Effects of Organizational Structure On Job Satisfaction in The Nigerian Financial Sector: Empirical Insight From Selected Banks in Lagos State
Effects of Organizational Structure On Job Satisfaction in The Nigerian Financial Sector: Empirical Insight From Selected Banks in Lagos State
Effects of Organizational Structure On Job Satisfaction in The Nigerian Financial Sector: Empirical Insight From Selected Banks in Lagos State
1, October 2015
ISSN: 0189-5958
Website: www.arabianjbmr.com/NGJSD_index.php
Publisher: ZARSMI Dubai, UAE and Centre for Social
Science Research Enugu Nigeria
Abstract
The level of job satisfaction and effectiveness of every human depends upon an appropriate
organization structure; as organization structure is the prescribed pattern of work-related
behavior that are deliberately established for the accomplishment of organizational goals.
During the last decade quite a lot of discussions have taken place, in the corporate world, about
organizational structure, and a lot of organizational success and job satisfaction by the
employee are attached to the structure that is in place. Yet opinions still considerably differ with
regard to the most appropriate organizational structure that would enhance job satisfaction.
This study therefore examined the effects of organizational structure on job satisfaction in the
Nigerian financial sector, empirical insight from selected leading banks in Lagos State, Nigeria.
Survey research design was used in the study. Data for the study were gotten from both primary
and secondary sources. A total of 335 questionnaires were administered randomly to selected
banks out of 3711 officials of the leading banks. However, only 280 of the administered
questionnaires were filled and returned and 259 of the questionnaires returned were found
useful for data analysis. Two hypotheses was advanced to guide the study. The result of the first
hypothesis shows that there is a correlation between organizational structure and optimum job
satisfaction at 0.795 R-square, hence the Null hypothesis was rejected. Also, the result of the
study reveals that there is a relationship between organizational structure and employee’s
recognition at 0.612 R-square, hence Null hypothesis two was rejected. Findings of the study
shows that there is a correlation between organizational structure and components of job
satisfaction via need for dominance, achievement & autonomy. The study recommends that
organizations should design a suitable structure which must begin with some ideas of what the
organization is out to achieve (prime purpose of the organization). The study therefore concludes
that managers should bear it in mind that job satisfaction of workers go a long way to determine
their productivity, and hence the realization of organizations goals and objectives. So, suitable
structures should be put in place to enhance optimum level of job satisfaction.
Keywords: organizational structure, effects, job satisfaction, employee’s recognition, and the
Nigerian financial Sector.
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INTRODUCTION
Organizations do have goals and objectives to achieve and could be better coordinated through a
formalized procedure. For organization to achieve its goals and objectives, the work of such
organization has to be divided among its members. Some structure is necessary to make possible
the effective performance of key activities and to support the effort of staff, structure provide the
framework of an organization and its pattern of management. It represents a formalized
framework within which management operates. It is by means of organization structure that the
purpose and work of the organization can be carried out. The workers that carried out the
organizations work and purpose can only perform well where their satisfaction is adequately
taken care of. It is therefore evident that for organization to realize its objectives, job satisfaction
of the workers need to be considered. According to Blum and Nylor (1998), job satisfaction is a
general attitude formed as a result of specific job factors, individual characteristics and
relationships outside the job. Job satisfaction is an individual’s general attitude toward his job,
which is also conceptualized as a personalistic evaluations of conditions existing on the job-
work, supervision, or outcomes, that arises as result of having a job. However, organizational
behaviorists and human resources professionals have long been curious about the best way to
structure a work environment in order to influence employee outcomes via job satisfaction.
Organizational structure has an effect on individuals’ attitudes and behaviors. It is influence by
the manager’s personal preferences for ways of relating to subordinates and other managers, and
ways of attacking problems. Organization structure refers to the arrangement of task,
interrelations of various departments and levels of authorities to achieve co-operation of efforts,
delegation of authority and effective communication along the scalar chain of command.
Structure defines how job tasks are formally divided, grouped, and coordinated. It shows the
hierarchical relationships among members of the organizations (March & Simon 1998).
Moreover, almost every organization wants to achieve the highest possible productivity level or
optimized productivity. Undoubtedly skilled and efficient manpower is one of the most
important tools for achieving organizational goals because human resources has important role in
increasing and reducing productivity in organization. This therefore means that if organization
has greatest capital and the best technology and facilities coupled with a good framework within
which management operates, but don’t have productive and well satisfied human resources, such
organization will not achieve its goal (Mehdad, 2006; Ostovar & et al, 2008). Labour as a factor
of production is very fundamental and sensitive to every bit of things around them. The way they
relate with their colleagues, junior and even superiors in the organization go a long way to affect
their productivity and job satisfaction. The way authority flows also goes a long way to influence
the behavior of workers and hence their expressions of job satisfaction. These makes
organization structure a big determinant of job satisfaction which thus makes it an important area
of study.
Statement of Research Problem
In the past decade the issue of organizational structure and job satisfaction have attracted the
attention of scholars in organizational behavior and have ignited a lot of discussions and
arguments. Organizations have goals and objectives to achieve and this is only realizable through
the coordinated efforts of workers. The structure of an organization which is the framework
within which these goals and objectives are carried out is very fundamental to the realization of
these goals. In the study of organization, it is recognized that organizations are structured in
various ways. This portrays the complexity of it and workers too with their own goals and
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objectives amongst which is believed job satisfaction is paramount. Thus, the choice and
application of the most suitable structure that would bring about the highest job satisfaction is a
source of concern in this study.
Research Objectives
The main objective of this study is to investigate the extent structure of an organization actually
affects job satisfaction of workers in the financial sector (Banking Industry). Accordingly, the
specific objectives of the study are to:
Research Hypotheses
LITERATURE REVIEW
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Decentralization: The grassroots level can highly participate in the decision making process or
they can decide something by themselves. Occurs in an organization when a limited amount of
authority is delegated. Decentralized organizations require more communication and employee
involvement (Robbins, 2000).
Advantages of Decentralization.
1. Faster decision-making without resort to higher level consultation
2. Excellent training experience for promotion to higher level management
3. Decisions better adapted to local conditions
Functional Structure
The functional structure divides the organization based on a logical grouping of members that
share common tasks or goals. In an organization that manufactures a product, some of the
common functional units may be production, sales, accounting, marketing, and public relations.
The idea behind the functional structure is to increase profits by specializing tasks and grouping
them together for maximum productivity. The members of a functional organization can easily
see the relationship between all individuals in one department. In the functional organization, the
CEO, or top manager, has control over the organization and is the only organizational member
who sees the whole picture of all departments working towards a common goal. This can be a
disadvantage to the organization if the top manager suddenly vacates the position, leaving no
other qualified individuals to effectively run the organization. Also, the top manager may easily
become overwhelmed by increased decision-making as the organization grows (Hatch, 1997).
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Multi-Divisional Structure
Hatch (1997) claimed that when the functional structure becomes too large for one centralized
decision-maker, the organization typically takes on a multi-divisional structure. In the multi-
divisional structure, or M-form, the organization is divided into functional structures that all
report to a staff at corporate headquarters. Within each functional structure, members are
grouped according to production processes or products, customer type, or geographical region
where their activity takes place. The functional structures are each responsible for making daily
decisions regarding production schedules and sales while the headquarters staff monitors overall
company performance and formulates strategy.
Matrix Structure
The matrix structure exists as a combination of the functional and multi-divisional structures.
The matrix organization employs both functional managers and project managers. The
responsibilities of the functional managers include assigning specialists to projects and ensuring
them the acquisition and maintenance of necessary skills to complete the project. These
managers also monitor the progress of the task and make sure it meets company standards. The
project managers, then, supervise each project in terms of budgeting and timeline (Hatch, 1997).
The organization members involved in a matrix structure are assigned to project teams based on
agreement between the functional and project managers. The teams include members that
possess the functionally specialized abilities to complete the task at hand. The team members
report to both the functional manager and the project manager; therefore, a disadvantage of the
matrix structure lies with the conflict often created by dual lines of authority.
The simple, functional, multi-divisional, and matrix forms of organizations represent pure types
of organizational structure. Sometimes, an organization will not fit neatly into one of these
categories, but would rather utilize some combination of two or more structures. Hybrid
structures may exist deliberately in order to gain the maximum advantage of certain structures, or
the organization may be changing and temporarily incorporate more than one structural type.
Confusion often occurs in a hybrid organization because relationships change accordingly
between parts of the organization. However, the hybrid structure can be beneficial in that it
provides the organization with the ability to embrace the structure that best fits its needs (Hatch,
1997).
Network Structure
The network structure is a relatively new organizational type that replaces most vertical
relationships with horizontal ones. Instead of the organization operating from formal vertical
relationships, a partnership is formed among several organizations. The entire network, then,
produces goods or provides services, so that one single organization does not provide a product
or service. This coordination of activities eradicates the need for the traditional vertical
hierarchy, which lowers administrative costs. While lessening overall costs, networks also
increase efficiency and profitability that enable the organization to remain competitive (Hatch,
1997). Networks often form when organizations find themselves faced with technological
change, short product lifecycles, or highly specialized markets.
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produced according to the specific desires of the customer. The characteristics of the virtual
organization include work teams, flexible manufacturing, individual worker autonomy, and
computer design and customization (Davidow & Malone, 1992). Rahman and Bhattachryya
(2002) discussed the emergence of the virtual organization as a specific type of networked
organization. There are two definitions that may represent the virtual organization. An
organization may be virtual in that it is a temporary network of generally independent entities
that are linked through technology to provide skills, costs, and accessibility to different markets.
An organization may also be virtual in that it simply does not have a physical building from
which it operates. In this context, that definition might imply that the organization is
geographically distributed and therefore operates through electronic communication devices.
Virtual organizations have five common characteristics as identified by Rahman and
Bhattachryya (2002). First, virtual organizations have a shared vision and goal, and sometimes
the organizations also have a universal protocol of cooperation. Second, the organizations group
activities around certain core capabilities. Virtual organizations also operate in core competence
teams in order to implement their tasks in a unifying approach throughout the entire network. In
addition, these organizations both process and disseminate information in real time, allowing
them to quickly make decisions and formulate actions. Finally, virtual organizations often
delegate tasks and responsibilities from the bottom up when new conditions are introduced or a
certain capability is required for the group goal to be accomplished.
Meadows (2000) discovered that the implementation of an organic structure was positively
related to an increase in job satisfaction among employees working in small groups. He also
found that individuals high on personality variables such as a need for dominance, a need for
achievement, and a need for autonomy displayed a stronger correlation between organic
structures and job satisfaction than did individuals low on these personality variables.
Hatch (1997) argued that structure refers to the relationships among the parts of an organized
whole”. In regards to organization theory, social structure specifically refers to relationships
among people, positions, and organizational units, such as departments and divisions, to which
they belong. He noted that the basic elements of organizational structure, first outlined by
sociologist Max Weber, are hierarchy of authority, division of labor, and rules and procedures
are directly related to job satisfaction. In an extensive overview of organizational structure and
its many component parts, Robbins (2000) discussed ways many of those parts are related to one
another and therefore affect job satisfaction. He maintained that organization structure defines
task allocation, reporting relationships, and formal coordination mechanisms in an organization
which might have positive or negative impact on job satisfaction if not well organized.
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Kakabadse and Worall (2001) examined the relationship between aspects of organizational
structure and job satisafaction as experienced by personnel employed in nine social service
departments. They discovered that the best predictors of organizational structure were
dimensions of centralization and formalization which related significantly but negatively to job
satisfaction.
Ibrahim Ali (2004), in his study examined the effects of the interaction of technology, structure
and organizational climate on job satisfaction in power generation plants. The result showed that
technology was indicated to have influenced employee’s job satisfaction. Structure of the
organization showed a marked consistency in the effects of specialization, formalization and
centralization on job satisfaction. Employees have higher job satisfaction when they are given
the opportunity in some form of decision making. This, the author said was consistent with
Hages Proposition (Hages, 1995) and also in line with the empowerment model of management
whereby a participative workplace climate is created to provide opportunity for employees in
decision making (Spitzer, 1996). The empowerment model generally assumes that organizational
performance improves when hierarchy is reduced and delaying disposes power to workers (Mites
and Snow, 2005).
(Robbins, 2000), observed that structure encompasses three other dimensions that are present in
an organization. Organizations may be mechanistic, organic, or bureaucratic, depending on their
levels of complexity, centralization, and formalization. A mechanistic organization harbors a
highly complex, formalized, and centralized environment where tasks are greatly specialized,
workers receive little discretion through the presence of strict procedures, and decisions are made
at the highest level of the organization.
Toffler (2007) believed in the adhocracy, characterized by a task force whose members are
assembled specifically to reach a certain goal, are becoming more and more popular in corporate
organizations, especially in areas of science. Adhocracies are made up of specialists who can
each perform their tasks autonomously; therefore, a hierarchy of authority is nonexistent. There
are no formal rules, and problems are quickly dealt with as they arise. Power has the potential to
change hands randomly and rapidly, depending on who has the expertise to manage the current
situation. Specialists are typically grouped together in teams, but each team operates informally
with adjustments taking place as conditions change. With the autonomy and informal nature of
the adhocracy comes the possibility of conflict due to the absence of formal positions of power.
Achrol (1997) discussed forms of business organizations that first developed out of the Industrial
Revolution. Henry Ford provides a classic example of a functional organizational form, a
vertically integrated organization that was the principal structure during the late 1800s and early
1900s. This type of organization centered on standard high-volume production but with
relatively low cost. Alfred Sloan at General Motors popularized the multidivisional form after
World War I. This type of organization included the ability to cater to a large variety of
consumer preferences by focusing more on the market and product development. As market
preferences began to multiply and product technologies flourished, Achrol (1997) noted that the
matrix organization materialized throughout the 1960s and ‘70s. In these new matrix structures,
the idea was that marketing would develop a closer working relationship with science and
engineering. The emphasis here was more lateral than vertical, with dual lines of authority in the
organization. The rise of Japanese global enterprise in the 1980s gave birth to the network
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organization. Business began to realize that the success of the global enterprise was dependent
upon sources external to the firm. The network organization started to prosper further as a means
of organizing the information overload and rapid technological advancements that began to take
place.
Job Satisfaction
Job satisfaction is a multifaceted construct with a variety of definitions and related concepts,
which has been studied in a variety of disciplines for many years to now. Job Satisfaction is a
general expression of workers’ positive attitudes built up towards their jobs. Workers maintain
an attitude towards their jobs as a result of diverse features of their job, social status that they’ve
gained about their jobs and experiences in their job environment. This attitude also be also
negative towards work. If the economic benefits, the social status, the job’s own specific
characteristics and the job expectation employees hoped, are appropriate for employees’ desires,
there is job satisfaction. Positive attitudes of employees towards the whole business environment
as a result their experiences of work-environment are called job satisfaction. Besides its
answering the individual needs of physiology and security, if job also affects the person's
feelings and values in positive way, then it can be said that there is a job satisfaction (Edorgan,
2006).
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and job satisfaction. Their result substantially support positive effect of structure on job
satisfaction.
Conceptual Framework
The conceptual framework represent the model for the study which shows the link or relationship
between the independent variable (Organizational structure) and the dependent variable (Job
Satisfaction). The Framework explains how components of organizational structure has effects
on components of Job satisfaction.
Organizational Structure
Simple Structure
Functional structure Job Satisfaction
Multi-dimensional
Recognition / Status
Structure
Working Environment
Matrix Structure
Salary
Virtual Structure
Dominance
Organic structure
Achievement
Need for Autonomy.
METHODOLOGY
The study was carried out in Nigeria, using descriptive survey research design. The target
population are employees of selected branches of GTB Plc. in Lagos State. Lagos state was
chosen because greater percentage of banks operating in Nigeria have their headquaters located
in Lagos state, the industrial nerve centre of the country. A sample size of 335 employees formed
the respondents out of 3711 employees that formed the total population for the study. Stratified
and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the respondents whereby the
employees were stratified according to their designation. Questionnaires were used to collect
data which were validated through a pilot study. The questions were closed ended on a five point
Likert scale. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data.
The sample size was determined using Smith Formual n= 1+ Nb2 as cited in Asika, (2004)
Where n= sample size, N= population size and b2= percentage error margin
n =1 + 3711(30%) 2
n= 1+ 3711(0.09)
n= 1+334.99= 335.99
The sample size is therefore approximated to 335.
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analysis. Data collected during the research were analyzed, the formulated hypotheses are
subjected to empirical test using correlation and regression. The results of the findings are as
follows. The results of the analysis are presented beginning with the presentation of
demographics (bio-data) of the respondents which revealed that majority of the respondents were
male which constitute (60.2%), while their female counterparts were (39.8%). This shows that
male has the highest pool over their female counterpart in the banking industries.
TEST OF HYPOTHESES
Hypothesis one
Ho: Organization Structure does not have effect on optimum job satisfaction.
Correlations
MOTIVATION EMPLOYEE'S
COMMITMENT
Pearson Correlation 1 .795**
ORGANIZATION
Sig. (2-tailed) .000
STRUCTURE
N 259 259
Pearson Correlation .795** 1
JOB SATISFACTION Sig. (2-tailed) .000
N 259 259
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
Source: Computer SPSS version 20.0 Output, field survey 2013.
The Correlation analysis showed the strength and direction of the linear relationship between
organization structure and job satisfaction. From the table above, the Pearson correlation
coefficient between organization structure and job satisfaction is 0.795, indicating a Positive and
strong correlations between organization structure and job satisfaction. Therefore, we reject the
null hypothesis and accept the alternate hypothesis.
Hypothesis Two
H0: Organization Structure is not a significance tool to enhance employee’s recognition.
Correlations
MOTIVATION JOB PERFORMANCE
Pearson Correlation 1 .612**
ORGANIZATION
Sig. (2-tailed) .000
STRUCTURE
N 259 259
Pearson Correlation .612** 1
EMPLOYEE
Sig. (2-tailed) .000
RECOGNITION.
N 259 259
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
Source: Computer SPSS version 20.0 Output, field survey 2013.
The Correlation analysis showed the strength and direction of the linear relationship between
Organization Structure and Recognition. From the table above, the Pearson correlation
coefficient between Organization structure and Employee Recognition is 0.612, indicating a
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Positive and strong correlations between Organization structure and Employee recognition.
Therefore, we reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternate hypothesis.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
This study has been able to examine the relationship between organizational structures and job
satisfaction. It was successful in establishing the existence of relationships and paving the way
for further research in this area. Through quantitative research, this study determined that multi-
divisional and virtual structures each shared a relationship with need for recognition, while
network and matrix structures each correlated with optimum job satisfaction. Multi-divisional
and virtual structures, respectively, consist of departments and employees that are dispersed
geographically. Due to the fact that employees in these organizational structures do not work in a
shared environment, this correlated with need for autonomy. The network structure and matrix
structure both include groups that need to share effective communication in order to be
successful, hence enhancing employees view in decision making. In the network structure,
groups of businesses share ideas, whereas in the matrix structure employees are divided into
groups based on their specialized skills. Both of these structures enhances optimum job
satisfaction via need for achievement and accomplishment. The significance of this study lies in
the fact that it supports the idea that relationships do exist between organizational structures and
job satisfaction. It is important for employees in every organization to realize that by recognizing
and understanding the organizational structures in which they work, they can better participate
actively towards achieving overall organizational performance towards understanding their roles
or functions. Finally, it should be bore in mind that job satisfaction of workers go a long way to
determine their productivity, and hence the realization of organization’s goals and objectives and
therefore should be given due consideration.
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