Assessment of job motivation, satisfaction and performance among forest guards

Abstract

This study on assessment of job motivation, satisfaction and performance among forest guards has been conducted in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The main objective of the study was to assess the effect of job motivation, job satisfaction, job stress and other predictors on job performance. The study also aimed to understand the perception of forest guards and other forest officers regarding the strategies for human resource development of forest guards. The sample size for the study was 720 and 240 individuals were selected from each state. Questionnaire was devised using established scales. Interviews were conducted with forest guards, their Union and senior forest officers. Secondary information was collected from headquarters. SPSS and Microsoft Excel were used to analyse the data. The study showed strong relationship of task performance and contextual performance with task orientation, success orientation, motivators and hygiene factors. Task performance was strongly but negatively correlated with job stress. Contextual performance was also moderately positively correlated to job satisfaction. In the regression analysis, the beta coefficients of task orientation and motivators were positively significant and job stress, age and hygiene were negatively significant with task performance as dependent variable. For contextual performance, the beta coefficients of task orientation, success orientation and motivators showed positive significance. Job performance was found to have positive relationship with job motivation, job satisfaction and educational qualification. It showed negative correlation with age, length of service and job stress. The hierarchical linear regression analysis demonstrated that the job performance is significantly improved with high motivation and high satisfaction. However, the job performance will be low if either motivation or satisfaction is low. Finally, the study make recommendations based on the findings, the feedback on the questionnaires served to forest guards and IFS officers, interaction with union representatives and analysis of rules, practices and procedures prevalent in different states. The study aims to contribute towards improvement in the HRM interventions for forest guards for better job performance.