A comparison of organizational hierarchy and its relation to job satisfaction between High Security Prison and Turku Prison

The job satisfaction of employees in any organization be it in the public or private sector plays a big role in the effectiveness and performance of the organization. Many previous studies have researched the effect of stress on the correctional officer, however the effect of the prison organizational hierarchy on employee job satisfaction has received little attention. The Kosovo Correctional Service requested a job satisfaction survey for the High Security Prison in Kosovo. For the purpose of the authors study a quantitative research method was employed to examine how the prison organizational hierarchy in a Kosovo prison (High Security Prison) compares to the hierarchy of a prison in Finland (Turku Prison), and its relation to job satisfaction. The survey data from High Security Prison was compared to a previously conducted validated survey in Turku Prison by the Criminal Sanctions Agency. A t-test, factor analysis and regression analysis were used to analyse the data. The theoretical framework examines the multifaceted concepts relating to job satisfaction. This includes earlier studies and a broad review of literature focusing on organization structures, cohesion, organizational behaviour, motivation, justness, meaningfulness, communication, and leadership. Through the theoretical framework it is possible to determine the type of organizational structures used in High Security Prison and Turku Prison pretraining to communication and leadership. It is determinable that High Security Prison uses a hierarchical structure and Turku Prison a flat structure. The analysed data from both facilities reveal the differences in the variables between both correctional facilities and the most meaningful values relating to job satisfaction. HSP employees regarded the cohesiveness of the working community as their most meaningful value (Beta = 0.492, P = 0.009), whereas the content of the work was the most meaningful value for the Turku Prison employees (Beta = 0.275, P = 0.009). HSP employees regard the culture, beliefs and values within the working community as the most important factors affecting their job satisfaction. The authors suggest that the reasons behind the HSP results could possibly be derived from the geographic area size, high unemployment rate, patriotism, tight connections with family, relatives and above all culture. The Turku Prison employees feel the work content; how motivating and inspiring the work is, the level of challenge and knowing the objectives of the work as the most contributing factors to their job satisfaction. The authors believe that European individualism, self-reliance and task orientation to be the contributing factors to the job satisfaction of the Turku Prison employees. Key words: organizational hierarchy, job satisfaction, leadership, cohesiveness, justness, communicatio