dc.description.abstract |
There is a growing need to source for and retain qualified workers in the hospitality industry in
Kenya. The creation of job satisfaction in the jobs themselves and motivation techniques is
important for sustainable development in the labor market. Employees are fundamental
components for hospitality entities to achieve their objectives of service delivery. The purpose of
this study was to identify factors which influence job characteristics and employee work
motivation in the hospitality industry. The study was undertaken at Sarova Panafric hotel,
Nairobi. The research study was guided by the following objectives: to identify the factors that
influence job characteristics on work motivation in the hospitality industry; to establish the
effects of task significance on employee work motivation in the hospitality industry; to assess the
effects of skills variety on employee work motivation in the hospitality industry; to investigate
the influence of feedback from job on employee work motivation in the hospitality industry and
to assess the effects of task identity on employee work motivation in the hospitality industry.
Descriptive research design was used and a total sample of 31 out of 100 hotel employees filled
the questionnaires. The analysis. Job characteristics theory by Hackman and Oldham (1975) and
Hertzberg's two factor motivation theory formed the basis of this study. The findings of this
study helped hotel managers facing high staff turnover and high absenteeism in hotels to
properly design jobs and motivate employees to retain quality staff. From the findings, variety of
skills, task identity, autonomy and feedback were found to affect the motivation of employees,
while task significance did not significantly affect employee motivation. The study recommends
that job characteristics be considered in planning and evaluation of employees’ jobs, motivation
and performance respectively. Increased freedom in decision making and job rotation were cited
as some of the ways in which firms in the catering industry could increase employees’
motivation and consequently their performance.
Key words: Job Characteristics, Work Motivation |
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