African Journals Online
SA Journal of Industrial Psychology
/Tydskrif vir Bedryfsielkunde

Volume 29, Issue 1, 2003
ABSTRACTS

Transformational leadership in business organisations ascending to world-class status: a case study in the petrochemical industry

De Kock, P.M.; Slabbert, J.A.

Abstract: One of the most important prerequisites for economic competitiveness in the global economy, is the delivery of a unique product or service. In order to achieve this level of competitiveness, transformational rather than transactional leadership should be a core element in organisation's ascent to 'world-class' status. Inline with other researching results, the most important finding of this study which was conducted in a petrochemical industry, is that transformational leadership is not up to standard.

Een van die belangrikste voorvereistes vir ekonomiese kompetering in die globale ekonomie, is die lewering van 'n unieke produk of diens. 'n Voorvereiste wat slegs kan realiseer indien transformasionele leierskap eerder as transaksionele leierskap 'n kernboublok in organisasies se strewe na 'wêreldklas' status vorm. Inlyn met die bevindinge van verskeie ander studies, is die vernaamste bevinding van ook die studie wat in 'n petrochemiese bedryf gedoen is, dat transformasionele leierskap nog nie op standaard is nie.

Die verband tussen waargenome leierskap en die vlak van outonomie binne spanverband  8

Van der Heyde, A.; Roodt, Gert

Abstract: The relationship between perceived leadership and the level of outonomy in a team context remains a contemporary theme in the work environment and seemingly has a substantial influence on organisational success. This study attempted to ascertain the relationship between leadership and the level of outonomy in a team context. Two hundred and thirty (N=230) individuals, grouped into 56 teams from four South African companies participated in the study. The superordinate's leadership style as well as the level of outonomy in the specific group was measured. Apart from the useful information obtained in comparison with international research, especially in terms of leadership data, the study did conclusively point out a significant correlation between leadership style and outonomy in team context.

Leierskap en selfgerigte spanfunksionering bly kontemporêre temas in die bedryfsmilieu, wat oënskynlik organisasiesukses wesenlik kan beïnvloed. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die waargenome verband tussen leierskap en die vlak van outonomie binne spanverband te bepaal. Tweehondered-en-dertig (N=230) individue, gegroepeer in 56 spanne vanuit vier Suid-Afrikaanse maatksappye het aan die studie deelgeneem. 'n Meting van sowel die bogeskikte se leierskapstyl en die vlak van outonomie binne spanverband is verkry. Afgesien van bruikbare inligting rondom veral die leierskapdata in vergelyking met internasionale navorsing, het die studie 'n beduidende verband tussen leierskapstyl en outonomie binne spanverband uitgewys.

Communication of job-related information and work-family conflict in dual-career couples

Theunissen, Bedelia; Van Vuuren, L.J.; Visser, Delene

Abstract: It is known that work-family conflict is a determinant of marital dissatisfaction. The goal of this study was to determine whether inadequate communication regarding the sharing of job-related information between dual-career spouses contributes to marital dissatisfaction. The Work Perception Questionnaire (WPQ) was designed and administered to obtain information on dimensions that 80 dual-career couples (married or in co-habitation) perceived to contribute to marital conflict and that have an impact on the quality of their relationships. The main findings indicated that male partners experienced more marital conflict than their female partners if they did not have adequate job-related information about their partner's work. However, the findings for the female partners were nonsignificant. The implications of the findings are discussed.

Dit is algemeen bekend dat werk- en gesinskonflik 'n oorsaak van huweliksontevredenheid is. Die doel van hierdie studie was om te bepaal of ontoereikende kommunikasie oor werksverwante inligting tussen gades in dubbelloopbaanverhoudings 'n bydraende faktor tot huweliksontevredenheid is. Die Werk Persepsie Vraelys (WPV) is ontwerp en toegepas ten einde inligting te versamel rakende sekere dimensies wat volgens die persepsies van 80 dubbelloopbaanpare (wat getroud is of saamwoon) aanleiding gee tot huwelikskonflik en wat moontlik 'n impak op die gehalte van hul verhouding mag hê. Die belangrikste bevinding was dat manlike gades meer huwelikskonflik ervaar indien hul gades nie werksverwante inligting met hulle deel nie. Die resultate vir vroulike gades was egter nie beduidend nie. Die implikasies van die resultate word bespreek.

The relationship between work-family conflict and central life interests amongst single working mothers

Wallis, Taryn; Price, Linda

Abstract: This study explored the experiences of work-family conflict amongst a group of twenty single working mothers with pre-school age children. Dubin's (1992) theory of Central Life Interests was utilised to fully understand how the differential importance of the roles played by the women informed the level and nature of the conflict experienced. A two-phase research design was employed in which questionnaire responses from the first phase formed the basis for the second phase of in-depth qualitative interviews. Results indicated that participants viewed motherhood as their Central Life Interest and that this priority could lead them to experience greater conflict between work and family demands. Although work was rated second in importance when compared to family, it was still seen as being of great significance, not only for instrumental reasons, but also for the intellectual stimulation that it provided and opportunities to exercise independence and responsibility.

Die werk-en-familie konflik-ervarings van twintig werkende enkel-moeders met voorskoolse kinders is ondersoek in hierdie projek. Dubin (1992) se teorie van sentrale lewensbelangstellings is gebruik om te bepaal hoe die belangrikheid van die twee rolle die vlak en aard van die konflik bepaal het. Die navorsing is in twee fases gedoen: 'n vraelys in die eerste fase, opgevolg deur in-diepte kwalitatiewe onderhoude. Resultate het gewys dat die deelnemers moederskap as hul sentrale lewensbelangstelling beskou het, en dat hierdie prioriteit kon lei tot groter konflik tussen die eise van werk en familie. Alhoewel werk as ondergeskik aan familie beoordeel is, was dit nogtans van groot belang. Aan die een kant was dit vir instrumentele redes, maar dit het ook intellektuele stimulasie verskaf en geleenthede gegee om onafhanklik en verantwoordelik op te tree.

The construct validity of Schepers' locus of control inventory for black and white tertiary students

Schaap, P.; Buys, M.A.; Olckers, C.

Abstract: Popular criticism is that psychometric instruments, based largely on middle-class White values, knowledge and culture are biased and less valid for other population groups. It is therefore important that the testing of persons with highly dissimilar backgrounds receive greater attention. In this study the LCI of Schepers was applied to Black and White tertiary students to determine the construct validity of the instrument for different cultural groups. It was found that there is evidence of differences in the construct validity of the LCI for the Black (n=376) and White (n=374) groups. The item discrimination values, scale reliabilities and factor structures revealed that the three hypothesised constructs, namely external locus of control, internal locus of control and autonomy underlying the LCI, were confirmed for the White group but not for the Black group.

Die algemene kritiek teen psigometriese instrumente wat grootliks op Blanke waardes, kennis en kultuur gebaseer is, is dat die instrumente sydig en minder geldig vir ander populasiegroepe mag wees. Dit is dus belangrik dat sydigheids- en geldigheidsaspekte veral aandag geniet by die toetsing van persone uit verskillende kultuurgroepe. In hierdie studie is die LVB van Schepers op Swart en Blanke tersiêre studente toegepas om die konstrukgeldigheid van die instrument vir verskillende kultuurgroepe te bepaal. Die resultate dui daarop dat die konstrukgeldigheid van die LVB vir die Swart (n=376) en Blanke (n=374) groepe verskil. Die item-diskriminasiewaardes, skaalbetroubaarhede en faktorstrukture dui daarop dat die drie konstrukte waaruit die LVB bestaan, naamlik 'n eksterne lokus van kontrole, 'n interne lokus van kontrole en outonomie vir die Blanke groep bevestig is, maar nie vir die Swart groep nie.

Work status as a predictor of academic performance in the field of distance higher education

Welman, J.C.

Abstract: This article reports on the academic success of 13 590 Technikon SA students and the importance of their "work status" (employed/unemployed) in light of the co-operative education philosophy of technikons. The data was collected by means of the students' registration records, and analysed using a CHAID-analysis. The results indicated that the variable "work status" features second last on the list of nine successful variables for predicting academic performance. Generally, it would appear that the employment practice for technikon students is not as important a requirement for academic success as the co-operative education philosophy would like it to be.

Hierdie artikel lewer verslag oor die akademiese sukses van 13 590 Technikon SA studente en die belangrikheid van hul "werkstatus" (werkend/werkloos) in die lig van die koöperatiewe onderwysfilosofie van technikons. Die inligting wat deur middel van die studente se registrasierekords ingesamel is, is ontleed met 'n CHAID-ontleding. Die resultate toon dat die veranderlike "werkstatus" tweede laaste op die lys van nege veranderlikes voorkom wat akademiese verrigting voorspel. Oor die algemeen blyk dit dat die indiensnemingpraktyk van technikonstudente nie so 'n belangrike vereiste vir akademiese sukses is as wat die koöperatiewe onderwysfilosofie dit sou wou hê nie

Job satisfaction among South African aircraft pilots

Hoole, C.; Vermeulen, L.P.

Abstract: The importance of job satisfaction to human beings is a widely studied phenomenon, due to the assumption that job satisfaction is a major contributor to the well-being of employees and to several organisational outcomes. Most of these studies have focused on the influence of organisational variables on job satisfaction. Few studies have investigated the relationship between pilot-related factors and the job satisfaction levels of aviators. In a study of 704 South African pilots, significant differences were found in job satisfaction levels with regard to the nature of a pilot's flying duty, area(s) of operation, type(s) of licence and level of command.

Werkstevredenheid en die belangrikheid daarvan vir die mens is 'n onderwerp waaroor navorsing dikwels gedoen word. Die rede hiervoor is die aanname dat werkstevredenheid 'n belangrike bydraende faktor is tot werknemerswelsyn en verskeie organisatoriese uitkomste. Die meeste van hierdie studies het gekonsentreer op die invloed van organisatoriese veranderlikes op werkstevredenheid. Min navorsing is egter gedoen oor die verband tussen vliegverwante veranderlikes en die vlakke van werkstevredenheid van vlieëniers. In 'n studie van 704 Suid-Afrikaanse vlieëniers is beduidende verskille gevind tussen die werkstevredenheidsvlakke van vlieëniers met betrekking tot die aard van vlieëniers se vliegtaak, area(s) van werksaamheid, soort(e) lisensie(s) en vlak van bevelvoering.

Die omvang en aard van afwesigheid in die werkplek: 'n Suid-Afrikaanse gevalstudie

Du Plessis, Anel; Visser, Delene; Fourie, Linda

Abstract: The scope and nature of absenteeism in the workplace: A South African case study. The objective of the study was to develop quantitative measures for monitoring trends of absenteeism in a company within the meat industry and to assess qualitatively the possible existence of a collective culture of absenteeism within the organisation. The scope and frequency of absenteeism, costs incurred due to absenteeism, and individual absenteeism patterns of 145 employees, were studied over a period of one year. It was found that 2900 planned and 912 unplanned leave workdays that were lost, resulted in direct costs of R895, 054.55. Five employees who were absent most often accounted for 18.60% of the unplanned leave taken. The extraordinary levels of absenteeism found in this case study were ascribed to specific employees.

Die doel van die studie was om kwantitatiewe metings vir die monitering van afwesigheidstendense vir 'n maatskappy in die vleisbedryf te ontwikkel en om die moontlike bestaan van 'n kollektiewe afwesigheidskultuur kwalitatief te ondersoek. Die omvang, frekwensie en koste van afwesigheid, asook individuele afwesigheidspatrone, is bestudeer vir 145 werknemers oor 'n tydperk van een jaar. Daar is bevind dat 2900 beplande en 912 onbeplande verlofwerkdae wat verloor is, die maatskappy R895, 054.55 gekos het. Vyf werknemers wat die meeste afwesig was, was verantwoordelik vir 18, 60% van die onbeplande verlof geneem. Die uitsonderlike vlakke van afwesigheid in hierdie gevalstudie is toegeskryf aan spesifieke werknemers.

The big five personality dimensions and job performance

Rothmann, S.; Coetzer, E.P.

Abstract: The objective of this research was to determine the relationship between personality dimensions and job performance. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The study population consisted of 159 employees of a pharmaceutical company. The NEO-Personality Inventory - Revised and Performance Appraisal Questionnaire were used as measuring instruments. The results showed that Emotional Stability, Extraversion, Openness to Experience and Conscientiousness were related to task performance and creativity. Three personality dimensions, namely Emotional Stability, Openness to Experience and Agreeableness, explained 28% of the variance in participants' management performance.

Die doelstelling van hierdie navorsing was om die verband tussen persoonlikheidsdimensies en werksprestasie te bepaal. 'n Eenmalige dwarsdeursnee-ontwerp is gebruik. Die ondersoekgroep het bestaan uit 159 werknemers binne 'n farmaseutiese organisasie. Die NEO-Personality Inventory - Revised en die Prestasiebeoordelingsvraelys is as meetinstrumente gebruik. Die resultate het aangetoon dat Emosionele Stabiliteit, Ekstroversie en Konsensieusheid met taakverrigting en kreatiwiteit verband hou. Drie persoonlikheidsdimensies, naamlik Emosionele Stabiliteit, Openheid vir Ervaring en Inskiklikheid, het 28% van die variansie in bestuursprestasie (soos beoordeel deur toesighouers) voorspel.

Hofstede's VSM-94 revisited: is it reliable and valid?

Kruger, Teresa; Roodt, Gert

Abstract: The main objective of this study was to investigate the metric properties of the Hofstede Value Survey Module-94 (VSM-94). The questionnaire was evaluated against criteria for test construction. The VSM-94 consisting of 20 items was administered to 231 female managers in a large telecommunications organisation. The inter-correlations of the item scores were empirically investigated. Anti-image inter-correlations were executed on the 20 item-scores. Items with low measures of sampling adequacy (MSA) were omitted and a factor analysis and an anti-image intercorrelation conducted on the remaining eight items. Uniformly item-response distributions and low item intercorrelations resulted in poor reliability coefficients on the final factors, which suggests that the VSM-94 is probably not suitable for use in the South African context.

Die hoofdoel van die studie was om die metriese eienskappe van die Hofstede Value Survey Module-94 (VSM-94) te ondersoek. The vraelys is teen kriteria vir toetskonstruksie geëvalueer. Die VSM-94 bestaande uit 20 items, is toegepas op 231 vroulike bestuurders in 'n groot telekommunikasie-organisasie. Die interkorrelasies van itemtellings is empiries ondersoek. Teenbeeld interkorrelasies is op die 20 item-tellings uitgevoer. Items met lae maatstawwe van steekproeftoereikendheid (MSA) is uitgeskakel en 'n faktorontleding en teenbeeld interkorrelasie is uitgevoer op die oorblywende agt items. Eenvormige item-responsverdelings en lae item-interkorrelasies het swak betroubaarheidskoëffisiënte op die finale faktore tot gevolg wat suggereer dat die VSM-94 waarskynlik nie geskik is vir gebruik in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks nie.

Client-consultant ethical relationship considerations within management consulting

Smith, Alyson; Van Vuuren, L.J.; Visser, Delene

Abstract: Ethical conduct within consulting has become increasingly important since management consulting has developed into an independent profession. The objective of this research was to determine if differences exist in clientconsultant relationship ethics within a defined group of management consultancies in South Africa. A questionnaire was developed to assess ethical behaviour across five dimensions, namely the client consultant relationship, financial and contractual concerns, delivery of expectations, orientation and competence of consultants, and ethics in consultant behaviour. Thirty-nine respondents completed the questionnaire. Significant differences on ethical dimensions in relation to job level, between consulting firms, the level of senior management commitment to ethics and the existence of a code of ethics were obtained.

Namate bestuurskonsultasie as 'n onafhanklike professie ontwikkel het, het etiese optrede binne hierdie professie algaande belangriker geword. Die doel met hierdie navorsing was om vas te stel of daar verskille ten opsigte van etiek tussen bestuurskonsultasie-ondernemings in Suid-Afrika is sover dit die kliënt-konsultantverhouding aangaan. 'n Vraelys is ontwikkel om die etiese dimensie van bestuurskonsultasie oor vyf dimensies te beoordeel, naamlik die kliënt-konsultantverhouding, finansiële oorwegings, voldoening aan verwagtinge, oriëntasie en bevoegheid van konsultante, en die etiese gedrag van konsultante. Nege-en-dertig respondente het die vraelys voltooi. Beduidende verskille in die etiese dimensies ten opsigte van posvlak, die konsultasie-onderneming, die graad van senior bestuur se toegewydheid tot etiek, en die bestaan van 'n etiese kode is gevind.

The level of importance attached to price and quality in purchasing behaviour

Brijball, S.

Abstract: The study evaluates the level of importance consumers attach to specific product attributes and the perceived relationship between price and quality. An empirical analysis is undertaken on a sample of 237 Indian consumers drawn using the stratified random sampling technique. The results indicate that quality followed by price are important general evaluative criteria but their importance diminishes when other product attributes are included. Furthermore, only a quarter of the subjects perceive price and quality as having a one to one relationship. Also, biographical profiles do not impact on the level of importance attached to price but age and income influence the importance attached to quality.

Hierdie studie evalueer die belangrikheidsvlak wat verbruikers aan spesifieke produk- kenmerke en die waargenome verhouding tussen prys en kwaliteit heg. Die empiriese ontleding is op 237 Indiër-verbruikers uitgevoer en daar is gebruik gemaak van 'n gestratifiseerde steekproefnemingstegniek. Die bevindinge van die studie dui daarop dat kwaliteite en prys twee belangrike produkkenmerke is, maar hulle belangrikheid verminder sodra ander produkkenmerke ingesluit word. Net 'n kwart van die verbruikers glo dat prys en kwaliteit 'n een tot een verhouding het. Die studie dui daarop dat die biografiese profiele van verbruikers nie op die belangrikheidsvlak van prys impakteer nie, maar dat ouderdom en inkomste die belangrikheidsvlak wat aan kwaliteit gekoppel word, beïnvloed.