Abstract

• The main objective of the study is to analyze the job satisfaction and organizational commitment of academic staff of public universities in Yangon. The descriptive and analytical research methods are used to meet the objectives of the study. A total of 365 academic staff from three selected public universities in Yangon is surveyed by using two-stage random sampling method. The academic staff perceptions on selected workplace characteristics, and job characteristics are explored in this study. According to the results, two demographics variable (position, and working experience), and four workplace characteristics variables (relationship with co-workers and supervisors, adequacy of facilities and resources, training opportunities, and promotion), and five job characteristics variables (skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and feedback) have positive significant relationship with job satisfaction, and one workplace characteristic variable (workload) has a negative significant relationship with job satisfaction. Two demographics variables (position, and working experience), and three workplace characteristics variables (relationship with co-workers and supervisors, adequacy of facilities and resources, training opportunities), and four job characteristics variables (skill variety, task identity, task significance, and autonomy) have a positive significant relationship with organizational commitment. From the analysis, job satisfaction also has a positive significant relationship with organizational commitment. Accordingly, job satisfaction and organizational commitment have a positive significant impact on intention to stay. Therefore the study highlights a more comprehensive understanding of academic staff job satisfaction and organizational commitment based on demographic characteristics, workplace characteristics, and job characteristics of public universities in Yangon. The results of this study are encouraging for policy makers in higher education, and management of public universities as it suggests opportunities for increasing job satisfaction, and organizational commitment of public universities.