Chiu, W-Y B (2011) Job satisfaction and organizational commitment amongst quantity surveyors in Hong Kong: an attitudinal perspective. PhD thesis, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Abstract
Job satisfaction and organizational commitment are important for determining both individual and organizational outcomes. Quantity surveyors are important players in the Hong Kong construction industry in providing professional services to developers and contractors. Despite their importance, limited job satisfaction and organizational commitment research has been conducted in the profession, which underlines the basis for the study. Within the quantity surveying profession, quantity surveyors are assigned into work group for handling construction projects. Cooperation and collaboration are common in quantity surveyor’s daily working practice. Given cooperative working arrangement, “work group identification” and “propensity to trust” are regarded as important antecedents for determining job satisfaction and organizational commitment. On the other hand, it is argued that “length of employment within the organization” may have both positive and negative influence on job satisfaction and organizational commitment due to the quantity surveyor’s standardized working duties. Negative perception about the job duties also constitutes a mediation influence on the effect that the antecedents place on organizational commitment. Thus, this research is intended to find out the effect of the three antecedents – “length of employment within the organization”, “work group identification” and “propensity to trust” on job satisfaction and organizational commitment, as well as to investigate the role played by job satisfaction in affecting the relationship between the antecedents and organizational commitment. Based on previous literatures, the relationships between the antecedents, job satisfaction and organizational commitment are examined and a research model is developed for hypotheses testing. Hypotheses 1 and 2 postulate that the three antecedents positively affect job satisfaction and organizational commitment respectively. Each sub-hypothesis under hypotheses 1 and 2 postulates a positive bivariate relationship between one antecedent and one outcome (job satisfaction or organizational commitment). Hypothesis 3 depicts the mediation effect of job satisfaction on the association stated in Hypothesis 2. Questionnaire survey is used to collect primary data for analysis. Bivariate correlation and multiple regression analysis are applied for hypotheses testing. The data analysis results provide full support for the relationships between work group identification and job satisfaction. The results also provide some supports for the positive relationship between other antecedents and job satisfaction / organizational commitment. Mediation effects of job satisfaction on the relationships between the three antecedents and organizational commitment are found in some relationships. This study has both theoretical and practical contributions. A new research theme in construction context is initiated with the use of social exchange theory in examining job satisfaction and organizational commitment within the quantity surveying profession. The research model to explain the relationships between the three antecedents and job satisfaction and organizational commitment is tested. The data analysis results provide a better understanding about job satisfaction and organizational commitment amongst chartered quantity surveyors working in the construction industry. Based on the research findings, it is suggested that senior managers should attempt to improve “work group identification” and “propensity to trust” amongst quantity surveyors so as to enhance job satisfaction and organizational commitment within the profession.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | collaboration; employment; job satisfaction; mediation; quantity surveying; professional; Hong Kong; multiple regression; regression analysis; questionnaire survey; construction project; developer; quantity surveyor |
| Index terms: | cooperation, working practice, multiple-regression, Hong Kong, survey, employment, collaboration, construction industry, quantity surveying, construction project, data analysis, surveying, profession, social exchange theory, manager, professional service, mediation, multiple regression analysis, job satisfaction, duty, organizational commitment, hypotheses testing, regression analysis, questionnaire |
| Subjects: | psychology, Geography, statistical analysis, contractual role, profession, data analysis and analytics, data collection methods, management, sociology, social theory, quantitative and statistical methods, industry analysis, production management, organization, institututions, dispute resolution, practitioner, health monitoring assessment and metrics |
| Topics: | Organizational Design, Health and Safety, Roles and Professions, Project Management, Contract Administration, Human Resources, Geographical Context, Legal Issues, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here