Impact of process controllers’ development program on job satisfaction at Umgeni Water.

Abstract

Organizations have implemented career development programs in order to address the issue of employee retention, job satisfaction and career advancement among others. These programs are designed to teach employees how to work toward their own developmental goals while continuing to do productive work for the organization. Organizations with such programs claim they retain a greater number of employees. Job satisfaction is a result of clearly outlined likes and dislikes experiences with the job. The level of employee job satisfaction in an organization is influenced by extrinsic and intrinsic factors which include nature of the job, training and development, responsibility, promotion opportunity and working environment. The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of Process Controllers’ development program on job satisfaction at Umgeni Water. One hundred and thirty-two (132) out of the target population of 211 respondents were selected as the sample size for the quantitative the study. The sample size was arrived at after making use of the Sekaran and Bougie’s 2014 list for selecting a sample size from a given population size. Questionnaires were developed and distributed to the nineteen Process Controllers who attended the development program. A questionnaire was also sent to the supervisors of these Process Controllers. Statistical analysis of the data collected revealed that the Process Controllers were satisfied with the positive impact the development program had on their personal attributes such as attitudes, behaviour, morale, self-esteem. The results also indicated that the Process Controllers were satisfied with the impact the programme had on their understanding and troubleshooting of the water and wastewater treatment process. The study also revealed that the Process Controllers were satisfied with the impact the development programme had to the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that affect their satisfaction with the job. It is recommended that Umgeni Water constantly provide the Process Controllers with information about the operations of the organization, especially those that will have impact to their job and as a result their satisfaction. It is also recommended that Process Controllers need to be continuously recognized when they perform their job well.