Jurnal Pengurusan 40(2014) 103 - 113 Measuring the Effect of Commitment on Occupational Stressors and Individual Productivity Ties (Mengukur Kesan Komitmen terhadap Hubungan antara Penyebab Stres dalam Pekerjaan dengan Produktiviti Individu) Zafir Mohd Makhbul (Faculty of Economics and Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) Sheikh Muhamad Hizam Hj. Sheikh Khairuddin (Faculty of Business and Management, Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan University College) ABSTRACT Based upon existing literature, stress at the workplace has a negative effect on commitment. The negative effect on commitment jeopardizes individual productivity. The purpose of the present study is to determine the indirect effects of occupational stressors on individual productivity through the analysis of commitment variables. The respondents were selected utilizing the proportionate stratifed random sampling method. A total of 300 questionnaires were collected from the academic administrators of 5 Malaysian research universities. The research instrument used for the stress and commitment components is adopted from the ASSET (A Shortened Stress Evaluation Tool). Meanwhile, the productivity component utilized the criteria employed by the annual performance appraisal of the research universities. Occupational stressors are analyzed dimensionally, while commitment and individual productivity are analyzed aggregately. The results show that certain occupational stressors are signifcantly, but negatively, related to commitment, including work relationships; work-life balance; overload; control; resources and communication; and pay and benefts. The results also indicate that certain occupational stressors are signifcantly, but negatively, related to individual productivity, including work relationships; work-life balance; job security; control; resources and communication; and pay and benefts. Finally, the present study fnds that commitment partially mediates the aforementioned relationships. Keywords: Stress; commitment; productivity; academicians; research university ABSTRAK Berdasarkan kepada tinjauan literatur, stres di tempat kerja mempunyai kesan yang negatif terhadap komitmen. Kesan negatif komitmen akan menjejaskan produktiviti individu. Tujuan penyelidikan ini adalah untuk menentukan kesan secara tidak langsung penyebab stres pekerjaan terhadap produktiviti individu melalui pembolehubah komitmen. Responden dipilih berdasarkan kaedah persampelan rawak berstrata berkadaran. Sejumlah 300 borang soal selidik dikumpulkan daripada pentadbir akademik dari 5 universiti penyelidikan di Malaysia. Instrumen penyelidikan yang digunakan untuk komponen stres dan komitmen diambil dari ASSET (A Shortened Stress Evaluation Tool). Komponen produktiviti pula menggunakan kriteria penilaian prestasi tahunan universiti penyelidikan. Penyebab stres pekerjaan dianalisis secara dimensi manakala komitmen dan produktiviti individu pula dianalisis secara agregat. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa penyebab stres pekerjaan seperti hubungan kerja, keseimbangan kehidupan-kerja, jaminan pekerjaan, kawalan, sumber-sumber dan komunikasi, serta gaji dan faedah adalah signifkan dan berhubung secara negatif dengan produktiviti individu. Penemuan yang kedua ialah komitmen sebahagiannya menjadi pengantara kepada perhubungan ini. Kata kunci: Stres; komitmen; produktiviti; ahli akademik; universiti penyelidikan INTRODUCTION The present study examines the issue of occupational stress and individual productivity in the context of academic administrators at Malaysian research universities (MRUs). The research focuses on occupational stressors in the workplace, such as work relationships; work-life balance; overload; job security; control; resources and communication; aspects of the job; and pay and benefits. The present study also examines the role played by commitment as a mediator in the relationship between individual productivity and the aforementioned occupational stressors. Occupational stress and its negative impact upon facets of individual productivity, such as the publications of the academic administrators at MRUs, are of principal concern in the present study. Issues relating to other adverse effects of occupational stress including poor commitment and physical and psychological health are also imperative. The new key performance indicators (KPIs) for MRUs are also creating extra pressure for academics, particularly those holding administrative posts. Following the emergence of new KPIs and surplus targets (i.e., excess responsibilities, additional criteria for excellent achievement or the additional objectives from their administrative posts), academic administrators are likely Chap 9.indd 103 8/11/2014 3:35:37 PM