The Meaning of Sense of Coherence in Transcultural Management: A Salutogenic Perspective on Interactions in a Selected South African Business Organisation

Claude-Helene Mayer: The Meaning of Sense of Coherence in Transcultural Management: A Salutogenic Perspective on Interactions in a Selected South African Business Organisation Munster: Waxmann 2011, 455 pp., euro 44,90 . the nutritious pemmican on which scholars love to chew. Robertson Davies (1995, p. 187). Researchers on the sense of coherence, transcultural management, and even management in general, will find much in this book that is most worthwhile - but be prepared for some hard work. True to its physical format of just over 400 pages, this is in large part a highly informative work. Just the king's ransom of 55 pages of references makes it a required resource where research is considered or being done in these and related areas. There are German and British references, the usual predominance of American references, and an impressive collection of South African ones. Yet, it is not a book without problems. In terms of presentation, I found it slow reading, due to a style of sentences loaded with information, and constantly concluded with references, often several at a time (but which I frequently wanted to look up, and often marked). There is also much redundancy in the presentation. Contents The first four chapters present the theoretical backbone of the project - extensively. It contains the theoretical aspects and methodology of the research. The bibliography is brought to bear here. This portion of the book could serve as a model for doctoral students or a team of researchers on organisational behaviour, management, and even sociology or anthropology of organisations (although perhaps in the way of the cock who took the hens to an ostrich egg - to show them what could be done). A general orientation is presented in Chapter 1 . Research questions are presented in great detail, as is the research design: a phenomenological (hermeneutic) approach, using a single case study, employing quantitative (questionnaires) and qualitative (indepth interviews, observations and field notes) research methods. The research problem is stated: ". to contribute to a new and complex understanding of salutogenesis interlinked with selected issues in diverse organisational contexts" (p. 25). This is most welcome, as much of the existing literature covers problems of individual psychological functioning in sickness and health. A secondary goal was to develop a model for organisational intervention along salutogenic lines. The fact that the study was done in (South) Africa, makes it a valuable contribution to a field usually explored in the northern hemisphere. It allowed, too, for a diverse sample of participants. In terms of application, the hope is expressed that managers could use the data and findings to improve their understanding of their complex work situation. For this to happen, a greatly condensed and pre-digested version would be required. The context of the research is presented in Chapter 2: the automotive industry, the current financial crisis, transcultural management challenges in South Africa (including affirmative action and Black economic empowerment), and a discussion of the chosen organisation in Europe and in South Africa. Pandigms of health research, in particular the salutogenic/fortigenic pandigm form the contents of Chapter 3. Antonovsky (1979, 1987) sought to unravel "the mystery of health" and to find answers to the question how people manage stress and stay well; he coined the term "salutogenesis" (origins of health). One of his central constructs in his model is the "sense of coherence" (SOC) and he developed a questionnaire to measure it - one of the measures used in Mayer's study. F? othgenesis" is Strumpfer's (1995) extension of Antonovsky's construct, to describe the origins of strength at other endpoint too, including work. The present work contains an extensive section on Antonovsky's theoretical approach and the sense of coherence, as well as a review of research literature, including South African studies. …