Assessing the relationship between women leadership and job satisfaction in a tertiary institution

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship between women in leadership positions and their overall job satisfaction, considering the glass ceiling effect in a specific organisation. The short version of the MSQ – Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire – was used as measuring instrument and consists of 20 questions that explore factors of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Nine questions derived from the literature were added to the questionnaire to further explore job satisfaction. The population consists of female employees within a tertiary institution. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a convenience sample (N = 361) representing a response rate of 31.94% from a sample of 1 130 employees. The results indicated that although the participants had a desire for development in leadership skills, it had a small effect on their total job satisfaction levels. The study also showed that the glass ceiling effect had little effect on employees regarding leadership positions. Limitations to the study were identified and recommendations for future research were made regarding these constructs.