THE ROLE OF JOB CRAFTING ON CAREER SATISFACTION WITH THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF PERSON- JOB FIT AMONG THE LECTURERS AT EASTERN UNIVERSITY,SRILANKA

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine the role of job crafting on career satisfaction with the mediating effect of person - job fit among lecturers at Eastern University, Sri Lanka, whereas job crafting is the dependent variable and career satisfaction is the dependent variable. The researcher employed a quantitative research method grounded in positivism and adopted a deductive approach to identify the relationships between the variables. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample. The research was conducted in a cross-sectional manner, with the survey serving as the method for data collection. Data was gathered by self-administered and structured questionnaires designed using a 5-point Likert scale from 90 lecturers from Eastern University, Sri Lanka, and collected data was statistically analyzed by using SPSS version 22.0. Statistical methods such as mean, standard deviation, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The research instrument, questionnaires comprising both personal and research information filled by 20 lecturers from all the faculties were validated through the Pilot study. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's Alpha test. Reliability of job crafting, career satisfaction, and person - job fit respectively are 0.806, 0.824, and 0.845. The study findings demonstrated a positive and significant nexus between (1) job crafting and career satisfaction, (2) job crafting and person - job fit, and (3) person - job fit and career satisfaction. The results also revealed that person - job fit, as a mediator partially mediates the relationship between job crafting and career satisfaction. The study suggests career satisfaction can be determined by job crafting by ensuring person - job fit. Therefore, the universities should train their staff on how to handle job resources and demands to craft their jobs effectively to increase person - job fit. The universities need to identify strategies to ensure person - job fit among academic staff. One of the best strategies is providing academic staff the freedom to craft their jobs. By this, academic staff can create a fit between their jobs and work. It'll lead to creating a stress-free and conducive work environment in which staff can excel in both their work and career. Furthermore, universities want to ensure their staff are satisfied with their career. For that, administration and management need to be concerned about their staffs career, income, and advancement. The first drawback of this study is that the sample size was small and it's only restricted to Eastern University. It might be useful if the survey collects data from lecturers of many universities in Sri Lanka. Another shortcoming of this research is that the data was collected at a single point. Thus, it's impossible to predict some causal relationships. The replication of the results is required as this study design was based on cross-sectional studies.