The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Job Satisfaction: The Case of Malaysian Information Technology Professionals

Abstract

The importance of emotional intelligence towards job performance has been extensively documented in the literature. Inspired by the scarcity of studies on emotional intelligence and its effect on job satisfaction among Information Technology Professionals, a study was conducted to fill this gap. Employing a survey research methodology involving 115 Information Technology Professionals working in Malaysian Administration Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU), the results of the study suggest that out of the four clusters of emotional intelligence which are self awareness, self management, social awareness and relationship management, only three turns out to be the significant predictors of job satisfaction. The self awareness cluster was not found to have any effect on job satisfaction. The findings further signify the importance of emotional intelligence in ensuring job satisfaction in the context of information technology professionals.