A socio-psychological perspective on the perception and acceptance of risk
- Authors: Botha, Louise
- Date: 2014-05-14
- Subjects: Nuclear industry - Psychological aspects , Risk , Risk-taking (Psychology) , Industrial sociology
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:11078 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10651
- Description: D.Litt. et Phil. (Sociology) , The Licensing Branch of the Atomic Energy Corporation of South Africa is responsible for setting safety standards as regards the nuclear energy industry. The present study forms part of an investigation, initiated by members of the Licensing Branch, into the impact and possible social risk of nuclear technology on society. The ultimate aim of the investigation, towards which this study intends to make a sound contribution, is the development of appropriate social risk criteria. Financial assistance by the Atomic Energy Corporation of South Africa is hereby acknowledged. Any views or conclusions are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the AEC. The financial assistance of the Human Sciences Research Council towards the costs of this research is hereby acknowledged. Opinions expressed or conclusions reached are those of the author and are not to be regarded as a reflection of the opinions and conclusions of the Human Sciences Research Council.
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An investigation into the facilitators of the trustworthiness of managers
- Authors: Bews, Neville Frederick
- Date: 2012-02-27
- Subjects: Industrial relations , Interpersonal relations , Personnel management , Industrial sociology , Trust
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:2049 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4399
- Description: D.Litt. et Phil. , With the emergence of what has been referred to as the "post-industrial" society, the last decade has seen employer-employee work relationships undergoing a high level of change, as organisations restructure in an attempt to survive in the emerging global economy. Largely due to this, the nature of work has changed, placing tension on intra-organisational trust. As organisations readjust in an attempt to face the future they often find that intra-organisational trust is in a crisis, at a time when emphasis is being placed on the need for trust-based relationships. This renewed focus, and paradox that intra-organisational trust faces, has, on a multidisciplinary basis, caught the attentions of numerous academics, resulting in numerous attempts to understand aspects of interpersonal trust. In this study some of these attempts are considered in proposing a model for intra-organisational trust and certain aspects of this model are tested empirically. To achieve this, a multifaceted approach is employed, within a South African financial institution, whereby triangulation is used through gathering both quantitative and qualitative data. A research instrument is developed, by means of which the facilitators of trustworthiness, as proposed in terms of a model for trust and percieved by respondents, are measured. An analysis of the data gathered in respect of the various biographical categories at the company investigated, is undertaken. In terms of this analysis the relationship between interpersonal trust and the facilitators of trustworthiness is assessed, and the implications of this study for theory and policy are considered.
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Die posisionering van maatskaplike werk in die arbeidsmilieu
- Authors: Lombard, Jouberto
- Date: 2014-05-19
- Subjects: Industrial sociology , Industrial relations , Labor market - Sociological aspects , Industrial welfare
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:11122 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10709
- Description: D.Litt. et Phil. (Social Work) , From the onset of his involvement with social work practice in industry, candidate found himself reflecting upon the position and resulting characteristic functions of social work practitioners within an industrial context. The search for clarity in this regard led to the perusal of reading matter and the consideration of past experiences and encounters. This culminated in a desire to investigate the positioning of industrial social work in order to effect a compromise between the promotion of the objectives of industry viz. financial gain and human resource development. The main research issue or problem of the study, therefore centres around the positioning of industrial social work, and consequently the title of this dissertation is "The positioning of social work in the labour milieu". The purpose of this study is the placement of industrial social work within the context of meaningful work, work environment, influences from within industrial enterprises on man as worker, human resource activities in industrial enterprises, the course of industrial social work in industrial enterprises, the embodiment of social work in industrial enterprises and the provision of guidelines for social workers to position their profession most effectively in industrial enterprises. The study is exploratory-descriptive in nature, since the domain of study (industrial social work) is still being regarded as fairly unfamiliar and relatively less researched as compared to other branches of generic social work. Methodologically viewed, the study, the outcome of which is documented in this dissertation, was undertaken by marshalling practice experience into expertise mainly by interacting it with an eclectic literature study, a conceptual analysis of certain concepts and constructs central to the management of industrial social work, and systematising impressionistic wisdom while collecting information and gaining insight. In addition to the study of literature, information was collected by studying official documents of various industrial enterprises, consultations with various colleagues and attending seminars, courses and workshops, whilst regular consultations with my promotor took place and in the process progressing from an argumentative phase to guidelines for practice. In the study the following main conclusions were drawn: Although only partially, man's work and his work environment offer opportunities and challenges in reply to his quest for a meaningful life. An industrial enterprise co-ordinates the occupational activities of people rendering certain goods and services at specific venues. People, material, machines, means, markets and management, are utilised in the work environment as resources for the production of goods and the rendering of services to industry, its employers and the community. Man as employee is subject to influences from within industrial organisations but also reflects certain distinct characteristics. Organisationally, industrial social work is a manpower managment function, whilst industrial social services usually form part of the enterprise's manpower department. Industrial social work ensures from the corporate social responsibility of industrial enterprises. This responsibility is external (concerning the community in general) and internal (concerning employees and their families). The latter enables employees to contribute optimally to the production process and the realisation of business objectives and in compliance with their individual abilities and potential, to develop in human beings with a commitment to work. The establishing of an industrial social service usually develops from a micro to a macro level, from a peripheric to an integrated component of the enterprise. A typology of composite industrial social work models illustrates this statement in the dissertation. The general aim of industrial social work is to contribute to the realisation of corporate objectives by rendering professional services to employees. The components of the strategic planning of industrial social work are similar to those of any management planning. The study is concluded with guidelines for the positioning of industrial social work in industrial enterprises.
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Human resources management in the South African socio-economic context
- Authors: Abbott, Penny
- Date: 2012-10-30
- Subjects: Human resource management , Personnel management , Industrial sociology
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:10473 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7945
- Description: Ph.D. , The purpose of this study was to explore the lived reality of the work of Human Resource practitioners in South Africa in relation to the socio-economic context of their organisations and to consider how appropriate or not their responses might be to the impacts of that context on their work. This was explored through a qualitative study wherein interviews with 50 volunteer practitioners from all types of organisations spread across the country were conducted and compared to views of 17 informed commentators in this field. It was found that the work of Human Resource practitioners is signficantly impacted by social and economic factors external to the workplace, but that the current response by practitioners is probably not as appropriate as it could or should be. A role for human practitioners as “social activists” was identified and factors influencing whether such a role is played were explored. Frameworks of appropriate actions are proposed at both strategic and individual contributor level to support this role. The role of Human Resource professional bodies in addressing social issues in South Africa is challenged and a framework proposed to improve the extent to which leadership is given to Human Resource practitioners and to increase the visibility and voice of the profession in contributing to alleviation of societal problems. Recommendations for implementation of the proposed frameworks are proposed. One of the most significant recommendations is for Continuing Professional Development to provide coaching support based on Constructive-Developmental theory to enhance the ability of Human Resource practitioners to cope with the high levels of complexity that they encounter in their roles. Further research into a proposed model of influencing factors in the social activist role is recommended.
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Kwaliteit in die werkplek
- Authors: Griessel, Johannes Lodewikus
- Date: 2015-03-18
- Subjects: Quality of work life , Labor productivity , Employee motivation , Industrial sociology
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:13463 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13499
- Description: M.Com. (Business Management) , The question of quality in the workplace is considered within a framework where structural and process variables, leadership, personal filters and behavioural patterns are addressed. Viewpoints regarding quality of work by Rosow, Piskurich, Bennet, Fulmer, Callahan and Drucker, amongst others, were examined. Problems associated with the feasibility of measuring quality is briefly analysed in the light of viewpoints of writers such as Tuttle and Romanowski...
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