What brings job satisfaction?

In attempting this question, the more emphasize has been given to the general concept of Job Satisfaction. The first part tells the meaning of satisfaction as explained by different scholars in different perspectives, the second part asserts the major factors that influence job satisfaction, the third part is the discussion concerned with the outcomes of job satisfaction, and the last part is conclusion which gives the summary picture of the discussion above followed with reference books (Bibliography).

Many people tend to confuse between satisfaction and motivation these two terms have different meanings although they relate to job satisfaction, you cannot escape to talk about motivation. Motivation is the drive to satisfy a want and it is concerned with goal direction behaviour.

According to Armstrong, M (2006: 264) the term motivation refers to the attitudes and feelings people have about their work. Positive and favourable attitudes towards the job indicate job satisfaction, negative and favourable attitudes towards the job indicate dissatisfaction.

Gupta, C (2009: 33.3) conceptualizes the term satisfaction as it refers to contentment experience after the satisfaction of want. It employees effective response towards the work itself, rewards promotion, supervision and others just to mention a few.

Morale is often defined as being equivalent to job satisfaction, Guion, R.M (1958) defined job satisfaction (morale) as the extent to which an individual’s needs are satisfied and the extent to which the individual perceives that the satisfaction as streaming from his work situation.

Therefore I can say that job satisfaction is often determined by the employee’s perception an organisation provides the things which they consider to be important, how well outcomes meet or exceed expectations, and this is the one’s feelings regarding the nature of his/her work.

The major factors that influence job satisfaction are as follows: According to Armstrong M. (2006: 264), the level of job satisfaction is influencing intrinsic and extrinsic motivating factors, that is the quality of supervision social relationship with their work group, and the degree to which individuals succeed or fail in their work.

The quality of supervision is very important in an enterprise where by workers become more satisfied when they are supervised by someone whom they consider to be a good supervisor/good leader. A good leader is the one who leads people in a required manner by following leadership skills and techniques. In the organisation the employees need to be respected, trusted and given opportunity in a participation in decision making and …

Furthermore, Punel et all (2003) believes that discretionary behaviour which helps the firm to be successful is mostly likely to happen when employees are well motivated and committed to the organisation and whether the job gives then high level of satisfaction. Their research found that the key factors influencing job satisfaction were career opportunities, job influence, team work and job challenges.