Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study takes as starting point the observation in sensemaking theory that autonomic
arousal is accompanied by a loss of existing frames and cues and the consequential cognitive
implosion. Situations such as these are marked by a crisis in identity construction and the
resultant loss of sense being made. The aim of the study was to find out to what extent this
phenomenon is at play during a merger between two organizations. Specifically to what extent
this phenomenon did manifest itself among the employees of the Central University of
Technology in Welkom after the merger of the former Welkom Campus of Vista University
and the Technikon Free State.
The study starts with an overview of the literature on corporate mergers; focusing on research
on effects with regards to (i) how the different gender groups of employees were affected by
these interruptions, (ii) how employees with diverse levels of experience were affected, (iii) to
what extent the qualifications of employees was a factor regarding the impact of this
autonomic arousal and (iv) whether race was a factor in determining the extent of autonomic
arousal.
The above is followed by an explanation of the sensemaking perspective and the nature of and
moment for autonomic arousal. It is argued that organizational mergers represent an
interruption in the ongoing flow of sensemaking that could lead to autonomic arousal.
Using sensemaking theory and autonomic arousal as a theoretical starting point, interviews
were conducted with key figures in the specific merger between the Vista University Welkom
Campus and the Technikon Free State. The respondents were selected using the snowballing
sampling technique. The idea behind the interviews was to demonstrate how staff members
were emotionally affected by the interruption of the merger and how it had an impact on their
perceptions about their work.
It was found that the flow of experience was interrupted and as cues and frames were reduced,
the employees focussed more on personal issues. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie neem as vertrekpunt die observasie van singewingsteorie dat outonomiese
aktivering gepaard gaan met 'n verlies aan bestaande raamwerke en aanduidings en die
gevolglike kognitiewe implosie. Sulke situasies word gekenmerk deur 'n krisis in
identiteitskonstruksie en gevolglike verlies aan sin. Die doel van hierdie studie was om uit te
vind tot watter mate hierdie fenomeen plaasvind tydens 'n samesmelting van organisasies, en
spesifiek hoe dit manifesteer onder die werknemers van die Sentrale Universiteit van
Tegnologie in Welkom na die samesmelting van die Welkom-kampus van Vista Universiteit
en die Technikon Vrystaat.
Die studie begin met 'n oorsig van die literatuur oor korporatiewe samesmeltings en
oomames, spesifiek oor daardie studies wat die effekte bestudeer met betrekking tot (i) hoe
verskillend mans en vroue geraak is, (ii) die impak van verskillende vlakke van ervaring onder
werknemers se persepsies oor die samesmelting, (iii) die mate waartoe die kwalifikasievlak
van werknemers, asook (iv) ras 'n rol gespeel het in die vlak van outonomiese aktivering wat
deur werknemers ervaar is.
Daama word singewingsteorie en die aard en geleenthede van outonomiese aktivering
uitgepak. Daar word argumenteer dat korporatiewe samesmelting 'n onderbreking in die vloei
van sin veroorsaak wat tot outonomiese aktivering kan lei.
Ge1ei deur singewingsteorie en outonomiese aktivering as teoretiese vertrekpunt is onderhoude
gevoer met sleutelfigure in die spesifieke samesmelting tussen die Welkom kampus van Vista
Universiteit en die Technikon Vrystaat om die outonomiese effek van die onderbreking te
illustreer. Die respondente is deur die sneeubalmetode geselekteer. Die idee is om te toon hoe
werknemers emosioneel getref is en hoedat dit 'n impak op hulle persepsies rondom hulle
werk tot gevolg gehad het.
Daar is bevind dat die vloei van sin deur die samesmelting onderbreek is, en dat werknemers
soos te wagte, meer op persoonlik sake begin fokus. Dit dui op 'n vemouing van
singewingsraamwerke en die verlies van lewensin.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/49218 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Marumo, Khomotso Moetanalo Hilda |
| Contributors | Maasdorp, C. H., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Information Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 137 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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