Prioritisation of factors influencing teachers' job satisfaction in the UAE

Abstract

This study is the first to include four main factors with proven influence on teachers' job satisfaction in a comprehensive model for the UAE: motivation, school leadership style, job characteristics, and cultural intelligence (CQ). The objectives of this empirical study are (a) to provide an overview of the 20 sub-factors associated with each main factor, (b) to determine the preferences and priority that UAE private school teachers attribute to the four main factors of job satisfaction and their 20 sub-factors, and (c) to summarise these findings into a new analytical hierarchical model. An analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method has been chosen to resolve this multi-criteria decision-making dilemma to construct a comprehensive model. 'Recognition', 'pay', and 'autonomy' scored as the teachers' highest concerns. Focusing on these aspects should, therefore, be a priority for private school management in order to decrease teacher turnover.