GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO JOB SATISFACTION

Job satisfaction is in regard to some one’s feeling or state of

mind regarding the nature of their feelings. Job satisfaction can
be influence by a variety of factors, for example the quality of
one’s relationship with their supervisor, the quality of the
physical environment in which they work, degree of fulfilment
in their work etc.

Job satisfaction is an individual’s general attitudes towards

his or her job. Locke has given a comprehensive definition of
job satisfaction, as involving cognitive, effective and evaluative
reaction or attitudes and states it as “a pleasure or positive
emotional state resulting from the appraisal of one’s job or job
experience”.

Job satisfaction involves how content an individual is with

his or her job. It is relatively a recent term since in previous
centuries the jobs available to particular person were often
predetermined by the occupation of that person’s parents.

There are wide varieties of factors that influence a person’s

level of job satisfaction. Some of them include the level of pay
and benefits, the perceived fairness of the promotion system
within a company, the quality of the working conditions,
leadership and social relationships, and the job itself.

The happier an individual is within their job, the more

satisfied they are said to be. Job satisfaction is not the same as
motivation although it is clearly linked. Job design aims to
enhance job satisfaction and performance methods include job
rotation, job enlargement and job enrichment. Other influences
on satisfaction include the management style and culture
employee involvement, empowerment and autonomous work
groups.
 Job satisfaction refers to a persons feeling of satisfaction
on the job, which act as a motivation of work. It is not self
satisfaction, happiness or self contentment but satisfaction on
the job. The term relates the total relationship between an
individual and the employer for which he is paid. Satisfaction
does mean the simple feeling state accompanying the attainment
of any goal. Job dissatisfaction does mean absence of
motivation of work. Research workers differently describe the
factors contributing the job satisfaction and dissatisfaction.

Definition :

Job satisfaction is defined as the “pleasurable emotional state

resulting from the appraisal of one’s job as achieving or
facilitating the achievement of ones job values. In contrast, job
dissatisfaction is defined as the un-pleasurable emotional state
resulting from the appraisal of one’s job as frustrating or
blocking the attainment of ones job values or as entailing
disvalues”.

Generally accepted dimensions to job satisfaction :

• Job satisfaction is an emotional response to a job situation.

As such it cannot be seen, it can only be inferred.
• Job satisfaction is often determined by how well outcomes
meet or exceeds expectations.
• Job satisfaction represents several related attitudes. Five
job dimensions have been identified to present the most
important characteristics of a job about which employees have
affective responses.

They are :
• Work itself: the extent to which the job provides the
individual with interesting task opportunities for learning and
the chance to accept responsibility.