Factors of Climate

Research approach

The research approach can be described as a descriptive, cross-sectional field survey, the data as primary data and data analysis as exploratory and correlational. Questionnaires were completed electronically and handled anonymously. The medium used was the intranet, which makes it possible for surveys to be conducted effectively and efficiently. The primary reason for utilising this approach was time and cost savings as well as the geographical location of employees.

Research method

Research participants

The non-probability (convenience) sample consisted of 696 employees from three regions of an ICT organization in South Africa, yielding a response rate of 47.9%. The target population can be described as all professional, management, technical, support and administrative personnel (i.e. white-collar workers) (n=1453) in three regions of the organization, irrespective of their current employment status (permanent or contract). The unit of analysis was each employee, regardless of his or her status in the various departments and across the three regions. This enabled the researcher to achieve a diverse offering in terms of the employees in these regions of the organization. Table 3 indicates the biographical details of the respondents.

Table 3: Distribution of participants according to biographical and organizational variables

The sample consisted of 63.4% (n = 441) men and 35.8% (n = 249) women. Of the sample, 75.9% (n = 528) consisted of white respondents. African, Colored and Indian respondents made up only 23.1% of the sample (n = 160). The majority of respondents in the sample had worked for the organization for six to ten years, representing 26.4% (n = 184) of the sample. The least represented category was for four to five years, with only 9.5% (n = 66) respondents falling in this category. Of the respondents, 145 (20.8%) had been with the organization for one year or less while 151 respondents (21.7%) had been employed there for at least three years. Employees who had been with the organization for 11 years or more constituted 21,3% (n = 148) of the sample. Of the sample, 68% (n = 473) were employed at clerical, supervisory or junior management level, 19% (n = 129) at middle or senior management level and 3% (n = 21) at executive level. Table 3 also indicates that most of the sample respondents – 67.1% (n = 467) – were permanently employed with the organization, with the balance of 22.6% (n = 157) represented by project consultants. Of the respondents, 52.7% (n = 367) were employed in the Johannesburg region, 37.4% (n = 260) were from the Pretoria region and 9.9% (n = 69) of the sample represented the client site region. Finally, Table 3 indicates that 22.3% (n = 155) of the respondents had attended the diversity awareness training whereas 14.8% (n = 103) had not.

Measuring instrument

One measuring instrument was utilized to measure both variables in this study. The instrument that was used was a previously validated climate questionnaire that was adapted or rephrased to fit in with the information technology (IT) environment specifically for this study. The questionnaire measured overall organizational climate as well as the different components or dimensions of organizational climate that could impact on job satisfaction. The original questionnaire was adapted (by reviewing statements) by conducting focus groups and holding interviews with key stakeholders, the human resource executive and the regional human resource managers.

The organizational climate questionnaire consisted of 70 items used to measure 12 dimensions of organizational climate (see Table 2). The questionnaire utilized a Likert-type scale in which the individual was presented with five alternative responses for each statement, ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). All items were positively scored and the final score for each dimension was obtained by acquiring a mean score for each dimension. The levels of reliability and validity estimated in the current study are reported in the results section in this article.

Research procedure

Permission to conduct the research in each region was obtained from the business executive concerned. Thereafter an invitation was sent out via e-mail to the 1453 potential participants, requesting their participation in the electronic survey. A URL link that directed potential respondents to the survey instrument was provided in the invitation letter. The questionnaire took between 20 and 30 minutes to complete and all the responses were submitted anonymously.

Statistical analysis

The following statistical analyses were conducted by means of the SPSS version 16.0 computer package: exploratory factor analysis, item analysis, correlation analysis and step-wise linear regression. A confirmatory factor analysis was then conducted using the AMOS 7.0 package.