Decrypting the nexus between organisational culture, quality of work life, job satisfaction and employee productivity in the public sector

Abstract

The recent recognition of the importance of the public sector as a major driver of economic success in any given country underlines the need to focus on strategies for enhancing the productivity of public sector employees. The aim of this paper is to examine the influence of organisational culture and quality of work life on job satisfaction and employee productivity among employees in the South African public sector. Using the quantitative survey research design, a questionnaire was developed and administered to a convenience sample of 264 employees drawn from central government departments in Gauteng. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test the psychometric properties of measurement scales and hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling. Organisational culture and quality of work life positively and significantly influenced job satisfaction. In turn, job satisfaction positively and significantly influenced employee productivity. Organisational culture exerted greater influence on job satisfaction than quality of work life. By implication, the labour relations environment in the public sector may be improved by nurturing healthy cultures and enriching quality of work life, thereby improving both job satisfaction and employee productivity.