MACMILLAN Work-life Integration in Africa: A Multidimensional Approach to Achieving Balance

This book examines how individuals and organizations in Africa have found ways to integrate work and life roles effectively. It reflects on the notions that while many cultures have embraced women’s participation in the workplace, African culture has been more resistant to change thereby forcing companies and employees to invent their own solutions. This presents its own set of challenges, for example African organizations are generally not up to speed with the family-friendly policies that are required in the modern workplace; the effectiveness of such policies is questionable and there is an increasing realization that work-family policies are not the only way to achieve work-life integration and others may be considered, such as workplace mentoring and introducing incentives. With this in mind the authors consider multiple approaches to balancing work and life responsibilities with emphasis on three perspectives, namely organizational, individual and family and cultural. The book highlights and examines the joint responsibility that organizations, leaders and individuals have in achieving work life integration. Secondly the book considers why work-life integration initiatives fail and identifies the sources and remedies for these failures. Each chapter discusses the role of the identified dimensions necessary for collective achievement of work-life integration, while the final chapter sets out further research avenues and a conceptual framework that brings together the findings of the book. Review "This is a must-read book for any academician and business leader interested in getting a better understanding of the multiple factors involved in the achievement of work-life integration. The proposed model of work-life integration actually reflects, better than it had ever been done before, the complexity of real life in today's world and provides a much needed road map." (Professor Chantal Epie, Former Dean School of Management & Social Sciences. Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos Nigeria) From the Back Cover "This is a must-read book for any academician and business leader interested in getting a better understanding of the multiple factors involved in the achievement of work-life integration. The proposed model of work-life integration actually reflects, better than it had ever been done before, the complexity of real life in today's world and provides a much needed road map." --Professor Chantal Epie, Former Dean School of Management & Social Sciences. Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos Nigeria This book examines how individuals and organizations in Africa have found ways to integrate work and life roles effectively. It reflects on the notions that while many cultures have embraced women’s participation in the workplace, African culture has been more resistant to change thereby forcing companies and employees to invent their own solutions. This presents its own set of challenges, ranging from inadequate family-friendly policies to the increasing realization that work-family policies are not the only way to achieve work-life integration Hence, the authors consider multiple approaches to balancing work and life responsibilities with emphasis on three perspectives, namely organizational, individual and family and cultural. It recognizes the joint responsibility that organizations, leaders and individuals have in achieving work life integration. The book considers why work-life integration initiatives fail and remedial actions that can be taken. Each chapter discusses the role of the identified dimensions necessary for collective achievement of work-life integration, while the final chapter sets out further research avenues and a conceptual framework that brings together the findings of the book. Dr Okechukwu Amah is a full-time faculty at Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University where he facilitates sessions in organizational behavior and human resources management. He is th