Determinants of job satisfaction in a lean environment

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the situational and dispositional determinants of job satisfaction in environments created by implementing employee-supportive lean.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses a questionnaire to measure the determinants of job satisfaction (perceived job demands, perceived job autonomy and core self-evaluations) and job satisfaction. Afterwards, the paper proposes a conceptual framework and uses hierarchical multiple regression to test the relationships among perceived job demands, perceived job autonomy, core self-evaluations and job satisfaction. Additionally, the study describes the implementation of employee-supportive lean in four small companies using an action research approach.

Findings

The findings reveal that perceived job demands has a negative impact on job satisfaction. In addition, the authors find that perceived job autonomy and core self-evaluations have a positive impact on job satisfaction. Finally, the results show that core self-evaluations buffer the impact of perceived job demands on job satisfaction.

Originality/value

The present research underscores the importance of work and personal characteristics for employees’ job satisfaction in an environment created by implementing employee-supportive lean.

Citation

Rodríguez, D., Van Landeghem, H., Lasio, V. and Buyens, D. (2017), "Determinants of job satisfaction in a lean environment", International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, Vol. 8 No. 2, pp. 134-152. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLSS-01-2016-0002