Job Motivation and Job Satisfaction in Young Adults in Service Industry at Klang Valley, Malaysia

This research proposal aims to study job motivation towards job satisfaction in young adults (Millennials or Generation Y) in service industry at Klang Valley, Malaysia. The study will use theories such as Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Herzberg's Motivator-Hygiene theory, Job Characteristics Model, and Dispositional Approach to explain the relationship between motivation and job satisfaction in young adults.

Research Proposal 1
Job motivation towards job satisfaction in young adults (Millennials or Generation Y) in
service industry at Klang Valley, Malaysia
By
Name
Date
Course

Research Proposal 2
Job motivation towards job satisfaction in young adults (Millennials or Generation Y) in
service industry at Klang Valley, Malaysia
Introduction
The study will research on job motivation towards job satisfaction in young adults
(Millennials or Generation Y) in service industry at Klang Valley, Malaysia. Majority of youth
worldwide are jobless mostly in the growing economy which mostly is found in Africa.
However, few young adults who are employed would like to be treated in a certain way so that
they can help the company achieve its goals and objectives in the long run (Ghafoor, Ghafoor,
Bhatti, Hussain, Arshad, and Bilal, 2017). Apart from providing training to the employed young
adults (Millennials or Generation) this piece of research will look on other ways through which
young adults can be motivated while at working places. Services industry like any other industry
requires employee’s full concentration for it to achieve its overall objectives as well as goals. At
Klang Valley, Malaysia service industry are doing well than product industry and as a result
majority of young adults secures employment from those industries (Acar, 2014).
The reason why this research is important is because employers would like to understand
what they are supposed to do in order to motivate young adults (Millennials or Generation Y)
toward providing job satisfaction. An employer understands that job satisfaction is the most
important aspect which both employee and customer looks for. Majority of employers also
understands that the success or failure of the company depends on the level of satisfaction
delivered by employees. A happy and motivated worker would always deliver quality services
thus contributing to its growth at some extent (McGuigan, McGuigan, McGuigan, Shevlin,
Mallett, and Tracey, 2018).

Research Proposal 3
Also, apart from the above reason this research will provide extensive research as to why
both the employers and the workers are supposed to read it. For instance, an employer who goes
through this piece of research will understand that workers are the most important assets a
company have and they plays a big role in a business failure or success. Also, workers will
understand what is required of them to do and how they can transform the company output thus
increasing its revenue generation in the long run. Both the workers and the employer each have a
role to play the successful growth of the company. The two are supposed to work hand in hand in
order to achieve the company goals and objectives (Buckman, Crawford, LePine, and Zhang,
2015).
Aim and objectives
The main aim and objectives of this piece of research is to increase the revenue generated
by the service industry at Klang Valley, Malaysia. From the research conducted by other
researchers, it is evident that workers are essential assets in the company success or failure. From
the research it is evident that well motivated workers would work tiresomely to achieve the
company’s goals and objectives. Apart from satisfying customers need the primary role of any
industry is to make the profit to the owner which means that in this case, attaining the Job
motivation towards job satisfaction in young adults (Millennials or Generation Y) in service
industry at Klang Valley, Malaysia would lead to an increase in the output. An increase in the
output in most cases results to increased sales which in return increases profit generated by the
company. There is a good relationship between the workers motivation, satisfaction from the job
and an increase in revenue generated by the company (Circella et al, 2017).
Theories used

Research Proposal 4
Productivity in business can be explained as the competent and successful use of the
assets with the least amount of waste and effort to achieve the desired result by the required
company. In the long run we stay in a world with limited resources for both the company and the
individuals. The services industry for instance faces this limitation at the Klang Valley, Malaysia
more compared to other industries in the market. Due to this challenges and other complexity
services industry are facing, the concept of productivity, job satisfaction and the motivation
become very crucial in the long run. In the services industry, employee retention and
satisfactions have been very crucial in the sector for long. For instance, this theory known as
conventional human resources which was developed 50 years ago by Maslow and Herzberg,
states that in the working places the satisfied qualified workers tend to be more productive on
their work compared to unsatisfied one, also employees are supposed to be more creative and
also more committed to their employers. In the long run, employees are essential productivity.
However, in every company the success or failure of productivity improvement strategy is
mostly dependent on some factors which includes accomplishment, creativity and growth,
physical and mental safety, self-actualization, sense of belonging.
Maslow’s theory states that there are two categories of factors which are the hygiene
(which satisfy) and motivation. Additionally, one must understand that the term job satisfaction
and motivation have been interchanged on their usage by many. One must understand that the
two does not mean the same thing on their usage. For instance, job satisfaction can be explained
as the individual’s arousing reply to his or her present job condition. Also, motivation can be
defined as the driving strength to trail and gratify one’s needs. This implies every person must
differentiate their usage in every context. The theory by the Maslow and Herzberg can be easily
used in working places. In the long run, company management can help their workers to attain

Research Proposal 5
the overall job satisfaction, which in the same time, with the worker’s interior motivation drives
which in return increases performance on the job.
Theories of job satisfaction
Job motivation and job satisfaction theories have been greatly used together by scholars.
In the long run the two theories together have been used to explain human motivation in the
work places. From the research done majority of researchers have proven that some of the
researches which explains well job satisfaction includes job characteristic model, the
dispositional approach, Maslow’s needs hierarchy theory and Herzberg’s motivator-hygiene
theory (Lee, Back, and Chan, 2015).
Hierarchy of needs
This theory is also commonly referred as the human motivation. According to the
Maslow, this theory is one of the finest theories which were used to know the most important
factors to the job satisfaction. From the research which was done by Maslow, the theory explains
that human needs are classified in a five-level hierarchy. The five –level comprises of self-
actualization, physiological needs, love/belonging, esteem and safety. In simple terms this theory
states that there are essential needs that require to be met first, before other more complex needs
can be met (Pastalan, and Schwarz, 2016).
Motivator-Hygiene theory
This theory was developed by Herzberg and it suggest that job satisfaction and
dissatisfaction are not two opposite ends of the same continuum, but instead are two separate
and, at times, even unrelated concepts. In the working places, motivating factors such as pay and

Research Proposal 6
benefits, recognition and achievements must be achieved and met so that the workers can be
satisfied with the work. Additionally, hygiene factors which include good working conditions,
good company policies and structures, job security for all workers, communication with other
colleagues and the best quality management are all associated with the job satisfaction and must
be looked on (Alston, 2017).
Job characteristics Model
This theory suggests that job satisfaction mostly occurs in a working environment which
encourages intrinsically motivating characteristics. According to this model, five key job
characteristics are recognized which includes feedback, skill variety, task identity, task
significance and autonomy. The above influences the three psychological states which include
critical psychological states, core job dimensions and personal and work outcomes. In the long
run, the three states potentially give the outcome which includes job satisfaction. This means that
in many cases it is believed that by improving the five cores in the job dimension which in many
cases leads to a better working environment which as a result leads to job satisfaction. However,
unlike other theories like that conducted by Maslow, the job characteristic model in many cases
has more support compared to others in the market. But also it have received some criticism
from some scholars who uses this model when carrying out the research on the direct impact the
personal and outcome have on the core job dimensions, by doing this the research completely
disregards the critical psychological states (Ali, Said, Kader, Ab Latif, and Munap, 2014).
Dispositional approach
The approach explains that there are closely relations between the job satisfaction and the
individual’s personality. The approach continues to suggest that there is a strong predisposition

Research Proposal 7
in an individual towards a certain level of satisfaction either in the working place or in the day to
day activities. To support this approach, the evidence can be divided into two categories, indirect
and direct studies. However, some judges and colleagues have into some extent reviewed these
areas in greater details (Jaakkola, Ntoumanis, and Liukkonen, 2016).
The context
As I have stated above, I will use the above theories in service industry at Klang Valley,
Malaysia. Just like any other industry services industry is also affected by the job motivation
towards job satisfaction in young adults (Millennials or Generation Y). The reason why I chose
Malaysia and services industry is because there are so many services industry in the Klang
Valley. Those companies are managed and operated by the young adults (Millennials or
Generation Y). To operate at a profit the young adults must be motivated which will result to a
job satisfaction. The above theories will be used when explaining and discussing the relationship
between motivation and job satisfaction in young adults.

Research Proposal 8
References
Acar, A.B., 2014. Do intrinsic and extrinsic motivation factors differ for Generation X and
Generation Y. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 5(5), pp.12-20.
Ali, S.A.M., Said, N.A., Kader, S.F.A., Ab Latif, D.S. and Munap, R., 2014. Hackman and
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Alston, J.K., 2017. Causes Of Satisfaction And Disatisfaction For Diversity Resident Librarians–
A Mixed Methods Study Using Herzberg’s Motivation-Hygiene Theory.
Buckman, B., Crawford, E., LePine, J. and Zhang, Y., 2015. A meta-analytic investigation of job
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JOURNAL OF MEDICAL & HEALTH SCIENCES, 11(2), pp.532-536.

Research Proposal 9
Jaakkola, T., Ntoumanis, N. and Liukkonen, J., 2016. Motivational climate, goal orientation,
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Research Proposal 10
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