The issue of sick leave and an increase of ill health in the workplace is a social problem inSwedenthat is currently an important topic. Public human service organisations are one of the sectors where this is a major problem. The aim of this study is to examine what significance the leadership in public human service organisations has on the health and sense of well being among the staff within the organisation. We have chosen to look at this issue from a health promoting perspective where we focused on health factors and to what extent the management can influence and promote the possibilities for a healthy workplace with healthy staff. The results of the study are based on interviews with three leaders within the public human service sector. Results shows that having staff that are content and healthy is a key ingredient in the organisations goal to provide the best possible care and service to their clients. The results also identify leadership qualities and tools that are important such as being present in the workplace and available for the staff and also setting a good example. Other leadership qualities such as being clear in their role as to what they expect from their staff, being goal orientated, and being strong and secure in their leadership proved to be important in relation to health in the workplace. Making sure that the staff feel that they have the possibility to influence their working conditions and given the opportunity to participate in changes were also identified as important health promoting factors. The study also shows that showing trust in the staff and allowing them to take responsibility as well as seeing them as individuals is also important health promoting factors. It became evident that achieving a healthy workplace is a process where all the factors are equally important.

Research studies on innovation tend to focus more on Process and Product Innovations (PPIs), while both Organisational and Marketing Innovations (OMIs) have been under-researched. The lack of prior research on these non-technological innovations has been attributed to poor data availability. Theoretical opinions show that OMIs could be necessary prerequisites needed to optimally utilise and deploy these PPIs. Organisational Ambidexterity (OA) has emerged to be crucial in achieving long-term organisational success. Ambidexterity in an organisational context refers to the ability to concurrently exploit current competitive advantage and explore new opportunities with equal dexterity. For firms to remain competitive and adaptive to continuous change in the business environment, OA has been noted as a necessary attribute, but research on ambidexterity at the individual level of analysis is limited. There is a lack of understanding of how individual ambidexterity at the lower-levels of the organisation affects the overall ambidexterity of the organisation. This research explores organisational context antecedents of OMIs capabilities; Organisational and Employee Ambidexterity, and identifies how individual employees in Small and Medium-sized Manufacturing and Service Organisations could contribute to the capability of their organisation to concurrently exploit present market opportunities and explore new opportunities, towards sustaining their competitive advantage. This study involves a two-phase sequential mixed methods design beginning with a qualitative exploratory research involving 15 in-depth Nigerian-based interviews. The first phase facilitated preliminary assessment of organisational context, measured by the Cameron and Quinn's Organisational Culture Assessment Instrument. This phase also aided the understanding of factors that promote OMIs capabilities and the development of themes used to design the survey instrument for the second phase. The second phase involved a quantitative study of 398 shop-floor and 202 managerial staff from Small and Medium-sized Nigerian Manufacturing and Service Organisations. This phase was characterised by descriptive and inferential statistics through Structural Equation Modelling. This aided identifying the organisational context that promotes Employee Ambidexterity (EA) and the relationships between EA; OA; and OMIs' capabilities. vi Drawing upon information-rich evidence, this study identified enablers that could promote EA; OA; OMIs; effective innovations; and sustainable organisational growth. Statistical evidence from the research findings shows that Organic Structure and Knowledge Sharing, plus a Flexible and Family-like Organisational Culture: 1. enhances Employee Ambidexterity and Level of Engagement; 2. improves employees' contributions to OA, OMIs and SMEs' growth; 3. optimises the internal capabilities of SMEs in order to promote their sustainable growth; 4. enables SMEs to search for new market opportunities and strengthen current market positions concurrently; and 5. promotes viable Manufacturing and Service SMEs that are needed to offset the prevalent public sector job losses. A framework that relates: Individual and Organisational Ambidexterity; Organisational and Marketing Innovations capabilities; and Organisational Performance, has been identified in this study. While Marketing Innovation capability and Exploitative Orientation of Ambidexterity target the short term organisational benefits, Organisational Innovation capability and Explorative Orientation of Ambidexterity address the long term competitive advantage of the organisations. Besides advancing literature on the study of Organisational Ambidexterity by combining the individual level of analysis with the organisational level of analysis, this study identifies frameworks that promote effective innovation and sustainable organisational performance through shop floor employees' contributions to Organisational Ambidexterity and OMIs in SMEs. Outcomes of this research have been eye-openers for the case organisations on how to optimally utilise their resources (people, materials, knowledge, technology and other assets) to achieve sustainable growth and long term success.

This qualitative study aimed to explore and understand how children's and youth social service organisations in Sweden deal with public criticism. The study utilised system theory and social constructionist theory. A purposive sampling method was used to target social service managers with relevant knowledge and experience related to the research topic. Semistructured interviews with open-ended questions were conducted through Zoom with four social services managers and transcribed for thematic analysis using Atlas TI software. The data analysis revealed three major themes with sub themes related to dealing with public criticism in children and youth social services organisations: (1) forms of public criticism in children and youth organisations; (2) strategies used by organisations to manage public criticism; and (3) the role of communication in managing public criticism. Results indicated that social service organisations in Sweden employ a variety of strategies to manage public criticism, including proactive communication, collaboration, and transparency. However, organisations also face challenges related to trust, communication, and legal constraints. The findings of this study may be useful for organisations in developing effective strategies to manage public criticism and improving organisational performance.

The aim of this study is to investigate the validity of an assessment centre as a predictor of managerial training results. For this purpose, the assessment ratings of 77 white, male, middle managers, who had taken part in a Middle Management Assessment Centre (MMAC) in a South African service organisation, were compared to the results they achieved on a Senior Management Training Course. From the statistical analyses conducted, correlation coefficients, corrected for restriction of range, of -0, 03, 0,32 and 0,22 were obtained between the Overall Assessment Rating and a theoretical, practical and total grade criterion respectively. These results indicated that the MMAC was a valid predictor of practical and total course grades, but an invalid predictor of theoretical course grades. Explanations for the results obtained are provided and three recommendations are made concerning the use of the MMAC to predict training results. Directions for possible future research are also provided. / Die doel van hierdie studie is om die geldigheid van 'n takseersentrum as 'n voorspeller van bestuursopleiding resultate te ondersoek. Vir hierdie doel is die takseeraanslae van 77 blanke, manlike bestuurders, wat aan 'n takseersentrum vir middelbestuur in 'n Suid-Afrikaanse diensorganisasie deelgeneem het, met die resul tate wat hulle tydens 'n Senior Bestuur Opleidingskursus behaal het, vergelyk. Die statistiese ontleding wat uitgevoer is het korrelasiekoeffisiente, na regstelling vir die beperking van verspreiding (correction for restriction of range), van -0,03, 0,32 en 0,22 tussen die Totale Punt Beoordeling van die takseersentrum en drie opleidingskriteria opgelewer. Hierdie drie opleidingskriteria was 'n teoretiese-, praktiese-, en totale opleidingspunt onderskeidelik. Verduidelikkings vir die resultate wat behaal is word verskaf en drie aanbevelings word gemaak met betrekking tot die gebruik van die takseersentrum om opleidingsresultate te voorspel. Rigtings vir moontlike toekomstige navorsing word ook aangedui. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)

Social workers in this study describes various experiences of the assessments of interventions for children and adolescents. Social workers experience of the many different situations where an assessment of best effort must be made on the basis of BBIC, which is the Social Services investigation records. To make this assessment, the Social workers need social assistance and support of their colleagues and manager. Knowledge mixed with experience is also an important part when it comes to being professional and not let emotions control that could otherwise be happened when the social worker meets and builds relationships with clients. Social workers are also those who will decide which achievement the client needs from the needs. We use systems theory, Hasenfeld´s theory of human services organizations  and Lipsky´s grassroots bureaucrats to analyze how social worker work with clients of different experiences, knowledge and some of their own personal values for the various operations. The efforts in our work we have examined is traditional familycare and MTFC (Multi dementional Treatment Foster Care), we have found that there are different arguments for different actions, but the assessments are made virtually the same assessment model. There are requirements that govern the operation of which is matched with the objectives and resources administration. Social worker also believes that social work is a game where we do not know how the results will be.

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka socionomers uppfattning om förhållningssättet i arbetet med lindrigt utvecklingsstörda föräldrar. Studien syftar även till att undersöka om variationen i förhållningssättet är kopplat till organisation och yrkesroll. Materialet bestod av sex semistrukturerade intervjuer med socionomer från tre olika organisationer som arbetar med föräldrar som har lindrig utvecklingsstörning. Dessa var Vuxenhabiliteringen, LSS- verksamheter och Individ- och familjeomsorgen. I studien genomfördes en telefonintervju med en forskare som har expertkunskaper kring utvecklingsarbetet för föräldrar med lindrig utvecklingsstörning.  Forskarens fokus kopplas till socionomernas upplevelser av arbetet, organisationens roll i arbetet samt betydelsen av samverkan.  Studien syftade till att analysera resultatet utifrån två teoretiska perspektiv. Dessa är Gräsrotsbyråkrati samt Människobehandlande organisationer.  Resultatet i studien visar på att socionomerna i dessa organisationer har olika förhållningssätt beroende på den verksamhet som de arbetar i samt den yrkesroll de har i organisationen. Studien indikerade även hur dessa organisationer påverkar föräldraskapet hos lindrigt utvecklingsstörda föräldrar. / The aim of this study was to describe and analyse social workers’ approach in working with parents with mild intellectual disability. The study intends to find out if work approach is related to position and type of organisation. The data consists of six semi structured interviews with social workers from three different organisations that in work meet parents with mild intellectual disability. These organisations were Vuxenhabiliteringen, LSS and Individ- and Familjeomsorgen. In addition, an interview with a researcher that has expert knowledge in development for parents with mild intellectual disability was done. In the analysis the experiences of social workers were linked to organizational tasks and importance of cooperation. The study purposed to analyse the result from two theoretical perspectives; street- level bureaucracy and human-service organisations. The result shows that social workers in the organisations have different approaches dependent on what organisation they work in and the role and working tasks they have in work. The study also indicated how the organisations and their tasks affected the parenthood for persons with mild intellectual disabled parents.

<p>Social workers in this study describes various experiences of the assessments of interventions for children and adolescents. Social workers experience of the many different situations where an assessment of best effort must be made on the basis of BBIC, which is the Social Services investigation records. To make this assessment, the Social workers need social assistance and support of their colleagues and manager. Knowledge mixed with experience is also an important part when it comes to being professional and not let emotions control that could otherwise be happened when the social worker meets and builds relationships with clients. Social workers are also those who will decide which achievement the client needs from the needs. We use systems theory, Hasenfeld´s theory of human services organizations  and Lipsky´s grassroots bureaucrats to analyze how social worker work with clients of different experiences, knowledge and some of their own personal values for the various operations. The efforts in our work we have examined is traditional familycare and MTFC (Multi dementional Treatment Foster Care), we have found that there are different arguments for different actions, but the assessments are made virtually the same assessment model. There are requirements that govern the operation of which is matched with the objectives and resources administration. Social worker also believes that social work is a game where we do not know how the results will be.</p>

The aim of this study was to examine the definition and meaning of a relationship-based social work, and what conditions are required for the professional to manage such. Based on seven qualitative interviews with professional social workers who work with children and adolescents, a thematic analysis was conducted based on the theoretical frameworks of Symbolic Interactionism and the organisational theories of Human Service Organisations and Street-Level Bureaucracy. The main results confirm the importance of the relationship between the client and the professional according to the respondents. Role clarity and empathy through self-awareness were seen as important qualities of the professional to maintain a good relationship with the child, for whom this might lead to a sense of security through the relationship continuity. Mentioned conditions that facilitated the possibility of relationship based client work were mostly organisational variables such as time and discretion. These were variables that varied depending on the organisation that the professionals worked within, leading to a comparative discussion between the organisational conditions of social services and schools. Another theme identified was experience which seemed to matter as a personal skill. These conditions affect the professional’s ability to create and maintain relationships with the children.

The aim of this study was to examine the definition and meaning of a relationship-based social work, and what conditions are required for the professional to manage such. Based on seven qualitative interviews with professional social workers who work with children and adolescents, a thematic analysis was conducted based on the theoretical frameworks of Symbolic Interactionism and the organisational theories of Human Service Organisations and Street-Level Bureaucracy. The main results confirm the importance of the relationship between the client and the professional according to the respondents. Role clarity and empathy through self-awareness were seen as important qualities of the professional to maintain a good relationship with the child, for whom this might lead to a sense of security through the relationship continuity. Mentioned conditions that facilitated the possibility of relationship based client work were mostly organisational variables such as time and discretion. These were variables that varied depending on the organisation that the professionals worked within, leading to a comparative discussion between the organisational conditions of social services and schools. Another theme identified was experience which seemed to matter as a personal skill. These conditions affect the professional’s ability to create and maintain relationships with the children.

The aim of this study is to investigate the validity of an assessment centre as a predictor of managerial training results. For this purpose, the assessment ratings of 77 white, male, middle managers, who had taken part in a Middle Management Assessment Centre (MMAC) in a South African service organisation, were compared to the results they achieved on a Senior Management Training Course. From the statistical analyses conducted, correlation coefficients, corrected for restriction of range, of -0, 03, 0,32 and 0,22 were obtained between the Overall Assessment Rating and a theoretical, practical and total grade criterion respectively. These results indicated that the MMAC was a valid predictor of practical and total course grades, but an invalid predictor of theoretical course grades. Explanations for the results obtained are provided and three recommendations are made concerning the use of the MMAC to predict training results. Directions for possible future research are also provided. / Die doel van hierdie studie is om die geldigheid van 'n takseersentrum as 'n voorspeller van bestuursopleiding resultate te ondersoek. Vir hierdie doel is die takseeraanslae van 77 blanke, manlike bestuurders, wat aan 'n takseersentrum vir middelbestuur in 'n Suid-Afrikaanse diensorganisasie deelgeneem het, met die resul tate wat hulle tydens 'n Senior Bestuur Opleidingskursus behaal het, vergelyk. Die statistiese ontleding wat uitgevoer is het korrelasiekoeffisiente, na regstelling vir die beperking van verspreiding (correction for restriction of range), van -0,03, 0,32 en 0,22 tussen die Totale Punt Beoordeling van die takseersentrum en drie opleidingskriteria opgelewer. Hierdie drie opleidingskriteria was 'n teoretiese-, praktiese-, en totale opleidingspunt onderskeidelik. Verduidelikkings vir die resultate wat behaal is word verskaf en drie aanbevelings word gemaak met betrekking tot die gebruik van die takseersentrum om opleidingsresultate te voorspel. Rigtings vir moontlike toekomstige navorsing word ook aangedui. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)