Journal Screenshot

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2222-6990

The Motivational Factors and Employee Performance: An Empirical Study in Malaysian Public University

Rosman Mahmood, Nurulnadwan Aziz, Zuriyati Ahmad, Mulyana Mulyana, Wan Fadzlina Wan Nasir

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v12-i2/17241

Open access

This study aims to determine motivational factors that influence employees' work performance in the public higher education context. Based on the Two-Factor Herzberg theory, five motivational factors were chosen. Using a stratified sampling method, a total of 226 public university employees in the relevant category were used as a study sample. Multiple regression analysis was performed to clarify the five study hypotheses. The study's findings depicted that the work factor itself, monetary reward, job security and work environment influence employee performance. Nonetheless, recognition was insignificant in influencing work performance. The monetary reward was found to be the most significant factor compared to the other four factors involved in the study. This study revealed that work factors, monetary reward, and job security are important factors that motivate workers to remain in the organization. While a conducive work environment with various facilities and support will provide comfort that can stimulate the minds of employees to be more motivated in completing the tasks assigned to them. In the future study, it is suggested that the variance value of some other motivational factors such as non-monetary incentives, relationship with colleagues, leadership, and relationship with leaders, institutional culture, learning and development opportunities, work-life balance, and personal life can be added as variables.

Al-Kharabsheh, S. A., Attiany, M. S., Alshawabkeh, R. O. K., Hamadneh, S., & Alshurideh, M. T. (2023). The impact of digital HRM on employee performance through employee motivation. International Journal of Data and Network Science, 7(1), 275–282. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.ijdns.2022.10.006
Ahmed, S., Al Haderi, S. M., Ahmad, F., Jaaffar, A. R., Walter, J., and Al-Douis, G. M. A. (2017) Employee Job Security and Performance Relationship in Developing Economy through Employee Engagement: Critical Analysis with PLS-SEM. International Journal of Economic Research, Vol.14 No 19. pp 133-147.
Aguinis, H. (2013). Performance management (3rd edition). Upper Sadie River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Al-Omari, K., and Okasheh, H. (2017). The Influence of Work Environment on Job Performance: A Case Study of Engineering Company in Jordan. International Journal of Applied Engineering, Research ISSN 0973-4562 Vol. 12 No. 24, pp. 15544-15550
Amha, G. G., & Brhane, F. (2020). Determinant of Employee Performance in Public Organization: The Case of Dessie City Municipality Office. International Journal of Marketing & Human Resource Research. Vol. 1 No 1, pp. 1-13.
Arnetz, B. (1999). Staff perception of the impact of health care transformation on quality of care. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, Vol.11 No. 4, pp. 345-51.
Angelopoulou, P., and Panagopoulou, E. (2020), “Is wellbeing at work related to professional recognition: a pilot intervention”, Psychology, Health and Medicine, Vol. 25 No. 8, pp. 950-957
Anitha, J. (2013). Determinants of employee engagement and their impact on employee performance. GRG School of Management Studies, 63, 1741-0401.
Appelbaum, S. H., & Kamal, R. (2010), "An analysis of the utilisations and effectiveness of non-financial incentives in small business," The Journal of Management Development, Vol. 19 No 9/10, pp. 733-763.
Saidi, A. N. S., Michael, F. L., Sumilan, H., Lim, O. S. L., Jonathan, V., Hamidi, H., & Abg Ahmad, A. I. (2019). The Relationship Between Working Environment and Employee Performance. Journal of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development, Vol. 5 No. 2, pp. 14-22.
Bataineh, K. A. (2017). The Impact of Electronic Management on the Employees' Performance. Journal of Management and Strategy, Vol. 8 No. 5, pp. 86-100.
Berger, A. L., and Berger, D. R. (2015), "The compensation handbook, sixth edition: A state­ of-the-art guide to compensation strategy and design," 6th edition, ISBN-10- 0071836993, New York: McGraw-Hill.
Bevan, S. (2012). Good work, High performance and productivity. The paper prepared for the European HRD Forume, Lisbon, (2012).
Bhatti, M. A., Mat, M., and Juhari, A. S (2018). Effects of job resources factors on nurses job performance (mediating role of work engagement). International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance Vol. 31 No. 8, pp. 1000-1013.
Capelli, C. (2013). What monetary reward can and cannot do: How to show employees the money. Science Direct, pp. 9-13.
Chandrasekar, K. (2011). Workplace environment and its impact on organisational performance in public sector organisations. International Journal of Enterprise Computing and Business Systems, 1(1). http://www.ijecbs.com/January2011/N4Jan2011.pdf.
Chiu, S., and Chen, H. (2005), “Relationship between job characteristics and organizational citizenship behavior: the mediational role of job satisfaction”, Social Behavior and Personality, Vol. 33 No. 6, pp. 523-540.
Christen, M., Iyer, G., and Soberman, D. (2006), “Job satisfaction, job performance, and effort: a reexamination using agency theory”, Journal of Marketing, Vol. 70 No. 1, pp. 137-150.
Dahkoul, Z. M. (2018). The Determinants of Employee Performance in Jordanian Organizations. Journal of Economics, Finance and Accounting, Vol.5 No.1, pp.11-17.
Danish, Q. D., & Usman, A. (2010). impact of reward and recognition on job satisfaction and motivation: An empirical study from Pakistan. International Journal of Business & Management, Vol. 5 No.2, pp. 159-167.
De Angelis, M., Mazzetti, G., and Guglielmi, D. (2021) Job Insecurity and Job Performance: A Serial Mediated Relationship and the Buffering Effect of Organizational Justice. Front. Psychol. 12:694057. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.694057
Diamantidis, A. D., and Chatzoglou, P. (2018). Factors affecting employee performance: an empirical approach. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 68 No. 1, pp. 171-193.
Endeshaw, B. (2023). The mediating effect of job satisfaction on the link between employees’ motivation and job performance. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2158214/v1
Garg, P., & Talwar, D. (2017). Impact of organisational climate on employee performance: A study with reference to the educational sector of Indore. International Journal of Research in Commerce & Management, Vol. 8 No 4, pp 22-26.
Grant, A. M. (2008), “The significance of task significance: job performance effects, relational mechanisms, and boundary conditions”, Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol. 93 No. 1, pp. 108-124.
Grawitch, M., Gottschalk, M., and Munz, D. (2006), “The path to a healthy workplace: a critical review linking healthy workplace practices, employee well-being, and organisational improvements”, Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, Vol. 58, pp. 129-147.
Gungor, P. (2011). The relationship between reward management system and employee performance with the mediating role of motivation: a quantitative study on global banks. Proc Soc. Behav Sci. 24, 1510–1520. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.09.029
Guzel. (2011). the effect of job security on the perception of external motivational tools. Journal of Economic and Social Studies, 3-6.
Hackman, J. R., and Oldham, G. R. (1980), Work Redesign, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA
Imran, A., Ahmad S., Nisar, Q. A. & Ahmad, U. (2014). Exploring relationship among rewards, recognition and employees' job satisfaction: A descriptive study on libraries in Pakistan. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research, Vol. 21 No 9: 1533-1540, 2014
Johari, J., Shamsudin, M. F., Yean, T. F., Yahya, K., and Adnan, Z. (2018). Job characteristics, employee well-being, and job performance of public sector employees in Malaysia. International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. 32 No. 1, pp. 102-119.
Kaya, M., and Demirer, H. (2021). Job Characteristics' Causal Effects on Individual Job Performance Perceptions and Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction. Eurasian Journal of Business and Economics, Vol 14 No.28, pp. 57-86.
Khan, M., Daniyal, M., Ashraf, M. Z. (2020). The Relationship Between Monetary Incentives and Job Performance: Mediating Role of Employee Loyalty. International Journal of Multidisciplinary and Current Educational Research. Vol. 2. No. 6, pp. 12-21.
Lam, T., Baum, T., & Pine, R. (2011). Study of managerial job satisfaction in Hong Kong’s Chinese restaurants. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality management, Vol 13 No 1, pp. 35-42.
Landrum, S. (2015). What truly motivates employees? Accessed 3.9.2017. https://talentculture.com/what-truly-motivates-employees/
Leach, D. J., Wall, T. D., Rogelberg, S. G., and Jackson, P. R. (2005), “Team autonomy, performance, and member job strain: uncovering the teamwork KSA link”, Applied Psychology: An International Review, Vol. 54 No. 1, pp. 1-24.
Lucky, E. O. I., Minai, M. S., & Rahman, H. A. (2013). Impact of job security on the organizational performance in a multiethnic environment. Research Journal of Business Management, Vol.7, No 1, pp. 64-70.
Luthans, F., and Stajkovic, A. D. (2000), “Provide recognition for performance improvement”, Principles of Organisational Behaviour, Vol. 166, pp. 239-253.
Mariyanti, M., Septiani, T., & Dolan, N. (2023). Factor Affecting Employee Motivation to Increase Performance of Sharia Bank in Indonesia on Islamic Perspective. Jalan Kyai Tapa No. 1 Grogol, Jakarta Barat, 7(2), 131–142. https://doi.org/10.33050/atm.v7i2.1860
Morgeson, F. P., Delaney-Klinger, K., and Hemingway, M. A. (2005), “The importance of job autonomy, cognitive ability, and job-related skill for predicting role breadth and job performance”, Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol. 90 No. 2, pp. 399-406.
Motowidlo, S. J., Borman, W. C., & Schmit, M. J. (1999). Performance assessment in unique jobs. In D.R. Ilgen & E. D. Pulakos (Eds.), The changing nature of performance, 56-86, San Francisco: JosseyBass.
Muchhal, D. S. (2014). HR Practices and Job Performance. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science (IOSR-JHSS), Vol. 19 No 4, pp. 55-61.
Munir, R., Lodhi, M. E., Sabir, H. M., Khan, M. N. (2016). Impact of Rewards (Intrinsic and Extrinsic) on Employee Performance with Special Reference to Courier Companies of Faisalabad City. European Journal of Business and Management, Vol.8, No.25, pp. 88-97.
Nyakundi, W. K., Karanja, K., Charles, M., & Bisobori, W. N. (2012). Enhancing the role of employee recognition towards improving performance: A survey of Keyatta National Hospital Kenya. International Journal of Arts and Commerce, 1 (7).
Naharuddin, N. M., & Sadegi, M. (2013). Factors of workplace environment that affect employees performance: A case study of Miyazu Malaysia. Journal of Independent Research and Studies - JJJRS, Vol.2 No.2, pp. 66-78.
Palvalin, M. (2017). How to measure impacts of work environment changes on knowledge work productivity? Validation and improvement of the SmartWoW Tool. Measuring Business Excellence, 21(2), MBE-05-2016-0025. https://doi.org/10.1108/MBE-05-2016-0025
Peterson, S., and Luthans, F. (2006), “The impact of financial and nonfinancial incentives on business unit outcomes over time”, Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol. 91, pp. 156-165.
Ponta, L., Delfino, F., & Cainarca, G. C. (2020). The role of monetary incentives: bonus and/or stimulus. Administrative sciences, 10(1), 8.
Poulikas, K. (2010). Pay enough, don't pay too much or don't pay at all? The impact of bonus intensity on employee performance. Kyklos, 63 (4), pp. 597-626.
Pratheepkanth, P. (2011). Reward system and its impact on employee motivation in commercial bank of Sri Lanka plc, in Jaffna district. Global J. Manage. Bus. Res. 11:1–9. https://www.journalofbusiness.org/index.php/GJMBR/article/view/486
Rahim, M. A., & Daud, W. N. W. (2013). Rewards and motivation among administrators of University Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA): An Empirical Study. International Journal of Business and Society, Vol. 14 No.2, pp. 265-286.
Rahim, D. A., Sjafrudin, A., & Prafitaningrum, D. (2022). The Effect of Load and Stress on Work Performance with Motivation as a Moderation Variable (Case Study at the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia). Krisnadwipayana International Journal of Management Studies (KIJMS), 2(2).
Saunderson, R. (2009), Giving the Real Recognition Way, Recognition Management Institute, Montreal.
Salim, F., & Ernanda, Y. (2023). Effect of work discipline, work environment and work motivation on employee performance at PT. Autostar Mandiri Technotama. Journal of Management Science (JMAS, 6(1), 5–09. www.exsys.iocspublisher.org/index.php/JMAS
Scherbaum C. A., Naidoo L. J., and Saunderson, R. (2021). The impact of manager recognition training on performance: a quasi-experimental field study. Leadership & Organization Development Journal Vol. 43 No. 1, pp. 57-70.
Sultana, A., Irum, S., Ahmed, K., & Mehmood, N. (2012). Impact of training on employee performance: A study of telecommunication sector in Pakistan. Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, Vol. 4 No.6, pp. 646- 661.
Stajkovic, A. D., and Luthans, F. (2003), “Behavioural management and task performance in organisations: conceptual background, meta-analysis, and test of alternative models”, Personnel Psychology, Vol. 56 No. 1, pp. 155-194.
Stup, R. (2003). Control the factors that influence employee success. Managing the Hispanic Workforce Conference. International Journal of Applied Engineering Research ISSN 0973-4562 Vol. 12, No. 24, pp. 15544-15550
Sugiarti, E. (2021). The Influence of Training, Work Environment and Career Development on Work Motivation That Has an Impact on Employee Performance at PT. Suryamas Elsindo Primatama In West Jakarta. International Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.29099/ijair.v6i1.304
Tuffaha, M. (2020). The Determinants of Employee’s Performance: A Literature Review. Journal of Economics and Management Sciences; Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 14-24.
Uzee, L. A. (2011). Impact of office design on employees' productivity. Journal of Public,/4ffairs, Administration and Management, Vol.3 No.1, pp. 2-4.
Widarko, A., & Anwarodin, M. K. (2022). Work Motivation and Organizational Culture on Work Performance: Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) as Mediating Variable. Golden Ratio of Human Resource Management, 2(2), 123–138.
https://doi.org/10.52970/grhrm.v2i2.207
Wood, S., Veldhoven, M. V., Croon, M., and deMenezes, L. M. (2012), “Enriched job design, high involvement management and organizational performance: the mediating roles of job satisfaction and well-being”, Human Relations, pp. 1-27.
Yusuf, L. E., Wahyuddin, W., Thoyib, A., Nur Ilham, R., & Sinta, I. (2022). The Effect of Career Development and Work Environment on Employee Performance with Work Motivation as Intervening Variable the Office of Agriculture and Livestock in Aceh. International Journal of Economic, Business, Accounting, Agriculture Management and Sharia Administration (IJEBAS), 2(2), 227–236. https://doi.org/10.54443/ijebas.v2i2.191
Zaraket, W. S., & Halawi, A. (2017). The effects of HRM practices on organizational performance in Lebanese banks. Journal of Global Business Advancement, Vol. 10 No 1, pp. 62- 88.
Zhenjing, G., Chupradit, S., Ku, K. Y., Nassani, A. A., and Haffar, M. (2022). Impact of Employees’ Workplace Environment on Employees’ Performance: A Multi-Mediation Model. Front. Public Health 10:890400. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.89040
Zhao, X., and Ghiselli, R. (2016), “Why do you feel stressed in a ‘smile factory’? Hospitality job characteristics influence work-family conflict and job stress”, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 28 No. 2, pp. 305-326.

In-Text Citation: (Mahmood et al., 2023)
To Cite this Article: Mahmood, R., Aziz, N., Ahmad, Z., Mulyana, M., & Nasir, W. F. W. (2023). The Motivational Factors and Employee Performance: An Empirical Study in Malaysian Public University. International Journal of Academic Research in Economics and Management and Sciences, 12(2), 255 – 271.