The Influence of Career Commitment and Workload on Academics’ Job Satisfaction: The Moderating Role of a Supportive Environment

Jamali Janib, Roziah Mohd Rasdi, Zeinab Zaremohzzabieh

Abstract


This paper serves to study the influences of career commitment and workload on job satisfaction among academics in higher education. We investigated whether a supportive environment is a significant moderator between workload and job satisfaction. For this cross-sectional study, the stratified random sampling method yielded 191 academics from five research universities in Malaysia. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) showed that high levels of career commitment correspond with high levels of satisfaction at work of academics. Also, a greater workload diminishes job satisfaction among academics. The analysis of the interaction-moderation dynamics showed that a supportive environment reduces workload effects on academics’ job satisfaction. This study contributes to confirming the important roles of career commitment and workload in predicting job satisfaction. It also expands literature on the buffering role of a supportive environment in the interaction between workload and job satisfaction among academics. 

https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.21.1.1


Keywords


academic staff; career commitment; job satisfaction; supportive environment; workload

Full Text:

PDF

References


Agbozo, G. K., Owusu, I. S., Hoedoafia, M. A., & Atakorah, Y. B. (2017). The effect of work environment on job satisfaction: Evidence from the banking sector in Ghana. Journal of Human Resource Management, 5(1), 12–18. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jhrm.20170501.12

Ahmad, A., Khan, M. U., Srikanth, A. B., Patel, I., Nagappa, A. N., & Jamshed, S. Q. (2015). Evaluation of workload and its impact on satisfaction among pharmacy academicians in Southern India. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research: JCDR, 9(6), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2015/12921.6023

Akob, M. (2016). Influence workload, work ethic and job satisfaction toward teacher’s performance (Study of Islamic-based school in Makasar- Indonesia). Advanced Research Journal of Management and Business Studies, 5(7), 172–177.

Ali, N. H. M., Hassan, S. A., Jailani, O., Zaremohzzabieh, Z., & Lee, Z. J. (2020). The impact of supervisory styles on satisfaction of undergraduate counselling interns in Malaysia. Asian Journal of University Education, 16(3), 138–147. https://doi.org/10.24191/ajue.v16i3.11079

Alrawahi, S., Sellgren, S. F., Altouby, S., Alwahaibi, N., & Brommels, M. (2020). The application of Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation to job satisfaction in clinical laboratories in Omani hospitals. Heliyon, 6(9), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04829

Al-Sada, M., Al-Esmael, B., & Faisal, M. N. (2017). Influence of organizational culture and leadership style on employee satisfaction, commitment and motivation in the educational sector in Qatar. EuroMed Journal of Business, 12(2), 163–188. https://doi.org/10.1108/EMJB-02-2016-0003

Amin, S., Arshad, R., & Ghani, R. A. (2017). Spousal support and subjective career success: The role of work-family balance and career commitment as mediator. Jurnal Pengurusan (UKM Journal of Management), 50, 133–142. https://doi.oeg/10.17576/pengurusan-2017-50-12

Ather, S. M., & Nimlathasan, B. (2006). Association between quality of work life (QWL) and job satisfaction (JS): A study of academic professionals of private universities in Bangladesh. The Chittagong University Journal of Business Administration, 21, 9–23. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/205019610_Quality_of_Work_life_QoWL_and_Job_Satisfaction_JS_A_Study_of_Academic_Professionals_of_Private_Universities_in_Bangladesh

Berberoglu, A. (2018). Impact of organizational climate on organizational commitment and perceived organizational performance: Empirical evidence from public hospitals. BMC Health Services Research, 18(1), 399. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3149-z

Bibi, P., Ahmad, A., & Majid, A. H. A. (2018). The impact of training and development and supervisor support on employees retention in academic institutions: The moderating role of work environment. Gadjah Mada International Journal of Business, 20(1), 113–131. https://doi.org/10.22146/gamaijb.24020

Blau, G. J. (1985). The measurement and prediction of career commitment. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 58(4), 277–288. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8325.1985.tb00201.x

Caldana, A. C. F., Eustachio, J. H. P. P., Sampaio, B. L., Gianotto, M. L., Talarico, A. C., & da Silva Batalhão, A. C. (2021). A hybrid approach to sustainable development competencies: The role of formal, informal and non-formal learning experiences. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education (ahead of print), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijshe-10-2020-0420

Cerci, P. A., & Dumludag, D. (2019). Life satisfaction and job satisfaction among university faculty: The impact of working conditions, academic performance and relative income. Social Indicators Research, 144(2), 785?806. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-018-02059-8

Choi, H., & Chiu, W. (2017). Influence of the perceived organizational support, job satisfaction, and career commitment on football referees’ turnover intention. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 17, 955–959. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2017.s3146

Chong, Y., & Thi, L.-S. (2020). University freshman mentoring effectiveness and scale enhancement. Asian Journal of University Education, 16(4), 181–189. https://doi.org/10.24191/ajue.v16i4.11950

Clarke, M. (2015). Creating a supportive working environment in European higher education [technical report]. Education International Research Institute.

de Lourdes Machado-Taylor, M., Meira Soares, V., Brites, R., Brites Ferreira, J., Farhangmehr, M., Gouveia, O. M. R., & Peterson, M. (2016). Academic job satisfaction and motivation: Findings from a nationwide study in Portuguese higher education. Studies in Higher Education, 41(3), 541–559. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2014.942265

De Sousa Sabbagha, M., Ledimo, O., & Martins, N. (2018). Predicting staff retention from employee motivation and job satisfaction. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 28(2), 136–140. https://doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2018.1454578

Dorenkamp, I., & Ruhle, S. (2019). Work-life conflict, professional commitment, and job satisfaction among academics. The Journal of Higher Education, 90(1), 56–84. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.2018.1484644

Duffy, R. D., England, J. W., Douglass, R. P., Autin, K. L., & Allan, B. A. (2017). Perceiving a calling and well-being: Motivation and access to opportunity as moderators. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 98, 127–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2016.11.003

Eisenberger, R., Huntington, R., Hutchison, S., & Sowa, D. (1986). Perceived organizational support. Journal of Applied Psychology, 71(3), 500–507. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.71.3.500

Escardíbul, J.-O., & Afcha, S. (2017). Determinants of the job satisfaction of PhD holders: An analysis by gender, employment sector, and type of satisfaction in Spain. Higher Education, 74(5), 855–875. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-016-0081-1

Franke, G., & Sarstedt, M. (2019). Heuristics versus statistics in discriminant validity testing: A comparison of four procedures. Internet Research, 29(3), 430–447. https://doi.org/10.1108/IntR-12-2017-0515

Gendron, T., Welleford, E. A., Pelco, L., & Myers, B. J. (2016). Who is likely to commit to a career with older adults? Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 37(2), 208–228. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701960.2014.954042

Hair, J. F., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). Rethinking some of the rethinking of partial least squares. European Journal of Marketing, 53(4), 566–584. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJM-10-2018-0665

Hair Jr, J. F., Howard, M. C., & Nitzl, C. (2020). Assessing measurement model quality in PLS-SEM using confirmatory composite analysis. Journal of Business Research, 109, 101–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.11.069

Hair Jr, J. F., Sarstedt, M., Hopkins, L., & Kuppelwieser, V. G. (2014). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM): An emerging tool in business research. European Business Review, 26(2), 106–121. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-10-2013-0128

Halder, N. (2018). Investing in human capital: Exploring causes, consequences and solutions to nurses’ dissatisfaction. Journal of Research in Nursing, 23(8), 659–675. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744987118807251

Hall, D. T., Yip, J., & Doiron, K. (2018). Protean careers at work: Self-direction and values orientation in psychological success. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 5, 129–156. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-032117-104631

Hee, O. C., Ong, S. H., Ping, L. L., Kowang, T. O., & Fei, G. C. (2019). Factors influencing job satisfaction in the higher learning institutions in Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 9(2), 10–20. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v9-i2/5510

Henseler, J., Hubona, G., & Ray, P. A. (2016). Using PLS path modeling in new technology research: Updated guidelines. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 116(1), 2–20. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-09-2015-0382

Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43(1), 115–135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-014-0403-8

Herzberg, F.I., Mausner, B., & Snyderman, B. (1959). The motivation to work (2nd ed.). John Wiley.

Herzberg, F. I. (1966). Work and the Nature of Man. Wold.

Houston, D., Meyer, L. H., & Paewai, S. (2006). Academic staff workloads and job satisfaction: Expectations and values in academe. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 28(1), 17–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/13600800500283734

Hsiao, J.-M., & Lin, D.-S. (2018). The impacts of working conditions and employee competences of fresh graduates on job expertise, salary and job satisfaction. Journal of Reviews on Global Economics, 7, 246–259. https://ideas.repec.org/a/lif/jrgelg/v7y2018p246-259.html

Imondi, P. J. N. (2011). The influence of workload on performance of teachers in public primary schools in Kombewa Division, Kisumu West District, Kenya (Master’s dissertation). University of Nairobi.

Indarti, S., Fernandes, A. A. R., & Hakim, W. (2017). The effect of OCB in relationship between personality, organizational commitment and job satisfaction on performance. Journal of Management Development, 36(10), 1283–1293. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMD-11-2016-0250

Inegbedion, H., Inegbedion, E., Peter, A., & Harry, L. (2020). Perception of workload balance and employee job satisfaction in work organisations. Heliyon, 6(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03160

Janib, J., Rasdi, R. M., Omar, Z., Alias, S. N., Zaremohzzabieh, Z., & Ahrari, S. (2021). The relationship between workload and performance of research university academics in Malaysia: The mediating effects of career commitment and job satisfaction. Asian Journal of University Education, 17(2), 85–99. https://doi.org/10.24191/ajue.v17i2.13394

Kenny, J. (2018). Re-empowering academics in a corporate culture: An exploration of workload and performativity in a university. Higher Education, 75(2), 365–380. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-017-0143-z

Kim, S. J., Song, M., Hwang, E., Roh, T., & Song, J. H. (2020). The mediating effect of individual regulatory focus in the relationship between career commitment and job satisfaction. European Journal of Training and Development, 45(2/3), 166?180. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-02-2020-0030

Laihonen, H., & Mäntylä, S. (2017). Principles of performance dialogue in public administration. International Journal of Public Sector Management, 30(5), 414–428. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-09-2016-0149

Liu, H.-L., & Lo, V. (2018). An integrated model of workload, autonomy, burnout, job satisfaction, and turnover intention among Taiwanese reporters. Asian Journal of Communication, 28(2), 153–169. https://doi.org/10.1080/01292986.2017.1382544

Liu, J., Yu, W., Ding, T., Li, M., & Zhang, L. (2019). Cross-sectional survey on job satisfaction and its associated factors among doctors in tertiary public hospitals in Shanghai, China. BMJ Open, 9(3), 1–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023823

Marsaditha, P. H. (2017). The influence of work load, job satisfaction, and working environment towards woman work life balance (Case study in Pt Hasta Ayu Nusantara Jakarta) (PhD thesis). President University, West Java, Indonesia.

Mudrak, J., Zabrodska, K., Kveton, P., Jelinek, M., Blatny, M., Solcova, I., & Machovcova, K. (2018). Occupational well-being among university faculty: A job demands-resources model. Research in Higher Education, 59(3), 325–348. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-017-9467-x

Naseer, S., Raja, U., Syed, F., & Bouckenooghe, D. (2018). Combined effects of workplace bullying and perceived organizational support on employee behaviors: Does resource availability help? Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 31(6), 654–668. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2018.1521516

Newman, A., Nielsen, I., Smyth, R., Hirst, G., & Kennedy, S. (2018). The effects of diversity climate on the work attitudes of refugee employees: The mediating role of psychological capital and moderating role of ethnic identity. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 105, 147–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2017.09.005

Osifila, G. I., & Aladetan, T. A. (2020). Workload and lecturers’ job satisfaction in Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria. Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn), 14(3), 416–423. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1266299

Prieto, I. M., & Pérez-Santana, M. P. (2014). Managing innovative work behavior: The role of human resource practices. Personnel Review, 43(2), 184–208. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-11-2012-0199

Purba, S. D. (2017). Career management dan subjective career success: Dapatkah meningkatkan kepuasan kerja wanita karir? [Career management and subjective career success: Can women’s job satisfaction improve their career?]. MIX: Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen, 7(1), 113–131.

Ringle, C. M., Sarstedt, M., Mitchell, R., & Gudergan, S. P. (2020). Partial least squares structural equation modeling in HRM research. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 31(12), 1617–1643. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2017.1416655

Sabagh, Z., Hall, N. C., & Saroyan, A. (2018). Antecedents, correlates and consequences of faculty burnout. Educational Research, 60(2), 131–156. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131881.2018.1461573

Singh, J. K., & Jain, M. (2013). A study of employees’ job satisfaction and its impact on their performance. Journal of Indian Research, 1(4), 105–111.

Song, S. L., Barker, K., & Kerbyson, D. (2013). Unified performance and power modeling of scientific workloads. Proceedings of the 1st International Workshop on Energy Efficient Supercomputing, 4, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1145/2536430.2536435

Suifan, T. S., Abdallah, A. B., & Al Janini, M. (2018). The impact of transformational leadership on employees’ creativity: The mediating role of perceived organizational support. Management Research Review, 41(1), 113–132. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-02-2017-0032

Tight, M. (2010). Are academic workloads increasing? The post-war survey evidence in the UK. Higher Education Quarterly, 64(2), 200–215. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2273.2009.00433.x

Toropova, A., Myrberg, E., & Johansson, S. (2021). Teacher job satisfaction: The importance of school working conditions and teacher characteristics. Educational Review, 73(1), 71–97. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131911.2019.1705247

Wolf, P., Harboe, J., Sudbrack Rothbarth, C., Gaudenz, U., Arsan, L., Obrist, C., & Van Leeuwen, M. (2021). Non-governmental organisations and universities as transition intermediaries in sustainability transformations building on grassroots initiatives. Creativity and Innovation Management, 30(3), 596–618. https://doi.org/10.1111/caim.12425

Xie, B., Zhou, W., Huang, J. L., & Xia, M. (2017). Using goal facilitation theory to explain the relationships between calling and organization-directed citizenship behavior and job satisfaction. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 100, 78–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2017.03.001

Zhang, J., Wu, Q., Miao, D., Yan, X., & Peng, J. (2014). The impact of core self-evaluations on job satisfaction: The mediator role of career commitment. Social Indicators Research, 116(3), 809–822. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-013-0328-5


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


e-ISSN: 1694-2116

p-ISSN: 1694-2493