Satisfaction Among Early Career Academics in New Zealand Universities: A Conceptual Model Tested

Abstract

Balancing many competing roles and expectations, in an environment where autonomy and independence are valued, may lead to serious dissatisfaction among some academics who feel overworked, under-rewarded, and poorly supported. Given that New Zealand’s academics are comparatively underpaid, we should pay attention to the satisfaction levels of our academic staff, and to the conditions that affect satisfaction. This chapter adapts a well-known conceptual model of academic satisfaction and tests it in the New Zealand context with early career academics. We find high levels of satisfaction compared with academics elsewhere in the world and note the strong influence of various motivators, hygiene factors, and environmental conditions that positively and negatively interact with satisfaction.