Abstract
M.A. (Information Science)
Management is usually concerned with the motivation and job satisfaction of
employees. When workers are adequately motivated and they derive sufficient
satisfaction in their job, it is assumed that their productivity is likely to be enhanced.
However, even without relating it to productivity, workers' job satisfaction is
considered important enough to deserve serious attention from managers and
researchers in various disciplines.
This study intends to examine the motivation and job satisfaction of information
specialists in public libraries in South Africa.
The study of motivation is a candid search for answers to perplexing questions that
revolve around human nature. There is no doubting the fact that the problem of
motivating other people is surely as old as human history. The common adage that
"one can lead a horse to water but cannot force it to drink" was, and remains, the
most important aspect of the motivation problem. Because human behaviour is
complex, there are numerous theories of motivation. Eight of the most well known
theories are discussed: Maslow, Herzberg, MacGregor, McClelland, Atkinson,
Hackman and Oldham, Vroom and Porter and Lawler.
Attention is paid to the possible implications of the theories for library management.
It seems though that, whatever theory of motivation one consults, some fertile sense
and some constraining theory turns up. The focus should therefore rather be on the
development and integration of existing theories to formulating new ones.
A review of literature revealed that there is a relationship between motivation and job
satisfaction.
Thesurvey instrument was a forty-six-item questionnaire developed specifically for this
study by the researcher. The first section of the questionnaire elicited background
information, such as age, marital status, qualification, tenure, salary and benefits. The
second section of the questionnaire gathered information about the participation and
perceived participation of the responding information specialist in the library situation.