M.Com. (Human Resource Management) / The use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to work after regular working hours has become prevalent in the academic profession. Although ICTs are known to enhance work flexibility, they also seem to encourage academics to use ICT devices after hours for work-related purposes. This consequently questions the work flexibility, which is enabled by ICTs, and the potential impact that this has on the work–life conflict (WLC) experienced by academics. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the phenomenon of technology assisted supplemental work (TASW) and the implications that this has on the WLC experienced by academics at a higher education institution in South Africa. In addition, the moderating roles of gender, marital status and whether or not the respondents had children were factors, in these academics‟ personal lives, which were taken into consideration in investigating the relationship between TASW and WLC. The study adopted a quantitative research approach, and made use of an online survey, composed of three sections, to collect data. Section A included demographic-related questions, while Section B contained questions from a pre-existing WLC scale, and Section C comprised of a pre-existing scale used to assess TASW. The sample consisted of academics from a higher education in South Africa (n = 216). The results of the research engaged in revealed a significant relationship between TASW and WLC. Regarding the relationship between TASW and the three forms of WLC, the results revealed that TASW is significantly and positively related to time-based and strainbased WLC. There is no significant relationship between TASW and behavioural-based WLC. TASW is a significant predictor of WLC. Furthermore, the results revealed that gender, children and marital status all significantly moderated the relationship between TASW and WLC. This study contributes further knowledge to the emerging field of research relating to TASW in a South African context. In addition, this study also emphasises the implications of using ICTs and their potential to encourage academics to extend their working hours. This study therefore questions the benefits of this work flexibility that many academics are privileged to have from using ICTs.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:12124 |
| Date | 19 August 2014 |
| Creators | Kotecha, Kajal Harsukhlal |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Johannesburg |
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