Assessing the effect of interpersonal communications on employees' commitment and satisfaction

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between employees' motives for communicating with superiors and coworkers, their commitment to their organizations, satisfaction with jobs, and with superiors.

Design/methodology/approach

This article makes use of survey research, using quantitative research methodology investigating employees' motives for communicating with their superiors and co‐workers, their satisfaction and commitment towards their organization. The research identifies pleasure, escape, relaxation, control and inclusion as motives explaining why people communicate with each other and how they relate to each other.

Findings

The findings revealed a relationship between the motives along with satisfaction and commitment. Employees report a moderate commitment with their coworkers as well as superiors. Furthermore, the results showed strong relationships between the control, affection, inclusion, escape and relaxation motives.

Research limitations/implications

The research showed strengthening communication ties from a need to encourage more healthy interpersonal relationships by using jointly constructed reality. This approach was more effective because it goes beyond information process and it involves the process of people together creating what will be the mission and vision of the organization and developing corporate values. In addition, the organization's commitment can be enhanced through job enrichment together with matching the individual's values to those of the organization besides, finding ways and means of improving job satisfaction through different strategies such as improving the quality of the supervision, decentralization of power and counselling. Finally, the investigation serves as a context for evaluating the applicability of previous studies to the manufacturing, oil and petrochemical industries in Bahrain, focusing on Bapco (Bahrain Petroleum Company), GPIC (Gulf Petrochemicals Industries) and ALBA (Aluminum Bahrain ).

Originality/value

The study is the first thorough study conducted in the three above‐mentioned organizations. Therefore, it would be of great value to understand their employees better and improving their communication ties as well as motivation.

Citation

Awad, T.A. and Alhashemi, S.E. (2012), "Assessing the effect of interpersonal communications on employees' commitment and satisfaction", International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, Vol. 5 No. 2, pp. 134-156. https://doi.org/10.1108/17538391211233425