Staff satisfaction in a South African University undergoing transformation

English: This study focuses on the impact of change and transformation on the satisfaction of academic staff in a transforming South African university. The University of the Free State, which is a historically white Afrikaans-speaking university, was used as a case study in this regard. Theoretical perspectives of what staff satisfaction entails, as well as factors that influence staff satisfaction, are provided. A comparative perspective of the impact of change and transformation on staff in a general organisational setting and in higher education is drawn. This aims at presenting the fact that staff are affected by a variety of factors of internal and external origin, both in organisations generally and in higher education institutions. The historical development of universities from their conception to date is given with a view to establishing how change and transformation have affected academics. South African policies are also discussed to identify how they take cognisance of the needs of academics, as well as their impact on academic staff within a transforming university. The case study approach is undertaken to provide an in-depth study of staff satisfaction in a unit case, namely the University of the Free State. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods are employed to determine the implications of change and transformation on academics and their work satisfaction. Questionnaires were used to reach out to more than 500 permanent lecturing academic staff at the UFS. The results of the questionnaire survey culminated in focus group discussions and personal interviews with selected academics and the UFS management. The focus group interviews presented an opportunity to probe further into the feelings, attitudes, perceptions and expectations of staff with regard to change and transformation. They furthermore presented an opportunity for academic staff to make recommendations about the enhancement and improvement of academic staff satisfaction at the UFS. Personal interviews with selected UFS managers aimed at bringing to the management an awareness of issues of concern among academic staff and to establish the kind of intervention strategies already in place at the UFS for the improvement of academic staff satisfaction. The literature amassed served as a conceptual framework and as a point of departure for the empirical investigation. It unearthed the myriad of factors - of internal and external origin to the institutions that impact on academic staff satisfaction during periods of change and transformation. The findings are congruent with the literature in that they unveil that institutional change and transformation do not occur unnoticed. These impact on all higher education stakeholders - academic staff included. For the case study university, a revelation was made that the academic environment at the University of the Free State must be made conducive for improved academic staff satisfaction. This research undertaking is neither pursued for its own sake only, nor for the purposes of attaining a degree (qualification); it is not a case study that is aimed at benefiting the researcher/student alone. It is, however, an exercise firstly aimed at evaluating academic staff satisfaction at the UFS and, secondly, contributing meaningfully towards the improvement of academics' working conditions, their satisfaction, and the quality of higher education thereof. The guidelines and recommendations presented at the end serve as pillars that the UFS and other historically white Afrikaans universities with a history and context similar to that of the UFS can use for the improvement of academic staff satisfaction. This study reveals the adverse effects of change and transformation on academics, as well as .the dire need to prepare staff for change.