Determining employee satisfaction drivers for a Lebanese Alpha bank and examining demographic-generational dissimilarities

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to determine the satisfaction drivers that are significant in the workforce of a Lebanese alpha bank and to rank each determined factor in terms of significance/effect on the satisfaction of Lebanese alpha bank employees. Design/methodology/approach – The design of this study will involve surveys distributed to the workforce of a Lebanese alpha bank with the studied variables being derived from the literature review whereas the methodology will follow the post-positivist method of research. As for the approach, it will be a mixture of survey responses and qualitative interviews with key players in the Lebanese alpha bank being studied. Findings – Findings revealed that the most important/significant satisfaction drivers for Lebanese alpha bank employees are intrinsic since the first 4 determined factors in terms of rank were of intrinsic nature, whereas the first extrinsic factor in terms of rank (compensation and benefits) came in at 5th place in terms of significance. This implies that contrary to popular belief (as described in the literature review), Lebanese bankers, especially in the Lebanese alpha bank that was studied, care more about intrinsic aspects of the workplace than extrinsic aspects. Research limitations/implications – Limitations of the research revolve around the sample size that responded to the surveys, as well as the general turbulence of the Lebanese banking sector and Lebanese Lira currency during the study. Another limitation is the fact that the Lebanese alpha bank being studied was processing the upgrade of its core banking system during this study which could have skewed some results from respondents. Implications of this research are many, with the most logical being the entire package of compensation and benefits (along with employee treatment, work-life balance, job design, etc.) could be changed to alter an employee’s experience to be more positive in Lebanese alpha banks. Practical implications – No practical implications exist so far since the results of the survey were not taken into consideration to alter the compensation and benefits package. Originality/value – The originality of this study is that no study of this kind has been performed on a Lebanese alpha bank. This study will prove to be the baseline for any future studies on employee satisfaction drivers in Lebanese banks and possibly the MENA region.