A comprehensive model for the determinants of motivation and job satisfaction of fresh University graduates

Abstract

In today’s challenging markets, organizations need to explore new ways to maximize the productivity and business performance of their employees. The study focuses on a special group of employees, namely fresh University graduates. A new, integrated modeling framework is proposed (MJCM), aiming to identify the practices and conditions under which employed fresh graduates will experience high levels of internal work motivation, satisfaction, effectiveness and commitment (“personal/work outcomes”). The framework is an extension of Hackman and Oldham’s Job Characteristics Model, bridging some of its theoretical gaps. The model was tested on 630 respondents. Its psychometric properties were first examined, where the validity and reliability of the model were verified. The relation between “core job dimensions” and “personal/work outcomes” was then tested, indicating the significant determinants. It was also found that this relation is mediated by “experienced psychological states”, such as self-confidence and experienced meaningfulness of the work. Interesting results were obtained, demonstrating the importance of effective job design and redesign strategies for employed fresh graduates.