Magister Commercii (Industrial Psychology) - MCom(IPS) / Although South Africa is 18 years into creating a unique diversity management strategy, individuals - directly affected by diversity in organisation will differ completely from those individuals that have not been affected by diversity in organisations at all. The subject of diversity management has become a contentious issue causing disagreement and argument is in the last couple of years. Many organisations find it difficult to grasp the concept of diversity, thus creating an opportunity for organisational development consultants and management to make substantial profit (Dombai & Verwey, 1999). In the current working environment and the continuous change of the organisation‟s employees, the workforce has become more diverse. This resulted in wider employee knowledge, skills, experience and attitude which will allow the organisation to become more competitive globally. It is of utmost importance for organisations attract and retain staff from different cultural and diverse group of order to improve the employee performance and the competitive advantage of the organisation (Ferreira & Coetzee, 2010). Cumming and Worley (2009, p. 506-509) postulate that “organisational transformation – and more specifically diversity management - is impacting on the bottom line results of the organisation”. Organisational transformation implies radical changes in how members perceive, think, and behave at work. They are concerned with fundamentality altering the prevailing assumptions about how the organisation function and relates to its environment. The study aimed at determining the employees‟ perception towards workplace diversity in a financial institution operating in the Western Cape. More specifically, the following questions will be investigated in this study: What are employees‟ perceptions of workplace diversity? Do employees differ in their views/perception of workplace diversity based on their age, race, job categories, gender, job status and qualification? To what extent is workplace diversity understood by employees? What challenges are being faced to effectively implement workplace diversity? Information was gathered from both secondary and primary resources. All relevant information that was not obtained from publications was gathered through the use of questionnaires that were completed by employees in the financial institution. The primary resources in this research study used are questionnaires that were distributed to employees in a financial institution to complete. Permission was obtained from executive management, provincial management, junior management and the human resources department to distribute the research study questionnaire to the staff in the financial institution. Data was analysed by using structural, methodical and clear reasoning. Data analysis, involving a descriptive study in order to determine the relationship between the employees‟ perception towards workplace diversity in a financial institution operating in the Western Cape The descriptive study created an understanding of the relationship between the employees‟ perception towards workplace diversity, for the researcher and the organisation. The Pearson method was used to determine whether there is a relationship between age, race, gender, job category and qualification and the perceptions of workplace diversity in a financial institution. The Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA)‟s ethical code of Professional Conduct for Psychologists was strictly adhered to. Voluntary participation was critical to the study because of the participants‟ time and energy required as well as asking participants to reveal personal information to the researcher. Permission to conduct the research was obtained from the financial institution where study was undertaken. Informed consent was obtained from participants before starting the data gathering process. Three hundred and nine (309) respondents completed a biographical questionnaire as well as the workplace diversity survey in order to understand their perception and understanding of workplace diversity. To ascertain the perception of workplace diversity, respondents completed a workplace diversity survey. While the results of the current study reveals interesting findings, the results should be interpreted with caution due to the size of the sample used which impacts the generalizability of the findings.

This master thesis deals with a study of forced migration from the Chechen republic during Chechen wars in 1996-2002. The aim of the paper is to contribute to the study of migration strategies of refugees from Chechnya. This qualitative study attempts to grasp the complexity of forced migration process and to depict it from the perspective of refugees. It explores motives and strategies of mobility of the Chechen refugees now living in Russia and Austria and of those refugees, who have returned to Chechnya after the war was over. The impact of this armed conflict on population mobility was examined with a qualitative research of sixteen refugees, who had left Chechnya because of the war. The results of the research show the link between refugee's age and likelihood of return, differences in decision-making of Chechen and Russian refugees, and the strong influence of the social networks on the decision-making and after arrival at destination. Key words Chechnya, forced migration, reasons for migration, destinations, returns, qualitative approach

The aim of this thesis is to explore Bernard Williams' moral philosophy in its entirety. This objective is motivated by the critique which is sometimes being forced against Williams. This criticism is based on the objection that his thinking is thoroughly destructive in relation to philosophical ethics. The purpose to explore Williams' thinking in its entirety implicitly questions such an objection for it basically consists in the identification of the constructive moments of Williams' thinking and linking them with his skeptical attitudes. Accordingly, the project of this thesis is to show how Williams' attack on morality and moral system is being completed in notions of shame, truthfulness, and authenticity, which he develops in his late work and which delineate the alternative conception of ethics and ethical life to prevailing legalistic model.

Every year in the United States approximately 30,000 people commit suicide including approximately 1,100 college students. Furthermore, heavy alcohol consumption is prevalent on many college campuses and has been linked to suicidal behavior. The present study was conducted to examine suicidal ideation and reasons for living in college students with varying levels of risk for alcohol related problems. Undergraduate students (n = 161) were administered a survey to assess demographics, suicide ideation status, reasons for living, and the participant's level of risk for alcohol related problems. Results indicated that suicide ideators are significantly more likely than non-ideators to be at risk for alcohol related problems. Also, women were significantly more likely to be suicide ideators and endorse more reasons for living. The results of this study may be used to identify groups who are at an increased risk for suicide, as well as to implement more efficient intervention and prevention programs on the collegiate level.

New product innovations are necessary to attract consumers for companies to survive in the market in the long term in our fast-moving world. One way to gain access to such new creative solutions is through online communities whose members exchange ideas on virtual platforms (Antikainen & Väätäjä, 2010). This explorative research paper investigates the motivational reasons of users who engage themselves on innovation platforms. The aim is to provide practice-oriented design recommendations to support community managers in establishing or improving innovation communities in companies. The improved conditions have a positive influence on the creativity of individual users and thus contribute to the increased innovative power of the entire online community. The study focuses on LEGO Ideas as an example of an online innovation community with members from all over the world. Within the community LEGO models are designed, discussed, re-designed and finally rated by enthusiasts. The best-rated models are then produced as innovative products. The designers of the models receive a share of the sales revenues. The article specifically addresses the following research question: What key factors motivate online community innovators’ engagement? [Aus: Introduction]

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The purpose of this study is to identify assistant principals' self-reported levels of preparedness to support special education teachers and programming. "Special education is a federal mandate that is governed by state and local policies. For schools to provide a free and appropriate public education to students with disabilities, school leaders must be competent in order to effectively lead these programs" (Thompson, 2017, p. 46). In Virginia, special education is the highest critical shortage category of the top ten academic disciplines identified in the annual survey and has been since the 2006 published report (Virginia Department of Education, 2020). This quantitative study, may help to identify strengths and areas for growth for assistant principals in one school division and guide professional learning experiences for administrators moving forward. The study will include a purposeful sample of school based, Pk-12 assistant principals. Participants were invited to complete a three-part electronic survey questionnaire. The survey tool, developed by the researcher, aligned with the Council for Exceptional Children Initial and Advanced Preparedness Standards (2015). Participants provided demographic information, a Likert scale rating of their perceptions of preparedness to support special education teachers and programming, when considering eighteen job related statements, and recommendations for professional learning. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data and identify findings and implications. Results of the study indicated that assistant principals agree they are prepared to support all areas of special education teachers and programming with the exception of post-secondary transition planning for students with disabilities. Results also indicated that assistant principals with an endorsement in special education agreed at a higher rate that they are prepared to support special education teachers and programming. Assistant principals identified professional learning needs in the areas of post-secondary transition opportunities for students with disabilities, support in understanding and implementing new law and policy related to special education, and support in the area of development of new programs, supports and services for students with disabilities. Findings and related implications were discussed and recommendations for future research were identified. / Doctor of Education / The purpose of this study was to investigate assistant principals' self-reported preparedness to support special education teachers and programming. The study results identify responsibilities related to special education and relevant topic areas where assistant principals are prepared to support teachers and programming as well as areas where they do not agree they are prepared. The study also identifies areas where participants report they need additional professional learning opportunities, provided by the school division and outside of the school division. This study, using quantitative methodology, included a purposeful sample of school based, Pk-12 assistant principals. The research questions guiding the study were: (1) What are the self-reported perceptions of assistant principals' levels of preparedness to support special education teachers and programming? (2) What professional learning do assistant principals report that they need to increase their levels of preparedness to support special education teachers and programming? Participants were invited to complete a three-part electronic survey questionnaire. The survey tool was developed based on the Council for Exceptional Children Initial and Advanced Preparedness Standards (2015). Participants provided demographic information, a Likert scale ratings, and recommendations for professional learning. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results of the study indicated that assistant principals agree they are prepared to support all areas of special education teachers and programming with the exception of post-secondary transition planning for students with disabilities. Results also indicated that assistant principals with an endorsement in special education agreed at a higher rate that they are prepared to support special education teachers and programming. Assistant principals identified professional learning needs in the areas of post-secondary transition opportunities for students with disabilities, support in understanding and implementing new law and policy related to special education, and support in the area of development of new programs, supports and services for students with disabilities. Findings and related implications were discussed and recommendations for future research were identified.

Introduced diploma thesis presents the results of the research project which investigated the impact on the national identity. The goal of the research project was to find out with a help of the quality research, in detail an anchored theory, the central phenomenon in the perception of the national identity. The results of the anchored theory shows, that this phenomenon is level of adaptation of the individual on the environment respectively level of acculturation and flowingly level of reintegration. Intervene conditions, such as strategy of the handling of the stress situations, work success or family and friends' bounds also influence this phenomenon. Main context line in this direction presents emigration and re-emigration of the individual with all the possible causes and intervene conditions. Important part of the context line is the fact of the leaving of the individual itself, including his or hers preparation for leaving the country. This in its' nature determines even the process of acculturation of the individual in emigration with the impact on the perception of the national identity. If I should state the result of the research in one sentence, I would characterize it as following: "Level of acculturation of the individual in the emigration determines the perception of the national...