Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The present study sought to examine the impact of technology in permeating the boundaries between individuals’ work and family domains, testing and extending the current theoretical model of boundary management. The first goal, to explore predictors of the boundary management styles (BMS) people use with respect to communication technology (CT), was accomplished by demonstrating that three factors predicted BMS for CT use: preferences for integration, identity centrality, and work/family norms. The second goal, to examine outcomes that could result from varying CT use boundary management styles, was also supported in that BMS for CT use was a predictor of work-family conflict and enrichment. However, one key component of the model was not supported in that perceived control over BMS did not moderate the relationship between BMS and outcomes. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed, as well as suggestions for future research on boundary theory and CT use. By exploring tangible boundary management behaviors, the present study offers interesting implications that could ultimately assist organizations in developing policies regarding CT use both at home and at work.

Am Beispiel von Projektarbeit in der IT-Branche werden die Auswirkungen neuer Managementkonzepte auf die Zeitsouveränität von Projektbeschäftigten anhand qualitativer Interviews untersucht. Flexible Formen der Arbeitsorganisation zielen auf eine Veränderung des Arbeitskraftvermögens hin zu größerer Autonomie und Übernahme betrieblicher Verantwortung durch die Beschäftigten. Mit den veränderten Kontrollformen des Managements modifizieren sich die betrieblichen Machtverhältnisse. Im Konzept des Zeithandelns werden die aktiven Gestaltungsleistungen der Beschäftigten bei der Arbeitszeitgestaltung hervorgehoben, gleichzeitig können verschiedene zeitsoziologische Theorien integriert werden. Wesentliches Ergebnis der empirischen Untersuchung verschiedener Arbeitszeitkulturen in IT-Betrieben ist eine Machtverschiebung zugunsten des Managements. Auf Seiten der abhängig Beschäftigten ist positiv zu verbuchen: eine größere Autonomie in der Arbeit, die Ausdifferenzierung eigenständiger Zeitstile sowie eine hohe Wertschätzung und Anerkennung durch Vorgesetzte. Dagegen stehen restriktive Rahmenbedingungen wie Zeitdruck, ungünstige Bedingungen für die Work-Life-Balance und starke zeitliche und gedankliche Vereinnahmung der Beschäftigten durch den Betrieb. Durch das Fehlen kollektiver Formen der Interessenvertretung und einen defensiven Konfliktumgangsstil sind die betrieblichen Beziehungen durch individuelle Aushandlungsprozesse geprägt.

Am Beispiel von Projektarbeit in der IT-Branche werden die Auswirkungen neuer Managementkonzepte auf die Zeitsouveränität von Projektbeschäftigten anhand qualitativer Interviews untersucht. Flexible Formen der Arbeitsorganisation zielen auf eine Veränderung des Arbeitskraftvermögens hin zu größerer Autonomie und Übernahme betrieblicher Verantwortung durch die Beschäftigten. Mit den veränderten Kontrollformen des Managements modifizieren sich die betrieblichen Machtverhältnisse. Im Konzept des Zeithandelns werden die aktiven Gestaltungsleistungen der Beschäftigten bei der Arbeitszeitgestaltung hervorgehoben, gleichzeitig können verschiedene zeitsoziologische Theorien integriert werden. Wesentliches Ergebnis der empirischen Untersuchung verschiedener Arbeitszeitkulturen in IT-Betrieben ist eine Machtverschiebung zugunsten des Managements. Auf Seiten der abhängig Beschäftigten ist positiv zu verbuchen: eine größere Autonomie in der Arbeit, die Ausdifferenzierung eigenständiger Zeitstile sowie eine hohe Wertschätzung und Anerkennung durch Vorgesetzte. Dagegen stehen restriktive Rahmenbedingungen wie Zeitdruck, ungünstige Bedingungen für die Work-Life-Balance und starke zeitliche und gedankliche Vereinnahmung der Beschäftigten durch den Betrieb. Durch das Fehlen kollektiver Formen der Interessenvertretung und einen defensiven Konfliktumgangsstil sind die betrieblichen Beziehungen durch individuelle Aushandlungsprozesse geprägt.

Globally the domestic worker sector is characterised by a sense of “voicelessness”—an esoteric silence fuelled by a dire need to survive. South Africa is heralded as a global ambassador for the rights of these women. Significant sectoral reforms in recent years regulate the transactional element of this employment relationship through stipulated minimum wages and employment standards. The relational element of this engagement, however, remains underexplored. A decade of global scholarship detailing the hardships that characterise this sector has helped to uncover the plight of domestic workers. The study provided the participants with an opportunity to express their experiences and feelings, and the documented findings will hopefully stimulate more scholarly debate on this issue. It is hoped that the study will engender more sensitivity towards the needs of this vulnerable group of workers and promote positive employment relations within the South African labour market. The study describes the lived realities of domestic workers within the South African labour legislative context through five separate but interrelated journal articles. Article 1 provides a detailed “plan of action” that documents the initial considerations and rationale for the study. Guided by existing scholarly discourse, the research questions are highlighted and the proposed research design is presented. Issues related to trustworthiness are debated. This article constitutes the research proposal that was submitted during the initial phase of this research journey. Article 2 presents a transparent account of the methodological considerations that guided the co-construction of meaning within the South African domestic worker sector. Situated within the interpretivist paradigm, with phenomenology as theoretical underpinning, purposive respondent-driven self-sampling resulted in the recruitment of 20 female participants. All of them can be described as domestic workers in terms of Sectoral Determination 7. The pilot study indicated the value of using metaphors while exploring tentative topics. An interview guide facilitated the exploration of key concepts during our engagement. Rich, dense descriptive verbatim accounts of participants’ lived realities confirmed data saturation. In-depth interviews were transcribed and analysed through an inductive process of data reduction. Emanating themes confirmed that the South African domestic workers sector is far from being voiceless if we are only willing to listen. Making these voices heard constitutes a progressive step in future efforts to empower this neglected sector of the labour market. In article 3 a life-cycle approach is used to explore participants’ lived experiences of their work-life cycle. Each individual progresses through these various phases which are contextualised as a transitional process as a result of their unique circumstances and personal trajectory. Findings confirmed the existence of an institutionalised culture of engagement within the sector perpetuated from one generation to the next. Attempts to exit the sector are unsuccessful due in part to their limited formal education and skills repertoire. The article concludes with the notion that domestic workers are trapped within a never-ending cycle of sectoral engagement, and the possibility of exiting the sector remains “but a dream” for many. Article 4 focusses on the reciprocal interpersonal relatedness that often develops due to the prolonged engagement within the individualised sectoral employment context. Characterised by caring and connectedness, this mutually dignified treatment not only signals but also enhances human flourishing. Participants’ accounts of relational reciprocity are indicative of the enactment of cardinal Ubuntu principles within the employment context. The need for actions that surpass the “letter of the law” in order to enhance flourishing within the South African domestic worker sector is advocated. Article 5 explores the role that legislative awareness fulfils in the everyday lives of domestic workers. Findings indicated that empowerment was an unknown construct for all participants. The participants had little or no confidence in engaging their employers on employment issues; this was due in part to their limited legislative awareness. Domestic workers should thus take ownership of their own empowerment efforts. This will sanction their right to assert their expectations of employment standards with confidence and make use of the judicial system to bring about compliant action. The article concluded with the notion that legislative awareness can result in empowered actions though informed employee voices. / PhD (Labour Relations Management), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2014

In South Africa, the expansion of early childhood development was projected in White Paper 5 and Grade R was determined as the reception year. One condition for the achievement of objectives in Grade R is quality education, in which the teacher plays an irreplaceable role. How effective the Grade R teacher is in the performance of her work, however, depends amongst others on how she experiences her work-life and the extent of her security as a professional in the workplace. The paucity in research on the labour law position of the Grade R educator is due to the relative low status of employees in the early childhood development sector. Professional security was approached from a labour law perspective to start filling the knowledge gap in Education Law on the labour law position of the Grade R teacher with this modest contribution. The execution of policy forms an integral part of the Grade R teacher's employment conditions and determines to a great extent her daily task. This research answers the central research question: which roles do law and policy play regarding the professional security of the grade R educator? The research approach was qualitative-interpretivistic in nature and included observation of Grade R teachers' workplaces, as well as semi-structured interviews. A group of Grade R educators in the Matlosana and Tlokwe areas in the North West Province as well as principals and heads of department in the Foundation Phase were also interviewed. Other stakeholders such as parents as members of school governing bodies, members of teachers' unions and university lecturers were also participants in the research. Data generation on a smaller scale took place in Ontario, Canada, where the respective roles of law and policy regarding the Full-Day Early Learning Kindergarten programmes in professional security was investigated. All the data was used to understand and describe professional security of Grade R educators better, and generalisation was not the goal. The conclusion was reached that the theoretical underpinnings of the five legal disciplines that were used in creating a legal framework for professional security, were particularly relevant for the work-life of the Grade R participants in the study. Two psychologically oriented theories have also contributed to a deeper understanding of professional security. Although legislation, in principle, supports professional security, the extent to which participants had knowledge of relevant legislation or could apply legal principles to the workplace affected their professional security. Ignorance amongst policy-makers and employers about the nature and purpose of Grade R education leads to the underestimation of the Grade R domain, which negatively affects appointments, remuneration, conditions of service and policy implementation. Ignorance of the law also led to educator misconduct, and issues related to delictual liability emerged. Moreover, participants, due to ignorance, took the law into their own hands to create their own security in the workplace. Professional security emerged as a key issue in both ECD policy implementation and quality teaching. Finally a number of propositions were derived from the conclusions. / PhD (Education Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

In South Africa, the expansion of early childhood development was projected in White Paper 5 and Grade R was determined as the reception year. One condition for the achievement of objectives in Grade R is quality education, in which the teacher plays an irreplaceable role. How effective the Grade R teacher is in the performance of her work, however, depends amongst others on how she experiences her work-life and the extent of her security as a professional in the workplace. The paucity in research on the labour law position of the Grade R educator is due to the relative low status of employees in the early childhood development sector. Professional security was approached from a labour law perspective to start filling the knowledge gap in Education Law on the labour law position of the Grade R teacher with this modest contribution. The execution of policy forms an integral part of the Grade R teacher's employment conditions and determines to a great extent her daily task. This research answers the central research question: which roles do law and policy play regarding the professional security of the grade R educator? The research approach was qualitative-interpretivistic in nature and included observation of Grade R teachers' workplaces, as well as semi-structured interviews. A group of Grade R educators in the Matlosana and Tlokwe areas in the North West Province as well as principals and heads of department in the Foundation Phase were also interviewed. Other stakeholders such as parents as members of school governing bodies, members of teachers' unions and university lecturers were also participants in the research. Data generation on a smaller scale took place in Ontario, Canada, where the respective roles of law and policy regarding the Full-Day Early Learning Kindergarten programmes in professional security was investigated. All the data was used to understand and describe professional security of Grade R educators better, and generalisation was not the goal. The conclusion was reached that the theoretical underpinnings of the five legal disciplines that were used in creating a legal framework for professional security, were particularly relevant for the work-life of the Grade R participants in the study. Two psychologically oriented theories have also contributed to a deeper understanding of professional security. Although legislation, in principle, supports professional security, the extent to which participants had knowledge of relevant legislation or could apply legal principles to the workplace affected their professional security. Ignorance amongst policy-makers and employers about the nature and purpose of Grade R education leads to the underestimation of the Grade R domain, which negatively affects appointments, remuneration, conditions of service and policy implementation. Ignorance of the law also led to educator misconduct, and issues related to delictual liability emerged. Moreover, participants, due to ignorance, took the law into their own hands to create their own security in the workplace. Professional security emerged as a key issue in both ECD policy implementation and quality teaching. Finally a number of propositions were derived from the conclusions. / PhD (Education Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Globally the domestic worker sector is characterised by a sense of “voicelessness”—an esoteric silence fuelled by a dire need to survive. South Africa is heralded as a global ambassador for the rights of these women. Significant sectoral reforms in recent years regulate the transactional element of this employment relationship through stipulated minimum wages and employment standards. The relational element of this engagement, however, remains underexplored. A decade of global scholarship detailing the hardships that characterise this sector has helped to uncover the plight of domestic workers. The study provided the participants with an opportunity to express their experiences and feelings, and the documented findings will hopefully stimulate more scholarly debate on this issue. It is hoped that the study will engender more sensitivity towards the needs of this vulnerable group of workers and promote positive employment relations within the South African labour market. The study describes the lived realities of domestic workers within the South African labour legislative context through five separate but interrelated journal articles. Article 1 provides a detailed “plan of action” that documents the initial considerations and rationale for the study. Guided by existing scholarly discourse, the research questions are highlighted and the proposed research design is presented. Issues related to trustworthiness are debated. This article constitutes the research proposal that was submitted during the initial phase of this research journey. Article 2 presents a transparent account of the methodological considerations that guided the co-construction of meaning within the South African domestic worker sector. Situated within the interpretivist paradigm, with phenomenology as theoretical underpinning, purposive respondent-driven self-sampling resulted in the recruitment of 20 female participants. All of them can be described as domestic workers in terms of Sectoral Determination 7. The pilot study indicated the value of using metaphors while exploring tentative topics. An interview guide facilitated the exploration of key concepts during our engagement. Rich, dense descriptive verbatim accounts of participants’ lived realities confirmed data saturation. In-depth interviews were transcribed and analysed through an inductive process of data reduction. Emanating themes confirmed that the South African domestic workers sector is far from being voiceless if we are only willing to listen. Making these voices heard constitutes a progressive step in future efforts to empower this neglected sector of the labour market. In article 3 a life-cycle approach is used to explore participants’ lived experiences of their work-life cycle. Each individual progresses through these various phases which are contextualised as a transitional process as a result of their unique circumstances and personal trajectory. Findings confirmed the existence of an institutionalised culture of engagement within the sector perpetuated from one generation to the next. Attempts to exit the sector are unsuccessful due in part to their limited formal education and skills repertoire. The article concludes with the notion that domestic workers are trapped within a never-ending cycle of sectoral engagement, and the possibility of exiting the sector remains “but a dream” for many. Article 4 focusses on the reciprocal interpersonal relatedness that often develops due to the prolonged engagement within the individualised sectoral employment context. Characterised by caring and connectedness, this mutually dignified treatment not only signals but also enhances human flourishing. Participants’ accounts of relational reciprocity are indicative of the enactment of cardinal Ubuntu principles within the employment context. The need for actions that surpass the “letter of the law” in order to enhance flourishing within the South African domestic worker sector is advocated. Article 5 explores the role that legislative awareness fulfils in the everyday lives of domestic workers. Findings indicated that empowerment was an unknown construct for all participants. The participants had little or no confidence in engaging their employers on employment issues; this was due in part to their limited legislative awareness. Domestic workers should thus take ownership of their own empowerment efforts. This will sanction their right to assert their expectations of employment standards with confidence and make use of the judicial system to bring about compliant action. The article concluded with the notion that legislative awareness can result in empowered actions though informed employee voices. / PhD (Labour Relations Management), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2014

Recent organisational changes have refocused attention on the productivity and performance of sales representatives and consequently brought about a re-evaluation of the QWL these employees experience, as well as their trust in the organisation to support them. Responses to an internet-based survey methodology were analysed using quantitative techniques and structural equation modelling. Results confirm a positive relationship between Managerial Practices and Organisational Trust, and a lower relationship between the dimensions of Personality and Organisational Trust. A positive relationship was noted between QWL and Managerial Practices, and a lower relationship between QWL and the Personality constructs. This study accentuates the importance of management to be aware of the trust employees have in the organisation as well as their experience of QWL, as it seems as though the Personality traits and Managerial Practices of managers influences both the trust relationship and QWL experienced by employees. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The primary aim of this survey is to: * explore whether there is potential for job-sharing in the South African labour market; * * describe the characteristics of potential job-sharers and to explain why Job-sharing would be an appropriate and feasible solution to unemployment, massive retrenchments, poor quality ofwork life (QWL) and low worker productivity Job-sharing has been used in many developed countries to address a variety of problems at the individual, organisational and national level. These include allowing workers to have a balance between their work and non-work life; to increase worker productivity and QWL and to increase employment opportunities. The literature survey affirms that these problems are prevalent in Africa as a whole and in South Africa specifically. The survey results reveal that the environment in South is Africa is conducive to jobsharing and that slightly over one third of the workers and organisations and two thirds of the jobseekers are willing to job-share. The results of this study also reveals that QWL, productivity and unemployment does influence the willingness to job-share and that approximately 80% of the employees would rather either job-share, work-share or opt for some other alternative than to have retrenchments. Thus by implication, job-sharing would address the problems relating to poor QWL, low worker productivity, fewer employment opportunities, as well as massive retrenchments in South Africa. The study has also explored possible reasons and obstacles to job-sharing and found that whether these are perceived as significantly important or not, depends on whether one is an employer, employee or job-seeker . The job-seekers feel more than others, that there is no reason insurmountable or obstacle preventing the introduction of job-sharing by which to avert their unemployed status. There are also differences in willingness to job-share among subgroups with regard to the industry, area of work, position held in the organisation and the availability of job-sharing positions in the organisation. This thesis reports that there is potential for job-sharing in the South African labour market, to address a variety of problems pertaining to workers, organisations, job-seekers and, therefore, the whole nation at large. / Business Management / D.B.L.

Afrikaans text / Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om lewenssin soos dit binne die leefwereld van die gesitueerde Suid-Afrikaanse sakepersoon van toepassing is, teoreties te omlyn, te operasionaliseer en die belewenis daarvan op fenomenologiese wyse te beskryf. Lewenssin, met lewenssinvolheid en lewenssinloosheid as twee pole op 'n kontinuum, is ondersoek deur te fokus op lewensorientasie, lokus van gedrag, waardes, spiritualiteit, groei, ontwikkeling, transendering, vervreemding, 'n kortstondige en fatalistiese ingesteldheid, konformisme, kollektivisme, fanatisme, en die strewe na mitiese sukses. In die literatuurondersoek, wat die eksistensiele, humanistiese en holistiese paradigmas as vertrekpunte neem, is operasionele definisies van lewenssinvolheid en lewenssinloosheid gekonstrueer. Die profiel van die Suid-Afrikaanse sakepersoon met so 'n belewenis is aan die hand van sy/haar paradigma, kenmerke en gedrag gekonstrueer. 'n Proses van meaning making word voorgehou, terwyl lewenssin as integrasie van teenoorgesteldes gekonstrueer word. Daar word gepostuleer dat die sakepersoon met 'n belewenis van lewenssinvolheid die landskap van sy/haar psige relasioneel bewoon. Daarteenoor openbaar 'n belewenis van Jewenssinloosheid 'n nie-relasionele orientasie, paradigma en bewoning van die wereld. In die fenomenologiese ondersoek is gebruik gemaak van die onderhoud om die fenomeen, lewenssin, te laat ontvou. Die steekproef het bestaan uit getroude sakelui, dertig jaar en ouer, en woonagtig in Gauteng. Heterogeniteit in terme van geslag, geloofsoortuigings en korporatiewe opset is ook verreken. Uit die ondersoek ontvou ses temas wat sentreer om ruimtelikheid, basiese stemming, beliggaming en bewoning, asook die teenwoordigheid van die psige, andere en die wereld (wat die aarde en 'n transpersoonlike entiteit insluit). Dit blyk dat die Suid-Afrikaanse sakepersoon sy/haar landskap vera! nie-relasioneel bewoon. Elemente van relasionele bestaan is wei aanwesig. Tog word die begeerte aan 'n meer relasionele bestaan in die behoeftes en versugtinge van die betrokke sakelui verwoord. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat gebrekkige relasies in verband gebring kan word met 'n nie-relasionele paradigma wat lewenssinloosheid tot gevolg het. Op 'n kontinuum van lewenssin word bevind dat Suid-Afrikaanse sakelui nader aan die pool van lewenssinloosheid le, met 'n behoefte aan 'n beweging na die teenoorgestelde pool, naamlik lewenssinvolheid. Om lewenssinvolheid, lewenskwaliteit, en optimaliteit te bevorder, word aanbeveel dat die relasionele paradigma as vertrekpunt dien by remedierende ingrepe. / The purpose of this research is to theoretically outline and operationalise meaning in life as it applies to the life-world of situated South African businesspersons, and to describe phenomenologically their experience of that phenomenon. integration of opposites. It is posited that the businessperson experiencing life as meaningful, inhabits the landscape of his/her psyche in a relational way. In contrast, the person experiencing life as meaningless, displays a non-relational orientation, paradigm and being-in-the­ world. The phenomenological investigation made use of interviews to allow the phenomenon, meaning in life, to unfold. The sample consisted of married business persons, thirty years and older, and residing in Gauteng. Heterogeneity (in terms of gender, religious convictions and corporate circumstances) was also taken into account. Meaning, with meaningfulness and meaninglessness as its two extremes on a continuum, was examined, focusing on life orientation, engagement style, values, spirituality, growth, development, transcending, alienation, transitoriness and fatalism, conformism, collectivism, fanaticism, and aspiring to mythical success. In the literature investigation, which was based on existential, humanistic and holistic paradigms, operational definitions of meaningfulness and meaninglessness were construed. The profile of the South African businessperson experiencing the phenomenon, was construed with reference to his/her paradigm, characteristics and conduct. A meaning making process is proffered, while meaning is construed as an Six themes unfold from the investigation, centring around spatiality, basic mood, human bodiliness and being-in-the-world, as well as the presence of the psyche, other people and the world (including the earth and a transpersonal entity). The South African businessperson appears to inhabit his/her landscape in a mainly non­ relational manner. There are some elements of relational existence, but the needs and heart's desires voiced by the businesspersons concerned point to a longing for a more relational existence. In conclusion: Deficient relations can be associated with a non-relational paradigm, which causes an experience of life as meaningless. A meaning continuum shows South African businesspersons as figuring closer to meaninglessness, and needing to move towards the opposite pole, namely meaningfulness. To promote meaningfulness, quality of life and optimal functioning, the relational paradigm is recommended as point of departure in remedial intervention. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / DCom (Bedryfsielkunde)