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Now showing 1 - 5 of 11

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Work-life balance among IT executives in the Western Cape
(University of the Western Cape, 2019) de Maar, Melissa Ingrid
There has been research completed on work-life balance with a focus on women, but very little research focussed on senior management positions and especially in the IT Industry. With technology evolving at the pace that it has this ever-changing environment requires a higher demand in hours worked as technological methods makes it easier to work remotely from any location at any time. The aim of the study is to study the work-life balance of executives who are appointed in the IT departments companies in the Western Cape. The research initiating question is, therefore, “What are the main factors that affect work-life balance of IT executives in the Western Cape?” Executives in the Western Cape who work in the IT department were chosen to participate in this study. Six participants who are in IT Executive positions participated in the study. The study followed a qualitative approach where in-depth interviews were held to collect data. A content analysis was followed and the use of Atlas Ti.7 was used to analyse the data. Research has shown that work-life balance is important in any organisation. Having a healthy work-life balance in place will prevent burnout. Burnout is a serious consequence of work-life conflict. The research aims to uncover many challenges that male IT executives face with reference to their work and personal lives. It also uncovers their coping mechanisms that are in place to combat work-life conflict. The research is beneficial to IT employees who want to progress their career into that of an IT Executive, and current IT managers employed in organisations. The research will also benefit organisations as there are measures that can be critical to the success of the organisation as well as the well-being of their employees and senior management. The study limitations and recommendations for future studies have been presented in the research, which would be beneficial to researchers.
International migration, remittance flows, and economic growth among West African countries
(Adonis and Abbey Publishers Ltd, 2025) Egenti, Stanley; Dinbabo, Mulugeta
This study assessed the relationship between international migration, remittance flows, and economic growth in West African countries from 1986 to 2023. The study used non-stationary heterogeneous panel model techniques of pooled mean group and mean group estimators. The study found that international migration and remittances exert significant but mixed influence on the growth of the West African countries. The findings imply that remittances had varying effects on growth, with some countries benefiting significantly from these inflows due to their use in productive investments. In contrast, others showed less significant effects due to the prevalence of consumption-oriented remittance spending. The finding showed the positive interactive effects of international migration and remittances on growth, implying that remittance inflows can mitigate the economic pressures of outward migration if channelled effectively toward investment and development-oriented projects. The study recommends that governments in the region should encourage the productive use of remittances and strengthen the institutions in their countries so that they will facilitate and maximise the benefits of channelling remittances to their home countries by the emigrants, while West African regional bodies should establish migration policies that would address the root causes of migration and make conscious efforts to retain the young talents within the region for effective and inclusive growth.
Breathing towards Aeromobility: Aspiration, Flying and Elsewhere(s)
(The Academy of Mobility Humanities, Konkuk University, 2026) Rink, Bradley
In this essay, I aim to trace connections between aspiration and mobility to argue how aspirations are mobilised through their connection to elsewhere(s). Taking root from Latin ad spirare (to breathe towards), aspirations not only call for an inward drawing of breath, but also a pause before the inevitable expiration. This paper considers both the metaphor and physical act of breathing in the context of mobilities of flight, amongst others. I invoke the metaphor through ethnographic vignettes of both flying and terrestrial mobilities in African and North American contexts, drawing a parallel between the breath which sustains us and the aspirations that drive us, providing a generative lesson for our affective futures. Through these vignettes, I argue that mobilities driven by the presence of elsewhere(s) are key to understanding how aspiration is mobilised.
The influence of workaholism and burnout on the intention to quite amongst academic employees at a selected university n the Western Cape
(University of the Western Cape, 2019) Andrews, Victoria
Universities worldwide have to contend with a changing landscape due to the massification of education, additional pressure being placed on academia with respect to research outputs, teaching a transforming student base, along with political and social pressures. In South Africa, in particular, there has been increasing pressure on government to effect socio-political and legislative changes to ensure that those that were previously disadvantaged are granted free educational opportunities. Within an academic milieu, talent retention of staff at higher education institutions (HEIs) in South Africa has become a challenge. Research highlights many changes in the nature of work over the past few decades, including an increasingly prevalent culture of long working hours and increasing work intensity across many sectors. Within academia, recent research indicates a culture of increasing work intensity over time often combined with decreasing resources and competing demands. Once assumed to be a low-pressure job, research reports that significant mind set shifts have been needed within academia in order to cope with the heavy workloads, administrative, teaching, community outreach and publishing requirements and expectations within this group of employees. These additional expectations are likely to result in burnout, which is defined as a prolonged response or “‘psychological syndrome’” in response to chronic interpersonal stressors on the job. Burnout affects all professions but tends to be more pervasive in human service occupations such as education. Despite this evident recognition, there is a paucity of research on burnout among South African academics.
Determining the exposure to and skills needed by industrial – organisational psychologists in the Western Cape Province to counsel employees towards flourishing in the workplace.
(University of the Western Cape, 2019) Brown, Shuné
According to literature, Industrial-Organisational psychology is mainly concerned with investigating the behaviour of humans within the work environment. It is stated that Industrial-Organisational psychology deals with well-adjusted working adults to improve we ll-being and efficiency by applying psychology principles (Health Professions Act, 2011). One of the roles of the Industrial-Organisational psychologist is to provide counselling in the workplace. Counselling in the workplace is typically done in a traditional way. This process is mostly seen as reactive and is aimed at helping individuals cope with problems and addictions with the goal of reinstating performance. This research will in part aim to suggest positive psychology as an alternative method. It is suggested that changing counselling to a positive psychology perspective could lead to greater outcomes than just assisting employees through personal and emotional difficulties. The aim of positive psychology counselling should be to enhance employees’ sense of coherence, resilience, optimism, work engagement and self-efficacy, amongst others. Thus, Industrial-Organisational psychologists need to be effectively prepared in order to counsel people towards flourishing in the workplace. This implies that they need the necessary exposure to and training in certain skills.