Happy to Work! A Study on Satisfaction of Academics with the Role of Supervision of Their Leaders in the University

Supervision role is believed to have a significant impact on subordinates' job satisfaction. In this sense, the study is aimed to investigate the satisfaction of academics with the role of supervision of their leaders in the university. The research took the,form of semi-structured interviews and focus group interviews with seventeen interviewees comprised of sixteen academics from three public universities and a former Minister of Higher Education Ministry of Malaysia. The results indicated that there were mixed responses given by all the interview respondents in regards to their satisfaction with supervision. Some issues that instigated dissatisfaction such as fairness and consideration practised by management people, management strategy and leadership, and lack of consultation, .freedom and authority were discussed. The implications of the findings for management- particularly those in public higher education institutions- are discussed.