1,720,988 research outputs found
The Relationship Between Job Satisfaction And Life Satisfaction: Empirical Evidence From Logistics Practitioners In A South African Steel-Making Company
Full text linkThere has been an explosion of research interests centered upon the job satisfaction-life satisfaction nexus within organizations. Be that as it may, there is a relative paucity of research on the job satisfaction of logistics practitioners in general and limited evidence of studies that specifically address the issue of job satisfaction in the steel-making industry in developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the structural relationships between job satisfaction and life satisfaction. The study followed a quantitative survey approach in which a three-section questionnaire was administered to 192 purposively selected logistics practitioners in a South African steel-making company. The Minnesota Job Satisfaction Scale and the Satisfaction with Life Scale were adapted for this study. Data were analysed through Principal Component Analysis using Varimax rotation, nonparametric correlation analysis, and descriptive statistics. Five job satisfaction factors, namely, skills utilisation, workplace flexibility, autonomy, teamwork, and remuneration were extracted. The five factors attained high Cronbach Alpha values above the recommended 0.70, which indicates high internal consistencies among the sub-scales. Positive, significant relationships were found between life satisfaction and two factors, namely, skills utilization and remuneration. Weak relationships were found between life satisfaction and three job satisfaction factors, namely, teamwork, workplace flexibility, and autonomy. Mean score rankings showed that among the job satisfaction factors, skills utilisation was more important to logistics practitioners. The study is important in that it provides further verification of the patterns in the relationship between job satisfaction and life satisfaction. By examining the structural interplay between job and life satisfaction variables among logistics practitioners, organizations may be better equipped to initiate strategies of meeting the needs of their logistics workforce, thereby facilitating improved organizational performance as measured through the ability to deliver the right product to the right place at the right time, which is the mission of logistics
Decrypting the nexus between organisational culture, quality of work life, job satisfaction and employee productivity in the public sector
No full textThe recent recognition of the importance of the public sector as a major driver of economic success in any given country underlines the need to focus on strategies for enhancing the productivity of public sector employees. The aim of this paper is to examine the influence of organisational culture and quality of work life on job satisfaction and employee productivity among employees in the South African public sector. Using the quantitative survey research design, a questionnaire was developed and administered to a convenience sample of 264 employees drawn from central government departments in Gauteng. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test the psychometric properties of measurement scales and hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling. Organisational culture and quality of work life positively and significantly influenced job satisfaction. In turn, job satisfaction positively and significantly influenced employee productivity. Organisational culture exerted greater influence on job satisfaction than quality of work life. By implication, the labour relations environment in the public sector may be improved by nurturing healthy cultures and enriching quality of work life, thereby improving both job satisfaction and employee productivity
Predicting Organisational Performance Through Innovation, Quality And Inter-Organisational Systems: A Public Sector Perspective
Full text linkThere remains a constant need for further empirical research on organisational performance in the public sector, in a bid to generate current and relevant solutions. Such an approach could be a panacea for performance-related problems that continue to affect public organisations in developing countries. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between organisational performance and three input factors; namely, innovation, inter-organisational systems and quality. A quantitative approach using the survey method was used in which a questionnaire was administered to 272 randomly selected managers and employees of a South African government department. Data were analysed using a combination of descriptive and non-parametric statistics. Spearman’s rho was used to measure the strength of the relationships and regression analysis was used to measure the extent to which the input factors predicted organisational performance. Spearman’s correlations showed strong positive relationships between organisational performance and all three factors while regression analysis also revealed that the three factors predicted organisational performance. The study is significant in that managers in public organisations can use the findings as a diagnostic tool in performance problems, with a view to enhance organisational performance among public sector organisations
The Contribution Of Organisational Climate To Employee Well-Being
Full text linkThere is ample space for further human resource based research in the service industry sector in South Africa. For that reason, this study developed and tested a conceptual framework that linked employee well-being to four organisational climate factors; namely, manager-employee relationships, working conditions, remuneration and work allocation. An adapted six section structured questionnaire was administered to a conveniently recruited sample composed of 164 employees drawn from seven service industry enterprises located in Southern Gauteng, South Africa. Hypotheses were tested using regression analysis. All four organisational climate dimensions were statistically significant, implying that they predict employee well-being in the service industry. The results of this study may be used by managers in similar environments as either diagnostic tools or as a reference benchmark for strategic interventions in solving employee well-being related problems.
Factors influencing job satisfaction among public sector employees: an empirical exploration
No full textPerformance problems in public sector organisations in South Africa may be partially attributed to employee-related factors, including low job satisfaction levels. This study set out to examine factors influencing the job satisfaction of employees in a South African public sector organisation. A two-section survey questionnaire was administered to 246 government employees based in the Gauteng province of South Africa. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics of the sample and factor analysis to establish the factors that contributed to the job satisfaction of public sector employees. Reliabilities were measured with the aid of Cronbach’s alpha. Five underlying factors that contributed to job satisfaction, namely working conditions, ability utilisation, teamwork, creativity and autonomy were identified. Among these factors, teamwork emerged as the highest contributor to respondents’ job satisfaction. The findings suggest that to enhance employee job satisfaction levels, managers in public organisations should pay particular attention to each of the five factors identified in this study. This could be a solution to improving employee relations as well as meeting the performance challenges that currently face public organisations in South Africa
Organisational agility, business best practices and the performance of small to medium enterprises in South Africa
No full textBackground: Only one in 10 newly established business enterprises survives for longer than 10 years in the South African business environment. The primary reasons behind the demise of these small enterprises include the lack of access to financing, lack of financial and managerial skills, lack of expertise, as well as economic factors such as poor sales and weak growth prospects. The new norm in industrial markets is that business organisations must possess a remarkable amount of agility to survive and succeed. Success is important for South African small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) given their significant contributions to the national economy.Objectives: This study investigated the connection between organisational agility, business best practices and the performance of SMEs in South Africa.Method: A quantitative approach using the cross-sectional survey research design was employed in which a structured questionnaire was administered to 564 randomly selected owner-managers of SMEs. Hypotheses were tested using the structural equation modelling procedure, which was conducted after implementing a confirmatory factor analysis to test the psychometric properties of the measurement scales.Results: Hypotheses tests indicated that the four business best practices, namely, technology capability, collaborative innovation, organisational learning and internal alignment, exerted a significant positive influence on organisational agility. Also, organisational agility exerted a significant positive influence on business performance.Conclusion: The study demonstrates that the performance of SMEs can be improved significantly through a proper alignment between the four business best practices considered in this study. Improving the level of organisational agility in SMEs is also important in stimulating their performance. The results of the study can be applied to assist SMEs to survive and flourish in turbulent and dynamic markets, where agile organisational abilities are a requirement for success
Drivers Of Customer Loyalty In South African Retail Stores
Full text linkThere remains a need to provide empirically derived and updated information on the influence of store image factors on both the satisfaction as well as the loyalty of customers that is specifically customised to the South African context. This study examined the relationship between store image factors, store satisfaction and customer loyalty in the South African retail environment. The study tests a conceptual framework which links five store image factors; namely, sales assistance, store atmospherics, store appeal, promotion and store accessibility to store satisfaction and customer loyalty. A four section structured questionnaire was administered to a conveniently drawn sample of 489 apparel shoppers. Participants were recruited at three shopping malls located in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Data analysis was conducted using the Statistical Packages for the social Sciences (Version 21.0). Spearman correlations showed negative to weak correlations between the factors and store satisfaction. Regression analysis revealed that promotion and store appeal were statistically significant in predicting store satisfaction. Store satisfaction was positively associated and significantly predicted customer loyalty. The findings of the study can be used by managers in retail stores to develop a current view of the shopping behaviour of today’s consumers. This enables them to initiate and implement appropriate marketing strategies in their retail stores
Societal Factors and Life Satisfaction: Evidence from Low Income Urban Societies in a Developing Country
Full text linkThis paper tested the influence of four societal factors, namely marital status, religion, age and gender on the life satisfaction of low income urban earners in a developing country. A survey was conducted using a sample consisting of 985 individuals drawn from three low income townships in Gauteng Province, South Africa. In order to measure life satisfaction the validated Satisfaction with Life Scale developed by Diener et al. (1985), was utilised. Associations between each societal factor and life satisfaction were tested using multiple regression analysis. Marital status was statistically insignificant (β=0.058; P=0.170). All categories of religion were statistically significant, with Christianity (β=0.424; P=0.044) exerting the highest influence on life satisfaction. In terms of age, young adults demonstrated higher satisfaction with life than older adults, with young adults (β=0.369; P=0.019) exerting the highest influence on life satisfaction than other age categories. Gender was statistically insignificant (β=0.059; P=0.307) depicting that life satisfaction is not dependent on gender. The paper closes by drawing conclusions based on the results and suggesting several policy implications for improving the impact of each societal factor on life satisfaction
Assessing Consumer Purchasing Decision Styles: An Empirical Investigation From South Africa
Full text linkThe determinants of how and why people shop has been a topical matter to many people for many years. This had a stimulus effect on the development and proliferation of a diversity of consumer typologies. The purpose of this study was to develop a typology of South African Generation Y consumers in their purchasing decisions. The study adopted a quantitative approach in which a structured questionnaire was used to survey 294 Generation Y consumers who were selected using an integration of non-probability convenience and judgement sampling methods. Seven groups of Generation Y consumers, namely quality conscious, brand conscious, novelty seeking, hedonistic, confused by over-choice, habitual, brand loyal, and fashion conscious were identified. Differences were found between consumers who are confused by over-choice and younger Generation Y consumers. Younger consumers were found to be more confused by over-choice compared to their older counterparts. Findings of this study suggest that retailers should use communication channels which would be more easily understood by Generation Y consumers, and they should provide information that assists buyers to make a rational decision in the buying process
Transactional leadership and its effect on supply chain management in manufacturing SMEs
Full text linkThe continued lacklustre performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa has brought the quest for lasting solutions. One of the options available is to tap into the areas of leadership and supply chain management (SCM) as potential sources of SME growth.
This study analysed the link between transactional leadership and SCM in manufacturing SMEs in South Africa. The research constructs included transactional leadership, supply chain execution (SCE), and performance.
The research was conducted in Gauteng, North-West and the Free State provinces. Furthermore, the study focused on established manufacturing SMEs, registered with the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA).
A quantitative research approach using a correlational design was used. 411 SME owners, managers and professional employees participated in the study.
Management by exception exerted a positive effect on SCE. In turn, SCE positively impacted customer service (CS) but did not affect supplier performance.
The impact of transactional leadership on the execution of SCM in manufacturing SMEs is minimal and is demonstrated through management by exception. Effective implementation of SCM in these businesses is essential for optimising CS
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