Undersköterskors arbetsliv inom äldrevården har genomgått omvälvande förändringar övertid. Efter den omfattande reformen under 90-talet har undersköterskornas arbetsliv genomgått betydande förändringar. Det var dessa förändringar som inspirerade och låg till grund för studiens inriktning att skapa en djupare förståelse för undersköterskors upplevelse av motivation och trivsel kopplat till den organisatoriska strukturen och arbetsvillkor. Tidigare forskning inom området har granskats och undersköterskor från Norrbotten med lång erfarenhet inom äldrevården har intervjuats. Genom att ta del av deras erfarenheter och insikter har en sammanställning och analys genomförts med hjälp av motivations-teorier av bland annat Herzberg (1966). Studiens resultat visar att flera respondenter uttrycker en längtan efter mer tid för vårdnära arbetsuppgifter. Undersköterskorna ansvarar idag för fler ”lätta” uppgifter som städ och tvätt, samtidigt som de flesta sjukvårdsuppgifter har tagits ifrån dem och lagts över på sjuksköterskor. Tidigare fanns en hierarkisk arbetsfördelning baserad på kompetens och utbildning under "långvårdstiden". Det gav en rättvisare ansvarsfördelning som belönade utbildade undersköterskor. Idag anställs i högre grad outbildad personal, vilket ökar arbetsbelastningen för de utbildade. Undersköterskor kompenserar genom extra arbete utan direkt belöning. En efterfrågan på erkännande och belöning kopplat till kompetens samt en mer rättvis ansvarsfördelning finns. Resultatet kan förklaras genom tidigare forskning, där undersköterskor påverkas negativt av organisatoriska förändringar och kompetensbrist. Äldreomsorgsreformen 1992 och införandet av New Public Management försämrade arbetsmiljön. Effektiviseringsåtgärder minskade tid för vårdnära arbete, och arbetskraftbristen i Norrbotten ökade anställningen av outbildad personal. Den ökade kompetensbristen trots minskad arbetslöshet utmanar rekrytering och kompetensförsörjning. Studien betonar att identifiera faktorer för arbetsmotivation och utforma effektiva förbättringsåtgärder är viktigt. / The work life of nursing assistants in elderly care has undergone significant changes over time. Following the extensive reform in the 1990s the work life of nursing assistants has experienced notable transformations. It was these changes that inspired and formed the basis for the study's focus on gaining a deeper understanding of nursing assistants experiences of motivation and satisfaction related to organizational structure and working conditions. Previous research in the field has been reviewed, and nursing assistants from Norrbotten with extensive experience in elderly care have been interviewed. By exploring their experiences and insights, a compilation and analysis have been conducted using motivation theories, including those of Herzberg (1966). The study's findings indicate that several respondents express a desire for more time for caregiving tasks. Nursing assistants today are responsible for more "light" tasks such as cleaning and laundry, while most healthcare tasks have been taken away from them and delegated to nurses. Previously, there was a hierarchical work distribution based on competence and education during the "long-term care period." This provided a fairer distribution of responsibilities that rewarded educated nursing assistants. Today, there is a higher prevalence of hiring untrained personnel, increasing the workload for the trained ones. Nursing assistants compensate by working extra without direct compensation. There is a demand for recognition and rewards linked to competence, along with a more equitable distribution of responsibilities. The results can be explained by previous research, where nursing assistants are negatively affected by organizational changes and a lack of competence. The eldercare reform in 1992 and the introduction of New Public Management worsened the working environment. Efficiency measures reduced time for caregiving tasks, and the labor shortage in Norrbotten led to increased employment of untrained personnel. The increased competence shortage, despite decreased unemployment, poses a challenge for recruitment and competence supply. The study emphasizes the importance of identifying factors affecting work motivation and designing effective improvement measures.

Separate bibliographical references are given at the end of Chapter 7 / The general aim of this research was (1) to develop a holistic and integrated theoretical model for the effective management and evaluation of occupational learning programmes in the South African skills development context, and (2) to develop a valid and reliable measure comprising the elements and dimensions of the theoretical model. The research used a non-experimental cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected from a sample of 652 respondents comprising learning and development managers, learning and development assessors/facilitators/moderators, skills development officers/providers and apprentices/learners. The sample was drawn from organisations representing 5 Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) and the South African Board for People Practices (SABPP). A selfadministered questionnaire was developed for the purposes of this research and its psychometric properties were rigorously scrutinised in accordance with the existing scale development protocols and scientific conventions. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to establish the factorial structure of the new Learning Programme Management and Evaluation (LPME) scale. The factorial structure was confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis. Further statistical tests conducted include structural equation modelling, multi-group structural equivalence, Pearson product moment correlations, multiple regression analyses and tests for significant mean differences. The findings of this research confirmed an 11 dimensional structure LPME scale. The research confirmed the structural equivalence of the LMPE scale for males and females and type of learning programme. Age, education and occupation were found to be significant predictors of the LMPE sub-scales. This research contributed a valid and reliable LPME scale for the effective management and evaluation of occupational learning programmes in the South African skills development context. To this end, the research provides recommendations for practice and future studies. / Business Management / D. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

South Africa is experiencing a financial skills shortage with a severe shortage of accountants and chartered accountants in particular. The aim of this study was to measure accessibility of public higher education in South Africa, in general and specifically relating to accountancy programmes with special emphasis on chartered accountancy programmes in South Africa, by making use of selected accessibility indicators. Although some of these indicators have been used to measure accessibility of higher education in general both locally and internationally, they are not often used to measure accessibility of a programme for a particular profession such as accountancy or chartered accountancy. This study aimed to fill this gap by measuring the selected accessibility indicators and providing subsequent rankings of the four public universities selected for this study. The results can be used by institutions that offer accountancy and chartered accountancy programmes as well as the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants, as the profession’s Education and Training Quality Assurance body, to evaluate the accessibility of accountancy as well as chartered accountancy programmes. / Financial Accounting / M. Compt. (Applied Accountancy)

South Africa is experiencing a financial skills shortage with a severe shortage of accountants and chartered accountants in particular. The aim of this study was to measure accessibility of public higher education in South Africa, in general and specifically relating to accountancy programmes with special emphasis on chartered accountancy programmes in South Africa, by making use of selected accessibility indicators. Although some of these indicators have been used to measure accessibility of higher education in general both locally and internationally, they are not often used to measure accessibility of a programme for a particular profession such as accountancy or chartered accountancy. This study aimed to fill this gap by measuring the selected accessibility indicators and providing subsequent rankings of the four public universities selected for this study. The results can be used by institutions that offer accountancy and chartered accountancy programmes as well as the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants, as the profession’s Education and Training Quality Assurance body, to evaluate the accessibility of accountancy as well as chartered accountancy programmes. / Financial Accounting / M. Compt. (Applied Accountancy)

Retention strategies in the nursing profession have been a significant subject among researchers for decades. The current shortages of these skilled professionals have reached an alarming extent globally, making it difficult for organisations to retain these workers, also in South Africa. It has become evident that nursing professionals from South Africa emigrate to other countries for more lucrative remuneration, sophisticated work resources and better career opportunities, impacting the South African economy and nursing workforce negatively. The general objective of the research was to determine whether a relationship exists between intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, job satisfaction, organisational commitment and turnover intention among a group of South African healthcare workers in the private healthcare sector. Specifically of interest was also to see if nurses’ turnover intention could be predicted by the other variables. A cross-sectional survey design was used. A convenience sample of 152 healthcare workers was obtained from three private hospitals in the Gauteng and North-West provinces. A measuring instrument for intrinsic and extrinsic rewards was adapted from a previous study, and applied with measures of job satisfaction, affective organisational commitment and turnover intention. Results indicated that the measure of rewards did not present with sufficient reliability, and it was subjected to factor analysis. This delivered two reliable factors, which were labelled Objective experience of rewards and Perceived lacking organisational support. Objective experience of rewards showed to be significantly related to job satisfaction and inversely to turnover intention, and Perceived lacking organisational support was significantly negatively related to job satisfaction and positively to turnover intention. It was also seen that both job satisfaction and objective experience of rewards showed predictive value in terms of nurses’ turnover intention. Conclusions and limitations regarding this study were made, and recommendations regarding the profession and future research are made. / Thesis (MCom (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Retention strategies in the nursing profession have been a significant subject among researchers for decades. The current shortages of these skilled professionals have reached an alarming extent globally, making it difficult for organisations to retain these workers, also in South Africa. It has become evident that nursing professionals from South Africa emigrate to other countries for more lucrative remuneration, sophisticated work resources and better career opportunities, impacting the South African economy and nursing workforce negatively. The general objective of the research was to determine whether a relationship exists between intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, job satisfaction, organisational commitment and turnover intention among a group of South African healthcare workers in the private healthcare sector. Specifically of interest was also to see if nurses’ turnover intention could be predicted by the other variables. A cross-sectional survey design was used. A convenience sample of 152 healthcare workers was obtained from three private hospitals in the Gauteng and North-West provinces. A measuring instrument for intrinsic and extrinsic rewards was adapted from a previous study, and applied with measures of job satisfaction, affective organisational commitment and turnover intention. Results indicated that the measure of rewards did not present with sufficient reliability, and it was subjected to factor analysis. This delivered two reliable factors, which were labelled Objective experience of rewards and Perceived lacking organisational support. Objective experience of rewards showed to be significantly related to job satisfaction and inversely to turnover intention, and Perceived lacking organisational support was significantly negatively related to job satisfaction and positively to turnover intention. It was also seen that both job satisfaction and objective experience of rewards showed predictive value in terms of nurses’ turnover intention. Conclusions and limitations regarding this study were made, and recommendations regarding the profession and future research are made. / Thesis (MCom (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The aim of this study was to investigate how the National Certificate Vocational (NCV) curriculum is being managed at Majuba TVET College in ensuring that it impacts positively in addressing skills shortage in the Newcastle area. The following was the main question for the study: How is Majuba TVET College managing the National Certificate Vocational (NCV) curriculum in addressing skills shortage in the Newcastle area? A comprehensive literature review was conducted to provide strong arguments as presented by different authors who wrote on the topic after conducting research about Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges A qualitative method was chosen by the researcher to gather data on the management of the NCV curriculum in addressing skills shortage. The main aim was to discuss the methods the researcher used in the study to collect data meant to acquire the impact of the NCV curriculum management in addressing skills shortage. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews, non-participant observation and literature review. It was then put together and analysed according to themes aligned to the main study problem and the sub problems in order to realise the main aim of the study and the sub-aims. On the basis of the findings and the recommendations, the researcher proposed the importance of the college to review the NCV curriculum so that it is aligned with practical exposure enhanced by NCV students from the industry. In conclusion, the findings pointed out that NCV students’ practical exposure may have a big impact in addressing skills shortage and combating the high unemployment rate in the Newcastle area. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)