Job Longevity and Growth Need Strength as Joint Moderators of the Task Design-Job Satisfaction Relationship

Abstract

This paper examines job longevity and growth need strength as moderators of the job complexity-job satisfaction relationship. Data from two studies of blue-collar employees (n = 390 and n = 406) were examined using moderated regression analysis and subgroup correlation analytic techniques. The findings show, contrary to previously reported results, that job longevity is not a significant moderator of the job complexity-job satisfaction relationship. Similarly, the direct moderator effect of growth need strength did not replicate across studies. A consistent finding was obtained, however, suggesting that growth need strength moderates the job complexity-job satisfaction relationship only for employees with short job tenure. It is concluded that specifying the conditions within which moderators are important, rather than expecting consistent individual differences across all circumstances, may yet have important implications for both organizational theory and practice.