Management Styles and Motivation: A Study of The Influence on Job Satisfaction

Abstract

The aim of this research project is to critically assess the relationship between management styles in the business sector and the impact they have on employees’ motivation and job satisfaction within Edinburgh based businesses. The researcher will gather both primary and secondary data to generally assess the link between management styles and their influence on employees in the work place. There are four objectives set by the researcher in order to reach the aim of the study. 1) To provide an overview of management styles in the business sector in Edinburgh, and how these styles relate to motivation and job satisfaction in the work place. 2) To critically analyse employee motivation, and the extent to which line managers play a part. 3) To evaluate the impact of line managers’ management styles in relation to how it can influence employee’s motivation and 4) Provide recommendations about which management styles work best in getting the most out of employees’ efficiency. The researcher has opted for a mixed methods approach to collecting primary data. An online survey was used in the first instance and sent out to participants who are employed within Edinburgh. This was followed by a series of face to face interviews conducted with individuals of different positions within different industries. The results confirm that line managers do play a significant part in the levels of motivation and job satisfaction however, it is difficult to generalise the results due to the sample population lacking variety in profession. Going forward, future research should consider approaching a wider range of participants over a more varied platform to be able to reach a wider audience.