An
empirical analyses of the factors
affecting job satisfaction among academic professionals in tertiary institution
in Nigeria, with focus on the University of Calabar.
(Business
Management)
Chapter one
Introduction
1.1
Background to the Study
Today, there
appears to be a widespread dissatisfaction in the teaching profession as a
whole and most especially in higher institutions of learning. This phenomenon
has triggered concerns of various parties, which have often resulted to
industrial action among academic professionals hence researchers have
assiduously conducted researches to gain a better understanding of the issues
related to this. A range of findings derived from quantitative as well as
qualitative studies have been reported in the literature regarding sources of
job satisfaction.
Job
satisfaction or employee
satisfaction is defined as the level of contentment an individual has in
his or her job, this gives an indication that there are some things an employee
founds very interesting in the job that keeps him/her dedicated. Job satisfaction
also means the multidimensional psychological
responses an employee gives to his/her
job. Job satisfaction measures vary in the extent to which they measure
feelings about the job or cognitions about the job.
Employee
satisfaction has always been an important issue for most employees around the
world. There are numerous definitions given to the term job satisfaction.
Oshagbemi (2000) defines job satisfaction as an emotional response that occurs
as a result of the interaction between the employee’s values concerning his/her
job and the profits he/she gained from his/her job.
Robbins
(2000) explains the concept of job satisfaction as the overall feelings towards
or attitudes about the job employees perform. On the other hand, Spector (1997)
claims that job satisfaction encompasses the reflection of the extent to which
employees like their job and its components. On the whole, it can be said that
job satisfaction is an area which has been widely researched (Highhouse and
Becker, 1993) and studies has shown that job satisfaction is linked mainly to
two factors: situational (extrinsic) and personal (intrinsic) factors (Qingwen,
2006). According to Heller, Schmidt and Hayes (2012)., situational factors include pay,
opportunities for promotion, working conditions and job characteristics such as
task identity, task significance, skill variety, autonomy and feedback while
personal factors include personality disposition, traits, self esteem,
motivation and emotion (Dorman and Zapf, 2001).
Job satisfaction
is crucial as it is related to job performance and turnover and in the 21st
century, this has become a serious problem in the management of educational
institutions (Anil, 2013).This is because, research has proven that employees
with high job satisfaction exhibit high energy, pleasurable engagement and
enthusiasm and employees with dissatisfaction show distress, unpleasant engagement
and nervousness (Heller 2002).
This
research project is therefore designed
to carry out an empirical analyses of
the factors affecting job satisfaction among academic professionals in tertiary
institution in Nigeria, with focus on the University of Calabar.
1.2
Statement of the problem
Employee are the most costly asset of any
organization. This is because no organization can succeed without well trained
and motivated staff. Especially in academic institutions were activities has to
do with the cultivation of future generation, hence the turnover of academics
has more serious implications on the
subject compared to other organizations. This is because the consequences that
emerge as a result of a high turnover among academicians would not only have
negative implications on the business part of the academic institutions but
also have serious repercussions on the generations being educated in these
institutions. Thus, not only will the teaching occupation suffer from disrepute
but the attainment of objectives of education will also be adversely affected
(Evans and Olumide, 2010) This trend which is causing much concern has
cultivated the interest of the researchers to investigate the motivational
factors that lead to job satisfactions among academicians with the purpose of identifying
the differences in the levels of job satisfaction among genders and generation.
1.3
Objectives of the study
The main objective of this study is, to analyze
the factors affecting job satisfaction among academic professionals of tertiary
institutions in University of Calabar. Other specific objectives include:
(i)
To
determine how financial incentives affect job satisfaction among academic
professional of tertiary institutions in University of Calabar.
(ii)
To
examine the extent to which staff promotion affect job satisfaction among
academic professional of tertiary institutions in University of Calabar.
(iii)
To
access the effect of working condition on job satisfaction among academic
professional of tertiary institutions in University of Calabar.
(iv)
To
evaluate the effect of motivational policies on job satisfaction among academic
professional of tertiary institutions in University of Calabar.
1.4 Research
questions
(i)
To
what extent does financial incentives
affect job satisfaction among academic professional of tertiary institutions in
University of Calabar?
(ii)
How
does staff promotion affect job satisfaction among academic professional of
tertiary institutions in University of Calabar?
(iii)
To
what extent does working condition affect job satisfaction among academic
professional of tertiary institutions in University of Calabar?
(iv)
To
what extent does motivational policies affect job satisfaction among academic
professional of tertiary institutions in University of Calabar?
1.5 Research
Hypothesis
(i)
There
is no significant relationship between financial incentives and job
satisfaction among academic professional of tertiary institutions in University
of Calabar
(ii)
There
is no significant relationship between staff promotion and job satisfaction
among academic professional of tertiary institutions in University of Calabar
(iii)
There
is no significant relationship between working condition and job satisfaction
among academic professional of tertiary institutions in University of Calabar
(iv)
There
is no significant relationship between motivational policies and job
satisfaction among academic professional of tertiary institutions in University
of Calabar
1.5 Scope and
Limitation of the Study
The scope of the study focuses on analyzing the
factors affecting job satisfaction among academic professionals of tertiary
institutions in University of Calabar. This institution is chosen because of
ease in accessibility and also being an institution with diverse academic goals.
The limitation of the study is due to insufficient financial resources, time
and materials that have hindered the researcher from accessing relevant
information pertaining to the subject matter and also the attitude of
respondents during field survey.
1.6
Significance of the Study
This study will be very significant to organizations,
employers and employees, students, managers and future researchers.
1.
Organization: Organizations can take advantage of information provided in
this study to update their policies interms of motivation, promotions,
incentives and working condition to enable them enhance the level of job
satisfaction among their employees as this will in turn help them achieve their
goals.
2.
Academic institutions: This
study will be of value to all academic institution especially tertiary
institutions (public and private), findings of this study will help this
institutions identify and address some of the sensitive issues such as finacial
incentives, work condition, promotion and motivational policies affecting job satisfaction among academic
staff.
3.
Employers and Employees: They can use it to develop and
establish firm ideas that will bring about further development in the way and
manner employers and employees can achieve job satisfaction.
4.
Students: This will serve as a guide and reference material to
students who intend to carry out a research, read or write more on this topic.
5.
Future Researchers: Those who will carry out research
in future will find it useful in meeting their goals.
1.7
Historical Background Of The Study Area: University of Calabar
The
University of Calabar also known
as UNICAL is a university
situated in Calabar,
Cross River State,
southeastern Nigeria.
It is one of Nigerian’s second generation universities. The University of
Calabar was a campus of the University of Nigeria until 1975. The architecture
was designed by John Elliott.
It was established by decree to fulfill this traditional mandate, its motto
“Knowledge for Service”.
The
Vice Chancellor is Prof James Epoke. The Registrar is Dr. Mrs. Julia Omang. The
University of Calabar was one of the foremost Nigerian Universities to automate
students’ registration processes through the College Portal, and has taken a
step further to automate her alumni relations which includes an online
transcript request and processing first of its kind in the country.
The
male students are known as Malabites, while the female students are
Malabresses. The male hostel is called Malabor. This was a result of challenges
faced by the students at a time which coincided with the suffering experienced
at Malabor by Nigerian deportees from Equatorial Guinea at that time whose
capital is Malabor (http://alumni.unical.edu.ng).
The
university has the following faculties:College of Medical Sciences.faculties of
Management Sciences, Education,Social Sciences, Arts, Law, Science, Agriculture,
Institutes of Public Policy and Administration, Oceanography,Graduate School University
of Calabar Consultancy Services.
Objectives for Establishment of the University of
Calabar include; To encourage the advancement of
knowledge of learning and to hold out to all person without distinctions of
race, creed, sex or political conviction the opportunity of acquiring liberal
education; To provide courses of instruction and other facilities for the
pursuit of learning in all its branches, and to make those facilities available
on proper terms of such persons as are equipped to benefit from them; To
encourage and promote scholarship and conduct research in all fields of learning
and human endeavour. To relate its activities to the social, cultural and
economic needs of the people of Nigeria; and to undertake any other activities
appropriate for a University of the highest standards. (http://www.myunical.net)
1.8
Definition of terms
Job satisfaction:-
It is simply how content an individual is with his or her job, in other words,
whether or not they like the job or individual aspects or facets of jobs, such
as nature of work or supervision.
Factor:-
A constituent
or element
that brings about certain effects or results,
or indicates a specific multiple, number, or quantity.
Tertiary institution:-
Education beyond the secondary level, especially education
at the college or university level.