indicate that there is a practically significant connection (large effect) between locus of control and work satisfaction. In conclusion recommendations for future research are made. / Thesis (M.A.)--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 1999.

Thesis (M.Com.)--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2000.

Suicide is a reality in South Africa that can be confirmed by the increasing statistics annually. The South African Police Service (SAPS) also shows increasing numbers of suicide. However, these numbers only focus on successful suicides and little is known about the suicidal ideation of members within the service. It now seems that only the tip of the iceberg is causing panic. although the problem might be much bigger than originally thought. In this research the emphasis will be on possible correlations between coping sense of coherence and job satisfaction on the one hand and suicidal ideation on the other hand within the SAPS in the North West Province. If correlations between coping: sense of coherence, job satisfaction and suicidal ideation can be found, it can be of great significance for the SAPS, especially in terms of recruitments, selection, development and management of human recourses. The objective of this research is to determine if there is a relationship between coping sense of coherence, job satisfaction and suicidal ideation among police personnel. The focus of the literature was on the conceptualising of suicidal ideation and if suicidal ideation can be linked to construct such as coping, sense of coherence and job satisfaction. The research is quantitative in nature and entails a survey design. The population consisted of 120 police personnel in the North West Province, of which all were ranked between constable to inspector. Four measuring instruments were used, namely the Adult Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire, the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, the Sense of Coherence Questionnaire and the ways of Coping Questionnaire. The SAS-program was used for statistical analysis purposes. Descriptive statistics, t-test, product moment correlations and multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the results. Police personnel indicated dissatisfaction with regard to the remuneration that they receive, as well as physical working conditions, supervision-human and company policy. They use coping styles such as seeking social support, planful problem-solving as well as positive reappraisal. Black police members showed to be more suicidal than white members. The empirical study showed that dissatisfaction with specific aspects of their work and sense of coherence could predict suicidal ideation. Recommendations for future research are made in the conclusion. / Thesis (M.A.)--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2000.

Empirical data indicates that work satisfaction has an effect on work attendance, decisions regarding retirement, general behavioural syndromes indicating a positive organizational orientation, attempts to influence work situations by means of trade union activities as well as psychological withdrawal. In the past work satisfaction has been coupled with individual, group and organizational factors. Increasing attention is currently paid to the hypothesis that factors within the individual (dispositional factors) rather than merely the characteristics of the position, affect individuals' work satisfaction. If locus of control does indeed show a relationship with work satisfaction, it could be of significant value for any organization, especially with regard to the selection and development of personnel. Die objectives of this research are to determine whether there is a connection between locus of control and work satisfaction. The literature study focussed on conteptualizing work satisfaction and the relationship thereof with locus of control. A survey design (correlation design) was used to test the hypotheses of the research. Each individual in the subject group was tested on two variables simultaneously and the connection between the measurements that were obtained, was established. The survey group consisted of 101 senior police personnel of the South African Police Service (SAPD) in the Marico area. An availability sample was used. Two questionnaires were used in this research, namely the Locus of Control Questionnaire (LCQ) and the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Index (Weiss et al., 1976). Statistical analyses were done by means of the SAS programme. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, product moment correlations, multiple correlations and canonical correlations were used to analyze information. With regard to the level of satisfaction of senior police personnel, they indicated dissatisfaction with regard to the remuneration that they receive, as well as physical working conditions, opportunities for promotion, acknowledgement, social status, supervision-human, as well as supervision-technical. More work satisfaction is experienced with regard to performance, authority, independence and responsibility. The results of the empirical survey indicate that there is a moderately negative relationship between the external locus of control and work satisfaction of senior police personnel. The canonical correlations indicate that there is a practically significant connection (large effect) between locus of control and work satisfaction. In conclusion recommendations for future research are made. / Thesis (M.A.)--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 1999.

This thesis comprises a critical examination of Information System Strategy (ISS) formation in a public sector context, namely the Police Service in Scotland. Despite the apparent importance attached to ISS, and the proliferation of many methods to assist those engaged in ISS formation, the practice of ISS formation remains comparatively ill-understood. The concepts of strategy and power can be viewed as being closely linked. Using theory based accounts of power, we put forward a multi-dimensional conceptualisation of power as an aid to organisational analysis of ISS formation. Consequently, the focus of this work is not only a detailed investigation into ISS formation practice, but also one in which we evaluate the way in which a multi-dimensional conceptualisation of power affects our understanding of ISS formation practice. This research is based upon six longitudinal case studies of ISS formation in the Police Service. Data collection involved a number of methods: in-depth semi-structured interviews, informal conversation, participation, collection of documentation produced within the case study settings, and collation and analysis of documentary materials from secondary sources. The abstraction of several themes from a cross-case comparative analysis of issues has led to the development of a conceptual framework which underpins our contribution to knowledge: namely, a means of understanding ISS formation as micro-political activity, based upon an ongoing process of construction and reconstruction of social reality. This in turn can be considered as being based upon individual mental constructs, which in turn are influenced by the themes identified. Our framework has been developed as an epistemological device to aid thinking about ISS formation, rather than as a representation of what an ISS formation process is. Implicit in the framework is the contention that ISS formation reflects power relations; however, the practical difficulties in researching power issues should not be underestimated. Several areas for further research arising from this thesis are discussed.