Evaluating the motivating environment for information systems personnel in South Africa compared to the United States

Abstract

The South African computer industry suffers from a shortage of skilled staff. Therefore, an important management issue is to maximise the productivity and motivation of Information Systems (IS ) staff in their current and future jobs. A research project was conducted to identify individual growth needs and job attitudes of South African IS Professionals. These results were analysed and compared with known motivation norms in the United States. The Job Diagnostic Survey instrument was used on a sample of 2740 IS professionals. The results show that South Africans compare favourably with their American counterparts and have a high need /or growth and achievement coupled with a job that satisfies their requirements. The only exception is the programmer whose job dimensions appear not to match individual needs. Possible ways to overcome this problem are discussed.