Employee Motivation Strategies and Job Satisfactions Levels among Employees in Ther Sugar Industry in Kenya

Abstract

Job satisfaction has remained a remarkable area of discussion in the field of management, psychology and especially in organizational behavior and human resource management, for a long period. Many economists have paid attention and inclination towards this subject in recent years (Kosteas, 2009). The relationship between motivation and performance is a universal concern and is often talked about but many organizations do not make concrete efforts to study it in detail. These organizations blindly apply the popular motivational theories without findings and instigators which would be the result of an intensive study on motivation. In today’s hyper-competitive marketplace it is important to have an understanding of what fosters employee motivation and job satisfaction. This study examined motivation strategies and level of job satisfaction amongst employees of sugar factories in Kenya. Sugar industry employees were considered for the study given the significance of the industry to the economy of Kenya generally and to the economic well-being of the people of western Kenya in particular. The study employed a case study design where employee of Nzoia Sugar Company were sampled for purposes of data collection. The study was guided by Maslow's Theory, which is based on the concept of human needs and their satisfaction. The sample of the study comprised of 103 respondents being 28 managerial staff and 90 line employees. Data was collected by use of questionnaires, interview schedule and observation. Statistically quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive as well as inferential statistics. Study findings revealed a statistically significant relationship between employee motivation and job satisfaction. Findings of this study have provided vital and relevant information to stakeholders in manufacturing industries and in Kenya and beyond as to how motivation strategies can be harnessed to bring about employee job satisfaction. The study has also stretched the frontiers of knowledge on the relationship between employee motivation and resultant occupational attitudes.

Keywords: Motivation, Job Satisfaction, Sugar industry