Job satisfaction in a South African academic library

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to investigate job satisfaction at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology Library (CPUT). Academic libraries throughout the world and in South Africa have undergone massive change in the last few years. CPUT Library is the result of the merger of two technikon libraries in 2005. The study aimed to investigate the impact of the merger on staff job satisfaction. If libraries are to meet the challenges of change, they need satisfied and committed staff. This dissertation project is framed by two closely related models in human resources management, namely Herzberg‟s two factor theory of motivation and Hackman and Oldham‟s Job Characteristics Model (JCM). Questionnaires were used to gather data from 91 library staff in CPUT. A total of 44 responded. The survey identified areas of satisfaction and dissatisfaction among staff and the impact of the merger on staff who were employed before 2005. The study finds that 66% report overall job satisfaction with strong satisfaction with the work itself and the sense of accomplishment it brings. The majority of library staff is dissatisfied with promotion prospects and work distribution. Despite the years of restructuring, there are several comments on library structures. The need for more participative style of management and clear reporting structures are mentioned. The four questions on respondents‟ future plans reveal that affective commitment to the institution is not very high. Respondents like their work but 48% say they would accept a job outside the CPUT Library and only 50% claim to be proud to say they work at CPUT Library, with another 27% neutral. There are mixed findings on the impact of the merger, which might well be connected to the lack of institutional commitment. Only 50% of respondents who were at CPUT before the merger claim to be more satisfied now than before it. And the open-ended questions uncover the challenges in building or rebuilding a sense of belonging.