Organizational Control and Work Satisfaction

Data from 2,398 employees of two retail companies indicate that the relationship between control and job satisfaction is complex. Control does not produce low job satisfaction unless the supervisor using the control is seen as unfair or as inexpert. In general, control displays a small positive association with job satisfaction. The effects of behavior control and of output control on job satisfaction are quite different. The effects of behavior control on satisfaction are mediated by characteristics of the supervisor, while the effect of output control on satisfaction is mediated by the interdependence of the job.