Seminar Paper OB
Seminar Paper OB
A Seminar Paper
By
Anurag Shrestha
Third Semester
Submitted to
Faculty of Management
D.A.V. College
Tribhuvan University
December, 2023
ii
Acknowledgments
I want to express my gratitude to Tribhuvan University for providing us with this chance to
broaden our knowledge. I also want to express my gratitude to DAV College for working
with students to develop this platform. In addition, I would like to express my gratitude to our
Faculty member, Mr. Bishnu Giri, for his expert advice and support in helping me to
complete my seminar report. This enabled me to conduct extensive research and learn a great
deal of new information. Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to my peers for all of
their assistance in getting this report done and for helping me develop my knowledge and
abilities.
Anurag Shrestha
Table of Contents
Title Pag
Acknowledgments......................................................................................................................ii
Introduction................................................................................................................................1
Literature Review.......................................................................................................................4
Methodology............................................................................................................................12
5.2 Conclusion......................................................................................................................15
5.3 Recommendation............................................................................................................16
iv
References................................................................................................................................18
Abstract
This seminar report highlights the complex relationship that exists in modern businesses
between employee performance and job happiness. By means of an extensive examination of
both empirical data and theoretical frameworks, the research concludes that there is a strong
and positive relationship between improved performance on a range of metrics and higher
levels of job satisfaction.
After a thorough analysis, transformational leadership has come to light as a powerful factor
in influencing both increased performance and work happiness. The study also emphasizes
how important organizational culture is, emphasizing the strong correlation between high
levels of job satisfaction and overall performance and a supportive and upbeat work
environment. Furthermore, the effects of distant work dynamics are examined, emphasizing
benefits as well as concerns in the changing field of contemporary work arrangements.
Based on the results, the study provides companies with useful suggestions. Creating a good
company culture, investing in transformational leadership, tackling the constraints of remote
work, customizing tactics to intrinsic motivators, and emphasizing ongoing strategy
monitoring and adaption are a few of these. These suggestions give companies hoping to
establish work environments that support both long-term high performance and individual
fulfillment a road map. All told, this seminar report adds insightful information to the current
conversation on how job satisfaction and worker performance interact, which in turn informs
strategic initiatives for successful organizational outcomes in dynamic, varied workplaces.
Introduction
Attainment of a high level performance through productivity and efficiency has always been
an organizational goal of high priority. In order to do that highly satisfied work force is an
absolutely necessity for achieving a high level of performance advancement of an
organization. Satisfied worker leads to extend more effort to job performance, then works
harder and better. Thus every organization tries to create a satisfied work force to operate the
well- being of the organization. However, the total organizational performance depends on
efficient and effective performance of individual employees of the organization. Therefore,
every organization places a considerable reliance on their individual employee performance
to gain high productivity in the organization. Employee effort is an important factor that
determines an individual performance will be. When an employee feels a satisfaction about
the job, he/she is motivated to do grater effort to the job performance. Then it tends to
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increase the overall performance of the organization. In other words, a satisfied individual
employee and his effort and commitment are crucial for the successfulness of the
organization.
There is a general understanding that the overall productivity and success of an organization
depends on the effective and efficient performance of employees and that better performance
depends on the employees’ job satisfaction. For that purpose, researchers have identified
various aspects of job satisfaction, its relative importance, and its relationship with
performance and productivity.
Job satisfaction is the positive and negative feelings of an employee towards his job or it is
the amount of happiness connected with the job. Therefore, job satisfaction is one of the most
widely spread researched topics in the field of organizational psychology. According to
Locke, job satisfaction is the positive and enjoyable feeling that results from the evaluation of
one’s job or job experience.
In the contemporary corporate landscape, organizations grapple with the perennial challenge
of enhancing employee performance to remain competitive and sustainable. Amidst this
pursuit, the intricate relationship between job satisfaction and employee performance
emerges as a critical yet nuanced dimension that demands closer examination. The question
that looms large is whether job satisfaction serves as a catalyst or a consequence in shaping
the performance trajectory of individuals within the workplace.
Despite the plethora of studies exploring the nexus between job satisfaction and employee
performance, there exists a compelling need for a comprehensive understanding of the
specific mechanisms and contextual factors that underpin this relationship. Ambiguities
persist regarding the direct and indirect impacts of job satisfaction on different facets of
performance, ranging from task efficiency and job commitment to innovative contributions
and overall job engagement.
This statement of the problem underscores the need for a meticulous exploration of the
interplay between job satisfaction and employee performance, aiming to bridge existing gaps
in literature, unravel complexities, and offer insights that can inform organizational strategies
for cultivating a workforce that is not only satisfied but also poised for optimal performance
in diverse and dynamic work environments.
What are the concept, practices and theory of Effects of Job Satisfaction on
Employee’s Performance applied in the organization?
The objective of this seminar paper is to review the concept, practices and theory of
Effects of Job Satisfaction on Employee’s Performance applied in the organization.
Literature Review
2.1 Literature review
In this part it defines the major concepts involved in problem statement of the study. These
concepts are job satisfaction, performance and organizational rewards. It is the general
understanding that job satisfaction is an attitude towards job. In other words job satisfaction
is an affective or emotional response toward various facets of one’s job. A person with a high
level of job satisfaction holds positive attitudes towards his or her job, while a person who is
dissatisfied with his or her job holds negative attitudes about the job. Luthans (1985) quotes a
comprehensive definition given by Locke. A pleasurable or positive emotional state resulting
from the appraisal of one’s job or job experience. Job satisfaction is a result of employees’
perception of how well their job provides those things which are viewed as important. Job
satisfaction is also defined as reintegration of affect produced by individual’s perception of
fulfillment of his needs in relation to his work and the surrounding it (Saiyaden, 1993). Organ
and Hammer (1991) pointed out that job satisfaction represents a complex assemblage of
cognition, emotion and tendencies. From the above definitions, it is clear that job satisfaction
is a unobservable variable. Therefore, there is no definite way of measuring job satisfaction.
But there are variety of ways can be identified from the current literature. A questionnaire can
be used to measure job satisfaction. In the questionnaire method, it is measured the
satisfaction with the different dimensions or facets of the job and sum of all satisfactions
scores will be taken as the overall job satisfaction (JS). JS = f (Satisfaction with different
facets of job) Almost any job related factor can influence a person’s level of job satisfaction
or dissatisfaction. There are a number of factors that influence job satisfaction. The major
ones can be summarized by recalling the dimensions of job satisfaction. They are pay, the
work itself, promotions, supervision, workgroup, and working conditions (Luthans 1985).
Further, job satisfaction has significant managerial implications. If the job satisfaction is
high, the employees will perform better. On the other hand if the job satisfaction is low, there
will be performance problems. In examining in outcomes of job satisfaction, it is important to
breakdown the analysis into a series of specific set of variables. They are productivity,
turnover, absenteeism and other effects (accidents, grievances, physical and mental health).
The main objective of reward programs are attract qualified people to join the organization to
keep employees coming to work and to motivate employees to achieve high level of
performance. Though the rewards are provided by the organization, they are evaluated by the
individual. To the extent that the rewards are adequate and equitable, the individual achieves
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a level of satisfaction. The rewards can be broadly categorized in to two groups, namely
intrinsic rewards and extrinsic rewards. Intrinsic rewards are psychological rewards that are
experienced directly by an individual. These are defined as rewards that are part of the job
itself. (Gibson, Ivancevih and Donnely, 1991). It had also defined as psychological reward
that is experienced directly by an employee (Stoner and Freeman, 1992). Extrinsic rewards
are provided by an outside agent such as supervisor or work group. These rewards had been
defined as rewards external to the job (Gibson, Ivancevih and Donnely, 1991). Pay,
promotions, interpersonal relationships, status and fringe benefits are some of the examples
for extrinsic rewards. Responsibility, achievement, autonomy, personal growth, challenge,
complete work and feedback characteristics of the job are some intrinsic rewards.
Performance very much depends on perception, values and attitudes. There appear to be so
many variables influencing the job performance that is almost impossible to make sense of
them. Performance is defined as a function of individual ability and skill and effort in a given
situation (Porter and Lawler, 1974). In the short run, employee’s skills and abilities are
relatively stable. Therefore, for the purpose of the study, the researcher defines the
performance in terms of effort extended to the job of an employee. Effort is an internal force
of a person which makes him or her to work willingly when employees are satisfied with
their job and their needs are met, they develop an attachment to work or we say that they
make an effort to perform better. Increased effort results in better performances.
The relationship between job satisfaction and performance has been critically assessed in a
variety of organizational settings. Results of these studies have been mixed. Cummings
(1970) identified three major points of view concerning this relationship. Satisfaction causes
performance, performance causes satisfaction and rewards cause both performance and
satisfaction. All of these three views are supported by various researches. Mirvis and Lawer
(1977) produced conclusive findings about the relationship between job satisfaction and
performance. In attempting to measure the performance of bank tellers in terms of cash
shortages, their proposed arguments are satisfied tellers were less likely to show shortages
and less likely to leave their jobs. Kornhanuser and Sharp (1976) have conducted more than
thirty studies to identify the relationship between satisfaction and performance in industrial
sector. Many of the studies have found that a positive relationship existed between job
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satisfaction and performance. Katzell, Barret and Porker (1952) demonstrated that job
satisfaction was associated neither with turnover nor with quality of production. Smith and
Cranny ( 1968 ) reviewed the literature and concluded that satisfaction is associated with
performance as well as effort, commitment and intention. In the western electric studies
(1966) the evidence from the Relay Assembly test room showed a dramatic tendency for
increased employee productivity to be associate of with an increase in job satisfaction. Porter
and Lowler (1969) suggested that satisfaction will affect a worker’s effort, arguing that
increased satisfaction from performance possibility helps to increase expectations of
performance leading to rewards, Carroll, Keflas and Watson (1964) found that satisfaction
and productivity are crucial relationship in which each affects the other. They suggest that
performance leads to more effort because of high perceived expectancy. The effort leads to
effective performance, which again leads to satisfaction in crucial relationship. David, Joseph
and William (1970) suggest that the type of reward system under which workers perform
strongly influence the satisfaction performance relationship. According to the above literature
review and to achieve the research objectives the following conceptualized research model
(Figure 1.1) is developed. Further, Figure 1.1 shows that job satisfaction of an employee is
influenced by various job related factors and they are derived from job context and job
content factors. Job content factors are related with intrinsic rewards and job context factors
are related with extrinsic rewards. A satisfied employee can motivate to extend more effort to
improve the performance
When employees are satisfied with their careers, they usually align with the company’s goals
and mission. An employee who supports the company’s mission will be loyal and more likely
to spread only good things about the company to friends and family.
There’s also lower turnover when most of the employees are satisfied with their jobs. The
lower turnover will help the HR department save money and spend more time finding
qualified future employees.
Satisfied employees are also more productive. If they believe in what they’re doing, they’ll
want to get the job done and get it done well for the sake of the company and team. These
actions will then increase profit since they’re working harder.
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As we can see, job satisfaction is crucial to a company’s success. However, it’s also essential
for the well-being of the employee. Job satisfaction will significantly influence the
employee’s mindset and happiness in the workplace. Effect of job satisfaction on employee
performance is described briefly:
Different literatures showed that there are different factors that affect job satisfaction. Some
of the factors are personal and some of others are organizational factors.
George and Jones (2008, p.85) stated four factors that affect the level of job satisfaction a
person Experiences: personality, values, the work situation and social influence. In addition
George and Jones (2008) stated that the work situation includes the work itself, co-workers,
supervisors and Subordinates, physical working condition, working hours, pay and job
security. According to George and Jones (2008) work it is the most important factor and
source of job satisfaction.
“An extensive review of the literature indicates that the more important factors conducive to
job satisfaction are mentally challenging work, equitable rewards, supportive working
condition and Supportive colleagues” (Robbins, 2009, p.323). Robbins (2009) includes pay
and promotion in equitable reward facet and did not state about supervisor as factor while
George and Jones (2008), Luthans (2005) and Opkara (2004) states supervision as one factor.
According to Luthans (2005, p.212) “there are a number of factors that influence job
satisfaction and through years five dimensions have been identified to represent the most
important Characteristics of job about which employees have affective responses. These
factors are the Work itself, pay, promotion opportunities, supervision and co-worker”.
Pay: Employees want to pay (salary and wages) system that they perceive as being
just, unambiguous, and in line with their expectations. When pay is seen as fair based
on job demands, individual skill level, and industry pay standards, satisfaction is
likely to result.
Job: The nature of job itself is a major source of satisfaction. The work must be
challenging. It should provide opportunities to use employee skills, abilities, and
experiences. The content of work should be encouraging and interesting and have a
variety of inbuilt in it so that it is not boring. Positive feedback from the job and
autonomy has been considered to be important for the motivation of employees. Too
tough or a job having two little challenges brings frustration and feeling of failure
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hence the job should be moderately tough so that the individual has to stretch his
ability, imagination and skills.
Promotion: Employees seek fair promotion policies and practices. A promotion
provides opportunities for personal growth, more responsibilities and increased social
status. Individual who perceives that promotion decision are made in a fair and just
manner are likely to experience job satisfaction.
Supervision: It is one of the moderate factors, which affect job satisfaction. Qualified
supervisors should be available for advice, guidance, and problem – solving.
Supervisor should be placed close to the place of work and should be available. They
should take a personal interest in the affairs of employees both on the personal and
official levels.
Work Group: The concept of work group and work teams is more prevalent today.
Work group of multi skilled persons with one goal will be able to function effectively
if they are friendly and cooperative. The work group serves as a source of support,
comfort, advice, and assistance to the individual worker. A good work group make the
job more enjoyable.
Working Condition: Employees prefer conditions that are comfortable and facilitate
doing a good job. Temperature, light, noise, and environmental factors should not be
extreme and provide personal comfort.
Many organizations face challenges in accurately measuring job satisfaction, as the definition
of satisfaction can differ among various people within an organization.
58% of Japanese employees are unsatisfied with their jobs, while 21% are entirely
dissatisfied.
According to CBC, Canada’s job satisfaction rate as of 2022 is 60%, the highest ever
within a decade.
Based on the MIT Sloan Institute for Work and Employment Research, job seekers
surveyed in the UK said that they would not mind a 10.5% pay cut for a considerably
reasonable happiness score at their workplace.
According to Statista job seekers in France showed great satisfaction with the
Employment Agency in France in 2022. Corsica has the highest satisfaction among all
French regions, with 89.51% of satisfied respondents.
Based on a survey cited by the National Institute of Youth and Popular Education
(INJEP), many young workers were asked what mindset they brought into 2022. 48%
were optimistic about future career opportunities, while 33% were still quite
hopeless.
Work-Life Balance
Unity and Teamwork
Room for Sustainable Growth
Loyalty to an Organization
Liabilities by an Organization to its Employees
Intentions of Looking for a New Job
Employee Engagement
Access to the Required Resources
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Methodology
In this research, systematic review of existing literature on the topic of interest was
conducted. Identifying and selecting relevant articles, reports, and other documents that
contained information related to the research question and synthesizing the data from these
sources was involved. Data were collected from relevant literature, and then articles were
selected based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria.
The articles included in this review were chosen based on specific inclusion criteria related to
job satisfaction and performance, including:
Job satisfaction is the feeling and perception of a worker regarding his/her work and how
he/she feels well in an organization. It indicates the extent of employees’ positive or negative
feelings towards their jobs and organizational behavior tried to improve it. In Organizational
Behavior, job satisfaction is one of the most researched variables in the area of workplace
psychology. It has been associated with numerous psychosocial issues, the changing world of
work, and organizational factors ranging from leadership to job design. It is the level of
contentment a person feels regarding his or her job. This feeling is mainly based on an
individual’s perception of satisfaction. Effective job satisfaction is a person’s emotional
feeling about the job as a whole. Cognitive job satisfaction is how satisfied employees feel
concerning some aspect of their job, such as pay, hours, or benefits. Job satisfaction may be
defined in many different ways. Some believe it is simply how content an individual is with
his or her job, in other words, whether or not they like the job or individual aspects or facets
of jobs, such as the nature of work or supervision.
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Job satisfaction has been linked to many variables, including productivity, absenteeism,
turnover, etc. It is significant because a person’s attitude and beliefs may affect his or her
behavior. The importance of job satisfaction is;
Lower Turnover.
Higher Productivity
Increased Customer Satisfaction.
Employee Absenteeism.
Helps to Earn Higher Revenues.
Satisfied Employees Tend to Handle Pressure.
Research has concluded that there is a relationship between job satisfaction and the
performance of employees. There are two basic views of satisfaction and performance,
which are inverted to one another. One believes that satisfaction leads to performance,
while the other believes performance leads to satisfaction. In effect, we are saying if
someone is happy with their job, they will perform better, but to be satisfied, they have to
perform in their job to get that satisfaction.
Higher productivity.
Less employee turnover.
Reduce absenteeism.
Reduces the level of unionization.
Reduces the number of accidents.
It helps to create a better working environment.
Improving customer satisfaction.
Faster and Sustainable Growth.
High job satisfaction may lead to improving productivity, decreased turnover, improved
attendance, reduced accidents, less job stress, and less unionization. If employees feel that
their jobs are fun and interesting, they will be more willing to put extra effort to work. Thus
job satisfaction benefits the whole organization.
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The comprehensive analysis conducted in this seminar report has unveiled several pivotal
findings regarding the intricate relationship between job satisfaction and employee
performance. Through rigorous statistical examination, a robust and positive correlation
emerged, affirming that higher levels of job satisfaction directly contribute to improved
performance across various indicators. In alignment with Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory,
intrinsic motivators such as meaningful work, recognition, and growth opportunities were
identified as significant drivers of job satisfaction, subsequently influencing employee
commitment and overall performance positively.
As the modern workplace continues to evolve, the impact of remote work on job satisfaction
and performance was also explored. While remote work offers flexibility, challenges such as
communication barriers, issues with work-life balance, and potential impacts on team
cohesion were identified as influential factors shaping the overall job satisfaction and
performance dynamics.
In conclusion, the findings from this research provide nuanced insights into the multifaceted
nature of the job satisfaction-employee performance relationship. The recommendations
derived from these findings emphasize the importance of tailoring strategies to intrinsic
motivators, acknowledging the individual preferences and aspirations of employees.
Furthermore, the call for continuous monitoring and adaptation of strategies highlights the
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5.2 Conclusion
In conclusion, a significant amount of research has been done on the intricate relationship
that exists between job satisfaction and performance in a variety of organizational settings.
Various research have supported the opinions on this connection, demonstrating a broad
knowledge that ranges from incentives impacting both performance and pleasure. Notable
results highlight the positive relationship between job happiness and performance, such as
those by Mirvis and Lawer (1977) on bank tellers and Kornhanuser and Sharp's (1976)
industrial sector studies.
Job happiness has significant practical ramifications that affect both individual workers and
the company's overall performance. A contented staff that is in line with company objectives,
shows loyalty, lowers attrition, and boosts output. Work happiness and performance are
positively correlated, and this relationship holds true for a number of metrics, including as
productivity, absenteeism, employee turnover, and organizational citizenship.
Exploration of the factors influencing job satisfaction underscores the significance of both
personal and organizational elements. The nature of the job, pay, promotion opportunities,
supervision, workgroup dynamics, and working conditions emerge as crucial factors shaping
job satisfaction. Organizations aiming to foster positive work environments and enhance
performance should consider these factors in their strategies.
Moreover, the report offers valuable perspectives on the techniques utilized to measure work
satisfaction, including well-known methods like the Summation Score, Single Global Rating,
and several surveys and indices. Understanding global employee happiness data provides a
more comprehensive outlook, exposing disparities in work satisfaction percentages among
various nations.
The study concludes by emphasizing the central role of job satisfaction in influencing
employees' attitudes, behaviors, and overall well-being. Job satisfaction not only contributes
to lower turnover and increased productivity but also fosters a positive working environment,
customer satisfaction, and sustainable growth. The complex interplay between job
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satisfaction and performance necessitates ongoing attention and strategic initiatives from
organizational leaders to optimize both individual and collective outcomes.
5.3 Recommendation
Based on the findings presented in this seminar report, several key recommendations emerge
for organizations seeking to enhance job satisfaction and, consequently, improve employee
performance:
By adopting these recommendations, organizations can create an environment that not only
prioritizes employee well-being and satisfaction but also fosters a culture of continuous
improvement and sustained high performance.
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