Analysing the organisational climate and employee satisfaction in the support services departments at a tertiary institution

Abstract

Organisational climate is the individual collective perception of the work environment. Organisational climate consists of a set of characteristics that distinguish organisations from each other, is relatively enduring over time and influences the employees‟ behaviour in the organisation. It also has a significant effect on job satisfaction and -performance (Tiwara, 2014:1). All organisations consist of a hierarchal formal structure of command. The role of leaders is of great importance in any organisation. The way in which organisations operate has changed over recent years: managers strive to lead and employees contribute their services. Power is diffused and shared. The new workplace seeks to balance the company strategy and the life strategy of individuals (Gray, R. 2007:ix). The objective of this study is to focus on the correlation between some factors that could influence the organisational climate and employee satisfaction at the support services departments at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University. This quantitative study made use of questionnaires that were distributed to 639 possible participants, i.e. all employees at the support services departments at the University. 190 responses were received, representing 30% of the total population