Individual experiences of a merger : the REM-theory

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) merger is typical of transformation in South African Higher Education. This merger does not conform to the "norm"; as it is ideologically motivated and thus the ideal base to study individual experiences of large scale change. Following a qualitative, grounded theory approach, 40 academic employees from UJ were interviewed. Findings indicate that academic staff relay their experiences and perceptions of the merger in three discernable time-frames, each with its own dynamic. Collectively, these time-frames constitute the Reflective Experience of Mergers (REM) theory, which examines how merger experiences of academic staff shape their perceptions of and attitudes toward the merger over time. The REM-theory reiterates the temporal nature of change; its effect on the emotional and psychological well-being of individuals and the role of leadership during a merger