Effects of job characteristics on job satisfaction

S.Z. Dawal et al. AJE Vol.9 2009 49-61 56 The correlation between job satisfaction and perception of light was higher in Auto1 than in Auto2. Average light intensity was also higher in Auto1 than in Auto2. The higher correlation in Auto1 could be due to high average light measurement because light can cause either discomfort or positive sensations Parsons 2000 that affect respondents’ job satisfaction. Light levels in both factories were within the 500-1000 lux standard of IES IES 1979 which were appropriate for medium assembly factory. The correlation of job satisfaction with perception of noise factor was slightly higher in Auto1 than in Auto2. Average noise measurements were lower in Auto1 than in Auto2. This explains why this correlation is higher in Auto1 than in Auto2. Psychological responses to noise can also produce effects on mental health and emotional state, especially if the noise adds to an already stressful environment Parsons 2000. The results indicated that environment conditions, especially temperature, humidity, noise and light affect job satisfaction in automotive industries. The management of both companies should attempt to optimize temperature, humidity and noise because measurements of these factors are outside the comfortable boundary and respondents are not satisfied with them. Standard environmental conditions including temperature, humidity, noise, and light for automotive industries in Malaysia must be revised to maintain workers’ health physically and mentally, thereby increasing productivity and job satisfaction as well as performance.

4.3. Effects of job organization of job satisfaction

Significant positive correlations were observed between job satisfaction and job organization factors. In Auto1, job satisfaction was strongly correlated with job rotation, work method, training and goal setting showed strong correlations with job satisfaction, but only intermediate correlation with problem solving. In Auto2, job satisfaction showed intermediate correlations with most job organization factors, except for the training factor, for which the correlation was low. The correlations for all factors were higher in Auto1 than Auto2. The significant correlation between job satisfaction and job rotation and work method are rarely discussed because most research focuses more on worker’s performance and productivity Vroom and Deci, 1970; The ergonomics group 1986. In this study, a significant positive correlation was observed between job satisfaction and both job rotation and work method. This result is in agreement with Amrine et al. 1993 who stated that reducing the time spent performing boring and monotonous jobs could improve job satisfaction. This result is also consistent with the findings by Gaziolu and Tansel 2002 and Hamermesh 1997 who found that job satisfaction is significant and positively correlated with training opportunity. This correlation was higher in Auto1 than in Auto2. Respondents in Auto2 reported many opportunities for training because most of them were new employees, based on their ages and experiences. Therefore, the results indicated that increasing training opportunities will increase job satisfaction; similar conclusions were