Title: The role of autonomy to implement customer decisions in job satisfaction and turnover intention in retail employees: a multiple-case study

Authors: Reed E. Young; Marcos Komodromos

Addresses: University of Hawaii-West Oahu, 91-1001 Farrington Hwy Kapolei, HI, 96707, USA ' University of Nicosia, 46 Makedonitissas Avenue, 1700 Nicosia, Cyprus

Abstract: The problem of employee turnover in the retail industry is well documented. Empowered employees provide positive experiences and therefore retention rates increase as well as employee commitment to the organisation. This qualitative study sought to document and describes how retail employees perceive the role of autonomy to implement customer decisions and the effect on job satisfaction and turnover intent. A descriptive multiple-case research design was used and data were collected through multiple sources. The study indicates real-world connections between autonomy, empowerment, job satisfaction, and the intent to quit, identifying characteristics that affect such employee intentions. The results contribute to understanding how employee empowerment can increase employee job satisfaction, thereby increasing retention rates, and how empowerment provides positive customer value in a highly competitive industry.

Keywords: autonomy; customer decisions; job satisfaction; turnover intention; retail; employees.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2018.093560

International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies, 2018 Vol.9 No.3, pp.258 - 274

Received: 23 Dec 2017
Accepted: 14 Jan 2018
Published online: 27 Jul 2018 *

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