Purpose : The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of “motivators and hygiene factors” (mentioned in Herzberg's theory of workplace motivation) on the job satisfaction of the employees working in the Information Technology (IT) industry in Nagpur, MH, India. The researchers also wished to understand whether the “job satisfaction” of the employees influenced their retention in the company.

Methodology : A sample survey of 1,019 employees working in IT and ITES companies in Nagpur was conducted. Analysis was performed using structural equation modeling and multiple regression techniques using SmartPLS and SPSS software. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to select the respondents.

Findings : Motivating and hygiene factors were found to have positive and significant impacts on the job satisfaction of IT professionals. Moreover, job satisfaction also impacted employee retention positively and significantly. The results revealed that hygiene factors affected job satisfaction more than motivating factors.

Practical Implications : This research has significant implications for professionals and human resource managers working in IT companies. They obtained useful and scientific information on the factors affecting the job satisfaction of employees. The results helped them plan, devise, and revise their employee retention strategies.

Originality : Unlike prior research on “Herzberg's theory,” the present work evaluated the impact of “motivators and hygiene factors” on “job satisfaction” and “employee retention” in the IT & ITES industry in Nagpur, India.

1. Abbasi, S. M., & Hollman, K. W. (2000). Turnover: The real bottom line. Public Personnel Management, 29(3), 333–342. https://doi.org/10.1177/009102600002900303
2. Ahmed, S., Taskin, N., Pauleen, D. J., & Parker, J. (2017). Motivating information technology professionals: The case of New Zealand. Australasian Journal of Information Systems, 21, 1–30. https://doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v21i0.1421
3. Banerjee, A. (2018). Relationship between employees motivation & turnover intention in information technology sector. International Journal for Scientific Research & Development, 6(09), 1832013191. https://www.ijsrd.com/Article.php?manuscript=IJSRDV6I90145
4. Banthia, J. (2022). Infosys' attrition highest among top 4 IT majors in Q2FY23. Mint. https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/infosys-attrition-highest-among-top-4-it-majors-in-q2fy23-11665671440475.html
5. Barpanda, S., & Athira, S. (2022). Cause of attrition in an information technology-enabled services company: A triangulation approach. International Journal of Human Capital and Information Technology Professionals, 13(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.4018/IJHCITP.296691
6. Basha, M. M., Kaur, A., & Kethan, M. (2022). A study on the factors affecting employee retention in information technology sector. The Journal of Contemporary Issues in Business and Government, 28(4), 980–996. https://cibgp.com/au/index.php/1323-6903/article/view/2624
7. Bentler, P. M., & Chou, C.-P. (1987). Practical issues in structural modelling. Sociological Methods & Research, 16(1), 78–117. https://doi.org/10.1177/0049124187016001004
8. Chimote, N. K., & Malhotra, A. (2020). Understanding work motivation for employees working in the information technology industry from Herzberg's perspective. International Journal of Management, 11(12), 955–981. https://doi.org/10.34218/ijm.11.12.2020.086
9. Dartey-Baah, K., & Amoako, G. K. (2011). Application of Frederick Herzberg's two-factor theory in assessing and understanding employee motivation at work: A Ghanaian perspective. European Journal of Business and Management, 3(9), 1–8. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230823567
10. Deshpande, P., Srivastava, A., Kulkarni, M., & Lenka, R. (2024). Impact of green transformational leadership on employee green behavior: A PLS-SEM approach. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 17(2), 24–43. https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2024/v17i2/173139
11. Deshpande, R., & Chakraborty, D. (2023). Impact of work stressors on career commitment-A study of Indian IT sector employees. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 16(11), 27–42. https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2023/v16i11/173214
12. Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800104
13. Gedam, R. K., Mehta, N., & Date, H. (2022). Antecedents of career decision-making self-efficacy and its impact on job satisfaction: A study in the Indian IT industry. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 15(11), 43–62. https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2022/v15i11/172522
14. Guimaraes, T., & Igbaria, M. (1992). Determinants of turnover intentions: Comparing IC and IS personnel. Information Systems Research, 3(3), 273–303. https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.3.3.273
15. Hair Jr., J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2009). Multivariate data analysis: A global perspective (7th ed.). Pearson.
16. Hair Jr., J. F., da Silva Gabriel, M. L., & Patel, V. K. (2014). Modeling of structural equations based on covariance (CB-SEM) with AMOS: Guidelines on its application as a marketing research tool. Brazilian Journal of Marketing, 13(2), 44–55. https://doi.org/10.5585/remark.v13i2.2718
17. Hair Jr., J. F., Hult, G. T., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M., (2016). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) (2nd ed.). Sage Publications, Inc.
18. Hair Jr., J. F., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2011). PLS-SEM: Indeed a silver bullet. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 19(2), 139–152. https://doi.org/10.2753/MTP1069-6679190202
19. Hair Jr., J. F., Risher, J. J., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM. European Business Review, 31(1), 2–24. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-11-2018-0203
20. Hemavathi, G. P., & Justus, F. S. (2023). Flexibility culture, personal' job fit, and job benefits as predictors of eudaimonic workplace wellbeing and turnover intention of employees. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 16(10), 46–60. https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2023/v16i10/171900
21. Henseler, J., Hubona, G., & Ray, P. A. (2016). Using PLS path modeling in new technology research: Updated guidelines. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 116(1), 2–20. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-09-2015-0382
22. Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2016). Testing measurement invariance of composites using partial least squares. International Marketing Review, 33(3), 405–431. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMR-09-2014-0304
23. Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sinkovics, R. R. (2009). The use of partial least squares path modeling in international marketing. In R. R. Sinkovics, & P. N. Ghauri (eds.), New challenges to international marketing (Vol. 20, pp. 277–319). Emerald Group Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1474-7979(2009)0000020014
24. Hoffmaster, K. A. (2020). Job-leisure conflict: Moderation effect on job satisfaction and turnover intention in information technology professionals (Doctoral dissertation, Trident University International). ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. https://www.proquest.com/openview/6e921bfd7a129a8a2a3320d9ee66a290/1.pdf?cbl=51922&diss=y&pq-origsite=gscholar
25. Hu, L.-T., & Bentler, P. M. (1998). Fit indices in covariance structure modeling: Sensitivity to underparameterized model misspecification. Psychological Methods, 3(4), 424–453. https://doi.org/10.1037/1082-989X.3.4.424
26. Islam, N., & Saha, G. (2016). Job satisfaction of bank officers in Bangladesh. SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2856224
27. Jehanzeb, K., Rasheed, M. F., Rasheed, A., & Aamir, A. (2012). Impact of rewards and motivation on job satisfaction in the banking sector of Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 3(21), 272–278. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235644076
28. Jnaneswar, K. (2019). Can work engagement and job satisfaction predict employee innovation? Case of Indian telecom employees. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 12(10), 7–19. https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2019/v12i10/147813
29. Jones, T. L. (2011). Effects of motivating and hygiene factors on job satisfaction among school nurses (Doctoral dissertation, Walden University). ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. https://www.proquest.com/docview/879043135/
30. Joshi, A., Kumar, D., & Shabnam. (2024). Work-life balance as mediator between workplace spirituality, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 17(11), 23–40. https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2024/v17i11/174021
31. Keung, W. T. (2014). The effects of employment opportunity on the impact of organizational commitment and job satisfaction on intention to quit: The perception of IT outsourcing professionals in China (Doctoral dissertation, The University of Newcastle). Doctor of Business Administration.
32. Linge, A. A., Chaudhari, T., Kakde, B. B., & Singh, M. (2023). Analysis of factors affecting use behavior towards mobile payment Apps: A SEM approach. Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/3327994
33. Lohmöller, J.-B. (1989). Latent variable path modeling with partial least squares. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-52512-4
34. Madhushani, M. D., & Mudalige, D. M. (2020). Impact of knowledge management practices on job satisfaction and employee retention in banking and IT industries in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Management Studies, 2(1), 63–86. https://doi.org/10.4038/sljms.v2i1.28
35. Madueke, C. V., & Emerole, I. C. (2017). Organizational culture and employee retention of selected commercial banks in Anambra State. Saudi Journal of Business and Management Studies, 2(3), 244–252. https://doi.org/10.21276/sjbms.2017.2.3.16
36. Mathi, K. M., & Malathi, G. (2012). Analyzing the causes of attrition in IT industries - Opinion of employee and employer. Asian Pacific Journal of Research, 1(4).
37. Mulema, S. (2019). Employee motivation on organizational performance in selected information technology support service companies in Kampala, Uganda. International Journal of Science and Business, 3(4), 161–174. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3362940
38. Nunnally, J. C. (1978). Psychometric theory. McGraw-Hill Inc. https://www.amazon.in/Psychometric-Theory-McGraw-Hill-Psychology-Nunnally/dp/0070474656
39. Nunnally, J., & Bernstein, I. (1994). The assessment of reliability. Psychometric Theory, 3, 248–292. https://www.scirp.org/reference/ReferencesPapers?ReferenceID=1960143
40. Ramaprasad, B. S., Rao, S., & Prabhu, K. P. (2020). Commitment profiles and voluntary turnover intentions: An empirical assessment of 'two-faces' conceptualization of normative commitment. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 13(5–7), 7–25. https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2020/v13i5-7/153078
41. Schulz, S., & Steyn, T. (2003). Educators' motivation: Differences related to gender, age and experience. Acta Academica, 35(3), 138–160. https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC15273
42. Sengupta, S., & Gupta, A. (2012). Exploring the dimensions of attrition in Indian BPOs. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 23(6), 1259–1288. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2011.561211
43. Sharma, P. K., Misra, R. K., & Mishra, P. (2017). Job satisfaction scale: Adaptation and validation among Indian IT (information technology) employees. Global Business Review, 18(3), 703–718. https://doi.org/10.1177/0972150917692186
44. Singh, S., Sharma, G. D., & Mahendru, M. (2010). A study of employee retention in ITeS industry: A case of North India. SSRN. https://ssrn.com/abstract=1827482
45. Sonia, J. (2010). Organizational commitment and job satisfaction: A study of employees in the information technology industry in Bangalore, India (Doctoral dissertation, Christ University). Department of Management Studies. https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/1255
46. Sowmya, K. R., & Panchanatham, N. (2011). Employees' perception of organisational politics in banking sector. International Journal of Research in Commerce and Management, 2(2), 27–31. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sandhya-Mehta/publication/303277274
47. Steil, A. V., Bello, J. D., de Cuffa, D., & de Freitas, A. F. (2022). Job satisfaction and employee retention by public and private IT organizations. Revista de Administraçao da UFSM, 15(2), 354–369. https://doi.org/10.5902/1983465968850
48. Tan, T. H., & Waheed, A. (2011). Herzberg's motivation-hygiene theory and job satisfaction in the Malaysian retail sector: The mediating effect of love of money. Asian Academy of Management Journal, 16(1), 73–94. https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/30419/
49. Thulaseedharan, A., & Nair, V. K. (2015). Factors affecting job satisfaction of women employees in IT sector. BVIMSR's Journal of Management Research, 7(2), 112–118.
50. TopDev. (2022). Vietnam IT market report - Tech hiring 2022. https://topdev.vn/TopDev_VietnamITMarketReport_TechHiring_2022_EN.pdf
51. Trivedi, V., & Agarwala, T. (2021). Standing in my way nine to five: Investigating bullying behaviours prevalent among IT professionals in India. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 14(9), 8–21. https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2021/v14i9/166293
52. Truong, N. T. (2023). The investigation of the factors that affect job satisfaction in the Vietnam IT industry (Doctoral dissertation, Dublin, National College of Ireland). https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/6951
53. Warrier, A. G., & Prasad, R. (2018). Motivators, hygiene factors and job satisfaction of employees in IT sector in India. In 2018 International Conference on Advances in Computing, Communications and Informatics (ICACCI) (pp. 477–481). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICACCI.2018.8554403