A River Runs Through It : Landscapes Of Learning, Development And Change Of Nontraditional Workers = Umfula Uguduza Khona: Ukwendlaleka Kwemfundo, Ukuthuthuka Kanye Nokushintsha Kwabasebenzi Abangaqashiwe Ngokwendlela Evamile.
In the 21st century contexts in which we live, precarious work has become more prevalent. This study explored how workplace learning takes place for those of us who do not belong fully to an organisation. The need for lifelong and life-wide learning in formal, non-formal and informal ways becomes critical for non-traditional workers, who are defined as those who are not in traditional full-time employment but work on short-term contracts, often for multiple companies. This study focused on this niche group of professionals who work in alternative ways. I was drawn to conduct this study due to my own expectations and experiences about the world of work. Childhood mindsets about work being in one company and job for life were challenged and changed during my career, in which I found myself working in non-traditional ways, enjoying the flexibility that this way of working afforded me. Transformative learning theory, which is about a revision of frames of reference, was a helpful theoretical lens to explain some aspects of my career story. My unique career journey piqued my curiosity about how other non-traditional workers navigate their way into and through the world of work and how they develop as professionals in contexts of precarity. Communities of practice theory (a social learning theory) surfaced as a helpful theoretical lens to explore the learning journeys of my own and another five non-traditional workers. A narrative autoethnographic research approach and a participatory interview technique called river of life were used as the methodological roadmap to navigate my way through the study. The study explored the development of identities, the processes and sources of learning, and the implications of learning in such contexts. The findings identified the importance of lifelong and life-wide learning for non-traditional workers, culminating in the notion of careers being like living landscapes that are moving and changing as we engage in them. The important role of experience and the development of transferable skills was identified. The participants were also found to be good at managing multiplicity in their careers, working across subject areas, projects and multiple identities. Finally, an emerging culture of this type of worker was explored. Iqoqa. Ngokwesikhathi sekhulunyaka lamashumi amabili nanye (21st) esiphila kusona, imisebenzi engaqinisekisiwe isivamile. Lolu cwaningo lubheka ukuthi ukufunda emsebenzini kwenzeka kanjani kulabo bethu abangesebenzi kuleso sikhungo ngokuphelele. Isidingo sokufunda unomphelo impilo yonke ngezindlela ezihlelwe ngokusemthethweni nezingahleliwe ngokusemthethweni sisemqoka kubasebenzi abangaqashiwe ngokwendlela evamile, abachazwa njengabangaqashiwe ngokuphelele emisebenzini evamile kodwa abasebenza ngaphansi kwesivumelwano sesikhashana futhi abasebenzela izinkampani ezahlukahlukene imvamisa. Lolu cwaningo lwagxila kulolu hlobo lweqoqo lochwepheshe abasebenza ngezindlela ezahlukahlukene. Into eyangiheha ukuba ngenze lolu cwaningo ukuba nezinto engangizilindele nengangihlangabezana nazo kulo mkhakha womsebenzi. Ngabheka imicabango yasebuncaneni bami yokuthi umuntu kumele ahlale enkampanini eyodwa impilo yakhe yonke neyashintsha ngenkathi sengisebenza nokuyilapho ngazithola khona ngisebenza ngiqashwe ngokwezindlela ezingavamile, ngithokozela ukukwazi ukwenza izinto ngendlela yami ngesikhathi engisifunayo okwakuhambisana nakho lokhu. Inkolelombono yokufunda eguqulayo, emayelana nokubukezwa kwezinhlaka zemithombo, yayiyisibuko esiwusizo sokuchaza izici ezithile zendaba yami yomsebenzi. Uhambo lwami lomsebenzi oluyingqalizivele lwangihlaba umxhwele ngelukuluku lokufuna ukwazi ukuthi abanye abasebenzi abangaqashiwe ngendlela evamile benze njani empilweni yabo yokusebenza nokuthi bakhula kanjani njengochwepheshe ezimweni zokuchuma. Imiphakathi yezinkolelombono zokuzijwayeza (inkolelombono yokufunda yezenhlalo) yavela njengeso eliwusizo kwinkolelombono yokuhlola uhambo lwami lokufunda kanye na