Management Styles and Employee Job Satisfaction A Case Study of Esco (U) Ltd Bundibugyo Western Uganda

ABSTRACT 

The topic of the study was management styles and employee job satisfaction in Esco (U) Ltd Bundibugyo. The study was guided by three specific objectives, that included i) establishing the effects of autocratic management style on employee job satisfaction; ii) establishing the effects of democratic management style on employee job satisfaction; iii) establishing the effects of laissez faire management style on employee job satisfaction in Esco (U) Ltd Bundibugyo. This research employed quantitative and qualitative research approaches with descriptive correlational and case study designs. The findings of the study indicated that, with respect to effects of autocratic, democratic and laissez faire management styles on employee job satisfaction in Esco (U) Ltd Bundibugyo, the findings show that, autocratic, democratic and laissez faire management style have significant effects on employee job satisfaction in Esco (U) Ltd Bundibugyo. The researcher concluded that, autocratic, democratic and laissez faire management styles significantly affect job satisfaction in Esco (U) Ltd Bundibugyo. The researcher recommends to the management to always involve staff in the activities of the company; to provide job security to staff so as to make employees to love the company; to always respect the staff of the company and to always solicit the views of staff members and use such views in decision making process of the company; to always give freedom of association to the staff of the company especially those staff members who are seniors in the company; The researcher recommends to the staff of Esco (U) Ltd to always strive to go for further studies so that they can advance in their career and get promoted to the higher levels of job position. The findings of this study will contribute to the knowledge in that; It will fill the conceptual or content gap in the previous researchers’ literature through conceptualization of employee job satisfaction into manageable elements which the previous researcher did not seriously put into consideration as good attendance, improved performance and employee commitment; through filling a theoretical gap that was identified in the previous researcher’s work; through using good theories that well explain the effects of management styles on employee job satisfaction. These theories are behavioral leadership theory and human relations theory; through identifying the key management styles and understanding that the management style becomes the best style when it is applied depending on the situation; also because it will enlighten managers of other companies on the elements of the management styles and how to apply them and enlighten the other members of Esco (U) Ltd Bundibugyo as employees and other support staff on the elements of job satisfaction and how to attain such elements as good attendance, improved performance and employee commitment.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ....................................................................................................................ii

APPROVAL.......................................................................................................................... iii

DEDICATION.......................................................................................................................iv

LIST OF ACRONYMS ..........................................................................................................v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.....................................................................................................vi

LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................................xii

ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... xiii

CHAPTER ONE...................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................1

1.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................................1

1.1 Background of the study...................................................................................................1

1.1.1 Historical perspective ....................................................................................................1

1.1.2 Theoretical perspective..................................................................................................4

1.1.3 Conceptual perspective..................................................................................................5

1.1.4 Contextual perspective ..................................................................................................6

1.2 Statement of the problem..................................................................................................7

1.3 Purpose of the study .........................................................................................................7

1.4 Research objectives ..........................................................................................................8

1.5 Research Questions...........................................................................................................8

1.6 Hypothesis........................................................................................................................8

1.7 Scope of the study.............................................................................................................8

1.7.1 Geographical scope........................................................................................................8

1.7.2 Content scope ................................................................................................................9

1.7.3 Theoretical scope ...........................................................................................................9

1.7.4 Time scope...................................................................................................................10

1.8 Significance of the Study..............................................................................................10

1.9 Definition of the concepts...............................................................................................10

CHAPTER TWO................................................................................................................13

LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................................................13

2.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................................13

2.1Theoretical Review..........................................................................................................13

2.2 The conceptual review....................................................................................................16

2.2.1 The conceptual framework ..........................................................................................16

2.2.1.1 Management styles...................................................................................................17

2.2.1.2 Employee job satisfaction.........................................................................................19

2.3 Related literature.............................................................................................................22

2.3.1 The effects of autocratic management style on employee job satisfaction..................22

2.3.2 The effects of democratic management style on employee job satisfaction ...............22

2.3.3 The effects of laissez faire management style on employee job satisfaction ..............24

2.4 Research gaps.................................................................................................................25

CHAPTER THREE............................................................................................................27

METHODOLOGY.............................................................................................................27

3.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................................27

3.1 Research design ..............................................................................................................27

3.2 Study Population.............................................................................................................27

3.3 Sample size.....................................................................................................................28

3.4 Sampling Procedures......................................................................................................28

3.5 Data sources....................................................................................................................29

3.5.1 Primary data sources....................................................................................................29

3.5.2 Secondary sources .......................................................................................................29

3.6 Data collection instruments............................................................................................29

3.7 Measurement of Variables ..............................................................................................29

3.8 Validity and Reliability of the Instruments.....................................................................30

3.8.1 Validity of the instrument ............................................................................................30

3.8.2 Reliability of the instruments ......................................................................................31

3.9 Data Gathering Procedure ..............................................................................................32

3.9.1 Before the administration of the questionnaires..........................................................32

3.9.2. During the administration of the questionnaires.........................................................32

3.9.3 After the administration of the questionnaire ..............................................................32

3.10 Data Analysis................................................................................................................32

3.11 Ethical Considerations..................................................................................................34

3.12 The limitations of the study ..........................................................................................34

CHAPTER FOUR ..............................................................................................................35

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA .........................35

4.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................................35

4.1 The response rate ............................................................................................................35

4.2 Profile of Respondents....................................................................................................35

4.3 The extent of management styles in Esco (U) Ltd Bundibugyo.....................................37

4.4 The level of employee job satisfaction in Esco (U) Ltd Bundibugyo western Uganda.................40

4.5 The effects of autocratic management style on employee job satisfaction in Esco (U) Ltd Bundibugyo........................43

4.6 The effects of democratic management style on employee job satisfaction in Esco (U) Ltd Bundibugyo.............................45

4.7 The effects of laissez faire management style on employee job satisfaction in Esco (U) Ltd Bundibugyo.....................46

CHAPTER FIVE................................................................................................................49

DISCUSSIONS OF THE FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .49

5.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................................49

5.1Discussion of the findings ...............................................................................................49

5.1.1 The effects of autocratic management style on employee job satisfaction in Esco (U) Ltd Bundibugyo western Uganda ..............................49

5.1.2 The effects of democratic management style on employee job satisfaction in Esco (U) Ltd Bundibugyo western Uganda ............................49

5.1.3 The effects of laissez faire management style on employee job satisfaction in Esco (U) Ltd Bundibugyo western Uganda .............................50

5.2 Conclusions ....................................................................................................................50

5.3 Recommendation............................................................................................................51

5.3.1 Recommendation on the effects of autocratic management style on employee job satisfaction..................................51

5.3.2 Recommendations on the effects of democratic management style on employee job satisfaction.................................51

5.3.3 Recommendations on the effects of laissez faire management style on employee job satisfaction in Esco (U) Ltd Bundibugyo .................51

5.4 Contribution to the knowledge .......................................................................................51

5.5 Areas for further research ...............................................................................................52

REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................53

APPENDICES......................................................................................................................56

APPENDIX 1 A....................................................................................................................56

TRANSMITTAL LETTER FROM CHDR..........................................................................56

APPENDIX 1B.....................................................................................................................57

TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR THE RESPONDENTS....................................................57

APPENDIX II.......................................................................................................................58

QUESTIONNAIRE..............................................................................................................58

SECTION A..........................................................................................................................58

APPENDIX III .....................................................................................................................61

MAP OF THE STUDY AREA.............................................................................................61