Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)http://hdl.handle.net/10394/264632024-03-29T00:28:41Z2024-03-29T00:28:41ZThe relation of work stressors to work/life balance and health In a transforming higher education institutionVan Zyl, Susanna, J.http://hdl.handle.net/10394/424452024-03-19T01:09:16Z2007-01-01T00:00:00ZThe relation of work stressors to work/life balance and health In a transforming higher education institution
Van Zyl, Susanna, J.
Across the world, transformation plays a critical role in organisations. Many organisations have
embarked on programmes to transform the workplace to remain competitive, and higher
education institutions in South Africa have not been excluded from this. These institutions have
experienced pressure to change, mainly due to the political transformation following the
transition to a new political dispensation and the resulting change in government policy. Social
transformation has, in turn, led to mergers, acquisitions and structural reorganisation in these
institutions. In addition, the market economy, privatisation, technological advancement,
innovation, and cultural influences have all contributed to transformation at higher education
ins ti tuti on s.
The general objectives of this study were twofold, and were investigated in two separate articles.
The first article studied the relationship between qualitative and quantitative role overload,
work/life balance and life/work imbalance and social support. A further objective was to
determine whether social support from different sources (supervisor, co-workers and family)
moderated the effect of role overload on work/life- and life/work balance. The second article
studied the relationship between job autonomy and centralisation, work/life balance and
life/work imbalance and employee health. A further objective was to determine whether
work/life- and life/work balance moderated the effect of job autonomy and centralisation on
employee health.
A cross-sectional design was used. The study population (n=207) comprised all staff of a higher
education institution in South Africa. The measuring in struments of quantitative role overload, qualitative role overload, social support (supervisor, co-workers and family) and work/life
balance, life/work imbalance were administered in order to meet the research objectives of the
first article. For the second article, measuring instruments of job autonomy, centralisation,
work/life balance, life/work imbalance and employee health were employed.
For both articles, descriptive statistics (e.g. means, standard deviations, skewness and kurtosis)
were used to analyse the data. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses was used to test for the
hypothesized moderating effects.
In the first article, the results of the regression analyses showed that quantitative role overload
proved to be a predictor of work/life imbalance, however, employees experiencing quantitative
role overload are also likely to experience qualitative role overload, both quantitative- and
qualitative role overload relating to conditions that require more of an individual than what
he/she possesses, impacting on work/life imbalance. Social support from supervisors, co-workers
and family proved that only social support from co-workers moderated the effect of role overload
on work/life imbalance, whereby co-workers serve as a buffer and outlet sharing knowledge and
advice.
1n the second article, the results of the regression analyses proved that job autonomy, as a job
characteristic, related to better general health. Job autonomy proved to be consistently the more
important determinant of job satisfaction whereby the employee experiences a greater degree of
decision-making authority, impacting on the job. Work/life imbalance also showed a positive
correlation with general health thus moderating the effect on employee general health.
By way of conclusion, the limitations of the study are noted and recommendations for the
organisation and future research are made.
Masters in Human Resource Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus
2007-01-01T00:00:00ZThe psychological well-being of teachers in South Africa: A critical reviewFourie, Annekehttp://hdl.handle.net/10394/424432024-03-01T01:10:31Z2022-11-01T00:00:00ZThe psychological well-being of teachers in South Africa: A critical review
Fourie, Anneke
The education sector in South Africa has undergone a significant transformation since the
first democratic election in 1994. This resulted in educational reform and the inclusion of quality
basic education as a constitutional right of all South Africans. However, education in South
Africa remains in a state of transformation, and various challenges still prevent the realisation of
quality education for all South Africans. Teachers, as central role players in the South African
education sector, are under substantial occupational stress, and research has shown that if the
occupational stress associated with the teaching profession is not mediated, it can adversely
affect teachers’ psychological well-being – thereby affecting the provision of quality education.
When considered from an integrative perspective, psychological well-being is a
multidimensional construct that includes individuals’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviour as
manifested in various life domains. Teacher psychological well-being has far-reaching
implications and, therefore, necessitates a thorough understanding thereof. A critical review
research study has been conducted in order to determine what has been found in the available
scientific literature regarding teachers’ psychological well-being within specifically the South
African context and to identify possible areas for future research.
The data collected for this critical review research study were identified by following a
systematic approach that ultimately resulted in the inclusion of six research studies that met the
requirements of scientific rigour following the quality appraisal. Thematic analysis was used to
identify recurrent themes in the extracted data. This resulted in the identification of five themes:
teaching as a stressful occupation; intrapersonal factors that affect teachers’ psychological wellbeing;
contextual factors that affect teachers’ psychological well-being; differences in levels of
teacher psychological well-being; and the consequences of high or low levels of teacher
psychological well-being.
This critical review provides an appraisal, synthesis, and importantly, examination and
presentation of the contribution of the scientific literature on teachers’ psychological well-being
currently available within the South African context. The research study further sheds light on
the topic and has led to the identification of possible future research directions. The research
study reveals that the stressful nature of the teaching profession may affect teachers’
psychological well-being, which can then affect teachers’ mental and physical health and,
ultimately, the provision of quality basic education in South Africa.
Master of Health Sciences in Clinical Psychology, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus
2022-11-01T00:00:00ZDie belangrikheid en betekenis van die analise en interpretasie van finansiele jaarstate en inligting vir kleinsakeondernemersDu Plessis, Thomas Edwardhttp://hdl.handle.net/10394/424422024-03-01T01:10:29Z1986-06-01T00:00:00ZDie belangrikheid en betekenis van die analise en interpretasie van finansiele jaarstate en inligting vir kleinsakeondernemers
Du Plessis, Thomas Edward
During the past fifteen years the important role that
the small business can play in a free South African
economy has been increasingly recognized by both the
government and the private sector. It is realised
that small business play an irrefutable economic and
social role in the economy of a country.
Small businesses in general suffer from a lack of the
necessary management expertise and this realisation has
led to the establishment of various institutions whose
aim is to provide assistance to the small business
sector.
One of the problem areas identified by the author as a
resul~ of his experience as a small business consultant,
is that annual financial statements are not correctly
applied and utilised as a source of management information.
This motivated the study aimed at increasing
the use of and improving the quality of information
obtained from this . valuable source.
After a brief overview of the problems experienced by
a small business, the information function of financial
statements, especially for the small business manager,
is considered in the opening chapter.
This is followed by an investigation into the use of a
balance sheet, income statement and funds statement in
chapters two to four. Specific attention is given to
available information as well as additional information
required for meaningful evaluation. Ratios that can
be used by small business management are highlighted.
Special attention is also given to the cash flow statement
as alternative source of management information.
Chapter five entails a case study in which the financial
statements of a small business are analysed and a ratio
analysis conducted. Derivations concerning the specific
business are made in respect of the balance sheet,
income statement and cash flow statement.
A summary, including a number of conclusions and
suggestions, is presented in chapter six.
Master of Business Administration, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus
1986-06-01T00:00:00ZPotential impact of accidental releases of hazardous gases on the immediate habitability of a nuclear power plantCassim, Mogammed Rida Aboobakerhttp://hdl.handle.net/10394/424412024-03-01T01:10:08Z2023-10-01T00:00:00ZPotential impact of accidental releases of hazardous gases on the immediate habitability of a nuclear power plant
Cassim, Mogammed Rida Aboobaker
To protect the public and plant operators, the nuclear power industry demands a continuous evaluation of hazards and safety standards. This dissertation provides a history of toxic chemical accidents and the methodologies to evaluate nuclear power plant toxic chemical hazards. The evaluation of hazards may lead to the implementation of preventative measures, i.e., hardware changes, surveillance and procedural changes; the implementation of mitigative measures; the analysis of post-accident conditions to guide accident response; and guidance for the most effective resource allocation to ensure safety.
The evaluation of hazards includes a historical review of toxic chemicals, flammable gas releases, and a compilation of toxic chemicals and flammable gases generally found at or near nuclear power plants. Gases are classified according to their toxicity, weight and flammability to determine which gases are the most hazardous. Biologically, chlorine and ammonia were found to be the most hazardous, while methane gas is the most volatile in terms of flammability.
Methodologies to predict the dispersion of gases were also evaluated. Several computer programs used for predicting the dispersion of toxic gases into the atmosphere were evaluated in terms of their accuracy, applicability and usefulness of derived results.
Generally, credit is not taken for special nuclear power plant measures to mitigate or prevent a release.
The following requirements for nuclear power plant control rooms are not included in this analysis:
• Pressurisation of the control room;
• Automatic isolation in case of a chemical relapse;
• Automatic initiation of filtering with high-grade filters;
• Demanding design, purchasing, fabrication and testing requirements to ensure the operability of installed ventilation during the most adverse accident conditions;
• Internationally accepted limits are used to determine toxicity and physical characteristics;
• Conservative and internationally accepted standards are used to determine dispersion coefficients and receptor location; and
• Conservative and international standards are used to determine the release rate and release amount.
Master of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus
2023-10-01T00:00:00Z