The influence of selected human resource management practices on task performance through networking behaviour

Abstract

This research examined the relationship between selected human resource management (HRM) practices and task performance in a Malaysian private university. The selected human resource management practices are training and development, compensation and benefits, recruitment and selection, and performance appraisals. This research also proposed networking behaviour as a mediator between HRM-task performance linkages. This study adopted the quantitative method to examine the relationship of the variables as the quantitative approach provides valid and reliable statistical evidences on the relationships' strength. A sample of 242 non-academic and administrator staff were selected using convenience sampling from 12 Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) campuses in Peninsular Malaysia. Data were obtained through a survey questionnaire using a cross-sectional technique which comprises of 48 items. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 23 software for descriptive analysis and Smart Partial Least Square (SmartPLS) version 3 for bootstrapping analysis. The result reveals that only two HRM practices (training and development practices, and recruitment and selection practices) have a significant relationship with task performance. However, the other two HRM practices (rewards and benefits practices and performance appraisal) did not significantly impact task performance. Networking behaviour was found to have a significant relationship with task performance. Meanwhile, networking behaviour only mediates relationship between training and development practices and task performance. This study has contributed to the development of HRM-employee performance framework by examining the mediating role of networking behaviour. The implications of these findings should provide insight and information about the circumstances that a university would employ and complement the HRM practices, making HRM systems more comprehensive and cost-effective.