A study of motivation and job satisfaction in the Brunei Civil Service

This thesis examines the inadequacies of the theories of motivation and job satisfaction. It argues that the current motivation and job satisfaction theories are culturally biased and more suitable for individualist that collectivist cultures. In addition, they tend to downplay the effects of organisational structure on motivation and job satisfaction. Through a literature review, the author illustrates how and why the application of the need, process, intrinsic and extrinsic theories of motivation in the collectivist cultures is problematic. In addition, she examines the roles of organisational structure and design in influencing motivation and job satisfaction and argues that the way an organisation is structured can have an impact on employee's motivation and job satisfaction. To strengthen her arguments, she has used empirical evidence from the study of motivation and job satisfaction among the Brunei Civil Servants. The thesis also assesses the suitability of Western measurements of motivation and job satisfaction more specifically the Job Diagnostic Survey and Job Design Index, and their possible applicability in Brunei. The findings suggest that the applicability of these instruments in the Bruneian cultural context is very limited.