Authors : Dzurizah Ibrahim, Kee Y. Sabariah, Kee Mohd Yussof, Fauzie Sarjono and Rose Patsy Tibok
Abstract: The integrating and balancing of job responsibilities with other roles in life (such as family, personal, religious and society) among Malaysian academics is an aspect seldom investigated and documented. This study is driven by the acute lack of literature on the subject and a pertinent need to explore the interelation of factors/contributory factors, especially in view of the recent change in the academic calender in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The academic year in HEIs now commences in September (instead of June) with the first semester ending in January of the following year. The upside of this change is that the new schedule facilitates the enrolment of international students; however since the semester only ends in January, it is no longer parallel to the standardised end-of-year school holidays in Malaysiathus effectively bringing implications to family vacation plans of academics with children of school- going age. This study aims to explore how life-cycle stages influence lecturers’ management of work and life when there is an overlap between their duties in HEIs and their children’s annual end-of-year school holidays. Qualitative findings suggest that the semester shift from June to September in the academic HEI calender has generated numerous responses from the respondents, with these reactions differentiated according to three life-cycle stages: post-conflict, in-conflict and pre-conflict. In general, two responses emerged from these three life-cycle stages: the rescheduling of semesters has: impinged on family ties and not created any difficulties in the family. Institutional and social support factors are perceived as important in ensuring the fulfillment of work and life responsibilities and the subsequent sustainment of a harmonious work- life relationship. There is therefore an cogent need for the organisation and management to be alert to the situational needs of employees so as to ensure work and life expectations are optimised without ignoring other domains.
Dzurizah Ibrahim, Kee Y. Sabariah, Kee Mohd Yussof, Fauzie Sarjono and Rose Patsy Tibok, 2016. An Exploratory Analysis of the Life-Cycle Influence on Lecturers’ Management of Work and Life. International Business Management, 10: 3290-3294.