Imago relationship therapy was originally applied to couples counselling by Dr Hendrix (1992, 1993). This model was applied to a group of senior managers from the Lonmin Platinum Mine to create an understanding of intrapersonal and interpersonal dynamics to reduce the conflict levels they experienced in the workplace. Imago theory is applicable to the workplace because of the influence of intrapersonal processes on interpersonal dynamics, which is the same influence that causes conflict in romantic relationships. Love relationships consist of three stages, namely romantic love, the power struggle stage, and the real love stage. In the organisational context, these stages are the initial excitement phase, the power struggle stage, and the conscious relating stage. The study aimed to obtain quantitative and qualitative data on the effects of the Imago theory programme presented to the group of managers. The study thus aimed to determine whether the managers experienced a shift in their consciousness after the programme had been presented. Furthermore, the study aimed to determine whether such a shift in consciousness would have an effect on the individuals’ overall emotional wellbeing and if it would increase their overall life satisfaction. Furthermore, the study investigates if the programme had a positive effect on their interpersonal relationships (particularly with their subordinates). Twenty-two senior managers and 22 subordinates participated in the study. Certain pre-tests were conducted, followed by the seven-module intervention. The same post-tests were conducted after the training had taken place. Quantitative and qualitative results were obtained. The quantitative results showed that the participants’ problem solving abilities improved and that they experienced marginally higher levels of life satisfaction. The reactivity levels experienced by the participants during conflict situations decreased, and their levels of marital satisfaction improved. The results also showed that the managers responded more positively to their subordinates after the intervention. Furthermore, the subordinates experienced their managers as being more flexible after the intervention. The qualitative results indicated that a shift in consciousness did take place as envisaged. The group understood both intrapersonal and interpersonal psychodynamics. They also willingly applied Imago concepts to improve their functioning in the organisational context. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

The main purpose of this study was to explore the impact of organisational change on the lived experiences of employees’ well-being. A sample of six employees participated in the study. The requisite data was obtained using semi-structured interviews. The literature review aimed to conceptualise organisational change and its related constructs, to explore employee well-being and its related constructs, and to understand the impact of organisational change on employees’ well-being in organisational contexts. The specific aims of the empirical study were to explore the impact of organisational change on employee well-being, to provide a basic framework that may assist organisations in managing change initiatives directed at enhancing employee well-being, and to formulate recommendations for possible future research on the impact of organisational change on employee well-being. The findings of this study indicated that the impact of organisational change on employees’ well-being is generally negative owing to the uncertainty of moving from the known to the unknown. All employees are impacted by organisational changes. The findings further indicated that the adverse impacts of organisational change may be moderated by communication, participation in the organisational change process and support. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com (Industrial and Organizational Psychology)

The goal of this study was to determine the influence of sense of coherence on the experiences of participants in a developmental corporate adventure training programme. The corporate adventure training programme was described from an experiential learning paradigm, while sense of coherence was described from a salutogenic paradigm. The study was undertaken with 37 members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) from different seniority and position in the SAPS. In order to determine the participants' sense of coherence and their experiences in the corporate adventure training programme, one quantitative measuring instrument and one qualitative measuring instrument were used. The quantitative instrument used to determine the participants' sense of coherence, was the orientation to life questionnaire (OLQ). Five participants with the highest scores and five participants with the lowest scores on the orientation to life questionnaire were identified. These 10 participants were subjected to an interview, determining their experiences during the corporate adventure training programme. The results of this study have shown that people with a higher score on the orientation to life questionnaire approached and experienced the programme differently to those with a lower score on the orientation to life questionnaire. Various hypotheses were formulated from the results of the study. These hypotheses were based on the participants' feedback, and included the fact that all participants experienced the corporate adventure training programme as an opportunity to relax away from work, therefore enhancing their psychological well-being. Relationships between the participants' experiences in the corporate adventure training programme and their scores achieved on the orientation to life questionnaire, was found. The environment influenced the experiences of the participants to a large extend, a finding that differed from findings suggested by previous research. / Indust & Org Psychology / MCOM (IND AND ORG PSY)

Firefighters providing emergency services to the public are involved with some of the most tragic aspects of the boundary between life and death, often in a context over which they have little or no control. The outcome of this may be that stress at work and at home are without doubt the reason that highly qualified and loyal firefighters give themselves over to alcohol or drug abuse, extramarital relationships and suicidal thoughts. The general aim of the research is to evaluate job and family stress amongst firefighters in the South African context, and to use the results in developing a developmental/counselling programme for firefighters and their families. The research is quantitative and qualitative, consisting of a survey design and a phenomenological design. Three measuring instruments were used, namely the Biographical questionnaire, the Experience of Work and Life Circumstances questionnaire, and the Stress questionnaire. Task characteristics, organisational functioning, physical working conditions and job equipment, career and social matters, remuneration, fringe benefits and personnel policy were identified as causes of job stress originating within the work situation. Interviews were conducted to determine how these firefighters experience job and family stress. Marital dysfunction and divorce, limited time with the family, problems with children, alcohol and drug abuse, lack of exercise, suicide, anger aimed at family members, physical and emotional exhaustion, lonely marital partners, unavailability to help the family when needed and depression were identified as causes of family stress arising outside the work situation. The main recommendation is to implement a developmental/counselling job and family stress programme. The programme can be instituted to enhance the wellness and psychological health of firefighters and their families, or for counselling of firefighters and their families who are experiencing job and/or family stress. The multi-dimensionality and flexibility make this programme unique and one of its kind in the South African context. / Indust & Org Psychology / DLITT ET PHIL (IND & ORG PS)

This study applied the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and its extension, the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to the design of a workplace HIV/AIDS health promotion programme. The purpose of the study was to determine if the variables of the TRA and TPB would predict intentions to change HIV/AIDS health behaviour, whether a theory-based intervention would result in health behaviour change over time and if there would be any significant health behaviour differences among participants who received a theory-based intervention and those who received an information-only intervention. In a longitudinal, quasi-experimental study, 170 government employees were divided into two groups. One group comprised 92 employees who participated in a HIV/AIDS health promotion workshop based on the theories of reasoned action and planned behaviour. The other group comprised 78 employees who took part in an educational information session about HIV and AIDS. An elicitation study was conducted with a sample of 38 employees from the research population two months prior to the commencement of the study. The findings of the elicitation study informed the design of research questionnaires and an intervention workshop. Both groups of participants (theory-based workshop and information-only workshop) were measured on HIV/AIDS health behaviour intentions and HIV/AIDS health behaviour (condom use, seeking HIV testing and monogamy) across three measurement periods over a six month period. The results of the study showed that the combined theoretical variables predicted intentions to use condoms and to seek HIV testing, with attitudes having the main effect on intentions. There was, however, no significant health behaviour change across the three measurement periods. There were also no health behaviour differences between the two intervention conditions at one month and six months post-intervention. The study concludes that the intervention based on the theories of reasoned action and planned behaviour did not produce health behaviour change. The study also identified barriers to AIDS health behaviour in the South African context that the theories of reasoned action and planned behaviour cannot explain. Ways in which the theories of reasoned action and planned behaviour can be adapted to HIV/AIDS education in collectivist cultures are proposed. / Psychology / Thesis (D. Phil. (Psychology))

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the management of the HIV and AIDS workplace policy at Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). This entailed an assessment of the levels of awareness amongst employees, and an assessment of employees’ knowledge of the policy and its implementation. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to randomly selected employees. It was found that the respondents’ level of awareness of the HIV and AIDS workplace policy at Stats SA was satisfactory. Although some differences were observed, overall it seems that Stats SA was successful in promoting general awareness of its policy and its contents. However, as far as the respondents’ attitudes and opinions relating to the implementation of the policy at Stats SA are concerned, several issues still need to be addressed. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

Organisasieverwante stres onder maatskaplike werkers is ‘n internasionale verskynsel (Shweta & Siebert, 2007). Maatskaplike dienslewering gaan gewoonlik gepaard met organisasieverwante eise wat ‘n negatiewe uitwerking op die maatskaplike werker sowel as die kwaliteit van dienslewering kan hê indien dit nie vroegtydig geïdentifiseer en voorkom word nie (Werner, 2007:320). Ten spyte van die feit dat maatskaplike werk as een van die mees stresvolle beroepe beskryf word, het organisasieverwante stres binne die maatskaplike diensveld eers in die laaste paar jaar aandag begin geniet (Dillenburger, 2004:213). In die literatuur word daar na drie vlakke van intervensie verwys, naamlik primêre, sekondêre en tersiêre intervensie (Departement van Arbeid, 2003:14; Cooper, Dewe & O’Driscoll, 2001:189). Sekondêre en tersiêre intervensies word as die mees algemene strategieë vir die bestuur van stres in ‘n organisasie geïdentifiseer (Cooper et al., 2001:190; Grobler, Wärnich, Carrell, Elbert & Hatfield, 2002:441). Kritiek op die genoemde vlakke van intervensie sluit in dat die verantwoordelikheid op die maatskaplike werker alleen geplaas word om sy/haar stres te hanteer. Primêre intervensie behels dat die oorsprong van die probleem voorkom word, in plaas daarvan dat die simptome behandel word nadat dit reeds voorgekom het (Satcher, 1999). Hierdie navorsingstudie plaas die fokus op die primêre-intervensiestrategie, nadat daar ‘n leemte in die literatuur in hierdie verband geïdentifseer was. Die doel van die navorsing was om die aard van voorkoming van organisasieverwante stres onder maatskaplike werkers, deur middel van primêre-intervensiestrategieë deur maatskaplikewerkbestuurders, te verken en te beskryf ten einde ‘n voorkomingsriglyn te ontwikkel. Ten einde die navorsingsdoel te kon bereik is die kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering in hierdie studie gebruik, aangesien dit die mees geskikte wyse sou wees om die verkennende en beskrywende aard van die studie te ondersteun (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2007:12). Die populasies vir hierdie kwalitatiewe studie was: • Alle maatskaplikewerkbestuurders wat by regerings- of nie-regeringsorganisasies werksaam is. • Alle maatskaplike werkers wat by regerings- of nie-regeringsorganisasies werksaam is. Binne die raamwerk van die kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is daar van ‘n nie-waarskynlikheidsteekproefmetode en die doelgerigte en sneeubal steekproeftegnieke gebruik gemaak. Die navorser wou gebruik maak van haar eie oordeel oor wie die navorsingsvraag die beste sou kon beantwoord. Die steekproefgrootte was bepaal deur data-versadiging wat waargeneem was na nege onderhoude met maatskaplike werkers en nege onderhoude met maatskaplikewerkbestuurders. Die navorser het by beide populasies semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude as die metode van data-insameling benut. Tesch soos aangehaal in Creswell (2009:186), se agt stappe vir kwalitatiewe data-analise het die navorser ondersteun om die data op ‘n sistematiese wyse tot temas en sub-temas te kodeer. Die data is na afloop van die identifisering van die temas en sub-temas beskryf en gekontroleer met bestaande literatuur. Guba het (in Krefting, 1991:214-222) ‘n model saamgestel om met die verifikasie van kwalitatiewe data te help. Hierdie model is op die volgende vier aspekte gegrond en in hierdie studie benut: geldigheid van die waarheid, toepasbaarheid, bestendigheid en neutraliteit. Die volgende etiese aspekte is tydens die beplanning en uitvoering van hierdie studie in ag geneem: Vermyding van skade; vrywillige deelname; ingeligte toestemming en anonimiteit en konfidensialiteit. Die benutting van bovermelde metodologie het die navorser in staat gestel om voorkomingsriglyne te ontwerp en om gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings te maak. / The goal of this research was to explore and describe the nature of prevention of organisation-related stress among social workers through primary intervention strategies by social work managers to develop a prevention guideline. The qualitative research approach, together with the case study, contextual, explorative and descriptive research designs were used in the study. The two populations included a) all social work managers and b) all social workers that work for government or non-government organisations. Samples from the populations were obtained through the non-probability sampling method and the purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Tesch’s framework for qualitative research analysis supported the researcher to identify themes and sub-themes, while Guba’s model was used to assist with the verification of qualitative data. The empirical findings provided the foundation for the development of a prevention guideline. / Prevention of organisation-related stress amongst social workers by social work managers / Prevention of organisation related stress amongst social workers by social work managers / Text in Afrikaans, with abstract and title in Afrikaans and English / Department of Social Work / Ph. D. (Social Work)

Abstracts in English, Afrikaans and Sepedi / Small businesses flourish when employees are happy, healthy and productive. This makes employees an important asset of a small business because its success depends on the performance of its employees. Employee wellness practices in small medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) often focus on the physical aspects of wellbeing, despite employees wanting management to focus on their emotional needs. In view of the fact that employers do not realise that employee wellness significantly improves morale and increases retention rates, this research sought to explore the employee wellness experiences of managers and employees in SMMEs to develop an understanding of the need for employee wellness practices in these organisations. Accordingly, a qualitative study was conducted among 17 employees and four managers at three diverse industries operating in the Gauteng region of South Africa. The data were collected by means of focus groups interviews with employees and individual interviews with managers who work in SMMEs that employ less than 50 employees. The results indicated that employees consider employee wellness in terms of how well organisations treat them and take care of them. The findings demonstrated that employees depend on good working relationships to be happy and engaged in the workplace. Although management cited various financial and human resource constraints that limit employee wellness practices, the employees identified various activities and practices that were not dependent on financial resources for implementation. The results also showed there was insufficient evidence to support the notion that there is a link between unhealthy workplace conditions and higher absenteeism and staff turnover rates. The findings highlighted that employees need social interaction in order to feel valued and cared for and that this factor often outweighs the negative feelings employees have of working in unhealthy environments. Thus, employees were willing to work in unhealthy conditions as long as they felt valued by top management. The findings of the study contribute to the knowledge in the literature on employee wellness practices in SMMEs because limited studies have been conducted to demonstrate the impact of workplace conditions on employee wellness. / Klein ondernemings floreer wanneer werknemers gelukkig, gesond en produktief is. Dit maak werknemers ’n belangrike bate vir ’n klein onderneming, want die onderneming se sukses hang af van die werknemers se prestasie. Werknemerwelstandpraktyke in klein-, medium- en mikro-ondernemings (KMMO’s) fokus dikwels op die fisieke aspekte van welstand, ten spyte daarvan dat werknemers wil hê bestuur moet op hul emosionele behoeftes fokus. In die lig daarvan dat werkgewers nie besef dat werknemerwelstand moraal en behoudsyfers aansienlik verbeter nie, het hierdie navorsing gepoog om die werknemerwelstand-ondervindinge van bestuurders en werknemers in KMMO’s te ondersoek om ‘n begrip van die behoefte aan werknemerwelstand-praktyke in hierdie ondernemings te ontwikkel. Ooreenkomstig hiermee is ‘n kwalitatiewe studie onderneem onder 17 werknemers en vier bestuurders by drie diverse industrieë wat in die Gauteng-omgewing in Suid-Afrika sake doen. Die data is versamel deur middel van fokusgroeponderhoude met werknemers en individuele onderhoude met bestuurders wat by KMMO’s met minder as 50 werknemers werk. Die bevindinge toon dat werknemers werknemerwelstand beoordeel volgens hoe goed organisasies hulle behandel en na hulle omsien. Die bevindinge het uitgewys dat werknemers staatmaak op goeie werksverhoudings om gelukkig en betrokke te wees in die werkplek. Hoewel bestuur verskeie finansiële en menslike hulpbron-beperkings uitgewys het wat werknemerwelstandpraktyke beperk, het die werknemers verskeie aktiwiteite en praktyke geïdentifiseer wat onafhanklik van finansiële hulpbronne geïmplementeer kan word. Die studie het ook bevind dat daar nie genoegsame bewyse is om die idee te staaf dat daar ‘n verband is tussen ongesonde werkplekomstandighede en ‘n hoër afwesigheidsyfer en personeelomset nie. Die bevindinge lig dit uit dat werknemers sosiale interaksie nodig het om gewaardeerd en na omgesien te voel en dat hierdie faktor dikwels swaarder weeg as die negatiewe gevoelens wat werknemers in ‘n ongesonde werkomgewing ervaar. Werknemers is dus bereid om in ongesonde omstandighede te werk solank hulle gewaardeerd voel deur topbestuur. Die bevindinge van die studie dra by tot die kennis in die literatuur oor werknemerwelstandpraktyke in KMMO’s aangesien studies wat die impak van werkplekomstandighede op werknemerwelstand demonstreer tot dusver beperk is. / Dikgwebo tse nyane di tswella ka bokgabane ha basebetsi ba thabile, ba phetse hantle ebile ba sebelletsa ho beha ditholoana. Sena se etsa hore basebetsi e be bona ba bohlokwa haholo dikgwebong tse nyane hobane katleho ya dikgwebo tsena e dutse mahetleng a bokgabane ba basebetsi. Bophelo bo hantle ba basebetsi dikgwebong tse nyane le tse kgolwanyane (SMMEs) hangata bo tobane le bokgoni ba basebetsi ho tswellisa pele mosebetsi o behang ditholoana, empa basebetsi le bona ba batla hore ba nahanelwe ke bo ramesebetsi ka ditlhoko tsa bona tse ba amang moyeng. Bo nnete ba taba ke hore bo ramosebetsi ha ba elellwe hore bophelo bo hantle ba basebetsi bo bohlokwa hobane bo nyolla boitshwaro bo botle ba basebetsi, ebile ba dula dilemo mesebetsing ya bona. Dipatlisiso tsa pampiri ena di tlo sheba bophelo bo botle ba basebetsi ka ho lekola batshwari ba basebetsi le basebetsi mmoho dikgwebong tse nyane (SMMEs) hore bo ka tsela e jwang le ho re thusa ho utlwisisa bohlokwa ba bophelo bo hantle mesebetsing ka ho fapana. Ho fumana dintlha tsa dipatlisiso, ho kopuwe basebetsi ba leshome le metso e supileng (17) le batshwari ba basebetsi ba bane (4) mesebetsing e fapaneng Gauteng, Afrika Borwa. Ho bile le di hlopha tse fapaneng tse botsuweng dipotso hore ho tholahale dintlha ka taba ya bophelo bo hantle ba basebetsi, mme batshwari ba basebetsi ba botsuwe dipotso ka bonngwe ba bona. Dikgwebo tse nyane (SMMEs) tse nkileng phato di na le basebetsi ba ka tlase ho mashome a mahlano (50). Sephetho sa ditlatlobo tsa dipotso tse botsuweng basebetsi se bontsha hore basebetsi ba nahana hore boitshwaro bo hantle ba basebetsi bo ya ka hore mesebetsing e fapananeng batho ba hlokometswe jwang. Basebetsi ba boletse hore dikamano pakeng tsa basebetsi mmoho tse thabisang di ba loketse mesebetsing. Le ha batshwari ba Page viii basebetsi le bo radikgwebo ba lla ka hore disebediswa le ditjhelete ha di lekane hore ba tswellise pele boitshwaro bo botle ba basebetsi, basebetsi ba buile ka dintlha tse bontshang hore boitshwaro bo botle ha bo hloke tjhelete ka dinako tsohle. Sephetho se ile sa bontsha hore ha hona bopaki bo lekaneng ho bontsha hore basebetsi ba lofa mesebetsing kapa hona ho se dule dilemo mesebetsing ka lebaka la hore poleke ya bona ya mosebetsi ha e kgahlise. Dipatlisiso di bontshitse hore basebetsi ba hloka dikamano le basebetsi ba bang, ha mmoho le bo ramesebetsi hore ba ikutlwe ba kgathallwa. Dikamano tsena di etsa hore basebetsi ba phuthollohe ha ba le mesebetsing ebile ba lebale ka dintho tse sa lokang mesebetsing ya bona. Ka hoo, basebetsi ba tsotella dikamano tse ntle pakeng tsa bona le bo ramesebetsi, le ha poleke ya mosebetsi e sa thabise ha kalo. Dipatlisiso tsa pampiri ena di tlatselletsa tsebo e teng ho dithuto tsa bophelo bo hantle ba basebetsi le di tsamaiso tsa tsona dikgwebong tse nyane (SMMEs) hobane ha dingata dipampiri tse ngotsweng ka sehlooho sena ho re ruta hore boitshwaro bo botle ho basebetsi bo ama mesebetsi e fapaneng ka tsela tse jwang. / Human Resource Management / M. Com. (Human Resource Management)

Firefighters providing emergency services to the public are involved with some of the most tragic aspects of the boundary between life and death, often in a context over which they have little or no control. The outcome of this may be that stress at work and at home are without doubt the reason that highly qualified and loyal firefighters give themselves over to alcohol or drug abuse, extramarital relationships and suicidal thoughts. The general aim of the research is to evaluate job and family stress amongst firefighters in the South African context, and to use the results in developing a developmental/counselling programme for firefighters and their families. The research is quantitative and qualitative, consisting of a survey design and a phenomenological design. Three measuring instruments were used, namely the Biographical questionnaire, the Experience of Work and Life Circumstances questionnaire, and the Stress questionnaire. Task characteristics, organisational functioning, physical working conditions and job equipment, career and social matters, remuneration, fringe benefits and personnel policy were identified as causes of job stress originating within the work situation. Interviews were conducted to determine how these firefighters experience job and family stress. Marital dysfunction and divorce, limited time with the family, problems with children, alcohol and drug abuse, lack of exercise, suicide, anger aimed at family members, physical and emotional exhaustion, lonely marital partners, unavailability to help the family when needed and depression were identified as causes of family stress arising outside the work situation. The main recommendation is to implement a developmental/counselling job and family stress programme. The programme can be instituted to enhance the wellness and psychological health of firefighters and their families, or for counselling of firefighters and their families who are experiencing job and/or family stress. The multi-dimensionality and flexibility make this programme unique and one of its kind in the South African context. / Indust and Org Psychology / DLITT ET PHIL (IND & ORG PS)

The goal of this study was to determine the influence of sense of coherence on the experiences of participants in a developmental corporate adventure training programme. The corporate adventure training programme was described from an experiential learning paradigm, while sense of coherence was described from a salutogenic paradigm. The study was undertaken with 37 members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) from different seniority and position in the SAPS. In order to determine the participants' sense of coherence and their experiences in the corporate adventure training programme, one quantitative measuring instrument and one qualitative measuring instrument were used. The quantitative instrument used to determine the participants' sense of coherence, was the orientation to life questionnaire (OLQ). Five participants with the highest scores and five participants with the lowest scores on the orientation to life questionnaire were identified. These 10 participants were subjected to an interview, determining their experiences during the corporate adventure training programme. The results of this study have shown that people with a higher score on the orientation to life questionnaire approached and experienced the programme differently to those with a lower score on the orientation to life questionnaire. Various hypotheses were formulated from the results of the study. These hypotheses were based on the participants' feedback, and included the fact that all participants experienced the corporate adventure training programme as an opportunity to relax away from work, therefore enhancing their psychological well-being. Relationships between the participants' experiences in the corporate adventure training programme and their scores achieved on the orientation to life questionnaire, was found. The environment influenced the experiences of the participants to a large extend, a finding that differed from findings suggested by previous research. / Indust and Org Psychology / MCOM (IND AND ORG PSY)