FACTORS AFFECTING JOB SATISFACTION IN TWO AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRIES IN MALAYSIA

Abstract. A survey was conducted to investigate the relationship between job satisfaction, job characteristics and environmental factors that affect work design in two automotive manufacturing companies in Malaysia. The aim of the study is to determine the factors that influence employees' perception towards their work. 170 male subjects between the ages of 18 to 40 years with the mean age of 26.8 and standard deviation (SD) of 5.3 years and mean work experience of 6.5 and SD of 4.9 years were involved. A set of multiple choice questionnaire was developed and data was collected by interviewing the employees at the production plants. The survey focused on job satisfaction, job characteristics and environmental factors. The results showed that job characteristics and environmental factors were significantly related to job satisfaction. Keywords: Job satisfaction, job characteristic factors, environmental factors, work design, automotive industry Abstrak. Satu tinjauan telah dijalankan untuk menyiasat perhubungan di antara kepuasan kerja, ciri-ciri tugasan dan faktor suasana yang mempengaruhi reka bentuk kerja di dua buah syarikat pembuatan automotif di Malaysia. Matlamat utama kajian adalah untuk menentukan faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi persepsi pekerja terhadap tugas mereka. 170 orang subjek lelaki berumur di antara 18 tahun hingga 40 tahun dengan purata umur 26.8 tahun dengan sisihan piawai (SP) 5.3 tahun dan purata pengalaman kerja 6.5 tahun dengan SP 4.9 tahun telah mengambil bahagian. Satu set soalan pelbagai pilihan telah dihasilkan dan maklumat dikumpulkan dengan cara menemuduga pekerja di kilang pengeluaran tersebut. Hasil tinjauan menyokong kajian dengan menunjukkan bahawa ciri-ciri tugasan dan faktor-faktor suasana mempunyai hubungan yang signifikan dengan kepuasan kerja