Research on human resilience has attempted to uncover how certain individuals, even when faced with adverse working conditions can bounce back without serious psychological harm and continue their development. There is a paucity of information on the concept resilience as it pertains to professional nurses. Relevant information in this regard can equip nurses who are fleeing the profession, or who are becoming physically or mentally ill because they are not coping. Information on the prevalence of resilience in professional nurses and a better understanding of the coping skills and resilient adaptations of identified resilient professional nurses can lead to the formulation of guidelines with strategies for interventions that can facilitate growth in professional nurses and be of benefit to the health care service. This research investigated the prevalence of resilience in professional nurses and listened to the stories of identified resilient professional nurses in order to get a better understanding of their coping skills and resilient adaptations. The data was used to formulate broad guidelines with specific strategies that can be used by hospital managers for in-service training purposes and other programs to facilitate growth in professional nurses. The research was conducted in South Africa amongst nurses in private and public hospitals in the following suburban areas: Potchefstroom, Carletonvi1le, Randfontein and Krugersdorp. A sequential exploratory design was used where one phase is followed by another phase: the first phase was quantitative research conducted with validated psychometric instruments measuring aspects of resilience, namely: The Mental Health Continuum, The Coping Self-efficacy Scale, Sense of Coherence Scale, The Adult Dispositional Hope Scale. The Life Orientation Test-Revised, The Resilience Scale, and The General Health Questionnaire. The second phase was qualitative and explored the stories of the resilient professional nurses by requesting them to write their stories on how they manage to stay resilient and compassionate in the profession followed by focus group interviews also with resilient nurses. The prevalence of resilience in the professional nurses in the first phase indicated the following: 10% with low resilience, 47% as moderate and 43 % with high resilience, but with mostly negative feelings toward the profession and with many considering leaving their current job. The stories followed by focus group interviews with resilient professional nurses produced useful data that could be used to formulate guidelines with strategies for interventions to facilitate and enhance resilience and psycho-social well-being in professional nurses thereby improving the nursing profession and health care service overall. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010

South Africa's business environment is changing dramatically. Companies are continuously placed under pressure to reform. Government introduced clear guidelines in the form of transformation strategies to assist companies in moving towards a more democratic, non-racial and fully representative organisational structure. The two major strategies are coined Black Economic Empowerment and Affirmative Action. The aim of the strategies is to empower and uplift the previously disadvantaged communities of the Apartheid era. These communities include black people; who consist of Africans, Coloureds and Indians; women and disabled individuals. However, these strategies are perceived with mixed emotions. A sense of negativity is evident within the attitudes of all race groups. This may give rise to a new problem in the workplace: pessimism. Pessimism is associated with undesirable characteristics such as external, unstable and specific explanations for bad things and has emotional links to depression. Pessimists view problems as long lasting and inescapable, and tend to blame all misfortunes on their own ineptness and incompetence. On the other hand, optimism is associated with characteristics such as positive mood and good morale, happiness, perseverance and effective problem solving, achievement and health and even a long life and freedom from trauma. It is characterised by internal, stable and global explanations for bad things. A cross-sectional design with an availability sample (N 68) of junior and middle management workers working in a multinational industry was used. Nonprobability purposive sampling was applied in the selection of the study population. The results indicated that males experience more dispositional pessimism than women. Black employees also experienced more dispositional pessimism and optimism than white employees, and employees who attended Affirmative Action induction programmes displayed higher levels of optimism than those who have not attended such programmes. If the tendency towards pessimism increases the result may have devastating effects on the organisation as a whole. It is possible that performance will decline and organisational targets will not be reached. To address these issues organisations may need to change their structural planning in order to utilise males more productively, and to enhance a sense of empowerment. Companies should formulate clear goals with regard to what they want to gain from Affirmative Action programmes. Programmes should also be constantly revised and continuing evaluations must be carried out in order to track the effect of the programmes on the workforce. Recommendations were made for future research. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

本研究旨在探討臺北縣國民小學分散式領導與教師學術樂觀的現況，剖析不同背景變項與學校變項知覺分散式領導與教師學術樂觀的差異情形，探討分散式領導對教師學術樂觀的關係，並根據研究結論，提出建議供有關單位參考。為達上述研究目的，本研究採用問卷調查法，以臺北縣60所國民小學之主任、組長及教師為研究對象，共寄發問卷632份，回收有效問卷553份，有效回收率為87.5％。本研究採用SPSS 17.0 for Windows和LISREL 8.80統計套裝軟體進行分析，獲得以下結論： 一、臺北縣國民小學教師知覺分散式領導、教師學術樂觀為中高程度 。 二、不同性別、教育程度、學校規模、學校地區之教師在知覺分散式領導與教師學術樂觀上，沒有顯著差異。 三、50（含）歲以上教師知覺分散式領導高於40歲以下教師，在知 覺教師學術樂觀也高於30（含）~40歲教師。 四、服務年資20（含）年以上教師在知覺分散式領導與教師學術樂觀上，高於10年以下教師。 五、教師兼主任知覺分散式領導高於班級導師；在知覺教師學術樂觀上，也高於教師兼組長及班級導師。 六、學校歷史30年以下與學校歷史90年以上的教師，在知覺分散式領導上，高於學校歷史30（含）~60年及學校歷史60（含）~90年教師；在知覺教師學術樂觀上，亦高於學校歷史30（含）~60年教師。 七、本研究建構之模式經過結構方程模式檢定獲得支持，分散式領導對教師學術樂觀具有正向顯著的影響。 最後依據上述研究結論，提出具體建議，以作為教育行政機關、國小學校行政參考運用。 關鍵詞：分散式領導、教師學術樂觀 / This study aimed to explore the current situation of Taipei County elementary schools’ distributed leadership and teacher academic optimism, and to analyze different background variables and school variables’ on the different perception of distributed leadership and teacher academic optimism, and to discuss the relationship between distributed leadership and teacher academic optimism. Based on the research conclusions, I also submitted recommendations for the relevant institutions’ reference. To achieve these purposes, this study used questionnaire survey method. I used the directors, team leaders and teachers from 60 elementary schools in Taipei County as our study objects. A total of 632 questionnaires were distributed, with 553 valid questionnaires. The effective rate was 87.5%. In this study, I used SPSS 17.0 for Windows and LISREL 8.80 statistical software for analysis and obtained the following conclusions: 1.Taipei County elementary school teachers’ perception of distributed leadership and teacher academic optimism is high. 2.There is no significant difference in different gender, education level, school size, school location in teachers’ perception of distributed leadership and teacher academic optimism. 3.Over 50 (inclusive) years old teachers’ perception on distributed leadership is higher than teachers under 40 years old. The teacher academic optimism is also higher than 30 (inclusive) to 40 years old teachers. 4.Teacher’s year of service above 20 (inclusive) years, their perception on distributed leadership and teacher academic optimism is higher than the teachers under 10 years. 5.Teachers also hold the post as directors’ perception on distributed leadership is higher than class teachers. Their perception of teachers academic optimism is also higher than teachers also hold the post as team leaders and class teachers. 6.Teachers at the school history of less than 30 years and school history over 90 years, their perception of distributed leadership is higher than teachers at school years between 30 (including) years to 60 years and school history of 60 (inclusive) years to 90 years. Their perception of teacher academic optimism is also higher than teachers at school history of 30 (inclusive) years to 60 years. 7.The model constructed in this study was supported through structural equation modeling test. Distributed leadership has a significant positive impact on teacher academic optimism. Finally, based on the above research conclusions, I submitted specific recommendations as references and applications for educational administration and elementary school administration. Keywords: distributed leadership, teacher academic optimism

This thesis combines quantitative and qualitative methods to examine both women’s psychological wellbeing after miscarriage and the specific coping strategies that are associated with coping well with this event. Chapter 1 reviews the ways in which miscarriage has been defined and its estimated prevalence. As definitions of miscarriage tend to vary across Western countries, the research implications of this are discussed. Chapter 2 reviews the literature related to women’s psychological responses following miscarriage, discussing the main outcomes which have been examined, including depression, anxiety, stress and grief. As the literature is relatively small, and current research is limited by small and non-representative samples, Chapter 3 takes an epidemiological approach by cross-sectionally investigating the psychological correlates, and relevant sociodemographic, reproductive and health-related variables associated with miscarriage using a large population sample of young Australian women. Sociodemographic and reproductive variables most strongly predicted membership of the Miscarriage and No Miscarriage groups, while psychological wellbeing did not distinguish the two groups in the stepwise logistic regression. Using the same data but applying longitudinal methods, Chapter 4 examined whether trajectories of Mental Health, Stress and Optimism varied over time and according to women’s miscarriage status. Relevant sociodemographic and reproductive variables identified in Chapter 3 as possible confounding variables were controlled in these analyses. Miscarriage was found to affect trajectories of Mental Health, Stress and Optimism, with poorer outcomes on all variables for women reporting miscarriage by comparison to women who had never miscarried over a seven-year period. Because miscarriage has significant effects on women’s mental health and wellbeing, the next part of the thesis was dedicated to examining the predictors of, and coping strategies related to, coping well after miscarriage. Since the term coping well is not easily defined, Chapter 5 is a critical review of the theoretical frameworks of coping, with an emphasis on identifying the conceptualisation and measurement problems which have limited advancements in the field. Chapter 6 is a review of the psychological, reproductive and sociodemographic predictors of adjustment to miscarriage, highlighting the conflicting evidence and the need for multivariate methods when analysing these relationships. Using the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health data, Chapter 7 uses longitudinal methods to investigate predictors of Mental Health among young women reporting miscarriage. Optimism, social support and the number of miscarriages were strong predictors of Mental Health among women reporting miscarriage. Chapter 8 is a review of the research which has examined the coping styles and strategies that women use to cope with miscarriage. The majority of this research tends to be of a qualitative nature, and therefore the next step was to complete interviews with nine women to gain a more in-depth understanding of the specific coping strategies related to positive outcomes after miscarriage. Social support was reported as facilitating adjustment to miscarriage, consistent with the quantitative analyses. Acknowledgement and support from health professionals was also described as facilitating adjustment. While the quantitative analyses had also initially suggested that satisfaction with the general practitioner was an important predictor of adjustment, this variable did not reach significance when other reproductive and psychological variables were controlled for. Taking all the results into consideration, it appears that changes to social norms and attitudes regarding miscarriage may help women to cope with this challenging and distressing experience. Interventions to help women cope with miscarriage need to be grounded in an understanding of women’s need for social and family support, and understanding from health professionals. However, it is essential that interventions should be comprehensively evaluated, and future research in this area is warranted.

This thesis combines quantitative and qualitative methods to examine both women’s psychological wellbeing after miscarriage and the specific coping strategies that are associated with coping well with this event. Chapter 1 reviews the ways in which miscarriage has been defined and its estimated prevalence. As definitions of miscarriage tend to vary across Western countries, the research implications of this are discussed. Chapter 2 reviews the literature related to women’s psychological responses following miscarriage, discussing the main outcomes which have been examined, including depression, anxiety, stress and grief. As the literature is relatively small, and current research is limited by small and non-representative samples, Chapter 3 takes an epidemiological approach by cross-sectionally investigating the psychological correlates, and relevant sociodemographic, reproductive and health-related variables associated with miscarriage using a large population sample of young Australian women. Sociodemographic and reproductive variables most strongly predicted membership of the Miscarriage and No Miscarriage groups, while psychological wellbeing did not distinguish the two groups in the stepwise logistic regression. Using the same data but applying longitudinal methods, Chapter 4 examined whether trajectories of Mental Health, Stress and Optimism varied over time and according to women’s miscarriage status. Relevant sociodemographic and reproductive variables identified in Chapter 3 as possible confounding variables were controlled in these analyses. Miscarriage was found to affect trajectories of Mental Health, Stress and Optimism, with poorer outcomes on all variables for women reporting miscarriage by comparison to women who had never miscarried over a seven-year period. Because miscarriage has significant effects on women’s mental health and wellbeing, the next part of the thesis was dedicated to examining the predictors of, and coping strategies related to, coping well after miscarriage. Since the term coping well is not easily defined, Chapter 5 is a critical review of the theoretical frameworks of coping, with an emphasis on identifying the conceptualisation and measurement problems which have limited advancements in the field. Chapter 6 is a review of the psychological, reproductive and sociodemographic predictors of adjustment to miscarriage, highlighting the conflicting evidence and the need for multivariate methods when analysing these relationships. Using the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health data, Chapter 7 uses longitudinal methods to investigate predictors of Mental Health among young women reporting miscarriage. Optimism, social support and the number of miscarriages were strong predictors of Mental Health among women reporting miscarriage. Chapter 8 is a review of the research which has examined the coping styles and strategies that women use to cope with miscarriage. The majority of this research tends to be of a qualitative nature, and therefore the next step was to complete interviews with nine women to gain a more in-depth understanding of the specific coping strategies related to positive outcomes after miscarriage. Social support was reported as facilitating adjustment to miscarriage, consistent with the quantitative analyses. Acknowledgement and support from health professionals was also described as facilitating adjustment. While the quantitative analyses had also initially suggested that satisfaction with the general practitioner was an important predictor of adjustment, this variable did not reach significance when other reproductive and psychological variables were controlled for. Taking all the results into consideration, it appears that changes to social norms and attitudes regarding miscarriage may help women to cope with this challenging and distressing experience. Interventions to help women cope with miscarriage need to be grounded in an understanding of women’s need for social and family support, and understanding from health professionals. However, it is essential that interventions should be comprehensively evaluated, and future research in this area is warranted.

This thesis combines quantitative and qualitative methods to examine both women’s psychological wellbeing after miscarriage and the specific coping strategies that are associated with coping well with this event. Chapter 1 reviews the ways in which miscarriage has been defined and its estimated prevalence. As definitions of miscarriage tend to vary across Western countries, the research implications of this are discussed. Chapter 2 reviews the literature related to women’s psychological responses following miscarriage, discussing the main outcomes which have been examined, including depression, anxiety, stress and grief. As the literature is relatively small, and current research is limited by small and non-representative samples, Chapter 3 takes an epidemiological approach by cross-sectionally investigating the psychological correlates, and relevant sociodemographic, reproductive and health-related variables associated with miscarriage using a large population sample of young Australian women. Sociodemographic and reproductive variables most strongly predicted membership of the Miscarriage and No Miscarriage groups, while psychological wellbeing did not distinguish the two groups in the stepwise logistic regression. Using the same data but applying longitudinal methods, Chapter 4 examined whether trajectories of Mental Health, Stress and Optimism varied over time and according to women’s miscarriage status. Relevant sociodemographic and reproductive variables identified in Chapter 3 as possible confounding variables were controlled in these analyses. Miscarriage was found to affect trajectories of Mental Health, Stress and Optimism, with poorer outcomes on all variables for women reporting miscarriage by comparison to women who had never miscarried over a seven-year period. Because miscarriage has significant effects on women’s mental health and wellbeing, the next part of the thesis was dedicated to examining the predictors of, and coping strategies related to, coping well after miscarriage. Since the term coping well is not easily defined, Chapter 5 is a critical review of the theoretical frameworks of coping, with an emphasis on identifying the conceptualisation and measurement problems which have limited advancements in the field. Chapter 6 is a review of the psychological, reproductive and sociodemographic predictors of adjustment to miscarriage, highlighting the conflicting evidence and the need for multivariate methods when analysing these relationships. Using the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health data, Chapter 7 uses longitudinal methods to investigate predictors of Mental Health among young women reporting miscarriage. Optimism, social support and the number of miscarriages were strong predictors of Mental Health among women reporting miscarriage. Chapter 8 is a review of the research which has examined the coping styles and strategies that women use to cope with miscarriage. The majority of this research tends to be of a qualitative nature, and therefore the next step was to complete interviews with nine women to gain a more in-depth understanding of the specific coping strategies related to positive outcomes after miscarriage. Social support was reported as facilitating adjustment to miscarriage, consistent with the quantitative analyses. Acknowledgement and support from health professionals was also described as facilitating adjustment. While the quantitative analyses had also initially suggested that satisfaction with the general practitioner was an important predictor of adjustment, this variable did not reach significance when other reproductive and psychological variables were controlled for. Taking all the results into consideration, it appears that changes to social norms and attitudes regarding miscarriage may help women to cope with this challenging and distressing experience. Interventions to help women cope with miscarriage need to be grounded in an understanding of women’s need for social and family support, and understanding from health professionals. However, it is essential that interventions should be comprehensively evaluated, and future research in this area is warranted.

Thesis advisor: John Westefeld. Includes bibliographic references (p. 113-122).

<p>Purpose</p><p>The main purpose of this paper is to investigate overconfidence and over-optimism in the market. This leads the reader to the question, are the analysts “right” concerning their forecasts? The reader will also get to understand various and sometimes forgotten factors that affect we human beings in our decision making when it comes to investing and analysing which is also known as the behavioural finance theory.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>According to the results from my tests it seems that analysts of the S&P500 are exaggerated by the problem of overconfidence and the over-optimistic biases. The analysis part of this study is confirming the discussed theory of anchoring and herding. Analysts tend to “follow the stream”, by evaluate the standard deviations between forecasts and the realized outcome, as well as the indexed analysts’ consensus estimations for twenty-four months of EPS.</p>

Thesis (MComm)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: From a global perspective, this study aimed to depart from the traditional notion of occupational wellbeing characterised as the absence of strain and stress-related diseases. Positive Organisational Scholarship (POS), the framework for this study, is largely concerned with the investigation of positive outcomes, processes and attributes of organisations and their employees. In essence, this study argued in favour of the cultivation of personal resources, such as optimism and self-efficacy, as well as the establishment of active efforts to instil meaningfulness in, and at work, in order to generate better occupational wellbeing and a sense of enhanced human functioning. A non-experimental research design (i.e. exploratory survey study) was used to explore the relationships between the various constructs. Occupational wellbeing was, for the purpose of empirical validation, firstly measured in terms of the absence of pathology. However, since it was conceptualised from a salutogenic approach in this study, a cognitive-judgemental evaluation of employees‟ satisfaction with their work-life was also included as a measure of occupational wellbeing. It was argued that optimism may impact on occupational wellbeing, as optimists are described in terms of their ability to anticipate positive outcome expectancies, and engage in continued efforts, despite current adverse circumstances to confront difficulties they encounter (Scheier & Carver, 1985). In turn, highly self-efficacious individuals are those exhibiting confidence in their ability to effectively execute personal strategies to ensure a positive outcome (Bandura, 1986). Drawing from POS, a twofold conceptualisation of meaningfulness was warranted: meaningfulness in work (defined as engagement) and meaningfulness at work (defined as organisational commitment). The primary aim of this study was consequently to explicate the possible nomological net underlying the complex phenomenon of occupational wellbeing, in terms of the abovementioned variables. A convenience sample of 202 individuals, employed at three organisations across South Africa, participated in the research. The measurement instruments included a 28-item version of the original General Health Questionnaire by Goldberg (1972), and an adapted version of Diener, Emmons, Larsen and Griffin‟s (1985) Satisfaction with Life Scale (adapted to Satisfaction with Work-life), both utilised to measure occupational wellbeing. The Life Orientation Test-Revised (Scheier, Carver and Bridges, 1994), and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) of Sherer, Maddux, Mercandante, Prentice-Dunn, Jacobs and Rogers (1982) was utilised to measure optimism and self-efficacy respectively. Finally, the Organisation Commitment Questionnaire (Mowday, Porter & Steers, 1979), and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (Schaufeli & Bakker, 2003) was used in combination to respectively measure meaningfulness in work (engagement) and meaningfulness at work (commitment). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and item analyses were conducted to evaluate the reliability and validity of the measurement instruments. Correlations were computed between the various variables. A structural model was fitted to investigate the extent to which optimism, self-efficacy and meaningfulness are significant predictors of occupational wellbeing. The results of the model suggested that optimism influences psychological health directly. This indicates that optimists may be inclined to experience greater levels of psychological wellbeing at work. The relationship between optimism and occupational wellbeing (i.e. psychological health) was further highlighted through an indirect causal effect, as mediated through a combination of work engagement and organisational commitment (i.e. meaningfulness). Optimism also causally influenced satisfaction with work life (the other aspect of occupational wellbeing). This indirect effect was also mediated by engagement and organisational commitment. The structural model indicated that no significant paths between self-efficacy and any of the other variables were evident. With the unique combination of positive psychological antecedents included in this research, the study aimed to make a significant contribution to the existing POS theory and literature. The results provide a probable explanation of the complex nomological net of variables (optimism, self-efficacy, and meaningfulness) and their interrelationships with each other, which influence occupational wellbeing within the South African context. Recommendations for future research in this domain were highlighted. The necessity of interventions rooted in the strength-based approach, underscoring the development of positive psychological capacities in both employees, and organisations, were also advocated. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vanuit ʼn globale perspektief het hierdie studie gepoog om afstand te doen van die tradisionele uitgangspunt van die definiëring van beroepswelstand as slegs die ontbreking van spanning- en stres verwante kwale. Positiewe Organisatoriese Leerlingskap (POL), die raamwerk van hierdie studie, hou grotendeels verband met die soeke na positiewe uitkomste, prosesse en karaktertrekke binne organisasies, sowel as hul werknemers. In wese het die studie argumente voorgehou in guns van die ontwikkeling van persoonlike hulpbronne soos optimisme en selfbekwaamheid, asook die totstandbringing van daadwerklike pogings om betekenisvolheid in, en by die werk te genereer, vir beter beroepswelstand en prestasie. „ n Nie-eksperimentele navorsingsontwerp (dit is, ʼn verkennende studie) was gebruik om die verband tussen die verskeie konstrukte te ondersoek. Ten einde empiriese validasie gestand te doen, is beroepswelstand eerstens gemeet as die ontbreking van enige stres-verwante siektes. Nietemin, aangesien die konstruk in hierdie studie gedefinieer was vanuit ʼn salutogeniese perspektief, is ʼn addisionele kognitiewe-beoordelings evaluasie van werknemers se satisfaksie met hul werkslewe, ook gebruik ten einde beroepswelstand te meet. Argumente wat die rol van optimisme in welstand benadruk is voorgehou en uitgedruk in terme van optimiste se vermoë om positiewe uitkomste te verwag, asook hul aanhoudende pogings ten spyte van leiding en swaarkry (Scheier & Carver, 1985). Net so word hoogs selfbekwame individue beskryf in terme van hul vertroue in hul vermoë om persoonlike strategieë suksesvol uit te voer ten einde positiewe uitkomste te verseker (Bandura, 1986). Vanuit die POL vertrekpunt is betekenisvolheid in hierdie studie as twee aparte, maar verwante konstrukte, gekonseptualiseer: betekenisvolheid in werk (gedefinieer as werknemers betrokkenheid), en betekenisvolheid by die werk (gedefinieer as organisatoriese lojaliteit). Die primêre doel van die studie was derhalwe die verduideliking van die moontlike nomologiese net onderliggend aan die komplekse fenomeen van beroepswelstand in terme van die bogenoemde veranderlikes. ʼn Gerieflikheidsteekproef van 202 personeel van drie organisasies regoor Suid Afrika het aan die navorsingsprojek deelgeneem. Die meetinstrumente het bestaan uit die 28-item weergawe van die oorspronklike Algemene Gesondheid Vraelys van Goldberg (1972), en ʼn aangepaste weergawe van Diener, Emmons, Larson en Griffin (1985) se Satisfaksie met die Lewe Skaal (aangepas na Satisfaksie met werkslewe), wat albei gebruik is om beroepswelstand te bepaal. Die hersiene weergawe van die Lewensoriëntasie Skaal (Scheier, Carver & Bridges, 1994), asook die Algemene Selfbekwaamheid Skaal (Sherer, Maddux, Mercandante, Prentice-Dunn, Jacobs & Rogers, 1982) is gebruik om onderskeidelik optimisme en selfbekwaamheid te meet. Laastens is die Organisatoriese Lojaliteit Vraelys (Mowday, Porter & Steers, 1979) en die Utrecht Werknemer Betrokkenheid Skaal (Schaufeli & Bakker, 2003) in kombinasie gebruik om die konstrukte van onderskeidelik betekenisvolheid in werk (werknemer betrokkenheid), en betekenisvolheid by die werk (organisatoriese lojaliteit) te ondersoek. Bevestigende faktorontleding en item analises was gebruik om die betroubaarheid en geldigheid van die meetinstrumente te ondersoek. Die korrelasies tussen die verskeie konstrukte was ook bereken. ‟n Strukturele model is gepas om te bepaal of optimisme, selfbekwaamheid en betekenisvolheid ʼn beduidende impak op beroepswelstand het. Die resultate van die model suggereer dat optimisme ʼn direkte invloed het op die ervaring van beroepswelstand. Dit dien as aanduiding dat optimiste geneig is om merendeels hoër vlakke van sielkundige welstand by die werk te ervaar. Hierdie verhouding tussen optimisme en beroepswelstand (dit is, sielkundige welstand) was verder bevestig deur bewyse van ʼn indirekte kousale verband tussen die konstrukte wat gemedieër is deur ʼn kombinasie van werknemer betrokkenheid en organisatoriese lojaliteit (dit is, betekenisvolheid). Optimisme het verder ʼn kousale invloed gehad op die ervaring van satisfaksie met werkslewe (die ander dimensie van organisatoriese welstand). Hierdie direkte impak is ook verder gemedieër deur werknemer betrokkenheid en organisatoriese lojaliteit. Daar was egter geen beduidende verwantskappe tussen selfbekwaamheid en enige van die ander konstrukte gevind nie. Gegewe die unieke kombinasie van positiewe sielkunde konstrukte wat in hierdie studie ingesluit is, kan daar gesê word dat hierdie studie gepoog het om ʼn bydrae te maak ten opsigte van die bestaande POL teorieë en literatuur. Die resultate van die studie verskaf ʼn waarskynlike verduideliking vir die komplekse nomologiese net van konstrukte (optimisme, selfbekwaamheid, en betekenisvolheid), en hul unieke inter-korrelasies wat ʼn beduidende rol speel in die ervaring van beroepswelstand binne die Suid Afrikaanse konteks. Aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing in die area was voorgehou. Die nodigheid van intervensies rakende die ontwikkeling van positiewe sielkundige bevoegdhede binne organisasies en individue, is ook uitgespel.

Within the construction industry, proximity of actual to scheduled completion time is a primary performance measure, and deviations from planned schedules remain a popular concern in the field of construction management. Prevailing research assumes that delays arise either from flawed execution of the plan or from failure to plan effectively. Thus, solutions suggested include improving execution and developing ever more sophisticated planning techniques. In spite of these efforts, accuracy in scheduling construction projects has shown little or no improvement, and clients continue to incur the significant costs associated with the failure to more accurately plan. Eschewing this traditional techno-rational view, the current research turned to critical management studies for solutions and investigated planning intentionality, the intentional and unintentional roles planners play in project delays. Thus, it sought to explore the following with respect to the project planner role: optimism bias, where a planner unintentionally mitigates negative information in decision-making; strategic misrepresentation, where a planner intentionally mitigates negative information; and group dynamics in time estimation. The latter is relevant because a team rather than an individual typically embodies the planner function within a construction project. To perform this research, two mixed-methods studies, preceded by a pilot study, and seven interviews with project planners were conducted. The first mixed-methods study investigated how intended and unintended actions of participants affected underestimation of time during task performance; and the second investigated the creation of collective intentionality, the transmutation of individual preferences into a group consensus in time estimation. Results of the first mixed-methods study identified the key situational variables differentiating intended and unintended actions of planners and indicated how these can influence the quality of time estimation. Results of the second study showed that group performance in time estimation was inferior to that of individuals and that group member interaction appeared detrimental to good decision-making. Reasons found were sense of power, commitment, confidence level, cultural diversity, conflicts, and groupthink. The findings were compared and contrasted with those obtained from interviews with project planners to enhance the scope of the study.