Selfbestuur by vrouebestuurders binne tersiêre opvoedkundige instellings : 'n fortigene benadering

Abstract

The primary focus of this study centers around the self-management of female managers working at tertiary educational institutions. In order to learn more about their ability to self-manage, an investigation into the possibility of a relationship between sense of coherence, learned resourcefulness and self-efficacy (respectively) and self-management was conducted. Due to the fact that the systems theory paradigm was inter alia utilized, attention was also given to the emotional and physical support which the female manager receives. Special focus was placed on psychological strengths, as it was noted that some people survive and stay healthy in spite of being subjected to stressors. A distinction was also made between the different dimensions of self-management, in order to illustrate the construct as well as the dinamics thereof within a systems approach. A quantitative as well as a qualitative research design was used. Sense of coherence was measured by the life orientation questionnaire of Antonovsky, while the self-control scale of Rosenbaum was used to measure learned resourcefulness and the self-efficacy scale of Sherer and Maddux to measure self-efficacy. All the above measuring instruments exhibit sufficient test reliability and validity. The measuring instruments had been administered on the entire sample, after which a stanine scale was used to identify persons with low and high scores with regard to psychological strengths. An interview, based on the fenomenological paradigm, was conducted using five female managers with low scores and five with high scores.

The most important findings were as follows: ► In the first instance it seems that there is a highly significant positive correlation between psychological strength and effective self-management. ► There is a highly significant relationship between self-management and the dimensions of self-management. In order to be regarded as a good self-manager, all these dimensions in a person's life should receive attention. ► There was a vast difference between female managers who manage themselves effectively and those who neglect themselves when measured quantitatively. ► However, according to the qualitative measure it appears as if female managers who manage themselves effectively as well as those who neglect themselves, might be using the same strategies for their self-management. It is therefore recommended that future research concerning the self-management of female managers should include females of different cultures, working at various organisations, and who pursue different careers. Future research could also focus on the extension of identified dimensions and the strategies of self-management in order to establish a self-management model for South African female managers.