%0 Journal Article
%T Exploring the (k)not of relationship between lecturers and management at a historically Black university: The lecturer¡¯s perspective
%A Michelle S. May
%A Frans Cilliers
%A Vasie van Deventer
%J South African Journal of Industrial Psychology
%D 2012
%I AOSIS OpenJournals
%R 10.4102/sajip.v38i2.998
%X Orientation: Within the new South African socio-political context this research focussed on lecturers¡¯ at historically Black universities who were confronted with unresolved experiences in their relationship with management. The analysis of these experiences provided an in-depth understanding of systems psychodynamics in tertiary education. Research purpose: The purpose of the research was to describe the experiences of nine lecturers in a particular historically Black university (HBU), in order to analyse and interpret the conscious and unconscious dynamics operating in their relationship with management. Motivation for the study: The researchers were interested in the in-depth psychological experiences of lecturers at this HBU as a platform towards understanding present day South African lecturing experiences. Research design, approach and method: Qualitative, descriptive research was used. Hermeneutic phenomenology, using the systems psychodynamic perspective, allowed for the description and interpretation of the lecturers¡¯ experiences of their relationship with management. In-depth interviews with nine lecturers were thematically analysed which resulted in five themes. Five working hypotheses were formulated and integrated into the research hypothesis. Main findings: Five themes manifested, namely, the (k)not of performance, mutual disqualification and mistrust, White lecturers and Black management, power struggle and the (k)not of relationship. Practical/managerial implications: The research highlighted the importance of understanding the psychodynamics operating in the relationship between lecturers and management as a result of certain ineffective socio-technical aspects in the organisation. Contribution/value-add: The research contributed towards knowledge about inter-group relations between different role players in HBUs and how these dynamics impact on the performance of both lecturers and management. How to cite this article: May, M.S., Cilliers, F., & Van Deventer, V. (2012). Exploring the (k)not of relationship between lecturers and management at a historically Black university: The lecturer¡¯s perspective. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology/SA Tydskrif vir Bedryfsielkunde, 38(2), Art. #998, 10 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajip.v38i2.998
%K Systems psychodynamics
%K (k)not of performance
%K disqualification
%K mistrust
%K power struggle
%U http://www.sajip.co.za/index.php/sajip/article/view/998