It is important for organisations to develop their employees. However, organisations will not be able to keep a competitive advantage by merely focussing on the development of their employees’ weaknesses. Employees should also be provided with sufficient job resources and opportunities to develop and/or use their strengths, as this could lead to positive work-home interaction (WHI), and work engagement.
The general objective of this research study was to test a structural model of job resources, an organisational strength-based approach (SBA), individual strength-oriented behaviour (SOB), and work engagement, and to investigate if positive WHI mediates between job resources, organisational SBA, individual SOB, and work engagement among South African employees. This study was conducted in order to gain more knowledge and a better understanding of the outcomes of following a SBA, both from an organisational and the employees’ standpoint within the South African context.
A cross-sectional research approach was used. An availability sample (N = 699) of employees from various occupational groups in South Africa was used. Structural equation modelling was used to test the structural model and to determine the indirect effect of positive WHI.
The results confirmed that there exists a significant relationship between the job resources that are provided by the organisation and the employees experiencing increased work engagement levels. Furthermore, the results indicated that there is a significant relationship between following an organisational SBA and more employee work engagement. The results showed that there is also a significant relationship between the employees’ applying
individual SOB and work engagement. The results confirmed that there is a significant relationship between the job resources that are provided by the organisation and positive WHI. However, the results showed that there was not a significant relationship between following an organisational SBA and positive WHI. Furthermore, the results indicated that there exists a significant relationship between the employees’ applying individual SOB and positive WHI.
The results indicated that positive WHI was only a mediator in the relationship between information and work engagement, with an indirect effect of 0,11 (p < 0,00; 95% CI [0,07, 0,14]), and in the relationship between colleague relationships and work engagement, with an indirect effect of 0,04 (p < 0,01; 95% CI [0,01, 0,07]). The results also confirmed that positive WHI was a mediator in the relationship between individual SOB and work engagement, with an indirect effect of 0,05 (p < 0,00; 95% CI [0,02, 0,08]).
The knowledge gained from following a SBA will assist individuals in becoming aware of their talents, and of developing them into strengths. This study will also assist organisations in gaining a better understanding of an organisational SBA, and this variable’s relationship with positive WHI and work engagement. This study adds value to the field of positive psychology; more specifically, to the limited research on following a SBA, and possible outcomes within the South African context.
Recommendations were made to be applied in practice, as well as for future research. / Thesis (MCom (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/8648 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Botha, Cherí |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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