Moderating Effects of Communication Direction on Job Satisfaction and Job Performance: A Factorial ANOVA Technique

Work outcomes such as job satisfaction and job performance enhance when congruence of individual needs (growth need strength) and job characteristics (job scope) exists. This paper examines the moderating effect of communication direction (downward, upward and lateral) on individual-job congruence and work outcomes. Data from 92 employees who reported job scope, growth need strength, job performance, job satisfaction, and communication direction (upward, lateral, and downward) were used for the study. Factorial ANOVA was the statistical technique applied. Downward communication has positive moderating effect on job satisfaction and negative moderating effect on job performance in low individual-job congruence condition. Upward communication has positive moderating effect on both job satisfaction and job performance in high individual job congruence condition. Lateral communication has negative moderating effect on both job satisfaction and job performance in low individual-job congruence condition and positive moderating effect on both job satisfaction and job performance in high individual-job congruence condition. These conclusions are derived from this research that examines the moderating effects of communication direction on individual-job congruence and work outcomes (performance/satisfaction).