Impact of Job Dissatisfaction on Performance of the Grama Niladhari Officers in Kalutara Divisional Secretariat in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Job Satisfaction is a crucial psychological factor affecting the motivation of employees. Various studies have found that Job Satisfaction is an essential condition for enhancing the productivity of employees. Only a few studies in the literature examine the Job Satisfaction of Public Sector Officers in Sri Lanka. This study relates to Job Satisfaction of the Grama Niladhari Officers who serve at the grass root level of the public service in Sri Lanka. An initial investigation indicated that the Grama Niladhari officers in the Kalutara Divisional Secretariat in Sri Lanka are dissatisfied with their job. The main focus of this study is to examine whether the Grama Niladhari Officers in Sri Lanka are really dissatisfied? What is the level of their dissatisfaction? What are the reasons for their dissatisfaction and the impact of dissatisfaction on their performance? This research was based on the qualitative research methods and data were collected from twenty Grama Niladhari Officers in the Kalutara Divisional Secretariat in Sri Lanka by using a convenient sampling method. Interview method was used to gather field data. The data were analyzed descriptively with the researchers‟ and the respondents‟ interpretations. The study has developed several measures to explain different levels of dissatisfaction of the Grama Niladhari officers as „Strongly Dissatisfied‟, „Dissatisfied‟ and „Neither Dissatisfiednor Satisfied‟. The majority of the sample of the Grama Niladhari Officers is in the category of „Dissatisfied‟ with their job regarding Payments, Promotion, Political Influence, Recognition, Technology and Training. Based on the lessons learnt, a theoretical framework has been derived based on the analysis to explain factors affecting dissatisfaction of the Grama Niladhari Officers in the Kalutara Divisional Secretariat in Sri Lanka. This study found that the dissatisfaction level of the Grama Niladhari Officers has negatively affected their performances. Finally, recommendations are suggested to minimize the Job Dissatisfaction level of the Grama Niladhari Officers in the Kalutara Divisional Secretariat in Sri Lanka.