The Impact of Employee Engagement on Task Performance

Abstract

In developed countries of the world, many studies have been carried out on the link between engagement and task performance in different context. Ignorable studies are conducted in developing countries like Pakistan. The aim of the present study was to explore potential link between engagement and task performance. This link was analyzed through statistical techniques called Pearson Correlations and Regression. The data was gathered through self-administered questionnaire distributed among teaching faculty working in the private owned universities. A total of 224 questionnaire were returned by respondents. After analyzing these questionnaires the results showed that there was positive connection in engagement and task performance and thus confirmed the hypothesis of the study.

Full text

Journal of Business and Tourism Volume 04 Number 02
July – December, 2018
Bilal, Khan, Ahmad & Shah 135 ISSN: 2520 - 0739
The Impact of Employee Engagement on Task Performance
DR. HAZRAT BILAL
Assistant Professor, Center for Management and Commerce
University of Swat, Swat
hbilal@uswat.edu.pk
ARSHAD ALI KHAN
PhD Scholar, Abdul Wali Khan, University, Mardan
Directorate of Planning and Development, University of Swat, Swat
arshad.khan@uswat.edu.pk
KHURSHEED AHMAD
Lecturer, Center for Management and Commerce,
University of Swat, Swat
khursheed@uswat.edu.pk
DR.SYED NASEEB SHAH
Naseeb_shah@hotmail.com
Abstract
In developed countries of the world, many studies have been carried out on the link
between engagement and task performance in different context. Ignorable studies are
conducted in developing countries like Pakistan. The aim of the present study was to
explore potential link between engagement and task performance. This link was analyzed
through statistical techniques called Pearson Correlations and Regression. The data was
gathered through self-administered questionnaire distributed among teaching faculty
working in the private owned universities. A total of 224 questionnaire were returned by
respondents. After analyzing these questionnaires the results showed that there was
positive connection in engagement and task performance and thus confirmed the
hypothesis of the study.
Keywords: Employee Engagement, Task Performance, Academic Staff, Private
University.
1. Introduction
Organizations now a days more focus on efficiency and effectiveness of their resources.
Whereas the most critical resource of organization’s efficiency are its employees. If
employees are satisfied and engaged will lead an organization to achieve its objectives
(Rich, LePine & Crawford, 2010). Engaged employees are energetic and enthusiastic to
fulfill their assigned duties (Bakker & Demerouti, 2007). Such employees take pride in
taking additional responsibilities, sharing information with their colleagues, investing
extra energy in performing a job and remaining with the same organization longer than
the less engaged employees (LePine, Erez, &Johnson, 2002). Managers in organization
are more curious to focus on employee engagement in order to achieve the organization

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Bilal, Khan, Ahmad & Shah 136 ISSN: 2520 - 0739
priorities (Shuck & Wollard, 2010). This shows that engagement is an important factor to
support organization goals (Harter, Schmidt & Hayes, 2002, Schaufeli, & Taris, 2014).
Engaged employees fulfill the duties according to their job description and always trying
to improve their in-role performance (Rich et al., 2010). The in-role or task performance
includes those activities or behaviors which directly add to the overall performance of an
organization (Rotundo, 2000). In private university organization, academic staff plays an
essential role in the overall performance. The academic staff of such universities are
always trying to accomplish the tasks which are identified as part of their job description.
This study is conducted to explore this association between engagement and task
performance in the setting of faculty of private owned universities.
1.1 Statement of the Problem and Significance of the Study
A mounting literature has shown positive association between employee engagement and
task performance mostly in developed countries (Chughtai & Buckley, 2011). Ignorable
studies have been showed to determine the relationship between employee engagement
and task performance specifically for teaching faculty working in private owned
universities of developing countries such as Pakistan. This study is an effort to fill this
gap by investigating the said relationship in academic staff employed in universities of
developing countries. The significance of the present study is to probe into the connection
between engagement and task performance in the setting of academic staff working in the
private owned universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
2. Literature Review
Employee Engagement is an essential concept of industrial and organizational
psychology and having an important role in the success of an organization by improving
employee performance and efficiency (Harter, Schmidt & Hayes, 2002; Iaffaldano &
Muchinsky, 1985). Schaufeli, Salanova, González-Romá, Bakker (2002) particularized
that engagement is a positive, fulfilling work associated state of mind categorized by
three important factors called vigor, dedication and absorption. Engagement not only
improves the organizational level results but also increases individual level performance
outcome (Iaffaldano & Muchinsky 1985). Thus engaged employee devotes maximum
energy and efforts for achieving individual and organizational level outcomes.
Employee engagement can be seen from different perspectives (Shuck, 2011). The first
perspective is based on Kahn (1990) Needs Satisfying Approach, saying that employees
attached himself to their work roles, where they physically, emotionally, cognitively and
mentally expresses themselves in the performing a specific role. The second perspective
of employee engagement is based on Leiter (1997) and Schaufeli, Salanova, González-
Romá, and Bakker (2002), which is the Burnout-Anti Thesis Approach. This approach
explains engagement as an opposite of burnout. The dimensions of burnout consisting
exhaustion, cynicism and lack of accomplishment are considered the exact opposite of
vigor, dedication and absorption respectively. If an employee is highly engaged will be
eventually lower in burnout and vice versa. Both these approaches have the similar
meanings except the Kahn (1990) definitions ignores the burnout side.
Attridge (2009) elaborated that engaged employees always sense positive emotions at
their work, find their work meaningful, accept extra work load and are always optimistic
about their work. These behaviors are related to the Kahn (1990) definition that engaged
employees are physically, cognitively and emotionally involved in their job. Schaufeli et

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Bilal, Khan, Ahmad & Shah 137 ISSN: 2520 - 0739
al., (2002) definition of employee engagement is expanded version of Kahn (1990)
definition, where emotional component is associated with dedication, physical aspect is
related to vigor and cognitive is associated with absorption (Attridge, 2009). In the
present study, the Schaufeli, Salanova, González-Romá , Bakker (2002) and Schaufeli
& Salanova, (2008) engagement concept has been used and measure through Utrecht
Work Engagement Scale (UWES) as this scale is the highly reliable scale to measure
engagement of employees (Schaufeli, 2012; Shaufeli & Taris 2014). Task performance or
in-role performance is an important component of employee job performance and it plays
an essential part in achieving organization competitive advantage. Borman and
Motowidlo (1993) elaborated that task performance is the efficacy of employees with
which they execute their work role in the way to add the organization’s technical core.
Task performance is considered as an important controllable employees’ behavior
focused towards organizational goals. Such behavior includes both physical and mental
process for accomplishing of activities and tasks engraved in employee’s job
performance (McShane & Glinow, 2005; Murphy, 1989). Task performance is an
obligatory behavior that related to obtaining stock or inventory, producing and selling of
products, dealing with peers and subordinates and quality service delivering to customers
(Motowidlo, 2003).
Christian, Garza, and Slaughter (2011) revealed that in term of task performance engaged
employee perform their duties more effectively and efficiently. Bakker and
Xanthopoulou (2009) in a survey of 124 Dutch workers found a positive association
between engagement and task performance. Gorgievski, Bakker, and Schaufeli (2010)
collected data from 2164 Dutch workers through self-reported questionnaire. The data
was assessed by UWES of Shaufeli et al., (2006) and was analyzed through multi group
structural equation modeling. The outcomes of the study concluded positive link in
engagement and task performance. The same results were also confirmed by Bakker,
Demerouti, and ten Brummelhuis (2012). Therefore, on the basis of the previous
literature, the present study hypothesizes that there is a positive connection between
employee engagement and task performance in the context of teaching faculty working in
private owned universities of developing countries such as Pakistan.
3. Methodology
The self-administered questionnaire was distributed among the teaching of private
universities. The data was gathered randomly from a sample of 224 individual faculty
members working on permanent basis in these universities. The Schaufeli et al., (2002)
UWES Scale comprised of 17-items were used for collection of data regarding employee
engagement whereas task performance was measured by a 9-items scale of Goodman and
Svyantek’s (1999). The 5- point Likert Scale was used for measuring both employee
engagement and task performance scales where 1 represents ‘strongly disagree’ 2
specified disagree, 3 denoted neither agree nor disagree, 4 symbolized agree, while 5
epitomized ‘strongly agree’. 4. Analysis
The data for the present cross sectional study was process by Pearson Correlation
and Regression. The Pearson correlation results shows positive association between
employee engagement and task performance that is r = .60 at significant level 0.01. This

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Bilal, Khan, Ahmad & Shah 138 ISSN: 2520 - 0739
means that there is significant correlation between engagement and task performance and
therefore supported hypothesis of the study.
Table 1: Correlations
Employee
Engagement
Task
Performance
Employee Engagement
Pearson Correlation
1
.600**
Sig. (2-tailed)
.000
N
224
224
Task Performance
Pearson Correlation
.600**
1
Sig. (2-tailed)
.000
N
224
224
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
To know the strength of the significant relationship in employee engagement and
tsk performance, regression analysis was applied. The results of ANOVA expressed that
F = 125.20, Sig at level of 0.05 further confirmed that employee engagement significantly
effect the task performance. The results of the ANOVA test are shown in the following
Table 2.
Table 2: ANOVAa
Model
Sum of
Squares
Df
Mean Square
F
Sig.
1
Regression
16.121
1
16.121
125.201
.000b
Residual
28.713
223
.129
Total
44.834
224
a. Dependent Variable: Task Performance
b. Predictors: (Constant), EE
For supporting and further verification of prediction of task performance by
employee engagement was analyzed by calculating the slope and intercept of the
relationship. The results suggested a constant value 1.34 and a standardize coefficients
0.60 shown in the following table 3. This means that a one unit intensification in
employee engagement can significantly escalate 0.60 unit in task performance.
Table 3: Coefficientsa
Model
Unstandardized
Coefficients
Standardized
Coefficients
t
Sig.
B
Std. Error
Beta
1
(Constant)
1.342
.152
8.839
.000
Employee
Engagement
.541
.048
.600
11.189
.000
a. Dependent Variable: Task Performance
To determine the level of variance in task performance a Model Summary of R-
square change was calculated. The results shows a value of 0.36 R square change, which
validates a 36% change in task performance base on employee engagement score. The
details of the results are shown in the give Table 4.

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Bilal, Khan, Ahmad & Shah 139 ISSN: 2520 - 0739
Table 4: Model Summaryb
Mode
l
R
R
Square
Adjusted R
Square
Std. Error of
the Estimate
Change Statistics
R Square
Change
F
Change
df
1
df2
Sig. F
Change
1
.600
a
.360
.357
.35883
.360
125.20
1
1
22
3
.000
a. Predictors: (Constant), Employee Engagement
b. Dependent Variable: Task Performance
5. Discussion
A total of 224 questionnaire received from respondents were analyzed through statistical
package (Version 21). The instrument was intended to analyze the affiliation between
employee engagement and task performance. There were two sections of questionnaire:
the one was measuring the employee engagement and the other was measuring the task
performance. The study has confirmed a positive connection between employee
engagement and task performance. The results of our research were similar to the results
of Rich, LePine and Crawford (2010) study of 245 firefighters. Likewise, Schaufeli,
Bakker and Salanova (2006) also found positive relationship between employee
engagement and task performance. Furthermore, Bakker and Demerouti (2009) in a study
of 175 Dutch couples also supported the Schaufeli, Bakker and Salanova (2006) results.
5.1 Conclusion and Future Implications
This study was an important contribution to the existing literature in the context of
academic staff working in private universities. This study examined how employee
engagement is related with task performance. The outcomes of this study concluded that
employee engagement significantly related with task performance. To further elaborate
the association between employee engagement and task performance, this research study
recommends that a qualitative research in similar environment should be conducted. This
will add rich meanings, de tails to the findings and opportunity to extend the research.
Our sample size was quite low and was only representing universities in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, therefore a larger sample representing overall private universities of
Pakistan needs to be considered in ordered to further generalize the results of the present
research.
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