Linking level of engagement, HR practices and employee performance among high-potential employees in Malaysian manufacturing sector

Abstract

In most of the years, Malaysia acknowledges the contribution of manufacturing industries, and it always set as the bellwethers of the economic growth in Malaysia. Under Malaysia’s national agenda, the manufacturing sector is expected to increase productivity per person by 30 per cent in the next 7 years. Employee performance analogically contributed to the overall organization survival and collaterally to the industrial performance. This article investigates the association between level of engagement, human resource (HR) practices and employee performance among high-potential employees in Malaysian manufacturing sector. The present study employs a purposive sampling technique in choosing the high-potential employees from the executive and managerial level. Additionally, cross sectional survey was used for collecting quantitative data and a total of 252 out of 400 self-administered research questionnaires were returned which produce response rate at 63 per cent. Partial least squares structural equation modelling SmartPLS statistical software was used to analyze the data. The results indicated full support for two direct relationships and two indirect relationships. Therefore, the findings for this research study offered useful insight for academicians, HR practitioners and organizations and benefited to the manufacturing industry.