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Employee relations framework for building job satisfaction and work engagement in the South African military.
Shabane, Zamokuhle Welcome
Shabane, Zamokuhle Welcome
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Abstract
The aim of the research was to determine essential themes that could be incorporated into an employee relations framework to improve job satisfaction and work engagement in the South African military (SA military). The objective of this study was to design an employee relations framework for building job satisfaction and work engagement in the SA Army Formation. The research design was quantitative, using a structured, self-administered questionnaire that was distributed to all SA military units in all nine provinces as a means of extracting information to achieve the research objectives. The questionnaires were distributed to 614 of the total population of 13741. Three hundred and forty-nine (349) questionnaires were completed and returned, representing a 56.8% response rate. The Likert-type scale instrument consisted of 67 questions divided into four (4) sections. A 5-point Likert scale was used with 1 representing strongly disagree, 2 representing disagree, 3 representing not sure, 4 representing agree and 5 representing strongly agree.
The statistical analysis revealed that the questionnaire had a relatively high degree of internal validity and reliability. The structural equation model was applied to
determine the data collection tool’s reliability and validity. Reliability and homogeneity were ensured using factor analysis. Convergent and discriminant validity were conducted to ascertain the accuracy of the scale instrument used in the study. A key outcome of the study is a validated employee relations framework for
improving job satisfaction and work engagement in the military formation in the South African National Defence Force in South Africa. The study contributes to the
existing body of knowledge on human resources management, particularly in respect of employee relations, job satisfaction and work engagement.
The research found that there is a relationship between job satisfaction and the level of work engagement amongst the employees of the military formation under
study. The main employment relations themes that emerged from the research that were found to be important in relation to job satisfaction and work engagement were consultation and team building for employee relations, drive, employee benefits, management style and personal relations for job satisfaction as well as absorption, dedication and vigour for work engagement. It was also found that employee relations moderates the relationship between job satisfaction and work engagement. It is recommended that management should put strategies in place to ensure that job satisfaction is created and maintained and positively contributes to high levels of work engagement amongst employees. The factors that must be emphasised are in strategy formulation must focus on the following: employee consultation, team building, drive, employee benefits, management style, personal relations, absorption, dedication and vigour. Organisations can provide training opportunities to senior managers or commanders on topics like employee relations, job satisfaction and work
engagement, so as to positively influence their subordinates’ views and behaviour. Although the study yielded meaningful results for the formation under study, there
are limitations to its generalisability across the entire SANDF and other sectors. The results are therefore restricted to only one formation in the SANDF.
Description
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree, Doctor Technologiae: Human Resources Management
in the Department of People Management and Development, Faculty of Management Sciences at the
Tshwane University of Technology
Date
2021-03-01
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Tshwane University of Technology
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Keywords
Employee relations, Job satisfaction, Work engagement, Employee consultation, Employee benefits
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CC0 1.0 Universal