Exploring relationship between value- and life-orientation and job satisfaction

Abstract

Purpose/objective: The purpose of this article is to investigate the relationship between value-and life-orientation and job satisfaction, as well as determining the influence of gender, age and cultural group within the selected South African organisational context. Problem investigated:The success of a diverse organisation in a complex globalised world is largely dependent on the values of managers, their life-orientation and their level of job satisfaction. Managers and employees, in a multicultural and diverse South African organisational context, need to be aware of and manage their similarities and differences in these aspects to contribute to overall organisational success.Design and/or research methodology and/or approach: In this exploratory research, use is made of a quantitative perspective in the positivist research paradigm. Value-orientations of managers (N = 30) at a selected parastatal organisation in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa were measured by making use of the Schwartz Value Survey (SVS) (Schwartz, 1992(Schwartz, ,1994; life-orientation, also referred to as Sense of Coherence (SOC), was assessed by using Antonovsky's (1997) Life Orientation Questionnaire as well as job satisfaction (JS) using Smith, Kendall and Hulin's (1969)'s Job Descriptive Index. Data were analysed using the R statistical software package (R Development Core Team, 2010). Each of the three research instruments (SVS, SOC & JS) considered in this study were used to calculate descriptive statistics and univariate statistical methodologies were used to test the various hypotheses. Findings and/or implementations:In terms of value-orientation, the value of benevolence (preservation and enhancement of the welfare of others) was scored the highest by the managers, and a significant difference was found in the average value scale score of stimulation (excitement, novelty, and challenge in life) and age. The findings with regard to lifeorientation indicated that manageability and comprehensibility were more important to managers than meaningfulness. A significant difference was found between meaningfulness and gender. In terms of cultural groups, significant differences between the average African and Indian and White and Indian meaningfulness scale scores were found. With regard to job satisfaction, there was generally a highly satisfied response to co-workers and a moderate satisfaction with work and supervisors. However, respondents were dissatisfied with pay and promotion. Additionally, significant relationships were found between some of the life-and value-orientation scales; the value-orientation and job satisfaction scales; and life-values and job satisfaction scales.Originality and/or value of research: This paper is based on original research and contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between value-and life-orientation and job satisfaction in a South African organisational context, as well as contributing towards empirical evidence of such relationships. Even though there seems to be a theor...

Perspectives of female leaders on sense of coherence and mental health in an engineering environment

“…This might be due to the fact that comprehensibility and manageability are more important and predominant for managers in their daily routine than the construction of meaningfulness. This result underpins the findings of former studies (Louw et al, 2012).…”

“…In the South African context, the finding was supported that women score lower in SOC than men in male-dominated work environments (Mayer, 2011;Oosthuizen, 2005). Another South African study, which focused on a parastatal organisation, highlights a significant difference in the average meaningfulness score between men and women, indicating that female managers scored higher in meaningfulness, but lower in total SOC scores in a male-dominated environment (Louw, Mayer & Baxter, 2012). Volanen (2011), however, emphasises that the impacts on a SOC are gender specific: not having a partner or not being able to use one's skills at work threatens the SOC of men, whilst a lack of social support does the same for women.…”

‘Committed, motivated and joyful?’ Job satisfaction and organisational commitment of managers at a South African public utility

“…Particularly in South Africa, there has been an interest in studying well-being (Van der Merwe 2005), as well as JS (Louw, Mayer & Baxter 2012) and OC (Pillay 2008;Mayer, Louw & Louw 2010;Mayer 2011).…”

“…Brief 2003;Kilduff 2006;Corley & Gioia 2011), a POB approach is needed when researching JS in organisations (Louw et al 2012). Previous research in South Africa has found that significant positive relationships exist between all the motivational factors and JS, as well as with commitment (Krüger & Rootman 2010).…”

Examining the Mediating Effect of Open Distance Learning Students' Study Engagement in Relation to Their Life Orientation and Self-Efficacy

“…Antonovsky (1979) posits that individuals' general attitude towards the world and their own lives can be viewed as a particular stable dispositional orientation that reflects a sense of coherence toward life and the world in general. This life orientation or sense of coherence explains how people feel, how they perceive, behave and cope with demanding and challenging (stressful) situations, and how they keep healthy (Louw, Mayer, & Baxter, 2012). The life orientation is mostly maturing by about 30 years of age and is considered relatively enduring.…”