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Is the Role of Work Engagement Essential to Employee Performance or ‘Nice to Have’?

Author

Listed:
  • Woocheol Kim

    (Department of HRD, Korea University of Technology and Education, Cheonan 31253, Korea)

  • Soo Jeoung Han

    (Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning (OPWL), Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725-2070, USA)

  • Jiwon Park

    (Department of HRD, Korea University of Technology and Education, Cheonan 31253, Korea)

Abstract

The current study aimed to scrutinize roles of work engagement as a mediator in the relationships between job and personal resources and employees’ outcomes, namely job performance and turnover intention, specifically focusing on testing the essentiality of work engagement. A total of 571 complete responses from full-time employees in Korean organizations were utilized for data analysis with structural equation modeling (SEM). This study analyzed two research models through the competing model approach: One model (Model 1) specified that job and personal resources directly influence job performance and turnover intention and also indirectly influence job performance and turnover intention through work engagement, whereas the other model (Model 2) specified that job and personal resources only indirectly influence turnover intention and job performance through work engagement. The results of the competing models demonstrated that overall, Model 2 adequately fit better than Model 1. The results also showed that the direct effects of job and personal resources on work engagement, as well as the direct effects of work engagement on job performance and turnover intention were statistically significant. In addition, the results of the study revealed statistically significant mediating effects of work engagement, not only on the relationship between job and personal resources and job performance, but also on the relationship between job and personal resources and turnover intention. Based on the results, theoretical and practical implications for human resource management, limitations, and recommendations for further research are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Woocheol Kim & Soo Jeoung Han & Jiwon Park, 2019. "Is the Role of Work Engagement Essential to Employee Performance or ‘Nice to Have’?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:4:p:1050-:d:206772
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Petri Böckerman & Pekka Ilmakunnas, 2012. "The Job Satisfaction-Productivity Nexus: A Study Using Matched Survey and Register Data," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 65(2), pages 244-262, April.
    2. Woocheol Kim & Jiwon Park, 2017. "Examining Structural Relationships between Work Engagement, Organizational Procedural Justice, Knowledge Sharing, and Innovative Work Behavior for Sustainable Organizations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-16, February.
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    4. Woocheol Kim & Gohar Feroz Khan & Jacob Wood & Muhammad Tariq Mahmood, 2016. "Employee Engagement for Sustainable Organizations: Keyword Analysis Using Social Network Analysis and Burst Detection Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-11, July.
    5. Guido Alessandri & Laura Borgogni & Wilmar Schaufeli & Gian Caprara & Chiara Consiglio, 2015. "From Positive Orientation to Job performance: The Role of Work Engagement and Self-efficacy Beliefs," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 767-788, June.
    6. Guido Alessandri & Laura Borgogni & Wilmar Schaufeli & Gian Caprara & Chiara Consiglio, 2015. "Erratum to: From Positive Orientation to Job Performance: The Role of Work Engagement and Self-efficacy Beliefs," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 811-811, June.
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    4. Shao-Long Li & Fang Sun & Mingze Li, 2019. "Sustainable Human Resource Management Nurtures Change-Oriented Employees: Relationship between High-Commitment Work Systems and Employees’ Taking Charge Behaviors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-15, June.
    5. Adedapo Oluwaseyi Ojo & Olawole Fawehinmi & Mohd Yusoff Yusliza, 2021. "Examining the Predictors of Resilience and Work Engagement during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-18, March.
    6. Carol Nash, 2023. "Team Mindfulness in Online Academic Meetings to Reduce Burnout," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-22, March.
    7. Hyo Sun Jung & Hye Hyun Yoon, 2020. "How Does Workplace Romance Influence Employee Performance in the Hospitality Industry?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-13, July.

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