<p>Managerial behavior often differs between individuals and situations. To understand this variation the manager’s own interpretation of the role, context and role behavior is especially important. In this thesis several managers’ subjective views and understandings of their role during an organizational change period were investigated in great detail. The organizational changes were assumed to put pressure on the managerial role, exposing adaptive and dynamic role aspect and thereby shed light on differences in behavior. The general purpose was to thoroughly investigate the concept of ‘subjective managerial role’ by two contrasting approaches. One was influenced by concepts and methods used in social constructivism and constructionism (Study 1-3), and the other was a rational/cognitive approach influenced by theories and methods used in cognitive psychology (Study 4-5). Multiple case studies with subjective reports from five managers during a period of sixteen months were chosen as the empirical base. In the constructivist approach three judges were used to interpret the managers’ verbal reports during the beginning of the change period, focusing on indications of ‘subjective role projects’. ‘Subjective role projects’ involved reflections on situations, actors, purposes/goals and action strategies, all within a time frame of the past, present and future. This qualitative content of the role was investigated, and support for the existence of subjective role projects was tested (Study 1). The variation between the managers’ subjective role projects and their general project strategies were explored (Study 2). The judgment and construction process pursued by the three judges was analyzed (Study 3). In the rational/cognitive approach the focus was on role problems. A control model was used to represent subjective role conflicts, on both group and individual levels. Difficult situations described by the managers were complemented with goals and actions strategies, and the managers rated conflicts between these role components, while thinking-aloud (Study 4). Role conflict patterns and dimensions were further analyzed using two quantitative data models (Study 5). Finally, the subjective role construct was compared with a contextual interpretation of the role, based on information from the organizational and social role context (Study 6). The results supported the basic components in both the project model and the control model of the subjective role, but the latter approach would benefit from a more elaborated stimulus sampling. In both approaches the differences between the managers were assessed, but in the constructivist approach it was difficult to separate variation stemming from managers from variation between judges. In the rational/cognitive approach the variation was restricted to conflicting aspects in a specific model. The control model features and the quantitative conflict data made it easier to estimate variance. A major conclusion was that the two approaches complemented each-other in their descriptions of the subjective role. The project model was adequate for investigating the first sense-making phases in the organizational change process, while the control model approach could describe role conflicts and problems, especially on individual levels. However, they both could fit within a framework of a subjective role process model. Using these two approaches in role analysis can provide more information on the subjective role processes of the role incumbent.</p>

Parishes of the Church of Sweden work under the influence of a religious and cultural tradition as well as a societal, individual and internal secularization (Chaves 1994). The organization therefore has to react to the requirements of change alongside the need to preserve its distinctive character. The aim of this thesis is to analyze experiences of how a secularized context and internal organizational requirements influence the parishes' organization of structure and activities, the role of the actors and the relations between them.  The data consists of two empirical studies. The first study (carried out in 2007) is based on semi-structured interviews with 26 diocese employees at twelve of Church of Sweden's diocese secretariats. The second study (carried out in 2009) is based on semi-structured interviews with vicars and focus group-interviews with members of the faith ministry, employees and volunteers in four different parishes, in total 77 informants. Three different analyses of the material have been carried out. The first analysis, guided by new institutional theory, focuses on the parish’s organization in relation to a secularized context. Results show that the majority of the parishes have accepted a “market adapted organization model” in order to compete on the religious market, or perhaps most importantly, to retain their current members. The study concludes that the major challenge for the Church of Sweden’s parishes today is to find a balance between preserving traditions and adapting the organization to the ambient society's requirements of market adaptation and rationalization, which can result in internal secularization.  The second analysis is guided by role theory and focuses on the actor´s (vicars, members of the faith ministry, employees and volunteers) different roles in the parishes, in the light of organizational change. Results show how the different roles are affected by the organizational structure as well as by the societal context. The study concludes that a role is not static; instead it is affected by ideas from society, the organization, and other actor’s expectations as well as the actor him/her self. The four investigated roles tend to be more and more complex and, despite role, intra- and inter- role conflicts seems to be common in the parishes. The third and last analysis is guided by network analysis and focuses on the relations between the four actor groups. The results show that the actors sometimes have difficulty in separating between formal and informal relations. The relations seem to overlap each other, be multiplex and have more than one content.  This can be related to the parish ambiguity as well as the actor´s many different roles within the organization.  The thesis concludes with a theoretical discussion there a modifying of the concept internal secularization is proposed.

Managerial behavior often differs between individuals and situations. To understand this variation the manager’s own interpretation of the role, context and role behavior is especially important. In this thesis several managers’ subjective views and understandings of their role during an organizational change period were investigated in great detail. The organizational changes were assumed to put pressure on the managerial role, exposing adaptive and dynamic role aspect and thereby shed light on differences in behavior. The general purpose was to thoroughly investigate the concept of ‘subjective managerial role’ by two contrasting approaches. One was influenced by concepts and methods used in social constructivism and constructionism (Study 1-3), and the other was a rational/cognitive approach influenced by theories and methods used in cognitive psychology (Study 4-5). Multiple case studies with subjective reports from five managers during a period of sixteen months were chosen as the empirical base. In the constructivist approach three judges were used to interpret the managers’ verbal reports during the beginning of the change period, focusing on indications of ‘subjective role projects’. ‘Subjective role projects’ involved reflections on situations, actors, purposes/goals and action strategies, all within a time frame of the past, present and future. This qualitative content of the role was investigated, and support for the existence of subjective role projects was tested (Study 1). The variation between the managers’ subjective role projects and their general project strategies were explored (Study 2). The judgment and construction process pursued by the three judges was analyzed (Study 3). In the rational/cognitive approach the focus was on role problems. A control model was used to represent subjective role conflicts, on both group and individual levels. Difficult situations described by the managers were complemented with goals and actions strategies, and the managers rated conflicts between these role components, while thinking-aloud (Study 4). Role conflict patterns and dimensions were further analyzed using two quantitative data models (Study 5). Finally, the subjective role construct was compared with a contextual interpretation of the role, based on information from the organizational and social role context (Study 6). The results supported the basic components in both the project model and the control model of the subjective role, but the latter approach would benefit from a more elaborated stimulus sampling. In both approaches the differences between the managers were assessed, but in the constructivist approach it was difficult to separate variation stemming from managers from variation between judges. In the rational/cognitive approach the variation was restricted to conflicting aspects in a specific model. The control model features and the quantitative conflict data made it easier to estimate variance. A major conclusion was that the two approaches complemented each-other in their descriptions of the subjective role. The project model was adequate for investigating the first sense-making phases in the organizational change process, while the control model approach could describe role conflicts and problems, especially on individual levels. However, they both could fit within a framework of a subjective role process model. Using these two approaches in role analysis can provide more information on the subjective role processes of the role incumbent.

The purpose of this study was to examine how Swedish high school students view school staff members, in general, but in particular school counselors. The research questions focused on getting the students descriptions of the staff members roles and functions within the school. The study was conducted using focus group interviews. The answers were divided into themes and then analyzed using role theory and previous research. The results showed that the students relationships with family, friends and previous knowledge about the staff members in school, affects their willingness to seek the support of school staff members. For a student in need of support to approach a school counselor, it's important that the student has previously been acquainted with them. There is no general consensus among students on what a school counselor's tasks consists of. It is also rare that a student will voluntarily contact a school counselor themselves if they don't feel they know them well. The experience students get when interacting with staff members at school affects the students decisions regarding who to approach when in need of support.

Syftet med den här studien är att undersöka hur äldre människor hanterar övergången från arbetsliv till att bli pensionär. Undersökningen avser att besvara ett antal frågeställningar. Den första är att besvara hur individen hanterar pensionsövergången. Den andra frågeställningen är att besvara om det finns en relation mellan hur individen hanterar pensionsövergången och ett salutogent perspektiv utifrån Antonovskys teori, KASAM. Den tredje frågan som undersökningen ämnar besvara är hur individen upplever rollskiftet som uppstår när hon går i pension, då främst utifrån begreppen rollförväntningar, rollförlust samt rollkonflikt. Den sista frågeställningen studien försöker besvara är hur individens livskvalitet påverkas av att bli pensionär. Studien har gjorts med en kvalitativ metod. Det insamlade datamaterialet består av fyra intervjuer. Resultaten ger indikationer om faktorer som kan ha betydelse för hur individen hanterar pensionsövergången. Dessa faktorer är, hur individen upplever kontroll över när pensionering sker och om hon har förberett sig på den kommande pensioneringen, hur hon upplever delaktighet i samhället samt har meningsfulla aktiviteter att ägna sig åt som pensionär. Ett annat viktigt fynd är den centrala roll som familj och hälsa har för en framgångsrik hantering av övergången från att vara yrkesarbetare till att bli pensionär. Undersökningens resultat kan emellertid inte användas som ett underlag för en bedömning om pensionering är ett trauma för individen eller inte. / The purpose of this study is to examine how elderly persons handles the transition from work to retirement. The study aims to answer a number of questions. The first is to answer how the individual handles the transition into retirement. The second question is to answer whether there is a relationship between how the individual handles retirement transition and a salutogenic perspective based on Antonovsky's theory, SOC. The third question that the study intends to answer is how individuals perceive the role shift that occurs when she or he retires, mainly based on the concepts of role expectations, role loss and role conflict. The last question to answer is how the individual's quality of life affect of becoming a pensioner. The study has a qualitative method. The collected data consists of four interviews. The results indicate that several factors may influence how individuals handles the retirement transition. One important factor is how individuals perceive control over when retirement occurs and if she has prepared for the upcoming retirement, how she perceives participation in society and have meaningful activities to commit in when they are pensioners. Another finding is that family and health can be important for successful management of the transition from being a skilled worker to become a pensioner. The results can not be used as a basis for assessing whether retirement is a trauma for the individual or not.

Although various approaches to psychotherapy have been applied to The Remains of the Day in the aforementioned analyses, none have linked it to Role Theory, as defined in the context of Psychodrama. However if the abnormal importance that Stevens attributes to becoming a perfect butler is taken into account, The Remains of the Day is practically saturated with textual evidence of how social role imbalance is the source of Stevens’ dilemmas both in the narrated and the narrating time. Although whether it was Ishiguro’s intention to create this effect is unclear, the setting of the novel in a world that is transitioning from the war eras to modernity moreover fits in all too well with the sociological aspects of Role Theory. In brief, it has been proposed that changes in society that render certain social roles obsolete put pressure on the individuals that hold these roles to either adapt or renew themselves in pace with societal developments. Stevens, being a butler, would have felt such strain acutely, being that the decline of the great British houses over the aforementioned period led to a sharp decline in domestic service professions at the time. (Lee, 1988)Drawing upon both the Psycho-dramatic and the Sociologic aspects of Role Theory, this paper aims first of all to propose that Ishiguro’s main character in The Remains of the Day suffers from an over-developed occupational role, which has eliminated or at the very least marginalized his other social roles. Secondly it will argue that the latter’s’ reflections that are brought about over the course of the plot are a consequence of role strain, which as a palpable yet indirect plot element forces him realize that his occupational role is slowly but steadily becoming a thing of the past. In facing such a fate, he is in turn forced to confront how his extreme commitment to his job has left the rest of his life empty, for which he begins to look back at and reconsider the roles that he could have had but neglected in life. On top of outlining this approach to rationalizing the events of the novel, the paper will theorize upon that in choosing to tell such a story, Ishiguro is promoting a view of the world as a place in constant motion, in which, like the post-modernist perspective, there are no set or universal values that withstand the test of time. Juxtaposed against the satirical undertones of the novel, as well as against the time period in which it is set, this statement will in turn be interpreted as critique against the destructive qualities of conventions in society.

The purpose of this study is to assess the extent to which affiliation with a university research center affects how university scientists allocate their work time across their many academic tasks and responsibilities, including research, teaching, student advising, grants and contracts work, and service and committee duties. The key proposition is that institutional variation across university research centers can affect greatly how center affiliated university scientists allocate their work time insofar as some center level characteristics are more conducive than are others to role strain, which is the structural circumstance (Merton 1957) wherein an individual is beholden to center and departments norms and expectations that are divergent. The concept of role strain befits analysis of the impact of center affiliation on university scientists time allocations insofar as it provides a structural framework with which to characterize the time constraints that center scientists face as a result of being dually obligated to a center and an academic department. Moreover, study at the organizational level of analysis emphasizes competition and even conflict between university research centers and academic departments over the scarce resource of faculty time (Geiger 1990, Stahler and Tash 1994, Mallon 2004). This study uses data from a national survey of university scientists as well as data from interviews with university scientists who affiliate with National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centers or Science and Technology Centers. Survey results demonstrate that a centers size, multidisciplinarity, organization within the university, programmatic ties, and external relations increase the time allocated to research, grants and contracts work, and service and committee duties. These findings constitute objective evidence of center induced role strain (Pandey and Kumar 1997, Rizzo et al. 1970) insofar as they identify components of center scientists work environments suggestive of center and department norms and expectations being divergent and even conflicting. Interview results demonstrate similarly that when a center has no ties to an academic department and when its research focus is applied or commercially relevant, workload increases. These findings constitute subjective evidence of center induced role strain (Pandey and Kumar 1997, Kahn et al. 1964) insofar as it is the center scientists themselves observing these divergent norms and expectations. Implications for policy and theory are discussed.

Village chiefs¡¦ role has been facing great impact and challenge ever since the transition of society, development of information, raise of education level and popularity of communitarianism. Therefore, how village chiefs¡¦ legal position should be set and integrate with village officers as well as community development have been brought into discussion in recent years. While gaps do exist between current academic study and practical operation, this study centers on village chiefs¡¦ position with the case of An-Shun Li of Kaohsiung City for further study. The exploration of literature is divided into three parts: role theory, village chiefs¡¦ position and village systems, and the relationship between village chiefs and community development. Literature review, in-depth interview, and participants¡¦ observation are adopted as research methods. With the concept of status, role expectation, role conflict and role performance in role theory, the study explores the interaction between village chiefs and other connecting village officers, analyzes the problems that chiefs¡¦ encounter under current legal system and then generalizes the role current chiefs should play. The research finds that the biggest difference between current and traditional chiefs is that the role they play as citizens¡¦ participation navigators and community development managers. While government is examining and adjusting village controlling area and government-assigned chief policy, it is advised that concrete solution to be proposed for individual cases which require specific environment. The regulation of village chiefs is wished to become better in the future. A new organization is looking forward to be setting up as a mediator between village chief and community development organization to deal with community affairs, thus to make the local system in line with modern society demands.

Role theory is generally presented as a way of describing human interactions. Role dynamics describes the psychosocial phenomenon in terms of the various roles and role components being played and actively manipulated as a part of interpersonal interactions. The concept of role offers a general unit of interaction involving a complex of behaviour, expectation, and overt or covert consensual agreement. Therefore, roles can be thought of as expectations one has about social behaviour and as functions or positions. Groups are fundamental to human behaviour - without them individuals would have great difficulty surviving. People thrive on the interdependent relationships they find in groups. In some groups you participate as a leader, while in others you assume the role of follower. In many ways, the groups you have chosen to join reflect your interests and what motivates you. Group dynamics refers to the interactions within a group that characterize the group. The dynamics of the group can be fostered through good leadership as well, and the processes involved are most effective when they facilitate the group toward meeting its goal. The concept of leadership is a central building block of the conventional wisdom of organization and management. The definition of leadership leads to a variety of possibilities, which leads to the conclusion that the definition of leadership should depend on the purposes to be Served by the definition. One complex definition that has evolved, delineates effective leadership as the interaction among members of a group that initiates and maintains improved expectations and the competence of the group to solve problems or to attain goals. A general weakness of higher education has been its inability or unwillingness to make constructive and consistent use of student leadership as an advocate for the institution. From the perspective of student leadership, the fact that student advocacy is rarely utilized to its full potential represents a significant missed opportunity among our nation's universities. If the potential for leadership among these students were systematically cultivated, a new and powerful voice could be created that would go far in helping universities explain their missions and needs to lawmakers, the media and the voting public. Little research has been reported on student organizations. Literature involving student organizations dealt with the role organizations play in student involvement and student development. Reported research on the use of organization development in university student organizations described new practices, programmes and techniques for working with student organizations but did not reflect attempts to measure the effectiveness of interventions. This research provides readers with additional opportunities to explore the characteristics of effective groups and leaders and the leadership process. It is intended to move student leaders beyond the theory of leadership and closer to the world of practice and application. The major objectives of the study are: 0 How effectively and autonomously do student councils function as groups at tertiary institutions and how prepared are the members of the student councils to assume the leadership role? Are there statistical significant differences between biographical variables and the variables of group effectiveness, autonomy and leadership? Is there a relationship between group effectiveness, autonomy and leadership? The research study is divided into a theoretical and empirical framework. Various aspects of role theory, groups and leadership outline the theoretical basis. The empirical study is carried out by way of a questionnaire and the data is analysed according to specific statistical methods. The empirical study was conducted amongst members of student councils at different tertiary institutions in South Africa. The major findings of the study supported the set of research objectives and were the following: Group effectiveness It has been determined that most student councils at tertiary institutions in the study population are aware of their mission, are satisfied with achieving their goals, take possession, communicate openly and honest with members and have clear roles and norms. Autonomy Most of the student councils at tertiary institutions in the study population have satisfactory autonomy regarding work methods, work scheduling and work criteria. Leadership Student councils at tertiary institutions in the study population are prepared to assume their leadership roles. Differences between biographical variables and group effectiveness, autonomy and leadership Perceivable differences between gender and leadership in the student councils at tertiary institutions in the study population exist but are of no statistical significance. The relationship between the subvariables of group effectiveness, autonomy and leadership It has been determined that there is a relationship between the subvariables of group effectiveness and autonomy. No practical statistic significance relationships have been determined between leadership and autonomy for the study population. Further research on leadership as a process of group dynamics is recommended. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

Role theory is generally presented as a way of describing human interactions. Role dynamics describes the psychosocial phenomenon in terms of the various roles and role components being played and actively manipulated as a part of interpersonal interactions. The concept of role offers a general unit of interaction involving a complex of behaviour, expectation, and overt or covert consensual agreement. Therefore, roles can be thought of as expectations one has about social behaviour and as functions or positions. Groups are fundamental to human behaviour - without them individuals would have great difficulty surviving. People thrive on the interdependent relationships they find in groups. In some groups you participate as a leader, while in others you assume the role of follower. In many ways, the groups you have chosen to join reflect your interests and what motivates you. Group dynamics refers to the interactions within a group that characterize the group. The dynamics of the group can be fostered through good leadership as well, and the processes involved are most effective when they facilitate the group toward meeting its goal. The concept of leadership is a central building block of the conventional wisdom of organization and management. The definition of leadership leads to a variety of possibilities, which leads to the conclusion that the definition of leadership should depend on the purposes to be Served by the definition. One complex definition that has evolved, delineates effective leadership as the interaction among members of a group that initiates and maintains improved expectations and the competence of the group to solve problems or to attain goals. A general weakness of higher education has been its inability or unwillingness to make constructive and consistent use of student leadership as an advocate for the institution. From the perspective of student leadership, the fact that student advocacy is rarely utilized to its full potential represents a significant missed opportunity among our nation's universities. If the potential for leadership among these students were systematically cultivated, a new and powerful voice could be created that would go far in helping universities explain their missions and needs to lawmakers, the media and the voting public. Little research has been reported on student organizations. Literature involving student organizations dealt with the role organizations play in student involvement and student development. Reported research on the use of organization development in university student organizations described new practices, programmes and techniques for working with student organizations but did not reflect attempts to measure the effectiveness of interventions. This research provides readers with additional opportunities to explore the characteristics of effective groups and leaders and the leadership process. It is intended to move student leaders beyond the theory of leadership and closer to the world of practice and application. The major objectives of the study are: 0 How effectively and autonomously do student councils function as groups at tertiary institutions and how prepared are the members of the student councils to assume the leadership role? Are there statistical significant differences between biographical variables and the variables of group effectiveness, autonomy and leadership? Is there a relationship between group effectiveness, autonomy and leadership? The research study is divided into a theoretical and empirical framework. Various aspects of role theory, groups and leadership outline the theoretical basis. The empirical study is carried out by way of a questionnaire and the data is analysed according to specific statistical methods. The empirical study was conducted amongst members of student councils at different tertiary institutions in South Africa. The major findings of the study supported the set of research objectives and were the following: Group effectiveness It has been determined that most student councils at tertiary institutions in the study population are aware of their mission, are satisfied with achieving their goals, take possession, communicate openly and honest with members and have clear roles and norms. Autonomy Most of the student councils at tertiary institutions in the study population have satisfactory autonomy regarding work methods, work scheduling and work criteria. Leadership Student councils at tertiary institutions in the study population are prepared to assume their leadership roles. Differences between biographical variables and group effectiveness, autonomy and leadership Perceivable differences between gender and leadership in the student councils at tertiary institutions in the study population exist but are of no statistical significance. The relationship between the subvariables of group effectiveness, autonomy and leadership It has been determined that there is a relationship between the subvariables of group effectiveness and autonomy. No practical statistic significance relationships have been determined between leadership and autonomy for the study population. Further research on leadership as a process of group dynamics is recommended. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.