Journal of Information Technology and Economic Development 1(1), 86-110, October 2010 86

Job Satisfaction as a Potential Mediator Between Motivational Job Characte ristics and
Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Evidence from Malaysia.

Ramesh Krishnan, Roaimah Omar, Ida Rosnita Ismail

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia
rameshmelaka@yahoo.com.my, aimayana91@melaka.uitm.edu.my,
idarosnita@pahang.uitm.edu.edu.my

Mohmad Adnan Alias, Roshayati Abdul Hamid

National University of Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia
nan10@ukm.my, wanrose@ukm.my

Mazuri Abd Ghani

Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Malaysia
mazuri@udm.edu.my

Kasturi Kanchymalay
Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka(UTeM), Malaysia
kasturi@utem.edu.my

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to determine the direct and indirect relationships between
motivational job characteristics and organizational citize nship behavior (OCB) in a non-
Western context. We propose that motivational job characteristics will influence OCB of
employees through the mediating role of employee job satisfaction. Data were collected
from 125 administrative support employees working in a public higher learning institution
in Malaysia. Regression results indicated significant positive relations between three job
characteristics dimensions (job autonomy, job variety, and job significance) and job
satisfaction, between job satisfaction and OCB, and between job characteristics and OCB.
Results also indicated a partial mediation of motivational job characteristics effects on
OCB via job satisfaction. Direction for future research and implications for applied settings
are also discussed.

Keywords : Job Characteristics Model, Organizational Citizenship Behavior, Job

Autonomy, Job Variety, Job Significance, Job Satisfaction

INTRODUCTION

Over the last two decades, motivational job characteristics have emerged as one of the important

approaches in understanding various employee work behaviors and a positive association