Job Satisfaction: A Study on Indian Administrative Officers Working in Delhi and Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Job Satisfaction is a function of interaction between internal propensities of an individual with the external factors like salary, postings & transfers, promotions, working environment etc. The purpose of this research is to identify those external factors that motivate and demotivate an IAS officer at managerial, supervisory and administrative level. The study has investigated the relationship between levels of job satisfaction with gender, age, experience, designation and education of the respondents. The research will indicate the satisfaction level of officers and provide suggestions to improve the same, which will ultimately be redolent of a stronger public service delivery. Relevant literature was studied to build the methodology of research and its the analytical framework. Primary and Secondary data was used for this study. It was decided that the best way to explore the levels of job satisfaction is through a survey containing all the relevant markers of job satisfaction in form of statements or questions. Job Satisfaction was measured through two sets of a single structured questionnaire. Job Descriptive Index and a self-designed questionnaire were drafted. The self-designed questionnaire was made in a way to inculcate more specific statements related to the civil services as the Job Descriptive Index is a standard tool for all job satisfaction surveys. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 2015 and Microsoft Excel 2016 has been used for data analysis and compilation of numeric data. Reliability test in form of Cronbach’s Alpha was done to validate the scale used for measurement. A total of 85 officers responded to the request of being surveyed out of the 157 requests sent for the purpose of this research. The result of this study indicates that the officers of Indian Administrative Services fairly satisfied as satisfaction levels lie in the moderate range as calculated by the JDI and self-designed questionnaire. The officers in the state of Himachal Pradesh are more satisfied than the officers serving in the center. In this study job satisfaction was broadly measured against five variables i.e. Salary, Job in General, Political/External interference, Work Environment, and Staff. The five most important factors as given in various theories of satisfaction namely People on Job, Salary, Promotion & Recognition, Supervision and Work were studied under the Job Descriptive Index.