The impact of workplace spiritually on organisational commitment : the case of the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT)

Abstract

has become a universal topic in the 21st century for all areas of the global, knowledge-driven society. Globalisation has led to increased diversity in organisations, and universities are regarded as an essential force to effect change. Universities are mandated to meet the changing needs of the modern organisation and assist in socio-economic development through sophisticated education and training programmes. In this regard it has become inevitable for universities to adapt in form and function so that they are responsive to the changing needs of a diverse student component and the intellectual challenges of the modern world of work. The said transformation has placed increased pressure on academic staff members to carry out a variety of functions such as research, teaching, curriculum development, post-graduate supervision, community engagement, administration and the raising of third-stream income. Subsequently academic leaders and human resource practitioners are under pressure to ensure the retention and commitment of qualified academic staff members. Researchers increasingly acknowledge that nourishing the inner life of employees will lead to increased organisational commitment and subsequently the notion of workplace spirituality has gained increased attention. There are many studies on the relationship between workplace spirituality and job outcomes such as organisational commitment, but academic staff members at universities in developing countries have largely been excluded from such research. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of workplace spirituality (sense of meaning, sense of purpose and sense of community) on organisational commitment (affective commitment, normative commitment and continuance commitment) among academic staff members at a South African university, namely the Central University of Technology, Free State. The 52-item online survey instrument was distributed to the total number of permanently employed academic staff of the CUT (286). A total of 174 questionnaires were returned, yielding a response rate of 61%. The survey included a biographical section followed by a section probing workplace spiritualty and a final section measuring organisational commitment. Results from this study provided evidence that the mean scores of academic staff members’ age groups and tenure categories influenced their perception of workplace spirituality. With regards to organisational commitment there was no difference between the mean scores of the gender groups, age groups or tenure categories. Through regression analysis the study established a linear relationship between workplace spirituality and organisational commitment which resulted in an equation that is of potential value for academic leaders. Subsequent recommendations are made to management to enhance commitment through workplace spirituality. Areas for future research are also recommended.