IMPACT OF SUPERVISOR SUPPORT AND WORK SCHEDULE FLEXIBILITY ON JOB STRESS AND TURNOVER INTENTION OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS IN SRI LANKA

Abstract

This paper presents and discusses the results of an empirical study that investigated the impact of supervisor support and work schedule flexibility on job stress and turnover intention. In the study, supervisor support and work schedule flexibility are considered as independent variables, job stress as the mediator and turnover intention as the dependent variable. 350 self-administered survey questionnaires were distributed among software developers full-time engaged in offshore outsourced software development firms. 232 valid responses were returned, yielding a response rate of 66%. The three-step regression analysis procedure was used to test mediation hypotheses using SPSS. It was found that job stress partially mediates the relationship between supervisor support and turnover intention. Further, it was found that job stress fully mediates the relationship between work schedule flexibility and turnover intention. The results of the study imply that the increased levels of supervisor support could lead to decrease in job stress, which subsequently could lead to decrease in turnover intention. Similarly, the increased levels of work schedule flexibility could lead to decrease in job stress, which subsequently could lead to decrease in turnover intention.