Constructive workplace deviance for rising Africa: A case of selected South African farmworkers

Abstract

The rapid population growth in Africa is estimated to double by 2050, which could create food security challenges. The agriculture industry, especially the farming sector, is considered one of the industries that can proactively rise and provide the needed African solutions to solve not only food security and economic stability but also unemployment and poverty. Proactive positive thinking and mechanisms are needed. This paper explores the forms of constructive deviant behaviors and managerial strategies to promote constructive deviance amongst farmworkers at selected South African fruit farms. As employees are important resources to assist organizations in realising their objectives, understanding the forms of constructive deviance amongst farmworkers and the managerial strategies, could assist the sector to continue rising. There seems to be limited research on the positive side of workplace deviance, especially in the African context. A qualitative research design within the paradigm of constructivism was employed to gather in-depth and invaluable data. Semi-structured interviews in the form of a narrative inquiry, were used to collect data. Thirty farmworkers and nine supervisors from three farms constituted the convenient sample for this research. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the collected narrative data. The findings revealed eight forms of constructive deviance, namely; extra-role job performance, high in-role job performance, creative job performance, whistle-blowing, urgent decision-making, disobedience of unreasonable orders and utilization of knowledge and skills. Nine managerial strategies to promote constructive deviant behaviors include effective communication, performance management, rewarding good performance, provision of training, supervisors’ support, degree of autonomy, opportunity to utilize skills, proper placement, and promotion of teamwork. The findings and further research could contribute positively towards assisting the agriculture sector to continue flourishing.