Role of Sense of Calling for Job Performance and Job Satisfaction in Public Universities: Lessons from Addis Ababa

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to investigate the role of sense of calling on job satisfaction and job performance. Employee sense of calling and vocation (the meaning and purpose people attach towards a particular line of work) is considered as a significant element for job satisfaction, engagement and other positive organizational behaviors. The study investigated the role of sense of calling on job satisfaction and performance among academicians of public universities in Addis Ababa. Quantitative method was chosen to collect representative and reliable data from the participants. Multidimensional calling and vocation questionnaire (CVQ), job satisfaction scale (JSS) and Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ) were used as a tool. The study employed random sampling technique to select research participants from four sampled universities. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations etc. Besides, correlation analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between the variables. The findings of the research informs university and top level government leaders about the level of academicians’ job satisfaction which can be manipulated by personal sense of vocational calling. Besides, the study creates awareness about the impact of sense of calling/vocation on job satisfaction and job performance. The result of the study shows that the sampled academicians have a moderate sense of calling dimensions. Most academicians have a high sense of pro-social orientation whereas, a significant percentage of them are still searching for a better pro-social orientation. The descriptive statistics also confirmed that the level of extrinsic satisfaction of academicians is low whereas the intrinsic dimensions of job satisfaction are moderate. The statistics showed that the level of academicians’ task performance and contextual performance are moderate. Besides, the study uncovered that academicians occasionally exhibited work counterproductive behaviour. The study also witnessed the absence of significant relationship between sense of calling and job satisfaction dimensions called extrinsic and intrinsic job satisfaction. The moderate senses of calling infer that the studied academicians consider their job as an ordinary task. However, the existence of high sense of pro-social orientation implies that academicians suppose their occupation as respected though they are still yearning for the most prized job.