Academics and their managers: a comparative study in job satisfaction

Abstract

A number of research findings have suggested that managers are, in general, more satisfied with their jobs than are workers. This study aims to investigate the job satisfaction of academics and their managers, and to find out whether academics who hold managerial positions are, on the whole, more satisfied with their jobs than academics who do not hold similar administrative posts. The study found that university teachers are fairly satisfied with their jobs, although there are aspects of their jobs from which they derive some dissatisfaction. Using a statistical test of differences, it was found that academics and their managers differ significantly on the levels of satisfaction which they derive from most aspects of their jobs. Sources of these differences are identified, and the general conclusion is that management position, characterised by seniority in age, rank, and length of service, affects university teachers’ level of job satisfaction positively.