An Exploratory Study Of Factors Influencing Organisational Justice Among Government Employees

Ophillia Ledimo

doi:10.19030/jabr.v31i4.9336

Abstract

Organisational justice has become prominent within the leadership literature as an underlying and important aspect of governance. This study set out to examine factors influencing employees organisational justice perceptions in a South African government department. The perceptions of the 289 participants were investigated by using the Organisational Justice Measurement Instrument (OJMI) as a measure of organisational justice. Descriptive statistics of the sample and factor analysis were conducted to analyse the data and to determine the factors that contributed to the perceptions of organisational justice of government employees. Results of the Cronbach alpha indicated that the OJMI is a reliable measuring instrument for the construct of organisational justice. The findings of this study identified the nine underlying factors that contributed to the perceptions of organisational justice as strategic direction, distributive, procedural, interactional, informational, service delivery and innovation, diversity management, customer relations, ethical leadership and management. This study suggests that to enhance the perceptions of organisational justice, leaders in government departments should focus on the identified nine factors. The implications of the findings are discussed and recommendations for future research are made.

Highlights

L eaders in organisations are responsible for demonstrating the management of organisational justice through building fairness in the development and implementation of organisational policies, regulations and procedures governing all the managerial practices such as recruitment and selection, performance management, training and development, employee remuneration and benefits, employee wellness, labour relations and change management
It is against the above background that this study aimed to explore the factors influencing employees’ perceptions of organisational justice in a South African government department
Section B consisted of the Organisational Justice Measurement Instrument (OJMI) which is a virtually self-administering survey and consists of 59 statements measuring the nine factors of justice as strategic direction, distributive, procedural, interactional, informational, service delivery and innovation, customer relations, diversity management, ethical leadership and management

Summary

Introduction

L eaders in organisations are responsible for demonstrating the management of organisational justice through building fairness in the development and implementation of organisational policies, regulations and procedures governing all the managerial practices such as recruitment and selection, performance management, training and development, employee remuneration and benefits, employee wellness, labour relations and change management. Justice in an organisation defines the very essence of individuals’ relationship with their employers and it is required in both corporate and government organisations. It is the employees’ sense of moral propriety of how they are treated by their leaders or organisation, and it is the “glue” that allows employees to work together effectively (Cropanzano, Bowen and Gilliland, 2007). The challenge faced by managers and leaders in government is being able to determine the organisational factors that influence justice. When leaders and managers have insight of the factors that are relevant to justice in organisations they will be able to enhance or improve their employees’ perceptions of justice.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion