To read this content please select one of the options below:

Exploring employee engagement from the employee perspective: implications for HRD

M. Brad Shuck (University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA)
Tonette S. Rocco (Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA)
Carlos A. Albornoz (School of Business, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile)

Journal of European Industrial Training

ISSN: 0309-0590

Article publication date: 10 May 2011

27343

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine an employee's unique experience of being engaged in their work.

Design/methodology/approach

Following Yin's case study design method, researchers collected documents, conducted semi‐structured interviews and recorded observations at a large multinational service corporation ranked as one of the best places to work. Post data collection, content analysis is used to interpret engagement efforts and experiences. Work by Kahn and Maslow are integrated as conceptual frameworks.

Findings

Post analysis, three themes emerged: relationship development and attachment to co‐workers, workplace climate and opportunities for learning. Findings highlighted the development of relationships in the workplace, the importance of an employee's direct manager and their role in shaping organizational culture and the critical role of learning in an engaged employee's interpretation of their work. Scaffolding and discussion of an emergent model is provided.

Research limitations/implications

Three propositions for human resource development (HRD) research and practice are presented: first, environment and person interact to create engagement or disengagement; second, an employee's manager plays a critical role in developing engagement; and third, personality can effect engagement, however, everyone can engage. An integrated model is proposed as a synthesis of findings providing HRD researchers and practitioner's opportunity to re‐examine current engagement efforts. Specific action steps are outlined to spur further theory building and organizational practice.

Originality/value

The objective of the emergent model is to provide researchers and practitioners a new framework to consider, grounded in both early and contemporary theories of engagement. The emergent model could serve as the basis for new strategies and structures related to engagement development and could shed new light on how employees interpret the experience of engagement in work. This research is the first known qualitative study of employee engagement in the HRD literature, second only to the original qualitative research by Kahn.

Keywords

Citation

Brad Shuck, M., Rocco, T.S. and Albornoz, C.A. (2011), "Exploring employee engagement from the employee perspective: implications for HRD", Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol. 35 No. 4, pp. 300-325. https://doi.org/10.1108/03090591111128306

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Related articles