The influence of individual and institutional characteristics on lecturer performance: The mediating role of job satisfaction in private universities toward the Society 5.0 era

Abstract

This study addresses the phenomenon of declining lecturer performance at several private universities in Palembang, which can negatively impact the quality of higher education. Low lecturer performance is often influenced by individual internal factors and the institutional conditions in which they work. Key individual characteristics such as competence, motivation, and personality, as well as institutional factors like organizational culture, reward systems, and leadership, are believed to significantly affect lecturer job satisfaction, which in turn influences their performance. However, research examining the relationship between these factors using an intervening variable approach, particularly in the context of private higher education in Palembang, remains limited. This study presents a novel approach by integrating both individual and institutional characteristics into a single model with job satisfaction as an intervening variable. A quantitative research method with survey techniques was employed, using a purposive sample of permanent lecturers from private universities in Palembang. Data were collected through valid and reliable questionnaires and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with SmartPLS software. The results revealed that individual characteristics significantly impacted lecturer performance, both directly and indirectly. However, institutional characteristics did not show a significant effect on lecturer performance, either directly or through job satisfaction. These findings highlight the importance of enhancing faculty job satisfaction by focusing on individual characteristics as a strategy to improve lecturer performance. This revision ensures clarity, addresses punctuation issues, and moderates the novelty claim to reflect the study’s unique context and approach.