This research paper is broken up into three sections, namely an evaluation report, a literature review and a description of the research methodology. The evaluation report section is an assessment of the factors that could contribute to staff leaving the organisation and why staff would choose to remain with the organisation. The Distribution Division of Eskom is divided into nine separate Operating Units (OU's), in line with the nine Provinces. According to an Eskom Human Resource Manager (Mjali, 2013), as at March 2012 there were 2231 employees in the Easter Cape Operating Unit, while the staff turnover for the same period was 4.53%. Of the 101 staff that had resigned for the period 01 April 2011 to 31 March 2012, there were 27 transfers, 26 resignations and 30 retirements. The balance of 18 staff that left was due to dismissals and deaths. While the statistics suggest a healthy level of staff turnover at present, given the current pressures that Eskom employees are under, it is important to investigate their future intentions and to see what Eskom can do to continue to retain their services. The literature relating to staff turnover and retention was examined to determine the meaning of the terms retention and turnover and to review the relevant turnover topics that were emerging from the exit interview data. The research conducted was quantitative in nature, and a questionnaire was distributed to all managerial staff within the Eastern Cape Operating Unit of Eskom. The questionnaire was sent electronically to the participants via email with the link to the questionnaire. Participants were requested to respond on questions relating to factors on turnover and retention, and the responses were used to assess employee's intention to either remain with the organisation or to leave. The feedback received was analysed with the use of data analysis in Microsoft Excel (2010). The results of the research showed that there were two distinct themes related to employees' intention to remain with the organisation, namely job satisfaction and career development. On the other end of the scale, themes which would cause staff to want to leave the organisation were the performance management system of the organisation, not being listened to (i.e. to the ideas and views of staff) and leadership (i.e. the way the organisation was being led). Recommendations are made to management. The study also recommends future research that can be done to get greater insight into factors relating to staff turnover and retention. A detailed review of the literature is included in Section two of the report. Only essential components of the literature are included in Section one of report. Section three of the report provided a detailed description of the research design and the research procedure that was followed.

The retention of knowledge workers has become an increasing challenge both locally and internationally. This study focusses on the factors contributing to the retention of knowledge workers at an Industrial Development Zone in the Eastern Cape. The aim of the study was to investigate the factors that would facilitate the retention of knowledge workers in the IDZ. This was explored through the employee value proposition framework which includes affiliation, career development, work content, compensation, company benefits, work-life balance and performance and recognition. The sample consisted of 30 employees from the IDZ from all business units. Three categories of employee levels were selected namely the executive managers, managers and specialists and professionals. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data which was gathered through semi-structured interviews. The literature reviewed explored the various retention strategies used by organisations. From the literature review it is realised that employee retention strategies vary from one organisation to another. In most cases they are very similar. Although this is the case, not all strategies will work for all organisations, each organisation requires preferred and unique strategies for its employees. The findings indicate that the majority of employees were satisfied with the employee value proposition dimensions in the organisation. The exceptional areas of satisfaction were retirement benefits, career development, performance recognition, relationships with colleagues, health benefits, relationships with direct manager or supervisor and relationships generally within the organisation. Areas of dissatisfaction were also raised on long service incentives, autonomy to do work, relationships with other business units and the performance review process. In order to retain employees at the IDZ, it is recommended that the organisation should focus on enhancing long service incentives. It is also recommended that employees should be given greater autonomy to do their work. Relationships with business units also need to be strengthened. Work-life balance of employees and performance review process also need to be revised.

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that impact on staff turnover and strategies that organisations can use to curtail staff turnover. To achieve this goal the following procedure was followed.  An overview of theories related to staff turnover was conducted to identify what staff turnover is. Also the consequences of staff turnover, the classification and measurement of staff turnover and the broad theoretical explanation of staff turnover were investigated. The current brain drain experienced in the medical field was explored. A literature study was also conducted focusing on individual, job, organisational and environmental factors that influence staff turnover and strategies that managers can utilise to reduce staff turnover. Interviews were conducted with the chief executive officer and one doctor at Hewu hospital. Interviews were also conducted among senior nurses.  An empirical study was undertaken to determine individual, job, organisational and environmental factors that impacted on staff turnover among doctors and nurses at Bisho and Hewu Hospitals. The strategies that were utilised at these hospitals to retain doctors and nurses were also investigated. Suggestions were made for addressing factors that could impact on staff turnover among doctors and nurses and strategies that could be utilised to retain staff. These strategies include:  Getting people off to a good start,  Create a great environment with bosses whom people respect,  Share information,  Give people as much autonomy as they can handle and  Challenge people to stretch. iii Staff turnover is an issue that many South African organisations are currently facing and an issue that is especially affecting the medical field. Various factors, especially job and organisational factors, are not adequately addressed and these could lead to a high rate of staff turnover. It is clear that organisations should have a human resource strategic plan in order for them to effectively select, retain, train and develop employees. Health Care organisation could use the strategies identified in this study as a mechanism to benchmark how well they manage staff turnover. It is therefore important that the management of hospitals should strive to identify the underlying causes of labour turnover in their organisations and formulate strategies to address the problem.

MEDEM / Department of Curriculum Studies and Education Management

Teacher attrition in schools is a common and ongoing phenomenon experienced nationally and internationally. Teacher attrition takes place continuously in schools either voluntarily or involuntarily in the form of retirement, resignation, transfer, dismissal, redeployment, ill-health and death, affecting the teaching and learning process in a negative way. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of female principals on teacher attrition. The study was conducted in the public schools of Tshwane West District of Gauteng Province. Transformational leadership theory and ethics of care theory underpinned this qualitative study positioned within the constructivist paradigm. A case study design was used to explore the case of teacher attrition. Purposive sampling was used to select the female principals to participate in this study. Data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews, observation and document analysis. Qualitative content analysis was employed for data analysis. The study found that teacher attrition affects schools negatively. It disrupts and destabilises the schools, affecting the morale of the teachers as well as affecting learner performance and discipline as it takes place throughout the academic year. The female principals employ various strategies to address the issue of teacher attrition and to motivate for teacher retention. The study recommended that female principals be empowered to enable them to cope with their role of managing teacher attrition. / Educational Management and Leadership / Ph. D. (Education (Educational Management and Leadership))

Abstracts in English, Zulu and Afrikaans / A qualitative study was conducted on the causes of teacher attrition from urban schools in the Gauteng and Western Cape provinces of South Africa. Besides identifying the causes of attrition, the study intended to determine what needs to be changed to entice teachers who have left the profession to return. The rationale of the study was founded on the teacher shortage in South Africa and the alarming rate of teacher attrition from the profession, coupled with the growing number of learners needing education. Albert Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory, with a consideration of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, formed the conceptual framework of the research. Fourteen participants, comprising seven teachers who have left the profession from each province, were interviewed using semi-structured interviews to inform the findings. From the data analysis, five factors were identified as the main causes of attrition. Recommendations on what should be done to encourage a return to the profession were based on the identified causes of teacher attrition and input from the participants. / Kwenziwe ucwaningo lwe-qualitative ngezimbangela zokuncipha kothisha ezikoleni zaseGauteng kanye naseNtshonalanga Kapa eNingizimu Afrika. Nangaphandle kokubheka izimbangela zokuncipha kothisha, ucwaningo belunenhloso yokubheka izinguquko ezidingekayo ukuhuha othisha abashiye iprofeshini ukubuyela ezikoleni. Isizathu socwaningo bekuwukusweleka kothisha eNingizimu Afrika kanye nezinga eliphezulu lokuncipha kwabo ezikoleni okuhambisana nenani elikhulayo labafundi abadinga imfundo. Ithiyori ka-Albert Bandura ye-self-efficacy kanye ne-Maslow's hierarcy of needs zibe wuhlaka lomqondo wocwaningo. Kwenziwa ama-interview nababambiqhaza abayishumi nane, abebequka othisha abayisikhombisa asebeshiye iprofeshini kwiprovinsi ngayinye ebalulwe ngenhla, ngokusebenzisa ama-semistructured interview ukuthola imiphumela. Ngokulandela ulwazi oluhlaziyiwe, kuphawulwe izinto ezinhlanu njengezimbangela ezinkulu zokuncipha kothisha. Kwenziwe izincomo ngokuthi yini okumele kwenziwe ukukhuthaza othisha ukubuyela kwiprofeshini ngokulandela izimbangela zokuncipha kothisha kanye nemibono evela kulabo ababambe iqhaza. / Daar is ’n kwalitatiewe studie uitgevoer oor die oorsake van natuurlike poste-afname van onderwysers in stedelike skole in die provinsies van Gauteng en die Wes-Kaap in Suid-Afrika. Buiten om die oorsake van natuurlike poste-afname te identifiseer, was die doel van die studie om te bepaal watter veranderinge nodig is om onderwysers wat die beroep verlaat het, oor te haal om terug te keer. Die beweegrede vir die studie was die tekort aan onderwysers in Suid-Afrika en die skrikwekkende tempo van die natuurlike poste-afname van onderwysers, tesame met die toenemende aantal leerders wat onderrig benodig. Albert Bandura se selfdoeltreffendheidsteorie en Maslow se hiërargie van behoeftes het die konseptuele raamwerk van die navorsing gevorm. Daar is onderhoude gevoer met ’n totaal van 14 deelnemers, bestaande uit sewe onderwysers wat die beroep verlaat het in elkeen van die bogenoemde provinsies. Halfgestruktureerde onderhoude is gebruik om die bevindings mee te deel. Uit die dataontleding is daar vyf faktore geïdentifiseer as die hoofoorsake van natuurlike poste-afname. Aanbevelings oor wat gedoen kan word om ’n terugkeer na die beroep aan te moedig is gebaseer op die geïdentifiseerde oorsake van natuurlike poste-afname en insette van die deelnemers. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

This study investigated the causes of employee dissatisfaction by means of a case study of the Business Application Solution Centre (BASC) at the Eskom Academy of Learning (EAL). The rationale for the study was to contribute further to a general understanding of employee dissatisfaction. This study highlighted the issue of the under-representation of blacks and females (of all races) in senior positions, and further emphasised appointment and recruitment issues that promote unfair labour practices, organisational culture and structure issues that undermine workplace relations, and the extent to which management responds to the abovementioned issues. A mixed method approach was employed to gather data from BASC employees. Qualitative data was collected by means of one focus group discussion and nine in-depth, face-to-face interviews. For the focus group and face-to-face interviews, purposive sampling was used for the selection of respondents, in order to ensure representation on all race, gender and occupational strata. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for both the focus group and face-to-face interviews. The questioning route was guided by the themes of gender, appointment and recruitment issues, culture and structure issues, and management response and practice. Quantitative data was collected by means of an online survey. Even though the online survey link was sent to employees on all strata, top managers did not participate. The use of a web-based online survey had an element of immediacy and also ensured maximum confidentiality, as responses were transferred to a development server with no link or trace to the respondents. The study revealed many underlying causes of employee dissatisfaction, such as the following: (1) the main drivers of black and female under-representation in top positions were lack of skills development, mentoring and career-pathing; (2) among the recruitment and appointment practices leading to employee dissatisfaction was the appointment of employees to ‘acting’ rather than permanent management positions; (3) there was a perception that managers abused their authority by promoting their favourites and overlooking those who they did not like; (4) although an affirmative action (AA) policy had been implemented at BASC, it was felt that employees should be appointed and promoted on merit, and that this should be accompanied by mentoring; (5) in some instances, the hiring of consultants deprived employees of opportunities to perform critical tasks. The fact that consultants were paid more than employees was also a source of discontent; (6) appointment criteria were non-transparent, and respondents revealed that they knew who was going to be appointed even before the recruitment process had been completed; (7) a bureaucratic culture was found to be the main organisational culture issue undermining workplace relations. On the other hand, a culture of teamwork appeared to reduce dissatisfaction and enhance unity; (8) the major organisational structure issues undermining workplace relations were managers who lacked managerial competencies and unequal payment on the same grade; (9) employees who stood their ground were given a low rating during performance appraisals. Others were bullied by senior managers and colleagues, who were rude towards them; (10) a hostile working relationship between managers and employees was caused by managers who lacked human resource skills; and (11) junior managers were undermined by employees who bypassed them and went straight to senior managers to discuss workplace issues. This study addresses both the general lack of information regarding the causes of employee dissatisfaction in South Africa, and of employee dissatisfaction in the information and communication technology (ICT) workplace environment. The findings of the study will also contribute towards a better understanding of the general causes of employee dissatisfaction. The results of this study suggest that more in-depth investigations of the causes of employee dissatisfaction are necessary to fully address this issue, and in order to ultimately prevent a further increase in the rate of employee turnover. Some implications for further research became apparent during the course of this study: similar studies on employee dissatisfaction should be conducted with top managers; studies on the experience of managers appointed to acting positions should be undertaken; and follow-up studies on employee dissatisfaction should be conducted as causes are addressed and relevant interventions are implemented. / Business management / D.Litt. et Phil. (Sociology)

The objectives of the study were to determine the relationship between the demographic variables, work-life balance (as measured by the Survey Work-Home Interaction - Nijmegen), job satisfaction (as measured by the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire) and turnover intention (as measured by the Turnover Intention Scale); to determine whether the demographic variables and work-life balance significantly predict job satisfaction and turnover intention; and to determine the differences between biographical groups. A quantitative cross-sectional survey research design was applied to a stratified random sample of 79 employees in a South African IT company. Descriptive statistics, correlations, independent t-tests and regressions were used to analyse the data. Analysis revealed that job satisfaction has a significant negative relationship with turnover intention. Furthermore, the work-home interface sub-dimensions of work-life balance have both a positive and negative relationship with job satisfaction and turnover intention. There are significant differences between the various biographical groups. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A high employee turnover rate, where talented employees leave the institution to join other legislatures and government departments, has been experienced by the Language Services Section (LSS) of Parliament SA which is part of the Legislative and Oversight Division (LOD). This thesis evaluates why talented employees leave the LSS and explores possible retention strategies to retain talented employees. This was firstly done by reviewing literature on the concept of employee turnover. Secondly, the study evaluated possible factors that impact on employee turnover. Thirdly, the legislative environment of employee turnover within the South African context was discussed. Furthermore, the causes of employee turnover in the LSS of Parliament SA were assessed. Lastly, recommendations were made on how to retain employees in the LSS of Parliament South Africa. The research design used to conduct the study is a qualitative case study. Unstructured interviews, a survey questionnaire and documentation were used for this study. Deductions were made by comparing the theory from the literature review with the practice in LSS in order to gain a better understanding of why talented employees leave the institution and what retention strategies can be implemented to retain them. This study presents various reasons why employees are leaving the institution. These reasons include non-competitive salaries, ineffective recruitment and selection processes, inadequate training, a lack of career pathing and the fact that many language practitioners (LPs) reside in provinces other than the Western Cape. Many of these reasons were identified previously through an LOD Retention Strategy Project but strategies to address problems were not implemented due to the lack of a people-centred approach to talent management. Recommendations were made that retention strategies should be implemented and that more emphasis should be placed on human resources and the development of people in order to reach the core objectives of parliament through happy and well-developed employees. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ’n Hoë omsetkoers van werknemers waar talentvolle werknemers die instelling verlaat om by ander wetgewers en staatsdepartemente aan te sluit, is deur die Afdeling Taaldienste van die Parlement van Suid-Afrika, wat deel vorm van die Wetgewing en Oorsig Afdeling, ervaar. Hierdie tesis evalueer die redes waarom talentvolle werknemers die Afdeling Taaldienste verlaat en verken moontlike retensiestrategieë om talentvolle werknemers te behou. Eerstens is literatuur oor die konsep van werknemersomset hersien. Tweedens het die studie moontlike faktore wat werknemersomset beïnvloed, evalueer. Derdens is die wetgewende omgewing van werknemersomset binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks, bespreek. Verder was die oorsake van werknemersomset binne die Afdeling Taaldienste van Suid-Afrika, geassesseer. Laastens is aanbevelings gemaak oor hoe om werknemers in die Afdeling Taaldienste van die Parlement van Suid-Afrika te behou. Die navorsingsontwerp wat vir die uitvoer van die ondersoek gebruik is, is ’n kwalitatiewe gevallestudie. Ongestruktureerde onderhoude, ’n opnamevraelys en dokumentasie is vir die studie gebruik. Afleidings is gemaak deur die teorie van die literatuuroorsig met die praktyk in die Afdeling Taaldienste van die Parlement van Suid-Afrika te vergelyk om ’n beter begrip te kry van waarom talentvolle werknemers die instelling verlaat en watter retensiestrategieë in werking gestel kan word om hulle te behou. Die studie verskaf verskeie redes waarom werknemers die instelling verlaat. Hierdie redes sluit in nie-mededingende salarisse, ondoeltreffende werwings- en seleksiesprosesse, onvoldoende opleiding, ’n gebrek aan loopbaanbeplanning en die feit dat talle taalpraktisyns in ander provinsies as die Wes-Kaap woon. Baie van hierdie redes is voorheen deur ’n Wetgewing en Oorsig Afdeling Retensiestrategieprojek geïdentifiseer, maar strategieë om die probleme aan te spreek is nie geïmplementeer nie as gevolg van die gebrek aan ’n mens-gesentreerde benadering tot talentbestuur. Aanbevelings is gemaak dat die retensiestrategieë geïmplementeer word en ’n groter klem op menslike hulpbronne en die ontwikkeling van mense geplaas word sodat die kerndoelwitte van die Parlement deur gelukkige en goedontwikkelde mense behaal kan word.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The scarce skills phenomenon has become a cause for concern and priority for both public and private sectors as discussed in various research studies. Both these sectors have a quest to retain these scarce skills by making use of their limited resources. In the light of the above context, this study focuses on the analysis of the retention of scarce skills within the City of Cape Town Municipality, with the primary objective of ascertaining the effectiveness of its retention strategy on retaining civil engineers. For purposes of this research, a case study design was used to answer the study question. The sample consisted of 30 percent of the present and past civil engineers, from junior to senior levels. This sample also included employees from the human resource department of the municipality. Content analysis was used to analyse data which was gathered through focus groups, exit and personal interviews. The literature investigation explored reasons why employees were leaving their organisations. The study further traced various thoughts and debates related to challenges and strategies associated with scarce skills retention. From the literature review it became evident that although the retention approaches and strategies vary from one organisation to another, they share common traits. However there is no one cap fits all. Results indicate that the majority of respondents expressed satisfaction about all pre-determined themes of the study. These themes were based on aspects related to remuneration and benefits, job satisfaction and working conditions, climate and culture, leadership and career development. Areas of dissatisfaction were raised under common themes which emerged during the study. These themes included, amongst others, outsourcing of major projects, bureaucracy, political environment and human resource policies and procedures. Based on the findings of the study, the research concludes with recommendations applicable to the municipality and also provides those relevant for further study. Due to the technical composition of the sample, the results of the study cannot be inferred to all occupational groups within the organisation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die skaarsheid van vaardighede het „n kommerwekkende verskynsel geword vir private en publieke sektore. Dit is die taak van albei sektore om skaars vaardighede te behou, deur gebruik te maak van hul beperkte bronne. In die lig van bostaande stellings, fokus hierdie studie op die analise van skaars vaardighede binne die Kaapstadse Munisipaliteit, met die primêre doel om die effektiwiteit van sy behoudstrategie vir die behoud van siviele ingenieurs te bepaal. „n Gevallestudie-ontwerp was gebruik vir hierdie ondersoek, om die studievraagstuk te beantwoord. Die ondersoekgroep het bestaan uit „n samestelling van 30 persent van huidige en voormalige siviele ingenieurs, vanaf junior tot senior vlakke. Die ondersoekgroep het ook werkers binne die departement van personeelbestuur in die munisipaliteit ingesluit. Inhoudsanalise was gebruik om data te analiseer wat deur fokusgroepe, uitgang en persoonlike onderhoude ingesamel is. Die literêre ondersoek het die redes waarom werkers hul organisasies verlaat, verken. Die studie weerspieël verder denke wat verband hou met die uitdagings en strategieë wat met die behoud van skaars vaardighede geassosieer word. Die literêre ondersoek het bewys dat behoudstrategieë onderling eienskappe deel, alhoewel die strategieë van een organisasie van diè van „n ander in geheel verskil. Daar is egter geen jas wat by almal pas nie. Resultate toon dat die meerderheid van respondente tevredenheid toon met alle voorafbepaalde studietemas. Hierdie temas is gebaseer op aspekte wat verband hou met besoldiging en voordele, werktevredenheid en werksomstandighede, klimaat en kultuur, leierskap en beroepsontwikkeling. Areas van ontevredenheid is geïdentifiseer onder algemene temas wat tydens die studie opgekom het. Hierdie temas sluit in, onder andere, eksterne bronontginning vir groot projekte, burokrasie, politieke konteks, asook beleid en prosedures van menslike hulpbronne. Ter afsluiting: voorstelle word gemaak wat gebaseer is op die resultate van die ondersoek, wat van toepassing is op die munisipaliteit en voorsien dit wat relevant is vir verdere studie. Die resultate van die ondersoek kan nie op alle werksgroepe binne die organisasie van toepassing wees nie, weens die tegniese samestalling van die ondersoekgroep.