The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the meaning employees attributed to the lived experiences of having been declared in excess in the Gauteng Health Department during restructuring. A qualitative, phenomenological research design was selected as the most appropriate approach in conducting this study. Phenomenology offers both methodological and philosophical perspectives with the aim of developing a greater understanding through description, reflection and awareness of the meaning of having “been declared in excess”. Purposive sampling was implemented. A total of ten (10) female professional nurses participated in the study. Data were collected using one common ontological question that enabled the researcher to gain a greater understanding of what it means to be declared in excess from the participants’ perspective. Data were collected until saturation was reached. Unstructured audio-taped interviews were conducted with study participants. Data were analysed using the method developed by Giorgi (1985). The study highlighted different reactions from different participants despite being exposed to the same experience. / Health Studies / Thesis (D. Litt. et Phil.)

Afrikaans text / Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om die stressors by oorblywende personeel na 'n a.fleggingsproses in die Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag(SALM), te meet en te beskryf Vanuit die literatuuroorsig word die stressors in aflegging; die bedryfsimpak van stressors na 'n afleggingsproses op organisasiegedrag en die konsepte stres, werkstres en organisasie­ stres bespreek. Die empiriese navorsing word vanuit 'n funksionalistiese paradigma aangebied, waarteen die behaviorisme en sistemiese skole die onderbou vorm. Die navorsingsontwerp is 'n beskrywende studie en maak gebruik van 'n gestratifiseerde proporsionele ewekansige steekproe£ Die ervaring van werk- en lewensomstandighede­ vraelys is vir die meet van stressors in die organisasie gebruik. Die resultate vertoon organisasiefunksionering, loopbaanaangeleenthede en vergoedings­ aspekte as die vemaamste stressors by oorblywende personeel van die SALM. Toekomstige navorsing kan temas soos die sielkundige kontrak, werksonsekerheid en organisasieverbondenheid insluit. Relevante sleutelwoorde is stressors in aflegging, oorlewendes sindroom, organisasie­ klimaat, organisasie·agteruitgang en chroniese stres. / The aim of the survey is to identify and measure the stressors of survivors after a layoff process in the South African Air Force (SAAF). The literature highlights stressors in layoffs; the industrial impact of stressors after a layoff process on organisational behavior and the concepts stress, workstress and organisational stress. The empirical research is presented from a functionalistic paradigm with behaviorism and systems theory as foundation. The research design is a descriptive study and make use of a stratified proportional sample. The experience of work- and life circumstances questionnaire was used in the measurement of stressors. The results show organisational functioning, career aspects and remuneration as the main stressors of survivors. Themes that can be incorporated in future research are the psychological contract, job insecurity and organisational commitment. Relevant keywords in the research are stressors in layoffs, survivor syndrome, organisational climate, organisational decline and chronic stress. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / MCom (Bedryfsielkunde)

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Restructuring is a fact of modem day life and has a huge impact on the employees of organisations who follow such strategies. It is critical that the change process as well as the surviving employees are managed effectively to ensure a committed and productive workforce. The purpose of the research study was the measure employee perception on the change process and the current environment in the organisation. Background to the organisation was provided to give perspective to the reader. Led by literature a unique questionnaire using a five-point scale was developed to measure employee perception in terms of the change process and current conditions in the organisation. The final questionnaire consisted of 59 items and was analysed according to different aspects of the change process and working environment identified. The arithmetic mean and standard deviation were determined for questions, the aspect identified as well as different demographic groups. The results showed that employees have a positive perception on the need for change, have confidence in the abilities of top management and are positive about the organisation's future prosperity. Employees are divided on the subject of loyalty towards the organisation. Results further show that employees have a negative perception on how the organisation managed the change process and the surviving employees, feel negative about their current working environment, have a negative attitude and commitment towards the organisation, feel insecure about their jobs and do not believe that the organisation is assisting them in their career development. It was lastly found that the majority of employees have not developed an internal drive to take responsibility for their won career development. Conclusions were made based on the results, focus areas were identified and recommendations were made on possible interventions to address the problems identified. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Herstrukturering is deel van die hedendaagse lewe en het 'n massiewe invloed op die lewens van werknemers wat vir organisasies werk wat die besiheidsstrategie volg. Dit is krities dat die veranderingsproses en die oorblywende werknemers effektief bestuur word om 'n toegewyde en produktiewe werksmag te verseker. Die doel van die studie was om werknemer persepsie te meet ten opsigte van die herstrukturerings proses sowel as die huidige omstandighede in die organisasie. Agtergrond tot die organisasie was verskaf om perspektief by die leser te wek. Gegewe die literatuur, is 'n unieke vraelys met 'n vyf-punt skaal opgestel om werknemerpersepsie te meet in terme van die herstruktureringsproses en die huidige omstandighede in die organisasie. Die finale vraelys van 59 vrae is geanaliseer volgens verskillende aspekte van die herstruktureringsproses en werksomstandighede wat geïndetifiseer is. Die wiskundige gemiddeld en standaard afwyking van vrae en aspekte is bepaal sowel as vir verskillende demografiese groepe. Die resultate toon dat werknemers positief is oor die behoefte vir verandering, vertroue in topbestuur het en positief is oor die organisasie se finansiele vooruitsigte in die toekoms. Werknemers is verdeeld op die onderwerp van lojaliteit teenoor die organisasie. Resultate wys verder dat werknemers 'n negatiewe persepsie het oor die wyse waarop die organisasie die hersrtruktureringsproses en oorblywende werknemers bestuur is, voel negatief oor hulle werksomstandighede, het 'n negatiewe houding teenoor die organisasie, voel onseker oor hulle werk en glo nie die organisasie ondersteun werknemers in hulle loopbaanbeplanning nie. Dit is laastens bevind dat die meerderheid van werknemers nog nie 'n interne dryf ontwikkel het om verantwoordelikheid te neem vir hulle eie loopbaan ontwikkeling nie. Gevolgtrekkings was gebaseer op die resultate behaal, fokus areas is geïdentifiseer en aanbevelings is gemaak op moontlike stappe om die geïdentifiseerde probleme op te los.

published_or_final_version / abstract / China Development Studies / Master / Master of Arts

D.Phil. / Prior to the democratic elections in 1994, South Africa had a "captive" market. There were regulations that were specifically designed to protect South African organisations. There were various tariffs and taxes imposed on foreign organisations that did business in South Africa. After the democratic elections, South Africa introduced market reforms that resulted in the country being part of globalization. The globalization process brought about significant changes. South African organisations had an opportunity to expand their business opportunities, but at the same time they were faced with competition from other organisations from different parts of the world ...

Thesis (M. A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

Thesis (M Nursing (Advanced Practice))--University of South Australia, 1996

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Fielding Institute, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 240-249).