Examining Herzberg’s Theory: Improving Job Satisfaction among Non-academic Employees at a University

TLDR: In this article, the authors report the results of a survey of 2700 employees in business operations at a large public, research university and conclude that the work itself is the strongest predictor of job satisfaction after controlling for both personal and job characteristics.

Abstract: This study reports the results of a survey of 2700 employees in business operations at a large public, research university. The analysis tests Herzberg et al.’s (1959) well-known, duality theory of motivators and hygiene factors and the impact of personal characteristics and job characteristics on perceptions of the work environment and job satisfaction. The results offer inconclusive support of Herzberg’s theory although the work itself is the strongest predictor of job satisfaction after controlling for both personal and job characteristics. The study concludes by discussing both practical implications, for those in leadership positions in a university, and theoretical implications for researchers interested in exploring job satisfaction in a higher education context.