The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which religiosity and spirituality affected daily work practices and leader/follower trust levels in foodservice and nutrition directors and their subordinates. A similar 72-item survey questionnaire was developed for both the directors and employees, which was completed by 129 directors and 530 employees. Both questionnaires contained questions on demographics, religious influences on work practices, trust characteristics, and three validated measures of religiosity: 1) worship service attendance (1=Religiosity Score), 2) influence of spiritual beliefs on daily life, and 3) frequency of prayer (2 + 3=Spirituality Score). Frequency data was gathered for all questions. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson's Correlation were used to assess the relationship of directors' and employees' Religiosity and Spirituality Scores compared to their daily work practices and trust levels. Two-sample t-tests evaluated differences in directors' and employees' perceived trust levels toward each other. Most directors and employees were women and Caucasian. Most of the directors and employees had earned a Master's degree and bachelor's degree, respectively. The religion most frequently reported was Protestant. Data analysis of the Religiosity and Spirituality Scores and demographics showed some differences in ethnic group, gender, age, and education level, although there was no consistently identified trend. Well over one-third of directors (40.3%) and employees (36.3%) attended worship services at least four times the previous month. The more directors and employees attended worship services, the more likely they were to demonstrate specific spiritual actions and attitudes at work. Generally, religiosity and spirituality did not appear to influence perceived trustworthiness in directors and employees. However, both directors and employees were rated as being highly trustworthy by their counterpart(s). Directors and employees tend to over-rate their own trustworthiness when compared to ratings by the opposite discipline. Degree of religiosity and spirituality did not consistently affect the way directors and employees rated each others' trustworthiness though it was related to how they perceived their own trustworthiness. Directors expected that their employees were more committed to their jobs than they actually were.

The purpose of this study was to determine managers' perceptions of the relationship between spirituality and work performance. The sample consisted of twelve senior managers from different organisations. Semi structured interviews were used to gather the data. The data was qualitatively analysed and themes were identified. The findings indicated that spirituality promotes the healthy development of individuals by assisting with their own self-awareness, helping them find inner peace and dealing with stress and depression. Respondents also felt that spirituality enhances teamwork and redefines the concept of success in terms of engaging in competition, having unselfish motives and encouraging honesty. Based on the findings, recommendations were made for practice and for future research. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)

This study investigated employees’ perceptions about workplace spirituality in a national government department located in KwaZulu-Natal. A constructivist and qualitative approach was followed to gain an in-depth understanding of employees’ perceptions of spirituality, based on their personal understanding and experiences. A sample of 16 participants employed in the department was interviewed using a semi-structured interview. Thematic analysis was used to transcribe and assess the interviews. The findings revealed different notions of spirituality and the significance of workplace spirituality. In the workplace, employees continue to search for meaning in their work – meaning that transcends economic gain. Spirituality was perceived as being valuable for the interconnectedness and harmony that it brought to members of the organisation. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.Com (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to investigate the awareness of spiritual intelligence in the NGO sector. The study attempts to define the concepts of meaning, spirituality, spiritual intelligence and spiritual leadership. The research used as its basis questionnaires by Katz (2007) derived from the Zohar and Marshall characteristics of Spiritual Intelligence. A recent Gallup Poll showed that 45 percent of Americans talk about their faith at work, and this suggests that employers should not dismiss its motivating power. For most people faith and spirituality is a private matter. One can therefore pose the question, “What has the 'spirituality' of employees got to do with big business?” However, when the HR directors of Nokia, Unilever, McKinsey, Shell, Coca-Cola, Hewlett Packard, Merck Pharmaceuticals, Starbucks and the Cooperative Bank, some of the world's most successful companies talk about concepts such as 'spiritual quotient' and 'spiritual capital' one otherwise has to sit up and listen. Sir John Templeton, founder of the John Templeton Foundation, spends $16 million to $30 million a year funding research that explores links between science and God. He suggests that "No human being has yet even understood 1 percent of what can be learned about spiritual matters". It is initiatives like these and the growing number of professional presentations, journal articles, books and conferences devoted to the subject that confirms the new interest in spirituality. It seems that a consensus is emerging on the principal elements of spirituality for working people, which includes acknowledging God, the importance of prayer, other people and a sustainable world. Research further suggests that spirituality enables a businessperson to gain a more integrated perspective on their firm, family, neighbours, community and on themself. Sweeping social and economical changes, including downsizing, mergers, globalisation, the threat of terrorism since the 9/11 attacks, and corporate ethical scandals are all contributing to business’s spiritual awakening. In order to cope with increased stress and alienation, both managers and employees seek meaning and purpose in the workplace. The research in this study suggests that amidst these changes and associated challenges, there exists a high level of spiritual awareness in the organisations and the managers that participated in this study. The study report provides research examples and references to other case studies from across the world, including practical guidance for implementing and measuring workplace spirituality. The conclusions suggest that spirituality is a not passing fad but, an authentic movement based on universal spiritual principles. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om die bewustheid van geestelike intelligensie in die nie-regeringsorganisasie- (NRO-) sektor te ondersoek. Hierdie studie probeer die konsepte betekenis, spiritualiteit, geestelike intelligensie en geestelike leierskap definieer. Die navorsing het as grondslag die vraelyste van Katz (2007) gebruik, wat ontleen is aan die eienskappe van geestelike intelligensie soos gedefinieer deur Zohar en Marshall. ’n Onlangse Gallup-opname het getoon dat 45 persent van Amerikaners by die werk oor hulle geloof praat, en dit impliseer dat werkgewers geloof as motiveringskrag nie moet onderskat nie. Vir die meeste mense is geloof en spiritualiteit ’n persoonlike saak. ’n Mens kan dus vra: Wat het die ‘spiritualiteit’ van werknemers met groot sakeondernemings te make? Wanneer die menslikehulpbron-direkteure van Nokia, Unilever, McKinsey, Shell, Coca-Cola, Hewlett Packard, Merck Pharmaceuticals, Starbucks en die Co-operative Bank, ’n paar van die wêreld se suksesvolste maatskappye, egter praat oor konsepte soos ‘spirituele kwosiënt’, moet ’n mens goed na hulle luister. Sir John Templeton, stigter van die John Templeton Foundation, spandeer elke jaar tussen $16 miljoen en $30 miljoen om geld te voorsien vir navorsing wat die verband tussen die wetenskap en God ondersoek. Hy stel voor: “Geen menslike wese het nog ooit eens een persent verstaan van wat oor geestelike sake ontdek kan word nie.” Dit is inisiatiewe soos hierdie, sowel as die groeiende aantal professionele aanbiedings, tydskrifartikels, boeke en konferensies wat aan hierdie onderwerp gewy word, wat die nuwe belangstelling in spiritualiteit bevestig. Dit lyk of daar konsensus begin ontstaan oor die hoofelemente van spiritualiteit vir werkende mense, wat insluit die erkenning van God, en die belangrikheid van gebed, ander mense en ’n volhoubare wêreld. Navorsing impliseer verder dat spiritualiteit sakepersone in staat stel om ’n meer geïntegreerde perspektief op hulle firma, familie, bure, gemeenskap en hulleself te kry. Ingrypende sosiale en ekonomiese veranderinge, insluitende afskaling, samesmeltings, globalisering, die bedreiging van terrorisme sedert die aanvalle op 11 September 2001 en etiese skandale in die korporatiewe wêreld, dra by tot maatskappye se spirituele ontwaking. Om die toenemende spanning en vervreemding te kan hanteer, soek sowel bestuurders as werknemers na betekenis en doelgerigtheid in die werkplek. Die navorsing van hierdie studie impliseer dat daar te midde van hierdie veranderinge en meegaande uitdagings ’n hoë vlak van spirituele bewustheid heers in die organisasies en die bestuurders wat aan hierdie studie deelgeneem het. Dié studieverslag voorsien navorsingvoorbeelde en verwysings na ander gevallestudies van oor die hele wêreld heen, insluitende praktiese riglyne om spiritualiteit in die werkplek te vestig en te meet. Die gevolgtrekkings impliseer dat spiritualiteit nie net ’n verbygaande gier is nie, maar ’n outentieke beweging gegrond op universele geestelike beginsels.

The purpose of this study was to determine managers' perceptions of the relationship between spirituality and work performance. The sample consisted of twelve senior managers from different organisations. Semi structured interviews were used to gather the data. The data was qualitatively analysed and themes were identified. The findings indicated that spirituality promotes the healthy development of individuals by assisting with their own self-awareness, helping them find inner peace and dealing with stress and depression. Respondents also felt that spirituality enhances teamwork and redefines the concept of success in terms of engaging in competition, having unselfish motives and encouraging honesty. Based on the findings, recommendations were made for practice and for future research. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)

This study investigated employees’ perceptions about workplace spirituality in a national government department located in KwaZulu-Natal. A constructivist and qualitative approach was followed to gain an in-depth understanding of employees’ perceptions of spirituality, based on their personal understanding and experiences. A sample of 16 participants employed in the department was interviewed using a semi-structured interview. Thematic analysis was used to transcribe and assess the interviews. The findings revealed different notions of spirituality and the significance of workplace spirituality. In the workplace, employees continue to search for meaning in their work – meaning that transcends economic gain. Spirituality was perceived as being valuable for the interconnectedness and harmony that it brought to members of the organisation. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.Com (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

LL.M. (Labour Law) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

This study evolved from an involvement with professional people in a rural and semi-rural environment thereby taking into account the role which the Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) plays in their professional context of work. Two underlying factors motivate the study. Firstly, that professional needs and capacities of faith, belief and spirituality are not been catered for in the EAPs. Secondly, that an African-Christian wholesome sense making approach provides more satisfactory answers to the lack of faith, belief and spirituality in the EAPs than the modern versions of the classic dualist and tripartite anthropological schemes of soul and body or soul, spirit and body. Furthermore, a wholesome sense making approach supports and tackles people’s wellness and well-being levels more satisfactorily than the classic dualist and tripartite views. An outline of an EAP in which faith leaders and consultants and their programmes are integrated and which contributes to the enhancing of well-being levels and performance management of professional people is described. The main focus of the study revolves around wholesome foursome experiential patterns in which alternating emphases of faith experience are acted out in the sense of ‘I believe God, I believe myself, I believe my human neighbours and I believe the physical natural environment’. This four side pattern of faith experience functions as an important theoretical assumption in the study. A second theoretical assumption has to do with the foursome processual framework of God’s grand acts of creation, reconciliation (redemption= cross and resurrection of Jesus), renewal (ongoing renewal of everything) and consummation and fulfilment towards the end (aim and goal) in which we as people and the physical natural environment are intrinsically and continuously involved. A third theoretical assumption revolves around the foursome experiential professional performance pattern of ‘I perform for God, I perform for myself, I perform for my human neighbours and I perform for the physical natural environment’. The foursome experiential patterns are also set as evaluative pointer patterns around which the empirical investigative part is constructed. / Philosophy & Systematic Theology / D.Th. (Systematic Theology)

This study evolved from an involvement with professional people in a rural and semi-rural environment thereby taking into account the role which the Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) plays in their professional context of work. Two underlying factors motivate the study. Firstly, that professional needs and capacities of faith, belief and spirituality are not been catered for in the EAPs. Secondly, that an African-Christian wholesome sense making approach provides more satisfactory answers to the lack of faith, belief and spirituality in the EAPs than the modern versions of the classic dualist and tripartite anthropological schemes of soul and body or soul, spirit and body. Furthermore, a wholesome sense making approach supports and tackles people’s wellness and well-being levels more satisfactorily than the classic dualist and tripartite views. An outline of an EAP in which faith leaders and consultants and their programmes are integrated and which contributes to the enhancing of well-being levels and performance management of professional people is described. The main focus of the study revolves around wholesome foursome experiential patterns in which alternating emphases of faith experience are acted out in the sense of ‘I believe God, I believe myself, I believe my human neighbours and I believe the physical natural environment’. This four side pattern of faith experience functions as an important theoretical assumption in the study. A second theoretical assumption has to do with the foursome processual framework of God’s grand acts of creation, reconciliation (redemption= cross and resurrection of Jesus), renewal (ongoing renewal of everything) and consummation and fulfilment towards the end (aim and goal) in which we as people and the physical natural environment are intrinsically and continuously involved. A third theoretical assumption revolves around the foursome experiential professional performance pattern of ‘I perform for God, I perform for myself, I perform for my human neighbours and I perform for the physical natural environment’. The foursome experiential patterns are also set as evaluative pointer patterns around which the empirical investigative part is constructed. / Philosophy and Systematic Theology / D.Th. (Systematic Theology)

This study explores the contribution of communication on organisational commitment within the Cenacle of Salvation Church. Religious institutions are increasing at a speedy rate and their employees are also increasing, it is therefore, important to explore areas of employee wellness such as commitment in these institutes. Through a mixed method research within the Cenacle of Salvation Church in Lesotho, the study exploredcommunication as a contributing factor to organisationalcommitment. Allen and Meyer’s model (1991) of organisational commitment does not include communication as one of its elements, this is the gap the study aimed to fill. Interviews and surveys were conducted, and the study found that communication within the church is very effective, different communication methods are used in the church to keep employees abreast and this enhances their commitment. The study also foundthat communication strategies such as feedback play a major role in influencing organisational commitment.Therefore, it can be said that communication is a contributing factor to organisational commitment.Nonetheless,the study recommends that the church keeps up with the latest technological media and communication channels to further enhance employee satisfaction with the communication in the church and thereby remain committed. The study further recommends thatcommunication interventions and workshops should be expanded internationally sothat the church can learn from other international churches regarding waysused to keep their employees more motivated and committed through communication. / Communication Science / M.A. (Communication Science)