Investigating job characteristics and employee attitudes in a manufacturing concern

Abstract

The manufacturing industry plays an important role in the economy of South Africa. The industry provides jobs to over a million people. However, the industry has experienced a steady decline over the last decade with significant levels of job losses that increase the demand on existing organisations to be productive. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between and the role of job demands and resources in job satisfaction, organisational commitment and intention to quit in a South African manufacturing concern. A cross-sectional survey design was followed, using a convenience sample (N=176) to reach the objectives of this study. The Job Demands Resources Scale, Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, Organisational Commitment Questionnaire and a modified Tilburg Psychological Contract Questionnaire were administered. Descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, reliability analysis, Pearson product-moment correlation analysis, and a stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to analyse the data. Five reliable factors were extracted by means of a principal component analysis namely: organisational support, career advancement, information, overload and job insecurity. The results showed that job resources were related to each other and to job satisfaction and organisational commitment, whilst job demands were related to intention to quit. Job resources such as organisational support and career advancement served as significant predictors of job satisfaction, organisational commitment and intention to quit. Information, as a job resource, did not predict job satisfaction or organisational commitment. The job demand, overload, only played a significant role in the intention to quit and job insecurity did not play a significant role in any of the employee attitudes under investigation in this manufacturing concern. Recommendations are provided for the organisation and for future studies.